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0_1 | A top Turkish official, presidential adviser Yasin Aktay, has said he believes Jamal Khashoggi's body was dissolved in acid after being cut up. The "only logical conclusion", he said, was that those who had killed the Saudi journalist in Istanbul had destroyed his body "to leave no trace behind". Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi rulers, was killed inside the country's consulate on 2 October. No forensic evidence has been provided to prove his body was dissolved. "The reason they dismembered Khashoggi's body was to dissolve his remains more easily", Mr Aktay told the Hurriyet Daily newspaper. "Now we see that they did not only dismember his body but also vaporised it." The claims came as Khashoggi's fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, called on world leaders to "bring the perpetrators to justice", in an editorial for five newspapers, including the Guardian and the Washington Post. Meanwhile, reports quote Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as telling the US he considered Khashoggi to be a dangerous Islamist. The reported phone call to the White House came before Saudi Arabia admitted Khashoggi had been killed. Saudi Arabia has denied the comments were made or that its royal family was involved in the killing, and says it is "determined to find out all the facts". Istanbul's prosecutor confirmed on Wednesday that the writer had been strangled. During the call with President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and national security adviser John Bolton, Prince Mohammed said Khashoggi had been a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, a transnational Islamist organisation, the Washington Post reports. The phone call is reported to have taken place on 9 October, a week after Khashoggi disappeared. Prince Mohammed also reportedly urged the White House to preserve the US-Saudi alliance. In a statement to the newspaper, Khashoggi's family denied he had been a member of the Muslim Brotherhood and said the murdered writer had himself denied this repeatedly in recent years. "Jamal Khashoggi was not a dangerous person in any way possible. To claim otherwise would be ridiculous," the statement said. There is still no consensus on how Khashoggi died. He entered the consulate to sort out documents for his marriage. But on Wednesday Turkey said he had been strangled immediately after entering the consulate and his body dismembered "in accordance with plans made in advance". Turkish media had previously quoted sources as saying Turkey had audio recordings proving that Khashoggi had been tortured before being murdered. Saudi Arabia has changed its account of what happened to Khashoggi. When he first disappeared, it said Khashoggi had walked out of the building alive. It later admitted he had been murdered, saying the killing was premeditated and a result of a "rogue operation". It has arrested 18 suspects who, it says, will be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia. Turkey wants the suspects to be extradited. Turkey has steered away from publicly blaming Saudi Arabia for the killing. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to Saudi King Salman last week, and the two agreed to continue co-operating in the investigation. Saudi Arabia has faced a backlash over the death, including from its allies, who have called for answers. President Trump has said he is "not satisfied" with the Saudi account. However, he also said he was unwilling to sacrifice lucrative arms deals with the country. Although their US visas have been revoked, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said it would be a "handful more weeks" before the US knew enough to impose sanctions on individuals involved in Khashoggi's killing. Mr Pompeo said the US had "deep and long-term strategic relationships" with Saudi Arabia and said "we intend to make sure that those relationships remain intact". On Wednesday, France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Khashoggi's death was a "crime" and "odious". He said France was not "dependent on our economic relations with Saudi Arabia" and the country would impose sanctions, but no details were given. UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt also said it was an appalling act, adding that it had "possibly" given the US and the UK a chance to put new pressure on Saudi Arabia over other issues. Earlier, the US called for a swift cessation of hostilities in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been fighting rebels supported by its arch-enemy Iran. In an editorial published in five international newspapers, Ms Cengiz said Khashoggi had just bought a house and wished to start a family. She described the "anguish" she had experienced since his "brutal, barbaric and ruthless" death. "We must all send a clear message that authoritarian regimes cannot kill journalists ever again." She called on governments around the world to take action to reveal the truth, accusing the United States of taking a position "devoid of moral foundation." "If the democracies of the world do not take genuine steps to bring to justice the perpetrators of this brazen, callous act - one that has caused universal outrage among their citizens - what moral authority are they left with?" she asked. | What has the investigation found so far? | 2,109 | There is still no consensus on how Khashoggi died. He entered the consulate to sort out documents for his marriage. But on Wednesday Turkey said he had been strangled immediately after entering the consulate and his body dismembered "in accordance with plans made in advance". Turkish media had previously quoted sources as saying Turkey had audio recordings proving that Khashoggi had been tortured before being murdered. Saudi Arabia has changed its account of what happened to Khashoggi. When he first disappeared, it said Khashoggi had walked out of the building alive. It later admitted he had been murdered, saying the killing was premeditated and a result of a "rogue operation". It has arrested 18 suspects who, it says, will be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia. Turkey wants the suspects to be extradited. Turkey has steered away from publicly blaming Saudi Arabia for the killing. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to Saudi King Salman last week, and the two agreed to continue co-operating in the investigation. | 0.368637 |
1_0 | Former Labour MP Luciana Berger has joined the Liberal Democrats, saying the party is "unequivocal in wanting to stop Brexit". She said leader Jo Swinson had offered "a vital, positive alternative" to Labour and the Conservatives. Ms Berger left Labour in protest at the handling of anti-Semitism allegations. Along with six other MPs she formed Change UK, but left after disappointing results in the European elections earlier this year. Ms Swinson said she was "delighted" to welcome Ms Berger to the Liberal Democrats. "We're thrilled to add her perspective, expertise and skills to our ever-growing parliamentary team," she said. Speaking to the BBC, Ms Berger, MP for Liverpool Wavertree, said: "We need to do everything possible to make sure the country, when the election comes, has a proper choice rather than choosing between the two terrible options of Johnson vs Corbyn." "The two-party system is over," she added. Nina Houghton, Labour's constituency chairman in Wavertree, said Ms Berger was "ignoring the 80% of Wavertree voters who voted Labour". She accused the MP of lacking the "courage" to resign and hold a by-election. Ms Berger is the fourth MP in three months to join the Liberal Democrats - who now have 16 MPs in Parliament. On Tuesday, Conservative Phillip Lee defected to the party, accusing the government of "pursuing a damaging Brexit in unprincipled ways", putting lives and livelihoods at risk. Ex-Change UK MPs Chuka Umunna and Sarah Wollaston have also joined the party. Ms Berger has been the MP for Liverpool Wavertree since 2010, where she has a majority of 29,466. As an MP she held a number of posts, including shadow minister for energy and climate, shadow minister for public health and shadow minister for mental health. Before becoming an MP she worked for management consultancy company Accenture and the NHS Confederation, a body representing healthcare organisations. Before leaving the Labour Party, she faced the threat of a no-confidence vote from local Labour members for criticising Jeremy Corbyn, but it was withdrawn after individuals in the constituency party were accused of "bullying" her. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said any attempts to deselect her had been a result of her association with a breakaway party. She attended a protest against anti-Semitism in the Labour Party in Westminster's Parliament Square in March 2018, and has campaigned vigorously on the issue. This is not massively surprising. We have seen a steady trickle of those unaligned, lost MPs moving to the Lib Dems. The Remainers are beginning to shuffle towards the Lib Dems as the most clear, overt force for Remain. There is no doubt that Brexit is now really beginning to play for the party. For everyone who wants to stop Brexit, they are a natural home. And new leader Jo Swinson has injected a bit of energy and colour which frankly Vince Cable was unable to do. They've got a bit of mojo and we've seen that in the polls too. | Who is Luciana Berger? | 1,505 | Ms Berger has been the MP for Liverpool Wavertree since 2010, where she has a majority of 29,466. As an MP she held a number of posts, including shadow minister for energy and climate, shadow minister for public health and shadow minister for mental health. Before becoming an MP she worked for management consultancy company Accenture and the NHS Confederation, a body representing healthcare organisations. Before leaving the Labour Party, she faced the threat of a no-confidence vote from local Labour members for criticising Jeremy Corbyn, but it was withdrawn after individuals in the constituency party were accused of "bullying" her. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said any attempts to deselect her had been a result of her association with a breakaway party. She attended a protest against anti-Semitism in the Labour Party in Westminster's Parliament Square in March 2018, and has campaigned vigorously on the issue. | 0.358018 |
5_1 | A quarantine imposed in Mongolia after two people died from the bubonic plague has been lifted, allowing a number of tourists to leave the area. The Mongolian couple contracted the illness after eating the raw meat of a marmot, a type of rodent. Following their deaths, a six-day quarantine was declared on 1 May in Mongolia's western Bayan Olgii province bordering both China and Russia. In previous centuries plague outbreaks killed millions in Europe and Asia. Human cases are now rare but can still be deadly unless treated with antibiotics. The couple had eaten raw marmot meat and kidney, thought to be a folk remedy for good health, Ariuntuya Ochirpurev of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Ulaanbaatar told the BBC. Suspicion the two victims had developed the highly contagious pneumonic plague led to the decision to impose the quarantine, Ms Ochirpurev added. The rodent is a known carrier of the plague bacteria and it is commonly associated with plague cases in the country. Hunting the rodent is illegal. According to Ms Ochirpurev, 118 people had come into contact with the couple and were isolated and treated with antibiotics for prophylaxis. Among those were seven foreign tourists from Switzerland, Sweden, Kazakhstan and South Korea. Media reports, however, put the number of tourists much higher, saying travellers from Russia, Germany and the US were barred from leaving the area due to the quarantine. "After the quarantine [was announced] not many people, even locals, were in the streets for fear of catching the disease," Sebastian Pique, a US Peace Corps volunteer living in the region, told the AFP news agency. While rare, the plague still continues to be a threat to humans. The disease - typically transmitted from animals to humans by fleas - has a 30%-60% fatality rate if left untreated. In Mongolia, one case was reported in 2017 but it was not fatal. In 2016, no cases were reported. From 1989 to 1997, there were 69 cases in the country and 22 deaths, according to the WHO's Ms Ochirpurev. The US also still has annual cases of the disease and 12 recorded fatalities since 2000. In 2015, parts of the Yosemite National Park had to be closed due to an outbreak of the plague. Symptoms of the plague include high fever, chills, nausea, weakness and swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpit or groin. It can be hard to identify in its early stages because symptoms, which usually develop after three to seven days, are flu-like. There are three main types of plague depending on how the infection manifests. The bubonic plague is characterised by swollen lymph nodes. Pneumonic plague affects the respiratory system. It becomes septicaemic if it is found in the bloodstream. The Black Death, as it was known at the time, caused about 50 million deaths across Africa, Asia and Europe in the 14th Century. Its last terrifying outbreak in London was the Great Plague of 1665, which killed about a fifth of the city's inhabitants. In the 19th Century there was a plague outbreak in China and India, which killed more than 12 million. | How dangerous is the plague now? | 1,644 | While rare, the plague still continues to be a threat to humans. The disease - typically transmitted from animals to humans by fleas - has a 30%-60% fatality rate if left untreated. In Mongolia, one case was reported in 2017 but it was not fatal. In 2016, no cases were reported. From 1989 to 1997, there were 69 cases in the country and 22 deaths, according to the WHO's Ms Ochirpurev. The US also still has annual cases of the disease and 12 recorded fatalities since 2000. In 2015, parts of the Yosemite National Park had to be closed due to an outbreak of the plague. Symptoms of the plague include high fever, chills, nausea, weakness and swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpit or groin. It can be hard to identify in its early stages because symptoms, which usually develop after three to seven days, are flu-like. There are three main types of plague depending on how the infection manifests. The bubonic plague is characterised by swollen lymph nodes. Pneumonic plague affects the respiratory system. It becomes septicaemic if it is found in the bloodstream. The Black Death, as it was known at the time, caused about 50 million deaths across Africa, Asia and Europe in the 14th Century. Its last terrifying outbreak in London was the Great Plague of 1665, which killed about a fifth of the city's inhabitants. In the 19th Century there was a plague outbreak in China and India, which killed more than 12 million. | 0.623756 |
6_3 | China has announced a $46bn investment plan which will largely centre on an economic corridor from Gwadar in Pakistan to Kashgar in the Chinese region of Xinjiang. The BBC's M Ilyas Khan looks at the significance of the plans. The money China is planning to pour into Pakistan is more than twice the amount of all foreign direct investment (FDI) Pakistan has received since 2008, and considerably more than the entire assistance from the United States, Pakistan's largest donor until now, since 2002. Pakistani officials say most projects will reach completion in between one and three years, although some infrastructure projects could take from 10 to 15 years. So the investment is not going to be spread too thin over a longer period of time, as happened with the US assistance. Also, this investment will be heavily concentrated in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a combination of transport and energy projects and the development of a major deep-sea port offering direct access to the Indian Ocean and beyond. Experts say this will create jobs and spark economic activity in Pakistan which over the last three decades has become a cranky, rent-seeking military power torn by armed insurgencies and a failing system of service delivery. But as defence analyst Professor Hasan Askari Rizvi warns, the real game changer is not the signing of deals, but their timely execution. Officials admit that some deals already signed by China and Pakistan in 2010 might not reach completion. If that turns out to be the case, they admit it will mostly have been due to incompetence, corruption and lack of transparency. So if anything is to come out of the present deals, the Pakistanis will need to work harder to fulfil their part of institutional, legal, financial and logistical commitments. Some level of corruption is expected at both ends, and neither country is known for encouraging transparency. So we may not know until much later how much of this money is coming in the form of loans, how much in grants and how much in the shape of public or private investment. There is also a political dispute brewing in Pakistan, with some politicians threatening to oppose the corridor if its route is not planned along some specific areas. Economic expert Dr Kaisar Bengali says that while Pakistan has many problems to overcome, its move to end militant sanctuaries in the north-west has created an air of expectancy, and the arrival of Chinese investment at this time suggests Pakistan has a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make an economic turnaround. "This is Pakistan's first opportunity since the 1960 Indus Water Treaty to change its economic geography," he says. The economic corridor starts at Gwadar and ends at Kashgar. Gwadar is located on the Arabian Sea coast of Balochistan, a province in south-west Pakistan which is wracked by a decade-old separatist insurgency. Kashgar is located at the centre of China's only Muslim-majority, Turkic-speaking Xinjiang region. It is populated mainly by ethnic Uighur Muslims, and has been home to a separatist movement since the mid-1990s. There has been a recent upsurge in violence which China blames on separatist "terrorists". Between Gwadar and Kashgar, the corridor passes through areas that are within striking range of Pakistan's Taliban insurgents. Until recently they controlled territory along Pakistan's north-western border with Afghanistan, and hosted the largest concentration of Uighur militants outside China. They still have a presence in the border region, though their sanctuaries have been disrupted by a Pakistani military operation that began last June. Both Uighur and Pakistani Taliban militants have been targeting Chinese nationals in Pakistan. The Baloch insurgents have their roots in socialist ideology, but they too dismiss the Chinese as allies of Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province which they accuse of "robbing" Balochistan's resources. A former diplomat, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, said in a TV debate that the Pakistani army has decided to raise a special force to safeguard this 3,000km corridor. Many are sceptical because the army previously failed to ensure a trouble-free supply to Nato troops in Afghanistan. But some believe the military is likely to treat the Chinese corridor differently because the economic benefits accruing from it could help isolate Baloch insurgents. Pakistanis have long described their "friendship" with China as higher than the Himalayas, deeper than the oceans, and as information minister Pervez Rashid put it more recently, sweeter than honey. But behind these lofty words lie some hard-core interests. China has been a more reliable and less meddlesome supplier of military hardware to Pakistan than the US, and is therefore seen by Pakistanis as a silent ally against arch-rival India. Friendly exchanges with China also help Pakistan show to its "more volatile" allies in the west, notably the US, that it has other powerful friends as well. For the Chinese, the relationship has a geo-strategic significance. The corridor through Gwadar gives them their shortest access to the Middle East and Africa, where thousands of Chinese firms, employing tens of thousands of Chinese workers, are involved in development work. The corridor also promises to open up remote, landlocked Xinjiang, and create incentives for both state and private enterprises to expand economic activity and create jobs in this under-developed region. China could also be trying to find alternative trade routes to by-pass the Malacca straits, presently the only maritime route China can use to access the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Apart from being long, it can be blockaded in times of war. This may be the reason China is also pursuing an eastern corridor to the Bay of Bengal, expected to pass through parts of Myanmar, Bangladesh and possibly India. Experts say much of Chinese activity is geared towards boosting domestic income and consumption as its previous policy of encouraging cheap exports is no longer enough to sustain growth. On the external front, it is investing in a number of ports in Asia in an apparent attempt to access sources of energy and increase its influence over maritime routes. There are indications the Americans have been encouraging China to play a stabilising role in Afghanistan. And few in Pakistan believe that American influence is likely to significantly recede from this region in the short run. In the long run, though, the Americans will definitely be working on strategies to cope with the rise of Russia and China, and what that means for the resource-rich regions of Central Asia and the Middle East. Likewise, while the Indians have China as one of their largest trading partners, they may have long-term security concerns about Chinese control of the Pakistani port of Gwadar. | What do the US and India think? | 6,219 | There are indications the Americans have been encouraging China to play a stabilising role in Afghanistan. And few in Pakistan believe that American influence is likely to significantly recede from this region in the short run. In the long run, though, the Americans will definitely be working on strategies to cope with the rise of Russia and China, and what that means for the resource-rich regions of Central Asia and the Middle East. Likewise, while the Indians have China as one of their largest trading partners, they may have long-term security concerns about Chinese control of the Pakistani port of Gwadar. | 0.487359 |
11_0 | The Islamist militant group Boko Haram has been active in north-eastern Nigeria for well over a decade. President Buhari says its activities have been largely brought under control since he assumed office in 2015. His political opponents disagree and say the situation has recently deteriorated both in terms of the number of attacks and kidnappings by the group. Ahead of Nigeria's elections on 23 February, BBC Reality Check examines the competing claims over the security situation in the country. Formed around 2002 as a non-violent organisation with the aim of purifying Islam in northern Nigeria, it became increasingly radicalised and eventually adopted militant tactics in pursuit of its aims. It has been active not only in Nigeria, but also in the neighbouring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon. Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed and more than two million displaced over the past decade. Boko Haram has been notorious for kidnapping schoolchildren and attracted global media attention in 2014 following the abduction of almost 300 girls from a school in the town of Chibok, in Borno, the state where the militant group has been most active. In 2015, Boko Haram was ranked the world's deadliest terror group by the Institute for Economics and Peace. Since then, territory controlled by the group has declined and it has splintered into competing factions. However, the Islamist militants remain active in the region, defying attempts by the army to bring the insurgency to an end. To underline this continued activity, in 2018 more than 100 schoolgirls were kidnapped from the northern town of Dapchi. Most of the girls were eventually released. The former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is supporting main opposition candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has strongly criticised President Muhammadu Buhari's record on tackling Boko Haram. "The security situation has deteriorated, with kidnapping everywhere," said Mr Obasanjo in January. But President Buhari's view of the security situation is very different. He says the militants have been "decimated" since 2015 in their stronghold of Borno State. So what are the available facts regarding both attacks on civilians and on kidnappings? Insecurity and poor communications in rural areas make assessment both for the government and independent organisations particularly difficult and many incidents go unreported. The Nigerian government's National Bureau of Statistics provides public access to economic, social and general security data gathered within Nigeria but a spokesman told BBC News it did not collect data on the activities of Boko Haram. However, research by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) tracks information by monitoring local media and other reports. From a peak in 2015 of more than 5,000, the number of deaths attributed to Boko Haram has fallen off significantly to below 1,000 a year for the past three years. This decline followed a military campaign launched against Boko Haram in 2015 by the Nigerian government, with international support. Large areas of territory previously controlled by Boko Haram were recaptured during this offensive. So, President Buhari is right to say killings by militants have declined substantially since he came to office in 2015. But these attacks have not ended completely and there have been several in the early weeks of 2019. "In terms of the current situation, I do think the current trend line is quite dangerous and that they are far from defeated," says Alex Thurston, a visiting assistant professor of political science and comparative religion at Miami University of Ohio. The Nigeria Security Tracker, a product of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), in Washington, monitors kidnappings through local media reports. These indicate a peak in the number of kidnappings in 2014 and 2015, when Boko Haram was at its strongest militarily. However, despite a dramatic fall in reported kidnappings in 2016, the level has risen since then, with 310 reported last year. One theory put forward for this increase is that as Boko Haram has lost territory and military influence, its tactics have shifted away from direct confrontation with security forces. Instead, the militants have turned their attention to soft targets such as schools and rural villages, taking hostages from these locations. So, when Mr Obasanjo says "the security situation has deteriorated with kidnapping everywhere", he's right in the sense that the level of kidnapping is on the increase and that major incidents such as the kidnapping of more than 100 schoolgirls in Dapchi, in 2018, do give serious cause for concern. This fear is particularly heightened given Boko Haram's use of children as suicide bombers. In 2017 and 2018, there were 77 and 26 incidences respectively of children being used in this way by the militants. In 2016 this figure was nine, according to Unicef. Looking at the distribution of all kidnappings across Nigeria, this is clearly not the case, with Boko Haram operating largely in the far north-east of the country. Kidnappings have also been regularly reported in the country's oil-rich southern Niger Delta region - but these are unrelated to the activities of Boko Haram. So, looking at the overall picture of kidnappings, not just by Boko Haram, you can see that the distribution is more geographically widespread - but it's certainly not the case as Mr Obasanjo says that kidnappings have been taking place "everywhere" across the country. Overall, the picture of Boko Haram activity in the north-east of Nigeria appears to be one of declining military activity. But along with this has come a recent rise in kidnappings although it's not clear whether this indicates a resurgence in the strength of the group or a re-focusing on softer targets. Amendment: The Nigerian presidential election has been delayed until 23 February and this has been reflected in the article. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter | What is Boko Haram? | 501 | Formed around 2002 as a non-violent organisation with the aim of purifying Islam in northern Nigeria, it became increasingly radicalised and eventually adopted militant tactics in pursuit of its aims. It has been active not only in Nigeria, but also in the neighbouring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon. Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed and more than two million displaced over the past decade. Boko Haram has been notorious for kidnapping schoolchildren and attracted global media attention in 2014 following the abduction of almost 300 girls from a school in the town of Chibok, in Borno, the state where the militant group has been most active. In 2015, Boko Haram was ranked the world's deadliest terror group by the Institute for Economics and Peace. Since then, territory controlled by the group has declined and it has splintered into competing factions. However, the Islamist militants remain active in the region, defying attempts by the army to bring the insurgency to an end. To underline this continued activity, in 2018 more than 100 schoolgirls were kidnapped from the northern town of Dapchi. Most of the girls were eventually released. | 0.603554 |
11_1 | The Islamist militant group Boko Haram has been active in north-eastern Nigeria for well over a decade. President Buhari says its activities have been largely brought under control since he assumed office in 2015. His political opponents disagree and say the situation has recently deteriorated both in terms of the number of attacks and kidnappings by the group. Ahead of Nigeria's elections on 23 February, BBC Reality Check examines the competing claims over the security situation in the country. Formed around 2002 as a non-violent organisation with the aim of purifying Islam in northern Nigeria, it became increasingly radicalised and eventually adopted militant tactics in pursuit of its aims. It has been active not only in Nigeria, but also in the neighbouring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon. Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed and more than two million displaced over the past decade. Boko Haram has been notorious for kidnapping schoolchildren and attracted global media attention in 2014 following the abduction of almost 300 girls from a school in the town of Chibok, in Borno, the state where the militant group has been most active. In 2015, Boko Haram was ranked the world's deadliest terror group by the Institute for Economics and Peace. Since then, territory controlled by the group has declined and it has splintered into competing factions. However, the Islamist militants remain active in the region, defying attempts by the army to bring the insurgency to an end. To underline this continued activity, in 2018 more than 100 schoolgirls were kidnapped from the northern town of Dapchi. Most of the girls were eventually released. The former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is supporting main opposition candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has strongly criticised President Muhammadu Buhari's record on tackling Boko Haram. "The security situation has deteriorated, with kidnapping everywhere," said Mr Obasanjo in January. But President Buhari's view of the security situation is very different. He says the militants have been "decimated" since 2015 in their stronghold of Borno State. So what are the available facts regarding both attacks on civilians and on kidnappings? Insecurity and poor communications in rural areas make assessment both for the government and independent organisations particularly difficult and many incidents go unreported. The Nigerian government's National Bureau of Statistics provides public access to economic, social and general security data gathered within Nigeria but a spokesman told BBC News it did not collect data on the activities of Boko Haram. However, research by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) tracks information by monitoring local media and other reports. From a peak in 2015 of more than 5,000, the number of deaths attributed to Boko Haram has fallen off significantly to below 1,000 a year for the past three years. This decline followed a military campaign launched against Boko Haram in 2015 by the Nigerian government, with international support. Large areas of territory previously controlled by Boko Haram were recaptured during this offensive. So, President Buhari is right to say killings by militants have declined substantially since he came to office in 2015. But these attacks have not ended completely and there have been several in the early weeks of 2019. "In terms of the current situation, I do think the current trend line is quite dangerous and that they are far from defeated," says Alex Thurston, a visiting assistant professor of political science and comparative religion at Miami University of Ohio. The Nigeria Security Tracker, a product of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), in Washington, monitors kidnappings through local media reports. These indicate a peak in the number of kidnappings in 2014 and 2015, when Boko Haram was at its strongest militarily. However, despite a dramatic fall in reported kidnappings in 2016, the level has risen since then, with 310 reported last year. One theory put forward for this increase is that as Boko Haram has lost territory and military influence, its tactics have shifted away from direct confrontation with security forces. Instead, the militants have turned their attention to soft targets such as schools and rural villages, taking hostages from these locations. So, when Mr Obasanjo says "the security situation has deteriorated with kidnapping everywhere", he's right in the sense that the level of kidnapping is on the increase and that major incidents such as the kidnapping of more than 100 schoolgirls in Dapchi, in 2018, do give serious cause for concern. This fear is particularly heightened given Boko Haram's use of children as suicide bombers. In 2017 and 2018, there were 77 and 26 incidences respectively of children being used in this way by the militants. In 2016 this figure was nine, according to Unicef. Looking at the distribution of all kidnappings across Nigeria, this is clearly not the case, with Boko Haram operating largely in the far north-east of the country. Kidnappings have also been regularly reported in the country's oil-rich southern Niger Delta region - but these are unrelated to the activities of Boko Haram. So, looking at the overall picture of kidnappings, not just by Boko Haram, you can see that the distribution is more geographically widespread - but it's certainly not the case as Mr Obasanjo says that kidnappings have been taking place "everywhere" across the country. Overall, the picture of Boko Haram activity in the north-east of Nigeria appears to be one of declining military activity. But along with this has come a recent rise in kidnappings although it's not clear whether this indicates a resurgence in the strength of the group or a re-focusing on softer targets. Amendment: The Nigerian presidential election has been delayed until 23 February and this has been reflected in the article. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter | Have attacks by Boko Haram declined? | 2,220 | Insecurity and poor communications in rural areas make assessment both for the government and independent organisations particularly difficult and many incidents go unreported. The Nigerian government's National Bureau of Statistics provides public access to economic, social and general security data gathered within Nigeria but a spokesman told BBC News it did not collect data on the activities of Boko Haram. However, research by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) tracks information by monitoring local media and other reports. From a peak in 2015 of more than 5,000, the number of deaths attributed to Boko Haram has fallen off significantly to below 1,000 a year for the past three years. This decline followed a military campaign launched against Boko Haram in 2015 by the Nigerian government, with international support. Large areas of territory previously controlled by Boko Haram were recaptured during this offensive. | 0.599687 |
12_3 | Tent camps have become one of the most prominent and controversial symbols of San Francisco's problem with homelessness. The camps have sprung up along streets and under overpasses, swelling in some cases to 30 or 40 tents. They have divided opinion in a city which has seen an influx of well-paid tech workers in recent years but struggled to house its poorer citizens. Now a new ballot measure, backed financially by tech investors and to be voted on by residents next month, is proposing to introduce laws against the tent camps. Proposition Q would give the city the right to tear down camps and remove residents' belongings. Police would have to give 24 hours notice and find a shelter for anyone they turf out. Supporters say the measure prioritises housing over dangerous camp environments. Opponents say it is yet another move to criminalise the homeless. Here's what you need to know about Prop Q. In theory, a police officer or other city worker would offer someone sleeping in a tent a room in a shelter for the night, or a paid bus ticket out of the city to a family member or friend, under the city's existing "Homeward Bound" programme. If the homeless person refused, they would be given 24 hours notice to dismantle their tent and vacate the site. If they failed to comply, the city would remove the tent and store the owner's possessions for up to 90 days. Prop Q was drawn up and sponsored by Mark Farrell, a San Francisco city supervisor. Mr Farrell told the BBC that the camps had become "the symbol of the city's homeless problem" and were "some of the most dangerous places you can imagine". "From documented rapes, to fires, to tonnes and tonnes of waste - these camps are a significant strain on our public safety resources," he said. Mr Farrell and Prop Q's other advocates say no one will be moved on from a camp unless there is a guaranteed bed for them that night. He said that allowing the camps to remain and providing water or other assistance would encourage homeless people to come to the city. "If word got out... we would see a massive influx of tent camps in the city," he said. Mr Farrell said he "completely rejected" the accusation that the law would criminalise the homeless. "This is about rejecting dangerous living environments and prioritising shelter and housing," he said. In the other corner is San Francisco city supervisor John Avalos, Prop Q's official opposition. Mr Avalos called Prop Q "a political move". "Police already have all the powers they need to move encampments," he said in an interview. "This measure is on the ballot so voters can vote with their anger about homelessness." He said the key to solving homelessness was to focus resources on supportive housing. "This measure does not do anything to increase supportive housing, it pushes people from sidewalk to sidewalk, from block to block, in the hope of housing that doesn't exist." "This is kind of like a tough love measure," he said. "But we know from the past, they tend to operate on very little love and mostly toughness." Also opposing the law is San Francisco's Coalition on Homelessness charity. Jennifer Friedenbach, the charity's executive director, called it "an incredibly deceptive measure" and warned it would stir up hate against the homeless. "It's already illegal for tents to be on the sidewalks," she said. "So it bears the question why put it on the ballot? The only reason is to have the homeless vilified to draw out more conservative voters." Not exactly. San Francisco has a lower homelessness rate than many major US cities including LA, Seattle, and Washington DC. But San Francisco does have a significantly higher proportion of unsheltered homeless people - 511 per 100,000 people, according to 2015 data from the city's Housing Department. That's more than five times the rate of unsheltered homeless than Washington DC, which has twice the overall rate of homelessness. And San Francisco's homelessness rate is slowing growing, according to the Housing Department's biannual survey. One of the central arguments against Prop Q is that there aren't enough rooms in shelters to move people to, so the homeless will just get pushed around. Mr Farrell says that a new so-called Navigation Centre under development, plus the city's existing sheltered housing, will total 1,500 rooms, against just 600 people believed to be in tent camps. But opponents point to the total number of homeless in the city, thought to be at least 6,500 but possibly as high as 9,500, and say there is already a long daily waiting list for a room. "We have over 800 people waiting for shelter," said Ms Friedenbach, "and the city would hold shelter beds empty in order to offer them to people in encampments, putting other elderly people and people with disabilities who are in those shelter beds out on the streets." Is San Francisco tougher on homelessness than other cities? According to a 2015 study by California's University of Berkeley, the average city in the state has nine homelessness laws - significantly more than in other states. San Francisco has the most - 23 laws. San Francisco's include so called "sit-lie" - a 2010 measure which bans sitting or lying on the sidewalk during daytime hours and is punishable by up to six months in prison. And a 2015 measure against begging which set a 20ft perimeter around cash machines and made it illegal to ask for money again from someone who had refused. That measure did also include provisions to get more homeless people into drug or mental health programmes instead of prison. According to a report by the Guardian, wealthy tech investors have donated significant amounts of money to the campaign for Prop Q. The newspaper reported that Sequoia Capital chairman Michael Moritz, tech angel investor Ron Conway, and hedge-fund investor William Oberndorf donated $49,999 each to a war chest totalling $270,000. Mr Farrell said the campaign had also had large numbers of small donations from ordinary voters, but the news that rich investors putting up most of the funds has angered many. "These are people who spend more money in a year than homeless people have for a budget for food for six years... I mean how awful to have a billionaire funding a campaign to take away people's tents," Ms Friedenbach said. Anti-homelessness legislation has typically been popular among voters in San Francisco and proponents say they are confident of it passing. The measure needs more than 50% of the vote to pass. Voting is on 8 November. | Is homelessness particularly bad in San Francisco? | 3,486 | Not exactly. San Francisco has a lower homelessness rate than many major US cities including LA, Seattle, and Washington DC. But San Francisco does have a significantly higher proportion of unsheltered homeless people - 511 per 100,000 people, according to 2015 data from the city's Housing Department. That's more than five times the rate of unsheltered homeless than Washington DC, which has twice the overall rate of homelessness. And San Francisco's homelessness rate is slowing growing, according to the Housing Department's biannual survey. | 0.796113 |
13_1 | It's crunch time for the government's EU Withdrawal Bill - the bill which aims to ensure European law will no longer apply in the UK after Brexit. This key plank of legislation, once known as the Great Repeal Bill, has reached committee stage in the House of Commons, which is the bit where there will be hundreds of attempts by MPs to change its wording. As its informal name suggests, the repeal bill will repeal the 1972 European Communities Act, which took Britain into the EU and meant that European law took precedence over laws passed in the UK Parliament. It will also end the power of the European Court of Justice in the UK. All existing EU legislation will be copied across into domestic UK law to ensure a smooth transition on the day after Brexit. The government says it wants to avoid a "black hole in our statute book" and avoid disruption to businesses and individual citizens as the UK leaves the EU. The UK Parliament can then "amend, repeal and improve" individual laws as necessary. Ensuring the continuity of EU rules and regulations is also meant to aid trade negotiations with the EU because the UK will already meet all of its product stands. The bill is likely to be "one of the largest legislative projects ever undertaken in the UK", a report by the House of Commons library predicts, with "major swathes of the statute book" needing to be examined to see how they will work after Brexit. This is because working out which bits of UK law came from the EU is not as simple as it may sound. In fact, it presents a "unique challenge", a House of Lords committee warned, because "the body of EU law is found in a number of different places, and in a number of different forms". Simply transposing all EU law into UK legislation will not be enough, the government's White Paper on the bill says. Swathes of UK law "will no longer work" on exit, for example because they refer to EU institutions. Not all of this can be done through the repeal bill, so the government plans to create powers to "correct the statute book where necessary" - without full Parliamentary scrutiny. This power - known as Henry VIII power - is the one of the most controversial features of the bill (see below). More complications are presented by the government's negotiations with the EU, which will be taking place while the bill is passing through Parliament. Those talks could shape what the UK's post-Brexit laws look like - but the repeal bill will need to be done and dusted by the day the UK leaves. The government plans to enact its "corrections" to the statute book using what are known as Henry VIII powers, after the Statute of Proclamations 1539 which gave him the power to legislate by proclamation. Given that this will not involve the usual Parliamentary scrutiny process, opposition parties have protested, with Labour claiming ministers were being handed "sweeping powers" to make hasty, ill thought-out legislation. Ministers have attempted to reassure critics by saying such measures will be time-limited and not used to make policy changes. In total, the government estimates that 800 to 1,000 measures called statutory instruments will be required to make sure the bill functions properly. A lot. The government's White Paper says there is "no single figure" for this, but that there are believed to be 12,000 EU regulations (one type of EU law) in force, while Parliament has passed 7,900 statutory instruments implementing EU legislation and 186 acts which incorporate a degree of EU influence. The total body of European law, dating back to 1958, is known as the Acquis Communautaire. It binds all member states and in 2010 was estimated to consist of about 80,000 items, covering everything from workers' rights to environment and trade. As well as regulations, this includes EU treaties, directions and European Court of Justice rulings. New EU legislation is being created all the time and will continue to apply to the UK until it leaves. Different types of EU legislation work in different ways, and will be treated differently by the bill. So regulations, which apply automatically in the UK, will be converted into UK law. But directives require a new UK law to come into force - this legislation will be preserved by the bill. Reality check: How much UK law comes from the EU? MPs have already voted to approve the second reading of the bill, by 326 votes to 290. But there are many hurdles ahead and on Tuesday the line-by-line scrutiny of how it will operate begins. As tends to happen with legislation deemed to be of constitutional importance, this 'committee stage' is taking place on the floor of the House of Commons, so all MPs can take part. Eight days have been allocated for this process, which will be followed by more stages including the bill's passage through the House of Lords. The plan is for it to be passed ahead of the UK's exit from the EU but to become law only when it actually leaves, in March 2019. Read more: A guide to the EU bill's journey through Parliament Labour, the SNP and the Lib Dems all opposed the bill at second reading, and MPs from all parties - with the exception of the DUP - are now trying to amend it at committee stage. Labour's suggested changes include trying to maintain a role for the European Court of Justice during the transition phase planned after March 2019. There is also a cross-party attempt to prevent the UK from leaving the EU without a deal in place. Until the UK actually leaves, EU law will continue to apply. But after leaving, the European Union (Withdrawal) Act (as it will be by then) comes into force. The government says having the legislation in place will ensure a "calm and orderly exit". Then begins the long-term process of the government, and Parliament, choosing what it wants to do with the laws it has incorporated from the EU. With so many pieces of legislation to be considered, this could turn out to be a "major drain on resources" and should not "crowd out" other government policies, the Institute for Government think tank has warned. Some of the EU laws are in areas that are controlled by the devolved administrations - so do they now become part of Westminster law, or will they be added to the statute book in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland? It is not entirely clear how this will work, although the government says it will work closely with the devolved administrations. It also predicts the repeal process will result in a "a significant increase in the decision-making power of each devolved administration", as powers in devolved areas are repatriated from Brussels. But the bill has been described by the Scottish government as an "executive power grab". Ministers have confirmed the devolved administrations will be asked to consent to the bill - but this does not amount to a veto. The UK government has warned that blocking the bill could have "very significant consequences", leaving "a hole in our law". | How much EU law is there? | 3,210 | A lot. The government's White Paper says there is "no single figure" for this, but that there are believed to be 12,000 EU regulations (one type of EU law) in force, while Parliament has passed 7,900 statutory instruments implementing EU legislation and 186 acts which incorporate a degree of EU influence. The total body of European law, dating back to 1958, is known as the Acquis Communautaire. It binds all member states and in 2010 was estimated to consist of about 80,000 items, covering everything from workers' rights to environment and trade. As well as regulations, this includes EU treaties, directions and European Court of Justice rulings. New EU legislation is being created all the time and will continue to apply to the UK until it leaves. Different types of EU legislation work in different ways, and will be treated differently by the bill. So regulations, which apply automatically in the UK, will be converted into UK law. But directives require a new UK law to come into force - this legislation will be preserved by the bill. Reality check: How much UK law comes from the EU? | 0.756006 |
15_0 | The death in a prison cell of a Syrian refugee suspected of planning a bomb attack in Germany is a judicial scandal, his lawyer has said. Jaber al-Bakr, 22, strangled himself in a jail in Leipzig with his shirt and the government has demanded an immediate inquiry. His lawyer said the prison was aware Bakr was a suicide risk after he was captured on Monday. However, regional authorities said he had not been considered an acute risk. Jaber al-Bakr was detained on Monday on suspicion of plotting to bomb an airport in Berlin, possibly in the coming days. When police raided his flat in the eastern city of Chemnitz early on Saturday, they found 1.5kg of TATP, a home-made explosive used in the deadly jihadist attacks in Paris last year and in Brussels last March. Sebastian Gemkow, justice minister in the eastern state of Saxony, told reporters a psychological assessment of the prisoner had been made and safety measures had been taken. And the head of the prison described Bakr during the day as "calm and on an even keel". "It shouldn't have happened, but it did," the justice minister said, adding that he took responsibility for the suicide but would not resign. Prison officials rejected reports that Bakr was only being checked on an hourly basis. Originally, he was given top-level supervision, involving 15-minute intervals, but a panel of experts agreed hours before he died to lower the regular checks to every 30 minutes. There is no video monitoring of prisoners held in remand cells in Saxony, said prison governor Rolf Jacob. A guard stationed outside the cell door would have been more appropriate, he acknowledged. Jabr al-Bakr's body was found at 19:45 (17:45 GMT) on Wednesday evening, 15 minutes after a regular check, the prison governor said. Attempts to resuscitate him failed. Defence lawyer Alexander Huebner was adamant his client was a risk as he had already broken light bulbs and tampered with power sockets. He had also been refusing food and drink. The prison governor said later that the damage had been assessed as vandalism rather than an indication of potential suicide. "How could this happen?" Mr Huebner asked. "He must have been the best-guarded prisoner in Germany." German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere demanded a "rapid and comprehensive inquiry". He told German TV that Bakr's death had made the task of investigating the possible Berlin airport bomb plot much harder. Centre-right CDU politician Wolfgang Bosbach said it was a tragedy to lose such an important source of intelligence. Leading centre-left SPD politician Burkhard Lischka blamed the Saxony authorities for the death in custody and said years of underfunding were to blame. Family Affairs Minister Manuela Schwesig simply tweeted: "What on earth's going on?" Granted asylum last year after coming to Germany in February 2015, he had been under surveillance for months on suspicion of being linked to jihadist group Islamic State. But when police raided his flat early on Saturday, he escaped. Police fired a warning shot but were wary of harming neighbours. After a two-day manhunt Bakr made his way to Leipzig, where he asked three Syrian asylum seekers for help. The three told police they had heard about the manhunt and tied him up while one of them knelt on him. One of the men took a photo of the captive to a police station, and he was detained in the early hours of Monday. Widely hailed as heroes in Germany, the three men were apparently implicated by Bakr in the bomb plot, German media reported, citing security officials in Leipzig. Call to reward Syrian refugees who arrested fugitive | What went wrong at the jail? | 767 | Sebastian Gemkow, justice minister in the eastern state of Saxony, told reporters a psychological assessment of the prisoner had been made and safety measures had been taken. And the head of the prison described Bakr during the day as "calm and on an even keel". "It shouldn't have happened, but it did," the justice minister said, adding that he took responsibility for the suicide but would not resign. Prison officials rejected reports that Bakr was only being checked on an hourly basis. Originally, he was given top-level supervision, involving 15-minute intervals, but a panel of experts agreed hours before he died to lower the regular checks to every 30 minutes. There is no video monitoring of prisoners held in remand cells in Saxony, said prison governor Rolf Jacob. A guard stationed outside the cell door would have been more appropriate, he acknowledged. Jabr al-Bakr's body was found at 19:45 (17:45 GMT) on Wednesday evening, 15 minutes after a regular check, the prison governor said. Attempts to resuscitate him failed. Defence lawyer Alexander Huebner was adamant his client was a risk as he had already broken light bulbs and tampered with power sockets. He had also been refusing food and drink. The prison governor said later that the damage had been assessed as vandalism rather than an indication of potential suicide. "How could this happen?" Mr Huebner asked. "He must have been the best-guarded prisoner in Germany." | 0.394024 |
15_1 | The death in a prison cell of a Syrian refugee suspected of planning a bomb attack in Germany is a judicial scandal, his lawyer has said. Jaber al-Bakr, 22, strangled himself in a jail in Leipzig with his shirt and the government has demanded an immediate inquiry. His lawyer said the prison was aware Bakr was a suicide risk after he was captured on Monday. However, regional authorities said he had not been considered an acute risk. Jaber al-Bakr was detained on Monday on suspicion of plotting to bomb an airport in Berlin, possibly in the coming days. When police raided his flat in the eastern city of Chemnitz early on Saturday, they found 1.5kg of TATP, a home-made explosive used in the deadly jihadist attacks in Paris last year and in Brussels last March. Sebastian Gemkow, justice minister in the eastern state of Saxony, told reporters a psychological assessment of the prisoner had been made and safety measures had been taken. And the head of the prison described Bakr during the day as "calm and on an even keel". "It shouldn't have happened, but it did," the justice minister said, adding that he took responsibility for the suicide but would not resign. Prison officials rejected reports that Bakr was only being checked on an hourly basis. Originally, he was given top-level supervision, involving 15-minute intervals, but a panel of experts agreed hours before he died to lower the regular checks to every 30 minutes. There is no video monitoring of prisoners held in remand cells in Saxony, said prison governor Rolf Jacob. A guard stationed outside the cell door would have been more appropriate, he acknowledged. Jabr al-Bakr's body was found at 19:45 (17:45 GMT) on Wednesday evening, 15 minutes after a regular check, the prison governor said. Attempts to resuscitate him failed. Defence lawyer Alexander Huebner was adamant his client was a risk as he had already broken light bulbs and tampered with power sockets. He had also been refusing food and drink. The prison governor said later that the damage had been assessed as vandalism rather than an indication of potential suicide. "How could this happen?" Mr Huebner asked. "He must have been the best-guarded prisoner in Germany." German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere demanded a "rapid and comprehensive inquiry". He told German TV that Bakr's death had made the task of investigating the possible Berlin airport bomb plot much harder. Centre-right CDU politician Wolfgang Bosbach said it was a tragedy to lose such an important source of intelligence. Leading centre-left SPD politician Burkhard Lischka blamed the Saxony authorities for the death in custody and said years of underfunding were to blame. Family Affairs Minister Manuela Schwesig simply tweeted: "What on earth's going on?" Granted asylum last year after coming to Germany in February 2015, he had been under surveillance for months on suspicion of being linked to jihadist group Islamic State. But when police raided his flat early on Saturday, he escaped. Police fired a warning shot but were wary of harming neighbours. After a two-day manhunt Bakr made his way to Leipzig, where he asked three Syrian asylum seekers for help. The three told police they had heard about the manhunt and tied him up while one of them knelt on him. One of the men took a photo of the captive to a police station, and he was detained in the early hours of Monday. Widely hailed as heroes in Germany, the three men were apparently implicated by Bakr in the bomb plot, German media reported, citing security officials in Leipzig. Call to reward Syrian refugees who arrested fugitive | How serious is the blow to German intelligence? | 2,211 | German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere demanded a "rapid and comprehensive inquiry". He told German TV that Bakr's death had made the task of investigating the possible Berlin airport bomb plot much harder. Centre-right CDU politician Wolfgang Bosbach said it was a tragedy to lose such an important source of intelligence. Leading centre-left SPD politician Burkhard Lischka blamed the Saxony authorities for the death in custody and said years of underfunding were to blame. Family Affairs Minister Manuela Schwesig simply tweeted: "What on earth's going on?" | 0.430031 |
18_0 | US President Donald Trump has attacked Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election, calling it a "total mess" and "absolutely nuts". He tweeted on Thursday that investigators were "threatening" people to provide "the answers they want". "They are screaming and shouting at people," Mr Trump wrote, adding that no collusion between his election campaign and Russia had been found. He says the inquiry is a "witch hunt". The US president has previously said the special counsel investigation led by Mr Mueller, who is a highly regarded former head of the FBI and a Republican, was unfair and dominated by "hardened Democrats". In Mr Trump's latest tweets, he describes Mr Mueller as "conflicted" and says that those involved in the long-running probe "are a disgrace to our nation". The president later tweeted that Mr Mueller and "his gang of Democrat thugs" were destroying people, and blamed social media tech giants for unfavourable coverage towards his administration and the Republicans. "Check out how biased Facebook, Google and Twitter are in favour of the Democrats," he wrote. It is unclear what was behind his latest comments and Mr Trump did not provide any evidence for his claims. Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC Washington Donald Trump is back on the attack against Robert Mueller's special counsel investigation. After a brief mid-term interlude that included dire warnings about refugee caravans in Mexico and mix-and-match endorsements of Republican candidates, the looming Russia investigation is back on the president's mind - and his Twitter feed. Mr Trump may simply be reflecting the growing sense that Mr Mueller is poised for new action after a pre-election quiet period. Rumours and reports have swirled of impending indictments and late nights at the special counsel's office. There's also the possibility that the president knows something new - either passed along from his lawyers or allies under investigation, or from his newly appointed acting attorney general, who the New York Times referred to in September as the White House's "eyes and ears" in the justice department. Whatever the explanation, Mr Trump has appeared in a sour mood of late, lashing out at the media and, according to background sources, considering changes to his top staff. There is the feeling in Washington of an impending storm, of threats to the presidency from the outside and within. It's been a quiet few days, but that seems certain to change. It comes just a week after the US president forced the resignation of Jeff Sessions, the US Attorney General who was an early supporter of Mr Trump. Mr Sessions had earlier voluntarily removed himself from the Russia probe after Democrats accused him of failing to disclose contacts with the Russian ambassador during his Senate confirmation hearing. Following this decision, Mr Trump told the New York Times: "Sessions should have never recused himself, and if he was going to recuse himself, he should have told me before he took the job and I would have picked somebody else." Mr Sessions' replacement in charge of the Department of Justice, Matthew Whitaker, now has the power to sack Mr Mueller or end the investigation. Mr Whitaker, who has been appointed acting attorney general, has been open about his concerns over the scope of Mr Mueller's inquiry. In 2016, US intelligence agencies concluded that Russia had used a state-authorised campaign of cyber attacks and fake news stories planted on social media in an attempt to turn the election against Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton. A team of investigators led by Mr Mueller is looking into whether anyone from Mr Trump's campaign colluded in the effort. It has been established that senior members of Mr Trump's team met Russian officials, while several of these meetings were not initially disclosed. The president's son, Donald Trump Jr, met a Russian lawyer during the campaign who was said to have "dirt" on Mrs Clinton, and adviser George Papadopoulos has admitted lying to the FBI about meetings with alleged go-betweens for Russia. Four people connected with Mr Trump's campaign and presidency have been charged and further indictments could be issued. However the US president denies any wrongdoing and no solid evidence has emerged to implicate him. | What is behind the Russia investigation? | 3,368 | In 2016, US intelligence agencies concluded that Russia had used a state-authorised campaign of cyber attacks and fake news stories planted on social media in an attempt to turn the election against Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton. A team of investigators led by Mr Mueller is looking into whether anyone from Mr Trump's campaign colluded in the effort. It has been established that senior members of Mr Trump's team met Russian officials, while several of these meetings were not initially disclosed. The president's son, Donald Trump Jr, met a Russian lawyer during the campaign who was said to have "dirt" on Mrs Clinton, and adviser George Papadopoulos has admitted lying to the FBI about meetings with alleged go-betweens for Russia. Four people connected with Mr Trump's campaign and presidency have been charged and further indictments could be issued. However the US president denies any wrongdoing and no solid evidence has emerged to implicate him. | 0.580374 |
20_0 | US President Donald Trump has named Lt Gen HR McMaster as his national security adviser. He will replace Lt Gen Michael Flynn who was fired after just three weeks and three days in the job. A lieutenant general with the US Army, HR McMaster served in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he worked on a government anti-corruption drive. Mr Trump's first choice, retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward, turned down the role, citing "personal reasons". Mr Trump has praised Herbert Raymond McMaster as "a man of tremendous talent and tremendous experience" who is "highly respected by everybody in the military". Gen McMaster served in Afghanistan and Iraq, and is known as a thoughtful, if straight-talking, military strategist, the BBC's Aleem Maqbool reports from Washington. He does not appear to have close ties to Moscow, and was recently commissioned to study the ways the US could counter some of Russia's military advances, our correspondent adds. Gen McMaster is no stranger to questioning authority. In a 2014 interview, he said: "The commanders that I've worked for, they want frank assessments, they want criticism and feedback." Profile: The new national security adviser How much has Trump achieved so far? Russia: The scandal Trump can't shake Time magazine named him as one of its 100 most influential people in the world in 2014, saying he "might be the 21st Century Army's pre-eminent warrior-thinker". He criticised the US military's involvement in the Vietnam War in his book Dereliction of Duty. He has a PhD in US history from the University of North Carolina. Gen McMaster has said it is "a privilege... to be able to continue serving our nation" and that he looks forward to joining the national security team. The role involves serving as an independent adviser to the president on issues of national security and foreign policy. It is one of the most senior roles in the US government. Observers say the role's influence varies from administration to administration, but the adviser is seen as one of the president's key confidantes. The adviser attends the National Security Council, and may act as a broker between different government departments. The role is not subject to US Senate confirmation. Gen Flynn stepped down after misleading Vice-President Mike Pence over his conversations with Russia's ambassador to the US. Mr Flynn is alleged to have discussed US sanctions with Russia's ambassador in calls before his own appointment. It is illegal for private citizens to conduct US diplomacy. However, Mr Trump wrote on Twitter that the intelligence leaks about Mr Flynn's conversations were "the real scandal". Mr Flynn's short tenure led critics to describe Mr Trump's administration as chaotic. Keith Kellogg, who took over as acting national security adviser after the resignation, will now serve as the National Security Council chief of staff. The other candidates in the running were Robert Caslen, an Army lieutenant general who is the superintendent of the US Military Academy at West Point, and career diplomat John Bolton, who served as George W Bush's ambassador to the UN from August 2005 to December 2006. Mr Trump says Mr Bolton will also serve his government "in another capacity". Mr Trump held interviews with the four men at Mar-a-Lago where he spent the third weekend in a row. He has called Mar-a-Lago, a private property, the "Southern White House". | Who is Lt Gen HR McMaster? | 439 | Mr Trump has praised Herbert Raymond McMaster as "a man of tremendous talent and tremendous experience" who is "highly respected by everybody in the military". Gen McMaster served in Afghanistan and Iraq, and is known as a thoughtful, if straight-talking, military strategist, the BBC's Aleem Maqbool reports from Washington. He does not appear to have close ties to Moscow, and was recently commissioned to study the ways the US could counter some of Russia's military advances, our correspondent adds. Gen McMaster is no stranger to questioning authority. In a 2014 interview, he said: "The commanders that I've worked for, they want frank assessments, they want criticism and feedback." | 0.622046 |
21_0 | Chat apps that promise to prevent your messages being accessed by strangers are under scrutiny again following last week's terror attack in London. On Sunday, the home secretary said the intelligence services must be able to access relevant information. Her comments followed the discovery that Khalid Masood appeared to have used WhatsApp minutes before carrying out his killings. There are doubts about whether that action was related to the atrocity. BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw has highlighted that the police had declared that they believed Masood had acted alone on the day, and would not have done so unless they had accessed and read messages stored on his phone. Even so, the home secretary has summoned WhatsApp's owner, Facebook, and other technology companies to a meeting on Thursday to discuss ways to ensure that security officers get the data they need in the future. Several chat apps have adopted a technique called end-to-end encryption. This digitally scrambles their messages' contents when it leaves a sender's device, and then reassembles it on the recipient's computer using a shared key. The technology company running the service is not made privy to the key, so is unable to make sense of the conversation even though it passes through its computer servers. Some apps, including WhatsApp, Apple's iMessage, Signal and Threema, use end-to-end encryption by default. Others, such as Telegram, Line and Google's Allo, offer it as an option. If end-to-end encryption is active, the technology company running the app is limited in what useful information it can remotely disclose. But if a phone, tablet or PC is not passcode-protected - or if the authorities find a way to bypass the code - the physical device itself will provide access. Not necessarily. When someone sends or reads a message, they generate what's known as "metadata" - information about their interaction that is distinct from the chat's contents. This can include: - the time a message was written - the telephone number or other ID of the person it was sent to - the physical locations of the sender and recipient at the time WhatsApp has shared such details with law enforcement officers in the past and has said it has been co-operating with authorities over last week's incident. In addition, if Apple users subscribe to the company's iCloud Backup service, the firm may be able to recover messages copied to its servers for safe-keeping and it has co-operated with investigators in the past. It is not exactly clear. The Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, told the BBC that chat apps must not "provide a secret place" for terrorists to communicate, and that when a warrant had been issued, officers should be able to "get into situations like encrypted WhatsApp". On Sky News, she later added that she supported end-to-end encryption as a cybersecurity measure, but said it was "absurd to have a situation where you can have terrorists talking to each other on a formal platform... and it can't be accessed". How this would work in practice is uncertain. WhatsApp, for example, does not store messages on its servers after they have been delivered. So, even if there was a way to retrospectively unencrypt the chats, it is unclear how this would work without significant changes to its systems. At one point, there had been speculation that the Investigatory Powers Act - which came into effect last year - might ban chat app's use of end-to-end encryption outright. Instead, it stated that technology companies could be compelled to "provide a technical capability" to remove "electronic protection" within their products - which has been interpreted by some to mean app-makers might be compelled to secretly create backdoors or other security weaknesses to let messages be unscrambled. Files leaked by rogue US National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden and Wikileaks suggest that even the most closely guarded hacking secrets can be revealed. And even if the tech companies did not share the technical details of the backdoors with the authorities - instead limiting themselves to passing on unscrambled chats - the very fact vulnerabilities existed means someone else might sniff them out. As a consequence, public trust in their software might be undermined. "The encryption debate always rages after a terror incident, regardless of how effective backdoors would have been," said security consultant Troy Hunt. "Even if, say, the UK was to ban encryption or mandate weaknesses be built into WhatsApp and iMessage, those with nefarious intent would simply obtain encryption products from other sources. "These responses are kneejerk reactions by those who have little understanding of the efficacy and implications of what they're actually proposing." The TechUK lobby group said other hacking powers and a move to make internet providers keep a record of their customers' internet habits - which were also outlined in the Investigatory Powers Act - meant counter-terrorism officers already had strong powers to tackle threats. "From storing data on the cloud to online banking to identity verification, end-to-end encryption is essential for preventing data being accessed illegally in ways that can harm consumers, business and our national security," said its deputy chief executive, Antony Walker. | What has this got to do with encryption? | 898 | Several chat apps have adopted a technique called end-to-end encryption. This digitally scrambles their messages' contents when it leaves a sender's device, and then reassembles it on the recipient's computer using a shared key. The technology company running the service is not made privy to the key, so is unable to make sense of the conversation even though it passes through its computer servers. Some apps, including WhatsApp, Apple's iMessage, Signal and Threema, use end-to-end encryption by default. Others, such as Telegram, Line and Google's Allo, offer it as an option. If end-to-end encryption is active, the technology company running the app is limited in what useful information it can remotely disclose. But if a phone, tablet or PC is not passcode-protected - or if the authorities find a way to bypass the code - the physical device itself will provide access. | 0.442361 |
22_0 | Austria's highest court has annulled the result of the presidential election narrowly lost by the candidate of the far-right Freedom Party. The party had challenged the result, saying that postal votes had been illegally and improperly handled. The Freedom Party candidate, Norbert Hofer, lost the election to the former leader of the Greens, Alexander Van der Bellen, by just 30,863 votes or less than one percentage point. The election will now be re-run. Announcing the decision, Gerhard Holzinger, head of the Constitutional Court, said: "The challenge brought by Freedom Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache against the 22 May election... has been upheld." He added: "The decision I am announcing today has no winner and no loser, it has only one aim: to strengthen trust in the rule of law and democracy." Austria's politics have been thrown into confusion. One of the most controversial and polarising presidential elections in recent history will have to be re-run. This is a moral victory for the far-right, anti-immigrant and Eurosceptic Freedom Party, which launched the legal challenge last month after alleging "terrifying" irregularities. The Freedom Party is hoping that the decision by the court will help its candidate Norbert Hofer win in the new election this autumn. Hanging over the vote is the shadow of "Brexit" - the UK's decision to leave the EU. Will Mr Hofer choose to make Austria's future membership of the EU a campaign issue? Some Austrians think the vote by the United Kingdom to leave the EU could boost populist and nationalist sentiment in Austria. Others believe the political turbulence in Britain may make people more cautious about Eurosceptic parties. Mr Hofer said on Friday he was pleased that the court had taken "a difficult decision", adding: "I have great trust in the rule of law." Mr Van der Bellen said he was "very confident" he would emerge the winner. "Austria needs to be well represented in Europe and the world. If we can do it once, we can do it again," he told reporters. Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern said the court ruling showed that the country's democracy was strong and he called for "a short campaign, a campaign without emotions". In two weeks of hearings, lawyers for the Freedom Party argued that postal ballots were illegally handled in 94 out of 117 districts. It alleged that thousands of votes were opened earlier than permitted under election rules and some were counted by people unauthorised to do so. The party also claimed to have evidence that some under-16s and foreigners had been allowed to vote. In its ruling, the court said election rules had been broken in a way that could have influenced the result. But it said there was no proof the count had been manipulated. If elected, Mr Hofer would become the first far-right head of state of an EU country. His party has based its election campaigns around concern over immigration and falling living standards for the less well-off. After Britain voted to leave the EU, Mr Hofer said he favoured holding a similar referendum in Austria if the bloc failed to stop centralisation and carry out reforms "within a year". Last Sunday, he told the Oesterreich newspaper (in German): "If [the EU] evolves in the wrong direction, then in my opinion the time has come to ask the Austrians if they still want to be part of it." His opponent, Mr Van der Bellen, is strongly pro-EU and has spoken of his dream for a border-free "United States of Europe". The two men went forward to a run-off when, for the first time since World War Two, both the main centrist parties were knocked out in the first round of voting. Following the court's order to re-run the vote, President Heinz Fischer will be replaced on a temporary basis by three parliamentary officials, including Mr Hofer. The new election is expected to be held in September or October. It is a mostly ceremonial post. But the president does have the power to dissolve the National Council - the more powerful lower house of parliament. That triggers a general election. The president can only do that once for a particular reason - he cannot use the same grounds to dissolve it again. It is the chancellor's job to appoint government ministers. And the chancellor has the power to dismiss the government. But ministers have to be formally sworn in by the president. Norbert Hofer - Age: 45 - Background: Aeronautical engineer - Politics: Far-right Freedom Party - Campaign soundbite: "To those in Austria who go to war for the Islamic State or rape women - I say to those people: 'This is not your home'." Alexander Van der Bellen - Age: 72 - Background: Economics professor - Politics: Former Green Party leader - Campaign soundbite: "I've experienced how Austria rose from the ruins of World War Two, caused by the madness of nationalism." | What powers does the Austrian president have? | 3,867 | It is a mostly ceremonial post. But the president does have the power to dissolve the National Council - the more powerful lower house of parliament. That triggers a general election. The president can only do that once for a particular reason - he cannot use the same grounds to dissolve it again. It is the chancellor's job to appoint government ministers. And the chancellor has the power to dismiss the government. But ministers have to be formally sworn in by the president. | 0.425524 |
24_0 | A government-appointed human rights group in Zimbabwe has accused soldiers of using "systematic torture" in a crackdown on protests. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission strongly criticised authorities for using troops to quell demonstrations. Unrest broke out more than a week ago following a sharp rise in fuel prices. A government spokesman defended the crackdown, telling the BBC: "When things get out of hand, a bit of firmness is needed." Reports have emerged of assaults allegedly carried out by the military in various parts of the capital, Harare. Soldiers in Harare were seen beating a large group of minibus drivers on Tuesday. The BBC's Andrew Harding in Harare spoke to a man who said he and about 30 others had been rounded up and beaten by soldiers for "more than two hours". The continuing violence raises further questions about President Emmerson Mnangagwa's control over the military, which helped bring him to power 14 months ago, our correspondent adds. President Mnangagwa has promised that abuses against civilians will not be tolerated. In a blunt statement, the commission said at least eight deaths had been reported since last week, "mostly attributed to use of live ammunition". "Armed and uniformed members of the Zimbabwe National Army and the Zimbabwe Republic Police instigated systematic torture." It said the torture was "organised" in that security forces targeted men close to where barricades had been erected, and near areas torched by protesters or looted. The commission detailed reports of security forces entering houses at night and making men, and even boys as young as 11, lie on the ground where they were then beaten. "The deployment of the army in quelling civilian disturbances leads to loss of life and serious bodily injuries and other human rights violations, yet the government continues to make such deployments," the statement said. Other reports say at least 12 people have been killed and scores treated for gunshot injuries. More than 600 people have been arrested in relation to the protests - with rights groups and opposition lawmakers saying many have been detained arbitrarily. Pastor Evan Mawarire, a prominent activist who led the 2016 protests against Robert Mugabe, was arrested on 16 January and remains in detention. On Monday Mr Mnangagwa, 76, broke off a trip to Europe to deal with the continuing unrest. He had been due to attend the Davos economic summit where he was expected to seek investment for Zimbabwe. Back in Harare, he took to Twitter to urge all sides to work together to fix a broken economy. In a series of tweets, he said violence or misconduct by security forces was "unacceptable and a betrayal of the new Zimbabwe", adding: "If required, heads will roll." 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 led to angry protests in Harare and the south-western city of Bulawayo. Ellen Ngwenia, a pre-school teacher in Epworth, told the BBC: "I'm not afraid to protest, because we are hungry." Her mother, the school's headteacher, was killed in last week's protests after being hit by an army truck. Ms Ngwenia, who blames the government for her mother's death, said "we will continue protesting until things [are] settled." 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 President Mnangagwa had defeated MDC leader Nelson Chamisa The MDC said on Tuesday that five of its MPs had been detained and refused bail. Party official Morgen Komichi dismissed Mr Mnangagwa's announcement of an investigation into security forces, saying: "We don't trust his word. We don't regard him as an honest leader." 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 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. | What has been alleged? | 1,061 | In a blunt statement, the commission said at least eight deaths had been reported since last week, "mostly attributed to use of live ammunition". "Armed and uniformed members of the Zimbabwe National Army and the Zimbabwe Republic Police instigated systematic torture." It said the torture was "organised" in that security forces targeted men close to where barricades had been erected, and near areas torched by protesters or looted. The commission detailed reports of security forces entering houses at night and making men, and even boys as young as 11, lie on the ground where they were then beaten. "The deployment of the army in quelling civilian disturbances leads to loss of life and serious bodily injuries and other human rights violations, yet the government continues to make such deployments," the statement said. Other reports say at least 12 people have been killed and scores treated for gunshot injuries. More than 600 people have been arrested in relation to the protests - with rights groups and opposition lawmakers saying many have been detained arbitrarily. Pastor Evan Mawarire, a prominent activist who led the 2016 protests against Robert Mugabe, was arrested on 16 January and remains in detention. | 0.399691 |
24_1 | A government-appointed human rights group in Zimbabwe has accused soldiers of using "systematic torture" in a crackdown on protests. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission strongly criticised authorities for using troops to quell demonstrations. Unrest broke out more than a week ago following a sharp rise in fuel prices. A government spokesman defended the crackdown, telling the BBC: "When things get out of hand, a bit of firmness is needed." Reports have emerged of assaults allegedly carried out by the military in various parts of the capital, Harare. Soldiers in Harare were seen beating a large group of minibus drivers on Tuesday. The BBC's Andrew Harding in Harare spoke to a man who said he and about 30 others had been rounded up and beaten by soldiers for "more than two hours". The continuing violence raises further questions about President Emmerson Mnangagwa's control over the military, which helped bring him to power 14 months ago, our correspondent adds. President Mnangagwa has promised that abuses against civilians will not be tolerated. In a blunt statement, the commission said at least eight deaths had been reported since last week, "mostly attributed to use of live ammunition". "Armed and uniformed members of the Zimbabwe National Army and the Zimbabwe Republic Police instigated systematic torture." It said the torture was "organised" in that security forces targeted men close to where barricades had been erected, and near areas torched by protesters or looted. The commission detailed reports of security forces entering houses at night and making men, and even boys as young as 11, lie on the ground where they were then beaten. "The deployment of the army in quelling civilian disturbances leads to loss of life and serious bodily injuries and other human rights violations, yet the government continues to make such deployments," the statement said. Other reports say at least 12 people have been killed and scores treated for gunshot injuries. More than 600 people have been arrested in relation to the protests - with rights groups and opposition lawmakers saying many have been detained arbitrarily. Pastor Evan Mawarire, a prominent activist who led the 2016 protests against Robert Mugabe, was arrested on 16 January and remains in detention. On Monday Mr Mnangagwa, 76, broke off a trip to Europe to deal with the continuing unrest. He had been due to attend the Davos economic summit where he was expected to seek investment for Zimbabwe. Back in Harare, he took to Twitter to urge all sides to work together to fix a broken economy. In a series of tweets, he said violence or misconduct by security forces was "unacceptable and a betrayal of the new Zimbabwe", adding: "If required, heads will roll." 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 led to angry protests in Harare and the south-western city of Bulawayo. Ellen Ngwenia, a pre-school teacher in Epworth, told the BBC: "I'm not afraid to protest, because we are hungry." Her mother, the school's headteacher, was killed in last week's protests after being hit by an army truck. Ms Ngwenia, who blames the government for her mother's death, said "we will continue protesting until things [are] settled." 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 President Mnangagwa had defeated MDC leader Nelson Chamisa The MDC said on Tuesday that five of its MPs had been detained and refused bail. Party official Morgen Komichi dismissed Mr Mnangagwa's announcement of an investigation into security forces, saying: "We don't trust his word. We don't regard him as an honest leader." 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 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. | What is President Mnangagwa doing? | 2,286 | On Monday Mr Mnangagwa, 76, broke off a trip to Europe to deal with the continuing unrest. He had been due to attend the Davos economic summit where he was expected to seek investment for Zimbabwe. Back in Harare, he took to Twitter to urge all sides to work together to fix a broken economy. In a series of tweets, he said violence or misconduct by security forces was "unacceptable and a betrayal of the new Zimbabwe", adding: "If required, heads will roll." | 0.643759 |
28_0 | Gibraltar has freed an Iranian oil tanker detained last month on suspicion of sanctions-busting, despite a last-minute plea by the US authorities. The UK territory received written assurances from Iran that the ship would not discharge its cargo in Syria. Grace 1, carrying Iranian oil, was stopped by Royal Marines on 4 July, triggering a standoff with Tehran. Gibraltar's chief justice, Anthony Dudley, said no US application was currently before the court. An independent legal body would make a determination on the American request, Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said in a statement. The tanker remained off Gibraltar early on Thursday evening but, according to witnesses speaking to Reuters news agency, its prow had moved around by at least 180 degrees. It was unclear whether this was because of strong sea currents or because it was preparing to leave. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office said Iran must abide by the assurances it had given that the tanker would not proceed to Syria, which is under EU sanctions. The FCO described Syria as a "regime that has deployed chemical weapons against its own people". Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif condemned the US attempt to stop the tanker's release, accusing the Trump administration of attempted "piracy". A couple of weeks after the Iranian tanker was stopped, Iran seized a British-flagged tanker, the Stena Impero, in the Gulf and, despite official denials, there has been speculation of a swap if the Grace 1 is freed. Relations between the US and Iran have deteriorated sharply since US President Donald Trump took office in 2017, with the two countries coming close to armed conflict in June. The release of the Grace 1 inevitably raises all sorts of questions but it also points to a possible resolution of the stand-off between Britain and Iran. The Iranians had detained the Stena Impero in apparent retaliation for the seizure of the Grace 1. While Britain insists that the two episodes are in no sense the same - one they argue is legal, the other not - the freeing of the Iranian tanker would seem to be an essential prerequisite for a resolution. But where does this leave the Americans? They made a last-minute attempt to have the vessel turned over to them, but appear not to have lodged a formal legal request. Might they still have time to do this? What grounds would they have for doing so? And how might such a move risk raising tensions in the Gulf further with the Iranian foreign minister already accusing Washington of attempted piracy? It was stopped after the government of Gibraltar suggested it was heading for Syria. About 30 marines were flown from the UK to Gibraltar to help police detain the tanker and its cargo, at the request of the Gibraltarian government. The initial seizure of the tanker sparked a diplomatic crisis between the UK and Iran which escalated when the Stena Impero was seized on 19 July. Last week, the UK announced it would join a US-led taskforce to protect merchant ships travelling through the key shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz. Almost a fifth of the world's oil passes through the narrow strait, which lies off the south coast of Iran. Confirming that the tanker had been "released from detention", Mr Picardo explained that the US justice department had requested that a "new legal procedure for the detention of the vessel should be commenced". "That is a matter for our independent Mutual Legal Assistance authorities who will make an objective, legal determination of that request for separate proceedings," he said. The Stena Impero, which is British-flagged but Swedish-owned, is anchored in the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, 27 days after being detained. Tehran said Stena Impero had been "violating international maritime rules" but the UK called its detention an example of "state piracy". Global seafarers' charity Stella Maris said it hoped the release of Grace 1 might in turn lead to the release of the Stena Impero's crew. Iran released photos of the crew aboard the tanker last month, showing cooks preparing meals and crew members being briefed by an Iranian official. Most of the crew of 23 are Indians while the others are of Russian, Latvian or Philippine nationality. Most of the 28 members of the Grace 1's crew are also believed to be Indians. Washington suspects Iran of continuing efforts to develop nuclear weapons, something Tehran has always denied, and also accuses it of seeking to destabilise the Middle East. Last year, the US withdrew from a 2015 deal to limit Iran's nuclear activities and re-imposed sanctions against the country. The UK and other European countries have said they remain committed to the deal. Washington has also blamed Iran for a series of attacks on tankers in waters off Gulf Arab states over the summer, an accusation Tehran denies. In June, Mr Trump was reportedly on the verge of bombing sites in Iran in response to the downing of an American drone. | How was the Iranian tanker seized? | 2,538 | It was stopped after the government of Gibraltar suggested it was heading for Syria. About 30 marines were flown from the UK to Gibraltar to help police detain the tanker and its cargo, at the request of the Gibraltarian government. The initial seizure of the tanker sparked a diplomatic crisis between the UK and Iran which escalated when the Stena Impero was seized on 19 July. Last week, the UK announced it would join a US-led taskforce to protect merchant ships travelling through the key shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz. Almost a fifth of the world's oil passes through the narrow strait, which lies off the south coast of Iran. | 0.578248 |
28_1 | Gibraltar has freed an Iranian oil tanker detained last month on suspicion of sanctions-busting, despite a last-minute plea by the US authorities. The UK territory received written assurances from Iran that the ship would not discharge its cargo in Syria. Grace 1, carrying Iranian oil, was stopped by Royal Marines on 4 July, triggering a standoff with Tehran. Gibraltar's chief justice, Anthony Dudley, said no US application was currently before the court. An independent legal body would make a determination on the American request, Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said in a statement. The tanker remained off Gibraltar early on Thursday evening but, according to witnesses speaking to Reuters news agency, its prow had moved around by at least 180 degrees. It was unclear whether this was because of strong sea currents or because it was preparing to leave. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office said Iran must abide by the assurances it had given that the tanker would not proceed to Syria, which is under EU sanctions. The FCO described Syria as a "regime that has deployed chemical weapons against its own people". Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif condemned the US attempt to stop the tanker's release, accusing the Trump administration of attempted "piracy". A couple of weeks after the Iranian tanker was stopped, Iran seized a British-flagged tanker, the Stena Impero, in the Gulf and, despite official denials, there has been speculation of a swap if the Grace 1 is freed. Relations between the US and Iran have deteriorated sharply since US President Donald Trump took office in 2017, with the two countries coming close to armed conflict in June. The release of the Grace 1 inevitably raises all sorts of questions but it also points to a possible resolution of the stand-off between Britain and Iran. The Iranians had detained the Stena Impero in apparent retaliation for the seizure of the Grace 1. While Britain insists that the two episodes are in no sense the same - one they argue is legal, the other not - the freeing of the Iranian tanker would seem to be an essential prerequisite for a resolution. But where does this leave the Americans? They made a last-minute attempt to have the vessel turned over to them, but appear not to have lodged a formal legal request. Might they still have time to do this? What grounds would they have for doing so? And how might such a move risk raising tensions in the Gulf further with the Iranian foreign minister already accusing Washington of attempted piracy? It was stopped after the government of Gibraltar suggested it was heading for Syria. About 30 marines were flown from the UK to Gibraltar to help police detain the tanker and its cargo, at the request of the Gibraltarian government. The initial seizure of the tanker sparked a diplomatic crisis between the UK and Iran which escalated when the Stena Impero was seized on 19 July. Last week, the UK announced it would join a US-led taskforce to protect merchant ships travelling through the key shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz. Almost a fifth of the world's oil passes through the narrow strait, which lies off the south coast of Iran. Confirming that the tanker had been "released from detention", Mr Picardo explained that the US justice department had requested that a "new legal procedure for the detention of the vessel should be commenced". "That is a matter for our independent Mutual Legal Assistance authorities who will make an objective, legal determination of that request for separate proceedings," he said. The Stena Impero, which is British-flagged but Swedish-owned, is anchored in the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, 27 days after being detained. Tehran said Stena Impero had been "violating international maritime rules" but the UK called its detention an example of "state piracy". Global seafarers' charity Stella Maris said it hoped the release of Grace 1 might in turn lead to the release of the Stena Impero's crew. Iran released photos of the crew aboard the tanker last month, showing cooks preparing meals and crew members being briefed by an Iranian official. Most of the crew of 23 are Indians while the others are of Russian, Latvian or Philippine nationality. Most of the 28 members of the Grace 1's crew are also believed to be Indians. Washington suspects Iran of continuing efforts to develop nuclear weapons, something Tehran has always denied, and also accuses it of seeking to destabilise the Middle East. Last year, the US withdrew from a 2015 deal to limit Iran's nuclear activities and re-imposed sanctions against the country. The UK and other European countries have said they remain committed to the deal. Washington has also blamed Iran for a series of attacks on tankers in waters off Gulf Arab states over the summer, an accusation Tehran denies. In June, Mr Trump was reportedly on the verge of bombing sites in Iran in response to the downing of an American drone. | Why did the court not consider the American request? | 3,180 | Confirming that the tanker had been "released from detention", Mr Picardo explained that the US justice department had requested that a "new legal procedure for the detention of the vessel should be commenced". "That is a matter for our independent Mutual Legal Assistance authorities who will make an objective, legal determination of that request for separate proceedings," he said. | 0.370688 |
28_3 | Gibraltar has freed an Iranian oil tanker detained last month on suspicion of sanctions-busting, despite a last-minute plea by the US authorities. The UK territory received written assurances from Iran that the ship would not discharge its cargo in Syria. Grace 1, carrying Iranian oil, was stopped by Royal Marines on 4 July, triggering a standoff with Tehran. Gibraltar's chief justice, Anthony Dudley, said no US application was currently before the court. An independent legal body would make a determination on the American request, Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said in a statement. The tanker remained off Gibraltar early on Thursday evening but, according to witnesses speaking to Reuters news agency, its prow had moved around by at least 180 degrees. It was unclear whether this was because of strong sea currents or because it was preparing to leave. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office said Iran must abide by the assurances it had given that the tanker would not proceed to Syria, which is under EU sanctions. The FCO described Syria as a "regime that has deployed chemical weapons against its own people". Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif condemned the US attempt to stop the tanker's release, accusing the Trump administration of attempted "piracy". A couple of weeks after the Iranian tanker was stopped, Iran seized a British-flagged tanker, the Stena Impero, in the Gulf and, despite official denials, there has been speculation of a swap if the Grace 1 is freed. Relations between the US and Iran have deteriorated sharply since US President Donald Trump took office in 2017, with the two countries coming close to armed conflict in June. The release of the Grace 1 inevitably raises all sorts of questions but it also points to a possible resolution of the stand-off between Britain and Iran. The Iranians had detained the Stena Impero in apparent retaliation for the seizure of the Grace 1. While Britain insists that the two episodes are in no sense the same - one they argue is legal, the other not - the freeing of the Iranian tanker would seem to be an essential prerequisite for a resolution. But where does this leave the Americans? They made a last-minute attempt to have the vessel turned over to them, but appear not to have lodged a formal legal request. Might they still have time to do this? What grounds would they have for doing so? And how might such a move risk raising tensions in the Gulf further with the Iranian foreign minister already accusing Washington of attempted piracy? It was stopped after the government of Gibraltar suggested it was heading for Syria. About 30 marines were flown from the UK to Gibraltar to help police detain the tanker and its cargo, at the request of the Gibraltarian government. The initial seizure of the tanker sparked a diplomatic crisis between the UK and Iran which escalated when the Stena Impero was seized on 19 July. Last week, the UK announced it would join a US-led taskforce to protect merchant ships travelling through the key shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz. Almost a fifth of the world's oil passes through the narrow strait, which lies off the south coast of Iran. Confirming that the tanker had been "released from detention", Mr Picardo explained that the US justice department had requested that a "new legal procedure for the detention of the vessel should be commenced". "That is a matter for our independent Mutual Legal Assistance authorities who will make an objective, legal determination of that request for separate proceedings," he said. The Stena Impero, which is British-flagged but Swedish-owned, is anchored in the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, 27 days after being detained. Tehran said Stena Impero had been "violating international maritime rules" but the UK called its detention an example of "state piracy". Global seafarers' charity Stella Maris said it hoped the release of Grace 1 might in turn lead to the release of the Stena Impero's crew. Iran released photos of the crew aboard the tanker last month, showing cooks preparing meals and crew members being briefed by an Iranian official. Most of the crew of 23 are Indians while the others are of Russian, Latvian or Philippine nationality. Most of the 28 members of the Grace 1's crew are also believed to be Indians. Washington suspects Iran of continuing efforts to develop nuclear weapons, something Tehran has always denied, and also accuses it of seeking to destabilise the Middle East. Last year, the US withdrew from a 2015 deal to limit Iran's nuclear activities and re-imposed sanctions against the country. The UK and other European countries have said they remain committed to the deal. Washington has also blamed Iran for a series of attacks on tankers in waters off Gulf Arab states over the summer, an accusation Tehran denies. In June, Mr Trump was reportedly on the verge of bombing sites in Iran in response to the downing of an American drone. | Why are US relations with Iran so strained? | 4,310 | Washington suspects Iran of continuing efforts to develop nuclear weapons, something Tehran has always denied, and also accuses it of seeking to destabilise the Middle East. Last year, the US withdrew from a 2015 deal to limit Iran's nuclear activities and re-imposed sanctions against the country. The UK and other European countries have said they remain committed to the deal. Washington has also blamed Iran for a series of attacks on tankers in waters off Gulf Arab states over the summer, an accusation Tehran denies. In June, Mr Trump was reportedly on the verge of bombing sites in Iran in response to the downing of an American drone. | 0.488294 |
30_1 | Arming more teachers could help tackle gunmen targeting students if there were "four to five guns to one", a senior Texan official has said. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick was speaking two days after 10 people were killed at the Santa Fe High School, which had an armed guard. He had previously said schools had "too many entrances and too many exits" and their design should be reconsidered. The proposal to arm teachers is not a new idea. After a 14 February school shooting in Florida, US President Donald Trump suggested giving teachers a bonus if they carried guns. But he clarified via Twitter that "only the best 20% of teachers" - those with military backgrounds or special training - should be allowed guns. Mr Patrick, a Republican, said the best way to stop a gunman was with a gun. "But even better than that is four to five guns to one," he told CNN. Hours earlier, the police chief of neighbouring Houston said he had hit "rock bottom" over failure to enact gun reforms. Chief Art Acevedo wrote on Facebook that he had "shed tears of sadness, pain and anger" over the shooting. The shooting was the latest in a series of deadly incidents across the US that have reignited debate about gun control. Police now say eight students and two teachers were killed when another student opened fire in an art class shortly before 08:00 (13:00 GMT) on Friday at the Santa Fe High School. Thirteen others were wounded in the attack, with two in critical condition. Among the dead are a Pakistani exchange student and a substitute teacher. Dimitrios Pagourtzis, 17, has been charged with murder after surrendering to police. He later admitted "to shooting multiple people". He allegedly used a shotgun and a revolver taken from his father, who legally owned the weapons. It was the fourth deadliest shooting at a US school in modern history, and the deadliest since a student opened fire in February at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, killing 17 people. The Florida attack spawned a nationwide youth-led campaign for gun control, and a series of proposed changes, including moves to ban so-called bump stocks used in last year's Las Vegas shooting that killed 58 concert-goers. Dan Patrick is a well-known proponent of gun ownership. He has advocated carrying weapons openly and concealed in Texas - and reiterated some of his views on Sunday, too. He told CNN's State of the Union programme that restricting school entrances and arming more teachers could reduce such incidents. "When you're facing someone who's an active shooter, the best way to take that shooter down is with a gun. But even better than that is four to five guns to one," Mr Patrick said. ON ABC's This Week, he blamed a culture of violence. "We have devalued life, whether it's through abortion, whether it's the breakup of families, through violent movies, and particularly violent video games." Challenged over gun ownership that made it so deadly in the US - unlike in other countries that had the same social challenge - Mr Patrick said: "Guns stop crimes." Chief Acevedo runs the police department of America's fourth most populous city, Houston, which lies nearly 40 miles (64 km) north-west of Santa Fe. "I know some have strong feelings about gun rights but I want you to know I've hit rock bottom and I am not interested in your views as it pertains to this issue. Please do not post anything about guns aren't the problem and there's little we can do," Chief Acevedo said in his Facebook post. "This isn't a time for prayers, and study and inaction, it's a time for prayers, action and the asking of God's forgiveness for our inaction (especially the elected officials that ran to the cameras today, acted in a solemn manner, called for prayers, and will once again do absolutely nothing)," he added. In just a few hours, his post had received more than 29,000 reactions and 15,590 shares. Chief Acevedo first spoke out about gun control in the aftermath of the Las Vegas shooting last October, and was a prominent figure in Texas's March for Our Lives demonstration following the Florida attack earlier this year. None of the victims has yet been identified by US authorities, but family members of the victims have spoken to media outlets. The embassy of Pakistan in Washington DC confirmed that exchange student Sabika Sheikh, 17, was among the dead. She had been on a special study abroad programme set up by the state department in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 attacks to bring students from Muslim-majority nations to the US on a cultural exchange. Substitute teacher Cynthia Tisdale was also killed in the attack, her family told US media outlets. Ms Tisdale's brother-in-law John Tisdale described her on Facebook as an "amazing person". The LA Times says it has spoken to the mother of another victim, 16-year-old Shana Fisher, who she said had "had four months of problems from this boy" - referring to the gunman. "He kept making advances on her and she repeatedly told him no," the mother Sadie Rodriguez said, adding that her daughter finally stood up to him and embarrassed him in class a week before the shooting. The other victims who have been named by US media are: - Jared Black, 17 - student - Christian Garcia, 15 - student - Aaron McLeod, 15 - student - Ann Perkins, 64 - substitute teacher - Angelique Ramirez, 15 - student - Chris Stone, 17- student - Kimberly Vaughan, no age given - student The 17-year-old suspect has been charged with capital murder and aggravated assault of a public servant. Court documents revealed on Saturday that the suspect - who waived his right to remain silent and admitted to the shooting - told police he had spared certain students he liked "so he could have his story told". One of his two lawyers, Nicholas Poehl, told Reuters news agency his client was "very emotional and weirdly nonemotional". "There are aspects of it he understands and there are aspects he doesn't understand," he added. | What did the Houston police chief have to say? | 3,064 | Chief Acevedo runs the police department of America's fourth most populous city, Houston, which lies nearly 40 miles (64 km) north-west of Santa Fe. "I know some have strong feelings about gun rights but I want you to know I've hit rock bottom and I am not interested in your views as it pertains to this issue. Please do not post anything about guns aren't the problem and there's little we can do," Chief Acevedo said in his Facebook post. "This isn't a time for prayers, and study and inaction, it's a time for prayers, action and the asking of God's forgiveness for our inaction (especially the elected officials that ran to the cameras today, acted in a solemn manner, called for prayers, and will once again do absolutely nothing)," he added. In just a few hours, his post had received more than 29,000 reactions and 15,590 shares. Chief Acevedo first spoke out about gun control in the aftermath of the Las Vegas shooting last October, and was a prominent figure in Texas's March for Our Lives demonstration following the Florida attack earlier this year. | 0.484073 |
30_2 | Arming more teachers could help tackle gunmen targeting students if there were "four to five guns to one", a senior Texan official has said. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick was speaking two days after 10 people were killed at the Santa Fe High School, which had an armed guard. He had previously said schools had "too many entrances and too many exits" and their design should be reconsidered. The proposal to arm teachers is not a new idea. After a 14 February school shooting in Florida, US President Donald Trump suggested giving teachers a bonus if they carried guns. But he clarified via Twitter that "only the best 20% of teachers" - those with military backgrounds or special training - should be allowed guns. Mr Patrick, a Republican, said the best way to stop a gunman was with a gun. "But even better than that is four to five guns to one," he told CNN. Hours earlier, the police chief of neighbouring Houston said he had hit "rock bottom" over failure to enact gun reforms. Chief Art Acevedo wrote on Facebook that he had "shed tears of sadness, pain and anger" over the shooting. The shooting was the latest in a series of deadly incidents across the US that have reignited debate about gun control. Police now say eight students and two teachers were killed when another student opened fire in an art class shortly before 08:00 (13:00 GMT) on Friday at the Santa Fe High School. Thirteen others were wounded in the attack, with two in critical condition. Among the dead are a Pakistani exchange student and a substitute teacher. Dimitrios Pagourtzis, 17, has been charged with murder after surrendering to police. He later admitted "to shooting multiple people". He allegedly used a shotgun and a revolver taken from his father, who legally owned the weapons. It was the fourth deadliest shooting at a US school in modern history, and the deadliest since a student opened fire in February at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, killing 17 people. The Florida attack spawned a nationwide youth-led campaign for gun control, and a series of proposed changes, including moves to ban so-called bump stocks used in last year's Las Vegas shooting that killed 58 concert-goers. Dan Patrick is a well-known proponent of gun ownership. He has advocated carrying weapons openly and concealed in Texas - and reiterated some of his views on Sunday, too. He told CNN's State of the Union programme that restricting school entrances and arming more teachers could reduce such incidents. "When you're facing someone who's an active shooter, the best way to take that shooter down is with a gun. But even better than that is four to five guns to one," Mr Patrick said. ON ABC's This Week, he blamed a culture of violence. "We have devalued life, whether it's through abortion, whether it's the breakup of families, through violent movies, and particularly violent video games." Challenged over gun ownership that made it so deadly in the US - unlike in other countries that had the same social challenge - Mr Patrick said: "Guns stop crimes." Chief Acevedo runs the police department of America's fourth most populous city, Houston, which lies nearly 40 miles (64 km) north-west of Santa Fe. "I know some have strong feelings about gun rights but I want you to know I've hit rock bottom and I am not interested in your views as it pertains to this issue. Please do not post anything about guns aren't the problem and there's little we can do," Chief Acevedo said in his Facebook post. "This isn't a time for prayers, and study and inaction, it's a time for prayers, action and the asking of God's forgiveness for our inaction (especially the elected officials that ran to the cameras today, acted in a solemn manner, called for prayers, and will once again do absolutely nothing)," he added. In just a few hours, his post had received more than 29,000 reactions and 15,590 shares. Chief Acevedo first spoke out about gun control in the aftermath of the Las Vegas shooting last October, and was a prominent figure in Texas's March for Our Lives demonstration following the Florida attack earlier this year. None of the victims has yet been identified by US authorities, but family members of the victims have spoken to media outlets. The embassy of Pakistan in Washington DC confirmed that exchange student Sabika Sheikh, 17, was among the dead. She had been on a special study abroad programme set up by the state department in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 attacks to bring students from Muslim-majority nations to the US on a cultural exchange. Substitute teacher Cynthia Tisdale was also killed in the attack, her family told US media outlets. Ms Tisdale's brother-in-law John Tisdale described her on Facebook as an "amazing person". The LA Times says it has spoken to the mother of another victim, 16-year-old Shana Fisher, who she said had "had four months of problems from this boy" - referring to the gunman. "He kept making advances on her and she repeatedly told him no," the mother Sadie Rodriguez said, adding that her daughter finally stood up to him and embarrassed him in class a week before the shooting. The other victims who have been named by US media are: - Jared Black, 17 - student - Christian Garcia, 15 - student - Aaron McLeod, 15 - student - Ann Perkins, 64 - substitute teacher - Angelique Ramirez, 15 - student - Chris Stone, 17- student - Kimberly Vaughan, no age given - student The 17-year-old suspect has been charged with capital murder and aggravated assault of a public servant. Court documents revealed on Saturday that the suspect - who waived his right to remain silent and admitted to the shooting - told police he had spared certain students he liked "so he could have his story told". One of his two lawyers, Nicholas Poehl, told Reuters news agency his client was "very emotional and weirdly nonemotional". "There are aspects of it he understands and there are aspects he doesn't understand," he added. | What has happened to the attacker? | 5,439 | The 17-year-old suspect has been charged with capital murder and aggravated assault of a public servant. Court documents revealed on Saturday that the suspect - who waived his right to remain silent and admitted to the shooting - told police he had spared certain students he liked "so he could have his story told". One of his two lawyers, Nicholas Poehl, told Reuters news agency his client was "very emotional and weirdly nonemotional". "There are aspects of it he understands and there are aspects he doesn't understand," he added. | 0.415309 |
34_2 | Human remains have been found in the hunt for 10 US sailors missing after their destroyer collided with a tanker near Singapore, the navy says. The discovery came when divers were sent down to search inside the USS John S McCain, now berthed at Singapore's Changi naval base. The collision with a Liberian-flagged ship happened before dawn on Monday as the US vessel made a routine port call. The US has since ordered a worldwide "operational pause" of its navy fleet. It was the fourth crash involving a US Navy ship in a year, and the second in the past two months. The collision ripped open the port side of the US vessel, flooding parts of the ship including crew compartments. Admiral Scott Swift, commander of the US Pacific Fleet, said divers "were able to locate some remains in those sealed compartments during their search today". The navy was also examining whether a body found by the Malaysian navy was one of the missing sailors, he said. Ships, equipment and aircraft from the American, Indonesian, Malaysian and Singapore navies have been involved in the search for the missing sailors. The USS John S McCain was east of Singapore when the collision occurred. It was reported before dawn at 05:24 local time on Monday (21:24 GMT on Sunday). The destroyer sustained damage to her port side, which is the left-hand side of the vessel facing forward. Five sailors were injured, four of whom were medically evacuated to a Singapore hospital. The tanker it collided with, Alnic MC, sustained damage to a tank near the front of the ship 7m (23ft) above the waterline, but none of its crew were injured and there were no oil spills. The Alnic MC, carrying oil from Taiwan to Singapore, is currently at the Raffles Reserved Anchorage in Singapore. The cause of the collision is not yet known, but Navy Admiral John Richardson, the chief of naval operations, has ordered fleet commanders to stop what they are doing for a day or two over the next week to "assess and review with their commands the fundamental practice to safe and effective operations". He has also ordered a more comprehensive review "to find the contributing factors and root causes of the incidents". "My hope is that we will learn, continue to improve in the short term, validating that we are sound on the fundamentals and if not then we'll take action to correct that, and then look at broader, more systemic issues that we may find through this comprehensive review," he said in a statement. He also said on Twitter that he would not rule out the possibility of some kind of outside interference or cyber-attack being behind the collision. This is the fourth time in a year that a US navy vessel has been involved in an accident. Just two months ago, seven US sailors were killed when the USS Fitzgerald collided with a container ship in Japanese waters near the port city of Yokosuka. Those who died were found in flooded berths on board the ship after the collision caused a gash under the warship's waterline. The US Navy said last week that about a dozen sailors would be disciplined, and the commanding officer and other senior crew would be taken off the ship. In May, a guided missile cruiser collided with a South Korean fishing vessel, while in August last year a submarine collided with an offshore support vessel. USS John S McCain - Named after US senator John McCain's father and grandfather, both of whom were admirals in the US Navy, it is also known by its nickname Big Bad John - Operating from the US naval base in Yokosuka in Japan, it is part of the US 7th Fleet patrolling the Pacific - Has a crew of more than 300 sailors and officers. and a full displacement of 9,000 tons - In May, it successfully passed a navy inspection for mission readiness at sea Alnic MC - Oil and chemical transporting tanker - Built 2008, registered in Liberia - Owned by Greece based Stealth Maritime Corporation - Heading from Pyeongtaek, South Korea en route from Taiwan to Singapore Sources: US Navy, MarineTraffic.com, AFP | What happened in the previous collisions? | 2,621 | This is the fourth time in a year that a US navy vessel has been involved in an accident. Just two months ago, seven US sailors were killed when the USS Fitzgerald collided with a container ship in Japanese waters near the port city of Yokosuka. Those who died were found in flooded berths on board the ship after the collision caused a gash under the warship's waterline. The US Navy said last week that about a dozen sailors would be disciplined, and the commanding officer and other senior crew would be taken off the ship. In May, a guided missile cruiser collided with a South Korean fishing vessel, while in August last year a submarine collided with an offshore support vessel. | 0.382616 |
37_0 | Donald Trump has responded to a guilty plea by his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, saying Mr Flynn's actions as a member of his transition team "were lawful". Mr Flynn has entered a plea deal and agreed to co-operate with an inquiry into alleged collusion with Russia. The deal, for a lesser charge than he might have faced, prompted speculation that he has incriminating evidence. The president wrote on Twitter on Saturday that he had "nothing to hide". Mr Flynn is co-operating with Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading an investigation into alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russia ahead of the 2016 election. On Saturday, a day after Mr Flynn's indictment, it emerged that a veteran FBI agent had been dismissed from Mr Mueller's team after the discovery that he had sent anti-Trump text messages. Peter Strzok was removed from the investigation in summer, a spokesman for the special counsel's office, told the New York Times. Saturday was a momentous day for Mr Trump, after his sweeping tax reform bill finally scraped through the senate in the early hours of the morning with 51 votes to 49. But as he left the White House hours after the vote he was quick to address Michael Flynn's admission the day before of lying to the FBI. "What has been shown is no collusion, no collusion. There has been absolutely no collusion. So we're very happy," he told reporters. In denying that Mr Flynn had acted unlawfully as part of his transition team, Mr Trump appeared in his tweet to admit that he knew the former general had lied to the FBI before he fired him in February - contradicting the president's account at the time. Analysts say if Mr Trump knew that Mr Flynn had lied to the FBI, at a time when he appeared to pressure then-FBI director James Comey to drop the agency's investigation into the former general, it could amount to obstruction of justice by the president. Matthew Miller, a former Obama administration Justice Department official, said in a tweet: "Oh my god, he just admitted to obstruction of justice. If Trump knew Flynn lied to the FBI when he asked Comey to let it go, then there is your case." Sources close to the president told the Washington Post that the tweet had been drafted by Mr Trump's personal lawyer, John Dowd, who later apologised and said he should have been more careful with his language. The White House has yet to comment. Meanwhile, the New York Times reported that it had obtained internal emails sent by Mr Trump's transition team that disputed the White House assertion that Mr Flynn acted alone in his contacts with Russian officials. In one email quoted by the paper, a senior adviser appeared to say that Russia had "just thrown the U.S.A. election to him", referring to Mr Trump. A White House lawyer told the paper that the adviser, KT McFarland, had meant only that the Democrats were portraying it that way. Under the terms of the plea deal with Mr Mueller, Mr Flynn admitted making false statements to the FBI, a significantly lesser charge than he might have faced for illegally dealing with Russian officials. Analysts say the deal suggests that the former general has evidence implicating one or more senior members of the Trump administration. Mr Flynn has admitted lying about his contact with the Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak in December 2016 - after Mr Trump was elected but before he became president. The charging documents against Mr Flynn state that he was directed to make contact with Russian officials by a "very senior member" of the Trump transition team. Several US news organisations report the very senior official now under the spotlight is Jared Kushner - Mr Trump's adviser and son-in-law. US intelligence agencies say Russia's President Vladimir Putin directed a state effort to influence the US election in favour of Mr Trump. Mr Trump has repeatedly denied that his campaign or transition team colluded in Russian actions. Mr Flynn was questioned by the FBI shortly after Mr Trump took office in January about his December meetings with Mr Kislyak. He was forced to resign in February, 23 days into his job. According to the FBI's statement of offence signed by Mr Flynn, he discussed Russia's response to US sanctions as well as a UN Security Council resolution on Israel, at the direction of the Trump team. Under the Logan Act it is illegal for a private US citizen, as Mr Flynn was during the transition period, to conduct foreign affairs without the permission or involvement of the US government. The charge of making false statements normally carries up to five years in prison, but under the terms of his plea deal Mr Flynn faces a lighter sentence of only up to six months, court filings show. The administration has sought to distance itself from Mr Flynn. White House lawyer Ty Cobb said on Friday: "Nothing about the guilty plea or the charge implicates anyone other than Mr Flynn." Michael Flynn previously served in the Obama administration before being fired. Mr Obama reportedly advised his successor not to hire the former general, but Mr Trump appointed him to one of the most senior positions in the country. Mr Flynn is not the first former Trump official to be charged. In October, Mr Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and his business associate Rick Gates were accused of conspiring to defraud the US in dealings with Ukraine (both deny the charges). Another ex-aide, George Papadopoulos, has also pleaded guilty to making false statements to FBI agents. | What did Flynn do wrong? | 3,951 | Mr Flynn was questioned by the FBI shortly after Mr Trump took office in January about his December meetings with Mr Kislyak. He was forced to resign in February, 23 days into his job. According to the FBI's statement of offence signed by Mr Flynn, he discussed Russia's response to US sanctions as well as a UN Security Council resolution on Israel, at the direction of the Trump team. Under the Logan Act it is illegal for a private US citizen, as Mr Flynn was during the transition period, to conduct foreign affairs without the permission or involvement of the US government. The charge of making false statements normally carries up to five years in prison, but under the terms of his plea deal Mr Flynn faces a lighter sentence of only up to six months, court filings show. The administration has sought to distance itself from Mr Flynn. White House lawyer Ty Cobb said on Friday: "Nothing about the guilty plea or the charge implicates anyone other than Mr Flynn." Michael Flynn previously served in the Obama administration before being fired. Mr Obama reportedly advised his successor not to hire the former general, but Mr Trump appointed him to one of the most senior positions in the country. Mr Flynn is not the first former Trump official to be charged. In October, Mr Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and his business associate Rick Gates were accused of conspiring to defraud the US in dealings with Ukraine (both deny the charges). Another ex-aide, George Papadopoulos, has also pleaded guilty to making false statements to FBI agents. | 0.583087 |
38_0 | Cramming all your recommended weekly exercise into one or two weekend sessions is enough to produce important health benefits, a study suggests. And being active without managing 150 minutes of moderate activity a week was still enough to reduce the risk of an early death by a third. The findings are based on a survey of about 64,000 adults aged over 40 in England and Scotland. Health experts said purposeful exercise was key to better health. Researchers from Loughborough University and the University of Sydney analysed data on the time people spent doing exercise and their health over 18 years. They found that no matter how often people exercised in a week or for how long, the health benefits were similar as long as they met the activity guidelines. This was good news for people with a busy lifestyle who turned into "weekend warriors" in order to fit in all their recommended physical activity, they said. Compared with those who didn't exercise at all, people who did some kind of physical activity - whether regularly or irregularly - showed a lower risk of dying from cancer and from cardiovascular disease (CVD), which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. "Weekend warriors", who did all their exercise on one or two days of the week, were found to lower their risk of dying from CVD by 41% and cancer by 18%, compared with the inactive. Those who exercised regularly on three or more days per week reduced their risks by 41% and 21%. Even the "insufficiently active" lowered their risk by a significant amount - 37% and 14%, the researchers said, writing in an article published online in JAMA Internal Medicine. People aged 19-64 should try to do: - at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity, such as cycling or fast walking every week, and - strength exercises (such as lifting weights) on two or more days a week that work all the major muscles Or - 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity, such as running or a game of singles tennis every week, and - strength exercises on two or more days a week that work all the major muscles Or - a mix of moderate and vigorous aerobic activity every week, such as two 30-minute runs plus 30 minutes of fast walking, and - strength exercises on two or more days a week that work all the major muscles Source: NHS Choices and Public Health England What do you think? Join the debate on the BBC Lifestyle & Health Facebook page. Dr Gary O'Donovan, study author and expert in physical activity and health, from Loughborough University, said the key was doing exercise that was "purposeful, and done with the intention of improving health". "You are not going to fidget or stand your way to health," he said. He added that a commitment to an active lifestyle was usually accompanied by other healthy lifestyle options, which made a positive difference regardless of body mass index (BMI). But Dr O'Donovan said no-one yet knew the best way of meeting the weekly recommended exercise total. The study cannot show a direct link between physical activity and a reduction in health risks in individuals. But extensive research has shown that exercise and a healthy diet can reduce the risk of a range of diseases - such as cancer, heart disease and type-2 diabetes - as well as helping to control weight, blood pressure and reduce symptoms of depression. Justin Varney, national lead for adult health and wellbeing at Public Health England (PHE), said: "The maximum health benefits are achieved from 150 minutes of moderate activity per week. "However, every little counts and just 10 minutes of physical activity will provide health benefits." PHE's How Are You quiz gives you a health score and links to free local information, apps and tools to improve that score. | How much physical activity should I do? | 1,633 | People aged 19-64 should try to do: - at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity, such as cycling or fast walking every week, and - strength exercises (such as lifting weights) on two or more days a week that work all the major muscles Or - 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity, such as running or a game of singles tennis every week, and - strength exercises on two or more days a week that work all the major muscles Or - a mix of moderate and vigorous aerobic activity every week, such as two 30-minute runs plus 30 minutes of fast walking, and - strength exercises on two or more days a week that work all the major muscles Source: NHS Choices and Public Health England What do you think? Join the debate on the BBC Lifestyle & Health Facebook page. | 0.605274 |
42_0 | David Cameron wants to renegotiate the terms of the UK's membership ahead of a referendum by the end of 2017. He has said he will campaign for Britain to remain in the EU if he gets the reforms he wants. Mr Cameron said he did not want to reveal full details of his negotiating hand before serious discussions get under way. Through a series of speeches and newspaper articles, he has given an overview of his priorities but, and in November, he set down his objectives on paper for the first time in a letter to Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council. His four key objectives are: - Economic governance: Securing an explicit recognition that the euro is not the only currency of the European Union, to ensure countries outside the eurozone are not materially disadvantaged. The UK wants safeguards that steps to further financial union cannot be imposed on non-eurozone members and the UK will not have to contribute to eurozone bailouts - Competitiveness: Setting a target for the reduction of the "burden" of excessive regulation and extending the single market - Immigration: Restricting access to in-work and out-of-work benefits to EU migrants. Specifically, ministers want to stop those coming to the UK from claiming certain benefits until they have been resident for four years. Ministers have reportedly been warned by the UK's top civil servant this could be discriminatory and any limits may be reduced to less than a year. An option of an "emergency brake" to stop the payments for four years is being discussed as a compromise deal - Sovereignty: Allowing Britain to opt out from the EU's founding ambition to forge an "ever closer union" of the peoples of Europe so it will not be drawn into further political integration. Giving greater powers to national parliaments to block EU legislation. The Conservatives want to free business from red tape and "excessive interference" from Brussels and to provide access to new markets through "turbo charging" free trade deals with America and Asia. They also want trade barriers in the services and digital sectors to be removed to create a truly single market as well as specific protections for the City of London. They support continued enlargement of the EU to new members but with new mechanisms in place to "prevent vast migrations across the Continent". The prime minister has said Britain would resist any move towards a European Army and that he wants to free British police forces from EU interference. He has also ruled out Britain joining the euro. But he has placed less emphasis in recent years on demanding changes to EU social policy, such as the maximum 48-hour working week, agency workers, maternity leave and non-discrimination rules - amid pressure from trade unions to leave such protections intact. The official UK government position is that a referendum will be held by the end of 2017 but Downing Street sources have said: "If we can do it earlier we will." it is widely expected to be held in June or July if a deal is reached at the EU summit in February. The Conservatives will attempt to repeal the Human Rights Act, which requires UK courts to treat the European Court of Human Rights as setting legal precedents for the UK, in favour of a British Bill of Rights. The European Court of Human Rights is not a European Union institution. It was set up by the Council of Europe (CoE), which has 47 members including Russia and Ukraine. David Cameron says that if necessary he would back a new law reasserting the power of the UK Parliament over the EU. The freedom for people to move around Europe, enshrined in the EU treaties, works in parallel with the other three basic freedoms in the single market: freedom of goods, capital and services. It is a "red line" for other EU leaders, who do not want to see it eroded. Mr Cameron's decision to seek the four year ban on some UK benefits for EU migrants was a way round it, but a number of EU countries - including Hungary and Poland - say they will not accept anything which discriminates against their nationals. This has led to reports that the idea of an "emergency brake" to limit numbers when there has been a surge of migrants, might be back on the agenda. In a speech in November 2014, David Cameron set out measures to reduce the number of EU nationals moving to the UK. His main proposals were: - Four year delay for EU migrants wishing to claim in-work benefits, such as tax credits, or seeking access to social housing - Stopping migrants claiming child benefit for dependents living outside the UK - Removing migrants from the UK after six months if they have not found work - Restricting the right of migrants to bring non-EU family members into the UK - Stopping EU jobseekers claiming Universal Credit - Speeding up deportation of convicted criminals - Longer re-entry bans for beggars and fraudsters removed from the UK - Stopping citizens from new EU entrants working in the UK until their economies have "converged more closely". - Extra money for communities with high levels of migrants Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, has said he is ready to work with Mr Cameron to "strike a fair deal for the United Kingdom in the EU". But his spokesman reacted to the publication of Mr Cameron's negotiation objectives by warning that restrictions on benefits for new arrivals to the UK would be "highly problematic" as they affected the "fundamental freedoms of our internal market" and amounted to "direct discrimination between EU citizens". The main sticking point has been opposition from countries including Hungary and Poland to the idea of the four year ban on claiming some UK benefits. The message from the rest of the EU is that there cannot be a policy which discriminates against other EU nationals. However David Cameron has said he is willing to consider alternatives that have the same impact on migration flows, while his EU colleagues have also said they want to come up with a deal which achieves the UK's aims. Read more: Donald Tusk's letter responding to UK's renegotiation demands Mr Cameron has faced repeated calls to say whether he would campaign for Britain's exit from the EU in the referendum if he fails to get what he wants from the renegotiation process. All he has said is that he will "rule nothing out" and he has no "emotional attachment" to the EU. Some Conservative MPs want Britain to leave the EU no matter what David Cameron manages to renegotiate. A larger group are likely to want more concessions than Mr Cameron has so far indicated he is prepared to demand. Senior backbencher David Davis, who was defeated by Mr Cameron for the Tory leadership in 2005, told the Daily Telegraph the majority of the 332 Conservative MPs want Mr Cameron to negotiate an "opt-out" power to stop individual EU laws from applying to Britain. The prime minister has said this would be "impossible" without Britain leaving the EU. Mr Davis claims as many as 60 Tory MPs would be prepared to rebel and vote for Britain's exit from the EU if the prime minister fails to deliver. Graham Brady, chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 committee, which represents backbenchers, had urged David Cameron to give all Conservative MPs, including ministers, a free vote in the EU referendum despite Mr Cameron warning in January 2015 that serving cabinet ministers would have to quit the government if they wanted to campaign to leave the EU - if he had secured the reforms to it he wants. That position has now changed with Mr Cameron agreeing to allow cabinet ministers to campaign - in a personal capacity - on either side of the EU referendum campaign, once his renegotiation is over. In the 1975 referendum on whether Britain should remain in the European Economic Community, as the EU was then called, Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson decided to suspend collective responsibility because his cabinet was split on the issue. Ministers were allowed to vote with their consciences and campaign against each other. The majority of them, including Mr Wilson, joined the Yes camp, but left-wingers, such as Tony Benn, played a leading role in the No campaign. The Yes campaign won easily with 67% of the vote. 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 | What is Britain looking for? | 204 | Mr Cameron said he did not want to reveal full details of his negotiating hand before serious discussions get under way. Through a series of speeches and newspaper articles, he has given an overview of his priorities but, and in November, he set down his objectives on paper for the first time in a letter to Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council. His four key objectives are: - Economic governance: Securing an explicit recognition that the euro is not the only currency of the European Union, to ensure countries outside the eurozone are not materially disadvantaged. The UK wants safeguards that steps to further financial union cannot be imposed on non-eurozone members and the UK will not have to contribute to eurozone bailouts - Competitiveness: Setting a target for the reduction of the "burden" of excessive regulation and extending the single market - Immigration: Restricting access to in-work and out-of-work benefits to EU migrants. Specifically, ministers want to stop those coming to the UK from claiming certain benefits until they have been resident for four years. Ministers have reportedly been warned by the UK's top civil servant this could be discriminatory and any limits may be reduced to less than a year. An option of an "emergency brake" to stop the payments for four years is being discussed as a compromise deal - Sovereignty: Allowing Britain to opt out from the EU's founding ambition to forge an "ever closer union" of the peoples of Europe so it will not be drawn into further political integration. Giving greater powers to national parliaments to block EU legislation. | 0.409279 |
42_1 | David Cameron wants to renegotiate the terms of the UK's membership ahead of a referendum by the end of 2017. He has said he will campaign for Britain to remain in the EU if he gets the reforms he wants. Mr Cameron said he did not want to reveal full details of his negotiating hand before serious discussions get under way. Through a series of speeches and newspaper articles, he has given an overview of his priorities but, and in November, he set down his objectives on paper for the first time in a letter to Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council. His four key objectives are: - Economic governance: Securing an explicit recognition that the euro is not the only currency of the European Union, to ensure countries outside the eurozone are not materially disadvantaged. The UK wants safeguards that steps to further financial union cannot be imposed on non-eurozone members and the UK will not have to contribute to eurozone bailouts - Competitiveness: Setting a target for the reduction of the "burden" of excessive regulation and extending the single market - Immigration: Restricting access to in-work and out-of-work benefits to EU migrants. Specifically, ministers want to stop those coming to the UK from claiming certain benefits until they have been resident for four years. Ministers have reportedly been warned by the UK's top civil servant this could be discriminatory and any limits may be reduced to less than a year. An option of an "emergency brake" to stop the payments for four years is being discussed as a compromise deal - Sovereignty: Allowing Britain to opt out from the EU's founding ambition to forge an "ever closer union" of the peoples of Europe so it will not be drawn into further political integration. Giving greater powers to national parliaments to block EU legislation. The Conservatives want to free business from red tape and "excessive interference" from Brussels and to provide access to new markets through "turbo charging" free trade deals with America and Asia. They also want trade barriers in the services and digital sectors to be removed to create a truly single market as well as specific protections for the City of London. They support continued enlargement of the EU to new members but with new mechanisms in place to "prevent vast migrations across the Continent". The prime minister has said Britain would resist any move towards a European Army and that he wants to free British police forces from EU interference. He has also ruled out Britain joining the euro. But he has placed less emphasis in recent years on demanding changes to EU social policy, such as the maximum 48-hour working week, agency workers, maternity leave and non-discrimination rules - amid pressure from trade unions to leave such protections intact. The official UK government position is that a referendum will be held by the end of 2017 but Downing Street sources have said: "If we can do it earlier we will." it is widely expected to be held in June or July if a deal is reached at the EU summit in February. The Conservatives will attempt to repeal the Human Rights Act, which requires UK courts to treat the European Court of Human Rights as setting legal precedents for the UK, in favour of a British Bill of Rights. The European Court of Human Rights is not a European Union institution. It was set up by the Council of Europe (CoE), which has 47 members including Russia and Ukraine. David Cameron says that if necessary he would back a new law reasserting the power of the UK Parliament over the EU. The freedom for people to move around Europe, enshrined in the EU treaties, works in parallel with the other three basic freedoms in the single market: freedom of goods, capital and services. It is a "red line" for other EU leaders, who do not want to see it eroded. Mr Cameron's decision to seek the four year ban on some UK benefits for EU migrants was a way round it, but a number of EU countries - including Hungary and Poland - say they will not accept anything which discriminates against their nationals. This has led to reports that the idea of an "emergency brake" to limit numbers when there has been a surge of migrants, might be back on the agenda. In a speech in November 2014, David Cameron set out measures to reduce the number of EU nationals moving to the UK. His main proposals were: - Four year delay for EU migrants wishing to claim in-work benefits, such as tax credits, or seeking access to social housing - Stopping migrants claiming child benefit for dependents living outside the UK - Removing migrants from the UK after six months if they have not found work - Restricting the right of migrants to bring non-EU family members into the UK - Stopping EU jobseekers claiming Universal Credit - Speeding up deportation of convicted criminals - Longer re-entry bans for beggars and fraudsters removed from the UK - Stopping citizens from new EU entrants working in the UK until their economies have "converged more closely". - Extra money for communities with high levels of migrants Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, has said he is ready to work with Mr Cameron to "strike a fair deal for the United Kingdom in the EU". But his spokesman reacted to the publication of Mr Cameron's negotiation objectives by warning that restrictions on benefits for new arrivals to the UK would be "highly problematic" as they affected the "fundamental freedoms of our internal market" and amounted to "direct discrimination between EU citizens". The main sticking point has been opposition from countries including Hungary and Poland to the idea of the four year ban on claiming some UK benefits. The message from the rest of the EU is that there cannot be a policy which discriminates against other EU nationals. However David Cameron has said he is willing to consider alternatives that have the same impact on migration flows, while his EU colleagues have also said they want to come up with a deal which achieves the UK's aims. Read more: Donald Tusk's letter responding to UK's renegotiation demands Mr Cameron has faced repeated calls to say whether he would campaign for Britain's exit from the EU in the referendum if he fails to get what he wants from the renegotiation process. All he has said is that he will "rule nothing out" and he has no "emotional attachment" to the EU. Some Conservative MPs want Britain to leave the EU no matter what David Cameron manages to renegotiate. A larger group are likely to want more concessions than Mr Cameron has so far indicated he is prepared to demand. Senior backbencher David Davis, who was defeated by Mr Cameron for the Tory leadership in 2005, told the Daily Telegraph the majority of the 332 Conservative MPs want Mr Cameron to negotiate an "opt-out" power to stop individual EU laws from applying to Britain. The prime minister has said this would be "impossible" without Britain leaving the EU. Mr Davis claims as many as 60 Tory MPs would be prepared to rebel and vote for Britain's exit from the EU if the prime minister fails to deliver. Graham Brady, chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 committee, which represents backbenchers, had urged David Cameron to give all Conservative MPs, including ministers, a free vote in the EU referendum despite Mr Cameron warning in January 2015 that serving cabinet ministers would have to quit the government if they wanted to campaign to leave the EU - if he had secured the reforms to it he wants. That position has now changed with Mr Cameron agreeing to allow cabinet ministers to campaign - in a personal capacity - on either side of the EU referendum campaign, once his renegotiation is over. In the 1975 referendum on whether Britain should remain in the European Economic Community, as the EU was then called, Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson decided to suspend collective responsibility because his cabinet was split on the issue. Ministers were allowed to vote with their consciences and campaign against each other. The majority of them, including Mr Wilson, joined the Yes camp, but left-wingers, such as Tony Benn, played a leading role in the No campaign. The Yes campaign won easily with 67% of the vote. 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 | What else does Mr Cameron want? | 1,822 | The Conservatives want to free business from red tape and "excessive interference" from Brussels and to provide access to new markets through "turbo charging" free trade deals with America and Asia. They also want trade barriers in the services and digital sectors to be removed to create a truly single market as well as specific protections for the City of London. They support continued enlargement of the EU to new members but with new mechanisms in place to "prevent vast migrations across the Continent". The prime minister has said Britain would resist any move towards a European Army and that he wants to free British police forces from EU interference. He has also ruled out Britain joining the euro. But he has placed less emphasis in recent years on demanding changes to EU social policy, such as the maximum 48-hour working week, agency workers, maternity leave and non-discrimination rules - amid pressure from trade unions to leave such protections intact. | 0.382777 |
42_2 | David Cameron wants to renegotiate the terms of the UK's membership ahead of a referendum by the end of 2017. He has said he will campaign for Britain to remain in the EU if he gets the reforms he wants. Mr Cameron said he did not want to reveal full details of his negotiating hand before serious discussions get under way. Through a series of speeches and newspaper articles, he has given an overview of his priorities but, and in November, he set down his objectives on paper for the first time in a letter to Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council. His four key objectives are: - Economic governance: Securing an explicit recognition that the euro is not the only currency of the European Union, to ensure countries outside the eurozone are not materially disadvantaged. The UK wants safeguards that steps to further financial union cannot be imposed on non-eurozone members and the UK will not have to contribute to eurozone bailouts - Competitiveness: Setting a target for the reduction of the "burden" of excessive regulation and extending the single market - Immigration: Restricting access to in-work and out-of-work benefits to EU migrants. Specifically, ministers want to stop those coming to the UK from claiming certain benefits until they have been resident for four years. Ministers have reportedly been warned by the UK's top civil servant this could be discriminatory and any limits may be reduced to less than a year. An option of an "emergency brake" to stop the payments for four years is being discussed as a compromise deal - Sovereignty: Allowing Britain to opt out from the EU's founding ambition to forge an "ever closer union" of the peoples of Europe so it will not be drawn into further political integration. Giving greater powers to national parliaments to block EU legislation. The Conservatives want to free business from red tape and "excessive interference" from Brussels and to provide access to new markets through "turbo charging" free trade deals with America and Asia. They also want trade barriers in the services and digital sectors to be removed to create a truly single market as well as specific protections for the City of London. They support continued enlargement of the EU to new members but with new mechanisms in place to "prevent vast migrations across the Continent". The prime minister has said Britain would resist any move towards a European Army and that he wants to free British police forces from EU interference. He has also ruled out Britain joining the euro. But he has placed less emphasis in recent years on demanding changes to EU social policy, such as the maximum 48-hour working week, agency workers, maternity leave and non-discrimination rules - amid pressure from trade unions to leave such protections intact. The official UK government position is that a referendum will be held by the end of 2017 but Downing Street sources have said: "If we can do it earlier we will." it is widely expected to be held in June or July if a deal is reached at the EU summit in February. The Conservatives will attempt to repeal the Human Rights Act, which requires UK courts to treat the European Court of Human Rights as setting legal precedents for the UK, in favour of a British Bill of Rights. The European Court of Human Rights is not a European Union institution. It was set up by the Council of Europe (CoE), which has 47 members including Russia and Ukraine. David Cameron says that if necessary he would back a new law reasserting the power of the UK Parliament over the EU. The freedom for people to move around Europe, enshrined in the EU treaties, works in parallel with the other three basic freedoms in the single market: freedom of goods, capital and services. It is a "red line" for other EU leaders, who do not want to see it eroded. Mr Cameron's decision to seek the four year ban on some UK benefits for EU migrants was a way round it, but a number of EU countries - including Hungary and Poland - say they will not accept anything which discriminates against their nationals. This has led to reports that the idea of an "emergency brake" to limit numbers when there has been a surge of migrants, might be back on the agenda. In a speech in November 2014, David Cameron set out measures to reduce the number of EU nationals moving to the UK. His main proposals were: - Four year delay for EU migrants wishing to claim in-work benefits, such as tax credits, or seeking access to social housing - Stopping migrants claiming child benefit for dependents living outside the UK - Removing migrants from the UK after six months if they have not found work - Restricting the right of migrants to bring non-EU family members into the UK - Stopping EU jobseekers claiming Universal Credit - Speeding up deportation of convicted criminals - Longer re-entry bans for beggars and fraudsters removed from the UK - Stopping citizens from new EU entrants working in the UK until their economies have "converged more closely". - Extra money for communities with high levels of migrants Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, has said he is ready to work with Mr Cameron to "strike a fair deal for the United Kingdom in the EU". But his spokesman reacted to the publication of Mr Cameron's negotiation objectives by warning that restrictions on benefits for new arrivals to the UK would be "highly problematic" as they affected the "fundamental freedoms of our internal market" and amounted to "direct discrimination between EU citizens". The main sticking point has been opposition from countries including Hungary and Poland to the idea of the four year ban on claiming some UK benefits. The message from the rest of the EU is that there cannot be a policy which discriminates against other EU nationals. However David Cameron has said he is willing to consider alternatives that have the same impact on migration flows, while his EU colleagues have also said they want to come up with a deal which achieves the UK's aims. Read more: Donald Tusk's letter responding to UK's renegotiation demands Mr Cameron has faced repeated calls to say whether he would campaign for Britain's exit from the EU in the referendum if he fails to get what he wants from the renegotiation process. All he has said is that he will "rule nothing out" and he has no "emotional attachment" to the EU. Some Conservative MPs want Britain to leave the EU no matter what David Cameron manages to renegotiate. A larger group are likely to want more concessions than Mr Cameron has so far indicated he is prepared to demand. Senior backbencher David Davis, who was defeated by Mr Cameron for the Tory leadership in 2005, told the Daily Telegraph the majority of the 332 Conservative MPs want Mr Cameron to negotiate an "opt-out" power to stop individual EU laws from applying to Britain. The prime minister has said this would be "impossible" without Britain leaving the EU. Mr Davis claims as many as 60 Tory MPs would be prepared to rebel and vote for Britain's exit from the EU if the prime minister fails to deliver. Graham Brady, chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 committee, which represents backbenchers, had urged David Cameron to give all Conservative MPs, including ministers, a free vote in the EU referendum despite Mr Cameron warning in January 2015 that serving cabinet ministers would have to quit the government if they wanted to campaign to leave the EU - if he had secured the reforms to it he wants. That position has now changed with Mr Cameron agreeing to allow cabinet ministers to campaign - in a personal capacity - on either side of the EU referendum campaign, once his renegotiation is over. In the 1975 referendum on whether Britain should remain in the European Economic Community, as the EU was then called, Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson decided to suspend collective responsibility because his cabinet was split on the issue. Ministers were allowed to vote with their consciences and campaign against each other. The majority of them, including Mr Wilson, joined the Yes camp, but left-wingers, such as Tony Benn, played a leading role in the No campaign. The Yes campaign won easily with 67% of the vote. 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 | When will the referendum be held? | 2,794 | The official UK government position is that a referendum will be held by the end of 2017 but Downing Street sources have said: "If we can do it earlier we will." it is widely expected to be held in June or July if a deal is reached at the EU summit in February. | 0.780688 |
42_3 | David Cameron wants to renegotiate the terms of the UK's membership ahead of a referendum by the end of 2017. He has said he will campaign for Britain to remain in the EU if he gets the reforms he wants. Mr Cameron said he did not want to reveal full details of his negotiating hand before serious discussions get under way. Through a series of speeches and newspaper articles, he has given an overview of his priorities but, and in November, he set down his objectives on paper for the first time in a letter to Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council. His four key objectives are: - Economic governance: Securing an explicit recognition that the euro is not the only currency of the European Union, to ensure countries outside the eurozone are not materially disadvantaged. The UK wants safeguards that steps to further financial union cannot be imposed on non-eurozone members and the UK will not have to contribute to eurozone bailouts - Competitiveness: Setting a target for the reduction of the "burden" of excessive regulation and extending the single market - Immigration: Restricting access to in-work and out-of-work benefits to EU migrants. Specifically, ministers want to stop those coming to the UK from claiming certain benefits until they have been resident for four years. Ministers have reportedly been warned by the UK's top civil servant this could be discriminatory and any limits may be reduced to less than a year. An option of an "emergency brake" to stop the payments for four years is being discussed as a compromise deal - Sovereignty: Allowing Britain to opt out from the EU's founding ambition to forge an "ever closer union" of the peoples of Europe so it will not be drawn into further political integration. Giving greater powers to national parliaments to block EU legislation. The Conservatives want to free business from red tape and "excessive interference" from Brussels and to provide access to new markets through "turbo charging" free trade deals with America and Asia. They also want trade barriers in the services and digital sectors to be removed to create a truly single market as well as specific protections for the City of London. They support continued enlargement of the EU to new members but with new mechanisms in place to "prevent vast migrations across the Continent". The prime minister has said Britain would resist any move towards a European Army and that he wants to free British police forces from EU interference. He has also ruled out Britain joining the euro. But he has placed less emphasis in recent years on demanding changes to EU social policy, such as the maximum 48-hour working week, agency workers, maternity leave and non-discrimination rules - amid pressure from trade unions to leave such protections intact. The official UK government position is that a referendum will be held by the end of 2017 but Downing Street sources have said: "If we can do it earlier we will." it is widely expected to be held in June or July if a deal is reached at the EU summit in February. The Conservatives will attempt to repeal the Human Rights Act, which requires UK courts to treat the European Court of Human Rights as setting legal precedents for the UK, in favour of a British Bill of Rights. The European Court of Human Rights is not a European Union institution. It was set up by the Council of Europe (CoE), which has 47 members including Russia and Ukraine. David Cameron says that if necessary he would back a new law reasserting the power of the UK Parliament over the EU. The freedom for people to move around Europe, enshrined in the EU treaties, works in parallel with the other three basic freedoms in the single market: freedom of goods, capital and services. It is a "red line" for other EU leaders, who do not want to see it eroded. Mr Cameron's decision to seek the four year ban on some UK benefits for EU migrants was a way round it, but a number of EU countries - including Hungary and Poland - say they will not accept anything which discriminates against their nationals. This has led to reports that the idea of an "emergency brake" to limit numbers when there has been a surge of migrants, might be back on the agenda. In a speech in November 2014, David Cameron set out measures to reduce the number of EU nationals moving to the UK. His main proposals were: - Four year delay for EU migrants wishing to claim in-work benefits, such as tax credits, or seeking access to social housing - Stopping migrants claiming child benefit for dependents living outside the UK - Removing migrants from the UK after six months if they have not found work - Restricting the right of migrants to bring non-EU family members into the UK - Stopping EU jobseekers claiming Universal Credit - Speeding up deportation of convicted criminals - Longer re-entry bans for beggars and fraudsters removed from the UK - Stopping citizens from new EU entrants working in the UK until their economies have "converged more closely". - Extra money for communities with high levels of migrants Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, has said he is ready to work with Mr Cameron to "strike a fair deal for the United Kingdom in the EU". But his spokesman reacted to the publication of Mr Cameron's negotiation objectives by warning that restrictions on benefits for new arrivals to the UK would be "highly problematic" as they affected the "fundamental freedoms of our internal market" and amounted to "direct discrimination between EU citizens". The main sticking point has been opposition from countries including Hungary and Poland to the idea of the four year ban on claiming some UK benefits. The message from the rest of the EU is that there cannot be a policy which discriminates against other EU nationals. However David Cameron has said he is willing to consider alternatives that have the same impact on migration flows, while his EU colleagues have also said they want to come up with a deal which achieves the UK's aims. Read more: Donald Tusk's letter responding to UK's renegotiation demands Mr Cameron has faced repeated calls to say whether he would campaign for Britain's exit from the EU in the referendum if he fails to get what he wants from the renegotiation process. All he has said is that he will "rule nothing out" and he has no "emotional attachment" to the EU. Some Conservative MPs want Britain to leave the EU no matter what David Cameron manages to renegotiate. A larger group are likely to want more concessions than Mr Cameron has so far indicated he is prepared to demand. Senior backbencher David Davis, who was defeated by Mr Cameron for the Tory leadership in 2005, told the Daily Telegraph the majority of the 332 Conservative MPs want Mr Cameron to negotiate an "opt-out" power to stop individual EU laws from applying to Britain. The prime minister has said this would be "impossible" without Britain leaving the EU. Mr Davis claims as many as 60 Tory MPs would be prepared to rebel and vote for Britain's exit from the EU if the prime minister fails to deliver. Graham Brady, chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 committee, which represents backbenchers, had urged David Cameron to give all Conservative MPs, including ministers, a free vote in the EU referendum despite Mr Cameron warning in January 2015 that serving cabinet ministers would have to quit the government if they wanted to campaign to leave the EU - if he had secured the reforms to it he wants. That position has now changed with Mr Cameron agreeing to allow cabinet ministers to campaign - in a personal capacity - on either side of the EU referendum campaign, once his renegotiation is over. In the 1975 referendum on whether Britain should remain in the European Economic Community, as the EU was then called, Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson decided to suspend collective responsibility because his cabinet was split on the issue. Ministers were allowed to vote with their consciences and campaign against each other. The majority of them, including Mr Wilson, joined the Yes camp, but left-wingers, such as Tony Benn, played a leading role in the No campaign. The Yes campaign won easily with 67% of the vote. 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 | What about the European Court of Human Rights? | 3,056 | The Conservatives will attempt to repeal the Human Rights Act, which requires UK courts to treat the European Court of Human Rights as setting legal precedents for the UK, in favour of a British Bill of Rights. The European Court of Human Rights is not a European Union institution. It was set up by the Council of Europe (CoE), which has 47 members including Russia and Ukraine. David Cameron says that if necessary he would back a new law reasserting the power of the UK Parliament over the EU. | 0.688262 |
42_4 | David Cameron wants to renegotiate the terms of the UK's membership ahead of a referendum by the end of 2017. He has said he will campaign for Britain to remain in the EU if he gets the reforms he wants. Mr Cameron said he did not want to reveal full details of his negotiating hand before serious discussions get under way. Through a series of speeches and newspaper articles, he has given an overview of his priorities but, and in November, he set down his objectives on paper for the first time in a letter to Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council. His four key objectives are: - Economic governance: Securing an explicit recognition that the euro is not the only currency of the European Union, to ensure countries outside the eurozone are not materially disadvantaged. The UK wants safeguards that steps to further financial union cannot be imposed on non-eurozone members and the UK will not have to contribute to eurozone bailouts - Competitiveness: Setting a target for the reduction of the "burden" of excessive regulation and extending the single market - Immigration: Restricting access to in-work and out-of-work benefits to EU migrants. Specifically, ministers want to stop those coming to the UK from claiming certain benefits until they have been resident for four years. Ministers have reportedly been warned by the UK's top civil servant this could be discriminatory and any limits may be reduced to less than a year. An option of an "emergency brake" to stop the payments for four years is being discussed as a compromise deal - Sovereignty: Allowing Britain to opt out from the EU's founding ambition to forge an "ever closer union" of the peoples of Europe so it will not be drawn into further political integration. Giving greater powers to national parliaments to block EU legislation. The Conservatives want to free business from red tape and "excessive interference" from Brussels and to provide access to new markets through "turbo charging" free trade deals with America and Asia. They also want trade barriers in the services and digital sectors to be removed to create a truly single market as well as specific protections for the City of London. They support continued enlargement of the EU to new members but with new mechanisms in place to "prevent vast migrations across the Continent". The prime minister has said Britain would resist any move towards a European Army and that he wants to free British police forces from EU interference. He has also ruled out Britain joining the euro. But he has placed less emphasis in recent years on demanding changes to EU social policy, such as the maximum 48-hour working week, agency workers, maternity leave and non-discrimination rules - amid pressure from trade unions to leave such protections intact. The official UK government position is that a referendum will be held by the end of 2017 but Downing Street sources have said: "If we can do it earlier we will." it is widely expected to be held in June or July if a deal is reached at the EU summit in February. The Conservatives will attempt to repeal the Human Rights Act, which requires UK courts to treat the European Court of Human Rights as setting legal precedents for the UK, in favour of a British Bill of Rights. The European Court of Human Rights is not a European Union institution. It was set up by the Council of Europe (CoE), which has 47 members including Russia and Ukraine. David Cameron says that if necessary he would back a new law reasserting the power of the UK Parliament over the EU. The freedom for people to move around Europe, enshrined in the EU treaties, works in parallel with the other three basic freedoms in the single market: freedom of goods, capital and services. It is a "red line" for other EU leaders, who do not want to see it eroded. Mr Cameron's decision to seek the four year ban on some UK benefits for EU migrants was a way round it, but a number of EU countries - including Hungary and Poland - say they will not accept anything which discriminates against their nationals. This has led to reports that the idea of an "emergency brake" to limit numbers when there has been a surge of migrants, might be back on the agenda. In a speech in November 2014, David Cameron set out measures to reduce the number of EU nationals moving to the UK. His main proposals were: - Four year delay for EU migrants wishing to claim in-work benefits, such as tax credits, or seeking access to social housing - Stopping migrants claiming child benefit for dependents living outside the UK - Removing migrants from the UK after six months if they have not found work - Restricting the right of migrants to bring non-EU family members into the UK - Stopping EU jobseekers claiming Universal Credit - Speeding up deportation of convicted criminals - Longer re-entry bans for beggars and fraudsters removed from the UK - Stopping citizens from new EU entrants working in the UK until their economies have "converged more closely". - Extra money for communities with high levels of migrants Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, has said he is ready to work with Mr Cameron to "strike a fair deal for the United Kingdom in the EU". But his spokesman reacted to the publication of Mr Cameron's negotiation objectives by warning that restrictions on benefits for new arrivals to the UK would be "highly problematic" as they affected the "fundamental freedoms of our internal market" and amounted to "direct discrimination between EU citizens". The main sticking point has been opposition from countries including Hungary and Poland to the idea of the four year ban on claiming some UK benefits. The message from the rest of the EU is that there cannot be a policy which discriminates against other EU nationals. However David Cameron has said he is willing to consider alternatives that have the same impact on migration flows, while his EU colleagues have also said they want to come up with a deal which achieves the UK's aims. Read more: Donald Tusk's letter responding to UK's renegotiation demands Mr Cameron has faced repeated calls to say whether he would campaign for Britain's exit from the EU in the referendum if he fails to get what he wants from the renegotiation process. All he has said is that he will "rule nothing out" and he has no "emotional attachment" to the EU. Some Conservative MPs want Britain to leave the EU no matter what David Cameron manages to renegotiate. A larger group are likely to want more concessions than Mr Cameron has so far indicated he is prepared to demand. Senior backbencher David Davis, who was defeated by Mr Cameron for the Tory leadership in 2005, told the Daily Telegraph the majority of the 332 Conservative MPs want Mr Cameron to negotiate an "opt-out" power to stop individual EU laws from applying to Britain. The prime minister has said this would be "impossible" without Britain leaving the EU. Mr Davis claims as many as 60 Tory MPs would be prepared to rebel and vote for Britain's exit from the EU if the prime minister fails to deliver. Graham Brady, chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 committee, which represents backbenchers, had urged David Cameron to give all Conservative MPs, including ministers, a free vote in the EU referendum despite Mr Cameron warning in January 2015 that serving cabinet ministers would have to quit the government if they wanted to campaign to leave the EU - if he had secured the reforms to it he wants. That position has now changed with Mr Cameron agreeing to allow cabinet ministers to campaign - in a personal capacity - on either side of the EU referendum campaign, once his renegotiation is over. In the 1975 referendum on whether Britain should remain in the European Economic Community, as the EU was then called, Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson decided to suspend collective responsibility because his cabinet was split on the issue. Ministers were allowed to vote with their consciences and campaign against each other. The majority of them, including Mr Wilson, joined the Yes camp, but left-wingers, such as Tony Benn, played a leading role in the No campaign. The Yes campaign won easily with 67% of the vote. 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 | What about freedom of movement? | 3,553 | The freedom for people to move around Europe, enshrined in the EU treaties, works in parallel with the other three basic freedoms in the single market: freedom of goods, capital and services. It is a "red line" for other EU leaders, who do not want to see it eroded. Mr Cameron's decision to seek the four year ban on some UK benefits for EU migrants was a way round it, but a number of EU countries - including Hungary and Poland - say they will not accept anything which discriminates against their nationals. This has led to reports that the idea of an "emergency brake" to limit numbers when there has been a surge of migrants, might be back on the agenda. | 0.475122 |
42_5 | David Cameron wants to renegotiate the terms of the UK's membership ahead of a referendum by the end of 2017. He has said he will campaign for Britain to remain in the EU if he gets the reforms he wants. Mr Cameron said he did not want to reveal full details of his negotiating hand before serious discussions get under way. Through a series of speeches and newspaper articles, he has given an overview of his priorities but, and in November, he set down his objectives on paper for the first time in a letter to Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council. His four key objectives are: - Economic governance: Securing an explicit recognition that the euro is not the only currency of the European Union, to ensure countries outside the eurozone are not materially disadvantaged. The UK wants safeguards that steps to further financial union cannot be imposed on non-eurozone members and the UK will not have to contribute to eurozone bailouts - Competitiveness: Setting a target for the reduction of the "burden" of excessive regulation and extending the single market - Immigration: Restricting access to in-work and out-of-work benefits to EU migrants. Specifically, ministers want to stop those coming to the UK from claiming certain benefits until they have been resident for four years. Ministers have reportedly been warned by the UK's top civil servant this could be discriminatory and any limits may be reduced to less than a year. An option of an "emergency brake" to stop the payments for four years is being discussed as a compromise deal - Sovereignty: Allowing Britain to opt out from the EU's founding ambition to forge an "ever closer union" of the peoples of Europe so it will not be drawn into further political integration. Giving greater powers to national parliaments to block EU legislation. The Conservatives want to free business from red tape and "excessive interference" from Brussels and to provide access to new markets through "turbo charging" free trade deals with America and Asia. They also want trade barriers in the services and digital sectors to be removed to create a truly single market as well as specific protections for the City of London. They support continued enlargement of the EU to new members but with new mechanisms in place to "prevent vast migrations across the Continent". The prime minister has said Britain would resist any move towards a European Army and that he wants to free British police forces from EU interference. He has also ruled out Britain joining the euro. But he has placed less emphasis in recent years on demanding changes to EU social policy, such as the maximum 48-hour working week, agency workers, maternity leave and non-discrimination rules - amid pressure from trade unions to leave such protections intact. The official UK government position is that a referendum will be held by the end of 2017 but Downing Street sources have said: "If we can do it earlier we will." it is widely expected to be held in June or July if a deal is reached at the EU summit in February. The Conservatives will attempt to repeal the Human Rights Act, which requires UK courts to treat the European Court of Human Rights as setting legal precedents for the UK, in favour of a British Bill of Rights. The European Court of Human Rights is not a European Union institution. It was set up by the Council of Europe (CoE), which has 47 members including Russia and Ukraine. David Cameron says that if necessary he would back a new law reasserting the power of the UK Parliament over the EU. The freedom for people to move around Europe, enshrined in the EU treaties, works in parallel with the other three basic freedoms in the single market: freedom of goods, capital and services. It is a "red line" for other EU leaders, who do not want to see it eroded. Mr Cameron's decision to seek the four year ban on some UK benefits for EU migrants was a way round it, but a number of EU countries - including Hungary and Poland - say they will not accept anything which discriminates against their nationals. This has led to reports that the idea of an "emergency brake" to limit numbers when there has been a surge of migrants, might be back on the agenda. In a speech in November 2014, David Cameron set out measures to reduce the number of EU nationals moving to the UK. His main proposals were: - Four year delay for EU migrants wishing to claim in-work benefits, such as tax credits, or seeking access to social housing - Stopping migrants claiming child benefit for dependents living outside the UK - Removing migrants from the UK after six months if they have not found work - Restricting the right of migrants to bring non-EU family members into the UK - Stopping EU jobseekers claiming Universal Credit - Speeding up deportation of convicted criminals - Longer re-entry bans for beggars and fraudsters removed from the UK - Stopping citizens from new EU entrants working in the UK until their economies have "converged more closely". - Extra money for communities with high levels of migrants Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, has said he is ready to work with Mr Cameron to "strike a fair deal for the United Kingdom in the EU". But his spokesman reacted to the publication of Mr Cameron's negotiation objectives by warning that restrictions on benefits for new arrivals to the UK would be "highly problematic" as they affected the "fundamental freedoms of our internal market" and amounted to "direct discrimination between EU citizens". The main sticking point has been opposition from countries including Hungary and Poland to the idea of the four year ban on claiming some UK benefits. The message from the rest of the EU is that there cannot be a policy which discriminates against other EU nationals. However David Cameron has said he is willing to consider alternatives that have the same impact on migration flows, while his EU colleagues have also said they want to come up with a deal which achieves the UK's aims. Read more: Donald Tusk's letter responding to UK's renegotiation demands Mr Cameron has faced repeated calls to say whether he would campaign for Britain's exit from the EU in the referendum if he fails to get what he wants from the renegotiation process. All he has said is that he will "rule nothing out" and he has no "emotional attachment" to the EU. Some Conservative MPs want Britain to leave the EU no matter what David Cameron manages to renegotiate. A larger group are likely to want more concessions than Mr Cameron has so far indicated he is prepared to demand. Senior backbencher David Davis, who was defeated by Mr Cameron for the Tory leadership in 2005, told the Daily Telegraph the majority of the 332 Conservative MPs want Mr Cameron to negotiate an "opt-out" power to stop individual EU laws from applying to Britain. The prime minister has said this would be "impossible" without Britain leaving the EU. Mr Davis claims as many as 60 Tory MPs would be prepared to rebel and vote for Britain's exit from the EU if the prime minister fails to deliver. Graham Brady, chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 committee, which represents backbenchers, had urged David Cameron to give all Conservative MPs, including ministers, a free vote in the EU referendum despite Mr Cameron warning in January 2015 that serving cabinet ministers would have to quit the government if they wanted to campaign to leave the EU - if he had secured the reforms to it he wants. That position has now changed with Mr Cameron agreeing to allow cabinet ministers to campaign - in a personal capacity - on either side of the EU referendum campaign, once his renegotiation is over. In the 1975 referendum on whether Britain should remain in the European Economic Community, as the EU was then called, Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson decided to suspend collective responsibility because his cabinet was split on the issue. Ministers were allowed to vote with their consciences and campaign against each other. The majority of them, including Mr Wilson, joined the Yes camp, but left-wingers, such as Tony Benn, played a leading role in the No campaign. The Yes campaign won easily with 67% of the vote. 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 | What if Mr Cameron fails to get the changes he wants? | 6,089 | Mr Cameron has faced repeated calls to say whether he would campaign for Britain's exit from the EU in the referendum if he fails to get what he wants from the renegotiation process. All he has said is that he will "rule nothing out" and he has no "emotional attachment" to the EU. | 0.636112 |
42_6 | David Cameron wants to renegotiate the terms of the UK's membership ahead of a referendum by the end of 2017. He has said he will campaign for Britain to remain in the EU if he gets the reforms he wants. Mr Cameron said he did not want to reveal full details of his negotiating hand before serious discussions get under way. Through a series of speeches and newspaper articles, he has given an overview of his priorities but, and in November, he set down his objectives on paper for the first time in a letter to Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council. His four key objectives are: - Economic governance: Securing an explicit recognition that the euro is not the only currency of the European Union, to ensure countries outside the eurozone are not materially disadvantaged. The UK wants safeguards that steps to further financial union cannot be imposed on non-eurozone members and the UK will not have to contribute to eurozone bailouts - Competitiveness: Setting a target for the reduction of the "burden" of excessive regulation and extending the single market - Immigration: Restricting access to in-work and out-of-work benefits to EU migrants. Specifically, ministers want to stop those coming to the UK from claiming certain benefits until they have been resident for four years. Ministers have reportedly been warned by the UK's top civil servant this could be discriminatory and any limits may be reduced to less than a year. An option of an "emergency brake" to stop the payments for four years is being discussed as a compromise deal - Sovereignty: Allowing Britain to opt out from the EU's founding ambition to forge an "ever closer union" of the peoples of Europe so it will not be drawn into further political integration. Giving greater powers to national parliaments to block EU legislation. The Conservatives want to free business from red tape and "excessive interference" from Brussels and to provide access to new markets through "turbo charging" free trade deals with America and Asia. They also want trade barriers in the services and digital sectors to be removed to create a truly single market as well as specific protections for the City of London. They support continued enlargement of the EU to new members but with new mechanisms in place to "prevent vast migrations across the Continent". The prime minister has said Britain would resist any move towards a European Army and that he wants to free British police forces from EU interference. He has also ruled out Britain joining the euro. But he has placed less emphasis in recent years on demanding changes to EU social policy, such as the maximum 48-hour working week, agency workers, maternity leave and non-discrimination rules - amid pressure from trade unions to leave such protections intact. The official UK government position is that a referendum will be held by the end of 2017 but Downing Street sources have said: "If we can do it earlier we will." it is widely expected to be held in June or July if a deal is reached at the EU summit in February. The Conservatives will attempt to repeal the Human Rights Act, which requires UK courts to treat the European Court of Human Rights as setting legal precedents for the UK, in favour of a British Bill of Rights. The European Court of Human Rights is not a European Union institution. It was set up by the Council of Europe (CoE), which has 47 members including Russia and Ukraine. David Cameron says that if necessary he would back a new law reasserting the power of the UK Parliament over the EU. The freedom for people to move around Europe, enshrined in the EU treaties, works in parallel with the other three basic freedoms in the single market: freedom of goods, capital and services. It is a "red line" for other EU leaders, who do not want to see it eroded. Mr Cameron's decision to seek the four year ban on some UK benefits for EU migrants was a way round it, but a number of EU countries - including Hungary and Poland - say they will not accept anything which discriminates against their nationals. This has led to reports that the idea of an "emergency brake" to limit numbers when there has been a surge of migrants, might be back on the agenda. In a speech in November 2014, David Cameron set out measures to reduce the number of EU nationals moving to the UK. His main proposals were: - Four year delay for EU migrants wishing to claim in-work benefits, such as tax credits, or seeking access to social housing - Stopping migrants claiming child benefit for dependents living outside the UK - Removing migrants from the UK after six months if they have not found work - Restricting the right of migrants to bring non-EU family members into the UK - Stopping EU jobseekers claiming Universal Credit - Speeding up deportation of convicted criminals - Longer re-entry bans for beggars and fraudsters removed from the UK - Stopping citizens from new EU entrants working in the UK until their economies have "converged more closely". - Extra money for communities with high levels of migrants Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, has said he is ready to work with Mr Cameron to "strike a fair deal for the United Kingdom in the EU". But his spokesman reacted to the publication of Mr Cameron's negotiation objectives by warning that restrictions on benefits for new arrivals to the UK would be "highly problematic" as they affected the "fundamental freedoms of our internal market" and amounted to "direct discrimination between EU citizens". The main sticking point has been opposition from countries including Hungary and Poland to the idea of the four year ban on claiming some UK benefits. The message from the rest of the EU is that there cannot be a policy which discriminates against other EU nationals. However David Cameron has said he is willing to consider alternatives that have the same impact on migration flows, while his EU colleagues have also said they want to come up with a deal which achieves the UK's aims. Read more: Donald Tusk's letter responding to UK's renegotiation demands Mr Cameron has faced repeated calls to say whether he would campaign for Britain's exit from the EU in the referendum if he fails to get what he wants from the renegotiation process. All he has said is that he will "rule nothing out" and he has no "emotional attachment" to the EU. Some Conservative MPs want Britain to leave the EU no matter what David Cameron manages to renegotiate. A larger group are likely to want more concessions than Mr Cameron has so far indicated he is prepared to demand. Senior backbencher David Davis, who was defeated by Mr Cameron for the Tory leadership in 2005, told the Daily Telegraph the majority of the 332 Conservative MPs want Mr Cameron to negotiate an "opt-out" power to stop individual EU laws from applying to Britain. The prime minister has said this would be "impossible" without Britain leaving the EU. Mr Davis claims as many as 60 Tory MPs would be prepared to rebel and vote for Britain's exit from the EU if the prime minister fails to deliver. Graham Brady, chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 committee, which represents backbenchers, had urged David Cameron to give all Conservative MPs, including ministers, a free vote in the EU referendum despite Mr Cameron warning in January 2015 that serving cabinet ministers would have to quit the government if they wanted to campaign to leave the EU - if he had secured the reforms to it he wants. That position has now changed with Mr Cameron agreeing to allow cabinet ministers to campaign - in a personal capacity - on either side of the EU referendum campaign, once his renegotiation is over. In the 1975 referendum on whether Britain should remain in the European Economic Community, as the EU was then called, Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson decided to suspend collective responsibility because his cabinet was split on the issue. Ministers were allowed to vote with their consciences and campaign against each other. The majority of them, including Mr Wilson, joined the Yes camp, but left-wingers, such as Tony Benn, played a leading role in the No campaign. The Yes campaign won easily with 67% of the vote. 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 | What do other Conservative MPs want? | 6,371 | Some Conservative MPs want Britain to leave the EU no matter what David Cameron manages to renegotiate. A larger group are likely to want more concessions than Mr Cameron has so far indicated he is prepared to demand. Senior backbencher David Davis, who was defeated by Mr Cameron for the Tory leadership in 2005, told the Daily Telegraph the majority of the 332 Conservative MPs want Mr Cameron to negotiate an "opt-out" power to stop individual EU laws from applying to Britain. The prime minister has said this would be "impossible" without Britain leaving the EU. Mr Davis claims as many as 60 Tory MPs would be prepared to rebel and vote for Britain's exit from the EU if the prime minister fails to deliver. | 0.502933 |
43_0 | Adult film star Stormy Daniels is suing President Donald Trump over a so-called "hush agreement". Ms Daniels (her real name is Stephanie Clifford) alleges she and Mr Trump had sex in 2006, and that he has been trying to keep it quiet ever since. A lawyer for Ms Daniels has made claims of a cover-up, and others have raised questions about potentially illegal campaign payments. The president rejects all the allegations, and lawyers are suing Ms Daniels back for breaking this deal. Mr Trump denies that any money from his 2016 presidential campaign was used to buy Ms Daniels' silence, and says that the affair never happened. Using campaign funds could have been a violation of federal law. But while Mr Trump's supporters have largely ignored the story, along with allegations of sexual assault and the infamous Access Hollywood tape, the Stormy Daniels case could see the president testify in court - with 2018 mid-term elections just around the corner. She was born in Louisiana in 1979. She moved into the adult film industry first as a performer, before in 2004 branching out into directing and also writing. Her stage name comes from Motley Crue's bassist Nikki Sixx's daughter Storm, and the US whisky Jack Daniels - which southerner Ms Clifford chose after reading an ad calling the drink "a Southern favourite". You may also recognise her cameo appearances in films The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up, and the music video for Maroon Five's song Wake Up Call. She also thought of running for a US Senate seat in Louisiana in 2010 but called off her run after she said her candidacy was not being taken seriously. It all goes back to July 2006 - when the White House was merely a twinkle in Donald Trump's eye. Ms Daniels says she met him that month at a charity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, a resort area between California and Nevada. In a 2011 interview with In Touch Weekly, published in full in January, she says Mr Trump invited her to dinner and that she went to meet him in his hotel room. "He was all sprawled out on the couch, watching television or something," she said in the interview. "He was wearing pyjama pants." Ms Daniels alleges the pair had sex in the hotel room, something Mr Trump's lawyer said his client "vehemently denies". If Ms Daniels' account is true, this would all have happened just four months after the birth of Mr Trump's youngest child, Barron. In a 60 Minutes interview that aired in late March, Ms Daniels claimed she was threatened to stay quiet about the affair. She alleged a man approached her in a Las Vegas car park in 2011, shortly after she agreed to the In Touch Weekly interview, and told her to "leave Trump alone". Ms Daniels said the last time they spoke was in 2010, around the time she called off her US Senate bid. Rumours of the affair started to appear before the November 2016 presidential election. In January, the Wall Street Journal published an article claiming President Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, made a $130,000 (PS94,000) payment to Ms Daniels in October 2016, one month before the election. The Journal said the money was part of a non-disclosure agreement with Ms Clifford, which said she couldn't discuss the affair publicly. "These are old, recycled reports, which were published and strongly denied prior to the election," a White House official said. Mr Cohen denied the payment. In a statement to the Journal, he called the allegations "outlandish", and said they'd been "consistently denied by all parties" for years. But in February he announced he had in fact paid Ms Daniels the money. In a statement to the New York Times, Mr Cohen said neither the Trump campaign nor the Trump organisation knew anything about the payment, which he had made from his own pocket. "The payment to Ms Daniels was lawful, and was not a campaign contribution or a campaign expenditure by anyone." On 3 May, President Trump admitted that Mr Cohen had paid off Ms Daniels and was reimbursed. Earlier, his legal aide Rudy Giuliani had said in a TV interview that the money was Mr Trump's personal cash. Meanwhile, Michael Avenatti, Ms Daniels' lawyer, has claimed that the non-disclosure deal Ms Daniels signed was delivered to Mr Cohen at his Trump Tower office. "This idea that there's a separation now between Mr Cohen, individually, and the Trump Organization or Mr Cohen, individually, and Donald Trump, it's nonsense," he told 60 Minutes. The 60 Minutes interview was highly anticipated, with the New York Times writing about viewing parties across the US and "Dark and Stormy" cocktails on offer in bars. Shortly after it aired, lawyers for Mr Cohen filed a cease-and-desist against Ms Daniels and her lawyer, saying the allegations of a threat defamed Mr Cohen. "Mr Cohen had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with any such person or incident, and does not even believe that any such person exists, or that such incident ever occurred," the letter reads. Before the 60 Minutes episode, President Trump's lawyers sued Ms Daniels for $20m and to keep the case out of the public eye. The lawyers claim she broke their non-disclosure deal, or "hush agreement". This follows Ms Daniels saying she was suing Mr Trump, claiming he didn't even sign the "hush agreement". Her lawyer, Michael Avenatti, tweeted about the lawsuit with a link to the documents filed in a California court. There were also reports that President Trump had won a restraining order against Ms Daniels in February. In April, the FBI raided the New York offices of Mr Cohen following a referral from Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating suspected Russian meddling in the 2016 election. US media reported that documents relating to the payment to Ms Daniels were seized in the raid. But the payment was only one of several topics being investigated, according to the New York Times. Mr Cohen's $130,000 payment to Ms Daniels just before the 2016 election could count as an illegal contribution to President Trump's campaign. Trevor Potter, president of the Campaign Legal Center, said if Mr Cohen did this on Mr Trump's behalf, "that is a co-ordinated, illegal, in-kind contribution by Cohen for the purpose of influencing the election". Democrats Ted Lieu and Kathleen Rice, representatives for California and New York respectively, have asked the FBI to investigate Mr Cohen's payment to Ms Daniels. More importantly, the fact there was a payment made at all by Mr Cohen has not been fully explained. Asked whether the affair is important, Ms Daniels' lawyers said: "This is about the cover-up. "This is about the extent that Mr Cohen and the president have gone to intimidate this woman, to silence her, to threaten her, and to put her under their thumb," said Mr Avenatti. One of the few Republicans to comment, South Carolina congressman Mark Sanford, told the Washington Post the claims were "deeply troubling". "If it was a Democratic president and hush money had been paid in the campaign, would there be a series of hearings going on?" Mr Sanford asked. "I think you could probably point to a fair number of indicators that suggest there would be." President Trump's supporters, even those on the religious right, have largely brushed off his past behaviour and women's accusations against him. But the growing scandal could have a bearing on the midterm elections, with Democrats already making gains in traditionally Republican areas, to the concern of the party. And the Stormy Daniels scandal could see President Trump called in to testify in court - bringing even greater exposure to the case. | Who is Stormy Daniels? | 960 | She was born in Louisiana in 1979. She moved into the adult film industry first as a performer, before in 2004 branching out into directing and also writing. Her stage name comes from Motley Crue's bassist Nikki Sixx's daughter Storm, and the US whisky Jack Daniels - which southerner Ms Clifford chose after reading an ad calling the drink "a Southern favourite". You may also recognise her cameo appearances in films The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up, and the music video for Maroon Five's song Wake Up Call. She also thought of running for a US Senate seat in Louisiana in 2010 but called off her run after she said her candidacy was not being taken seriously. | 0.41024 |
45_0 | China's National People's Congress has set the country's growth target for 2016 at a lower range of 6.5%-7%. Premier Li Keqiang made the announcement in his opening speech, warning of a "difficult battle" ahead. The annual meeting in Beijing sets out to determine both the economic and political agenda for the country. It comes at a time when China struggles with slowing economic growth and a shift away from overreliance on manufacturing and heavy industry. The congress is also expected to approve a new five-year plan, a legacy of the communist command economy. Why China's National People's Congress matters "China will face more and tougher problems and challenges in its development this year, so we must be fully prepared to fight a difficult battle," Mr Li told delegates on Saturday. Last year, China's goal was "about 7%". The economy actually grew by 6.9% - the lowest expansion in 25 years. Mr Li also said that China was targeting consumer inflation at "around 3%" and unemployment "within 4.5%". Meanwhile, the country's defence spending will be raised by 7.6%, the state-run Xinhua news agency reports, citing a budget report. China's congress is a highly choreographed, largely rubber stamp affair, but Premier Li's opening address can at least be gleaned for clues about the overall direction of policy, the BBC's John Sudworth in Beijing reports. There was plenty of talk about "painful rebalancing", the need to reform inefficient state owned enterprises and to cut overcapacity - but for many, this speech will look a lot like business as usual: a commitment to growth at all costs, our correspondent adds. As expected, China released an economic growth target at the opening session of the NPC. But this was the first time we saw a range set instead of a hard and fast number. A recognition that China's growth may slip below the 6.9% recorded last year, yes, but economists have long said that a growth range may indicate a more accommodating stance towards much-needed structural reforms. Why does this matter to the rest of us? Well, China is now the world's second largest economy and has been a massive consumer of a lot of the stuff Asian businesses are selling. So while a slowdown will inevitably impact Asia in the short term, it'll be more important to see whether China's growth, slowing or not, will transition to a more sustainable path. This year's congress is overshadowed by the current economic strains as China experiences slowing economic growth and extreme volatility in stock markets. The stock market slump had seen indexes lose more than 30% of their value in 2015 and led to large-scale government intervention of limited success. Beijing has also been accused of guiding the yuan currency lower to boost the competitiveness of Chinese exports on the global market. A slew of weak economic data has recently added to the concerns and US ratings agency Moody's has downgraded its outlook for China from "stable" to "negative". There also is concern over rising unemployment as Beijing seeks to gradually shift its economy from overdependence on manufacturing and industry towards more services and consumer spending. A government official said earlier this week that 1.8 million workers were expected to be laid off in the steel and coal industries. With Beijing keen to prevent social unrest, the government has tightened its grip on dissenters and government critics. In their latest move, authorities have blocked the account of a prominent critic and cracked down on Hong Kong booksellers publishing books critical of China's leaders. President Xi Jinping recently went on a well-publicised tour of the main Communist Party newspaper, the state news agency, and state television, demanding absolute loyalty to the party and its leadership in thought, politics and action. Under China's 1982 constitution, the most powerful organ of state is meant to be the National People's Congress, China's parliament. Critics argue though that it is little more than a rubber stamp for party decisions. The congress is made up of nearly 3,000 delegates elected by China's provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and the armed forces. Delegates hold office for five years, and the full congress is convened for one session each year. This sporadic and unwieldy nature means that real influence lies within a standing committee of about 150 members elected from congress delegates. It meets every couple of months. In theory, the congress has the powers to change the constitution and make laws. But it is not seen as an independent body in the Western sense of a parliament. | What is the National People's Congress? | 3,822 | Under China's 1982 constitution, the most powerful organ of state is meant to be the National People's Congress, China's parliament. Critics argue though that it is little more than a rubber stamp for party decisions. The congress is made up of nearly 3,000 delegates elected by China's provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and the armed forces. Delegates hold office for five years, and the full congress is convened for one session each year. This sporadic and unwieldy nature means that real influence lies within a standing committee of about 150 members elected from congress delegates. It meets every couple of months. In theory, the congress has the powers to change the constitution and make laws. But it is not seen as an independent body in the Western sense of a parliament. | 0.463436 |
49_0 | Twelve relatives of Nevada's Republican candidate for governor have written an op-ed accusing him of "phoniness" and of being a "fake" Westerner. The family members wrote on Monday that they "feel compelled to protect our family name from being leveraged and exploited by Adam Laxalt". The piece attacks Mr Laxalt's political positions and accuses him of spending most of his life away from the state. Mr Laxalt, who is currently Nevada's attorney general, has yet to respond. A spokesman for Mr Laxalt told the Washington Post that he "has a large family and some distant relatives are lifelong liberal activists, donors and operatives". But an aunt, some of his cousins and other relatives who include a university professor, a medical physician, a mental health therapist and a lawyer appeared to anticipate his response to their comments. "If he responds to this article at all, it will probably be to say that he hardly knows the people writing this article," they wrote in the Reno Gazette Journal. "And in many ways that would be true. We never had a chance to get to know him, really - he spent his life in Washington, DC while we lived in Northern Nevada and grew up in public schools and on public lands." Mr Laxalt, Nevada's attorney general, has spoken in campaign ads of being raised by a single mother who was a lobbyist in Washington DC. He was born in Reno but was raised in Washington DC. He returned to Nevada in 2013 and entered politics a year later. Mr Laxalt is the grandson of Paul Laxalt, who served both as governor as well as a senator for Nevada, and as a campaign chairman for President Ronald Reagan. On 6 November, he faces off against Democrat Steve Sisolak, a businessman and county commissioner. In their piece, the relatives allege he only moved to Nevada in 2013 "so that he could lean on the reputation of a family that he hardly knew" while also tapping out-of-state donors. The group mocked the boots and western shirt he wore in a campaign ad, which they say "look like they were ordered off Amazon the week before". "All this careful arrangement is meant to project an image of authenticity, of a deep family tie to Nevada and its history. But it's all fake, all props paid for by someone else." "We would be proud to have a Laxalt running for office on Nov 6, regardless of whether they were Republican or Democrat or independent, so long as we believed that they would be good for Nevada," the relatives wrote. "We're writing because we care about Nevada and because we know the truth about this candidate. We think that you should, too." Mr Laxalt's family is not the only house divided over the candidacy of one of its members. In September six siblings of Arizona Republican Paul Gosar launched a biting television attack advert against him. The siblings appeared in an endorsement ad for his rival, Democrat David Brill. | Who is Adam Laxalt? | 1,216 | Mr Laxalt, Nevada's attorney general, has spoken in campaign ads of being raised by a single mother who was a lobbyist in Washington DC. He was born in Reno but was raised in Washington DC. He returned to Nevada in 2013 and entered politics a year later. Mr Laxalt is the grandson of Paul Laxalt, who served both as governor as well as a senator for Nevada, and as a campaign chairman for President Ronald Reagan. On 6 November, he faces off against Democrat Steve Sisolak, a businessman and county commissioner. In their piece, the relatives allege he only moved to Nevada in 2013 "so that he could lean on the reputation of a family that he hardly knew" while also tapping out-of-state donors. The group mocked the boots and western shirt he wore in a campaign ad, which they say "look like they were ordered off Amazon the week before". "All this careful arrangement is meant to project an image of authenticity, of a deep family tie to Nevada and its history. But it's all fake, all props paid for by someone else." | 0.508927 |
50_0 | Last year, a Muslim man in northern India was killed in a mob lynching over allegations that his family had been storing and consuming beef at home. The case sparked widespread outrage and a furious debate about religious tolerance. Now, there's a fresh twist in the case that has raised questions over the investigation - and highlighted tensions over beef in India. Mohammed Akhlaq was beaten to a death in the district of Dadri in September over rumours he had consumed beef. Hindus consider cows to be sacred, and for many, eating beef is taboo. The slaughter of cows is also banned in many Indian states. A lab test cited widely in the aftermath of the killing said the meat allegedly found in his refrigerator was mutton and not beef. However a new lab report, revealed by the lawyers of 18 people on trial for his murder, said that the meat in question was in fact beef. Later, it was also revealed that the meat was never in his house, but found inside a bin near his home. Although police are adamant that the type of meat is irrelevant to the case, the defence team is using the new test results to demand the release of the 18 suspects, on the grounds that they were "provoked" into attacking Mr Akhlaq. The court will hear a petition on Monday demanding that charges of cow slaughter are brought against Mr Akhlaq's family. Why was there a discrepancy between the two lab tests, and why it has taken so long for a second report to come out? Soon after the incident many media reports had claimed that police had taken meat samples from Mr Akhlaq's fridge. But police told the BBC that they had never collected meat samples from his home. Now, eight months later, the investigating police officer, Anurag Singh, has clarified that the meat samples were collected from the place of the mob attack, about 100 metres (330ft) away from Mr Akhlaq's house. "The body of Akhlaq was lying near a transformer near his house and that is where we found some meat and took samples of it," he told the BBC. The first report, released soon after Mr Akhlaq's death, said the meat in question was mutton and was widely reported in India media. However, Mr HC Singh, in-charge of the Mathura forensic investigation laboratory which released the second report, told BBC News that the preliminary test was only based on a "physical examination" of the meat samples. The examination was carried out by a veterinary physician, but even he had recommended that it be sent to a lab for further conclusive testing, he added. "Ours is the only laboratory that is equipped to do such analysis," Mr Singh said. According to Mr Singh, his laboratory had known that the meat was beef as early as October. However the test results were only submitted to the police in December. Mr Singh attributed the delay to a "lack of postage stamps" at the laboratory and the fact that they did not have a chairman for three months - excuses that have not convinced many people. Correspondents say the delay has led many to speculate that the laboratory was pressured into not revealing the test results, given the tensions brought about as a result of the incident. The lab report was only revealed to the public in June after lawyers for the 18 people accused of Mr Akhlaq's murder asked the court for a copy. Tensions in Bashara village, where Mr Akhlaq lived with his family before he was murdered, are high. The latest lab report has spurred relatives of the arrested men to petition the court, demanding that a case of cow slaughter be filed against his family. The few hundred Muslims who still live in the village say they live in fear. Reports of cow vigilante groups attacking people ferrying cattle, Hindu extremists holding arms training sessions, and reports of private Hindu armed groups operating in the region have heightened their fears. Some talk of leaving the village for good. Prem Singh was Mr Akhlaq's neighbour and both families got along well, celebrating festivals together and attending one another's weddings. But now he is listed as an eyewitness to Mr Akhlaq "killing a cow" and two of his grandsons are among the 18 men arrested. His wife is angry at the arrests, and told me: "Would a Muslim tolerate it if we kill a pig and throw it outside their house?" The court and police have consistently insisted that the new lab results will have no bearing on the case. The police investigating the case told the BBC that "this has nothing to do with the investigation of the murder of Akhlaq by a mob." And Ram Sharan Yadav, one of the lawyers for the accused, said that the court had turned down their request for a copy of the second lab result. The lawyer for Mr Akhlaq's family said that "in any case there is no law in the country that says a man can be murdered because he slaughtered a prohibited animal". Uttar Pradesh is one of the 10 Indian states where the slaughter of cow, calf, bull and bullock is completely banned. However the slaughter of buffaloes and the sale and consumption of its beef is permitted. The defence lawyers are insisting that the mob was "provoked" and want all charges against them dismissed. It is unclear if this will work as a line of defence - police stand firm on the fact that the two things are unrelated, and the courts have also indicated that this is not a factor that they will take into consideration. | Where was the meat found? | 1,453 | Soon after the incident many media reports had claimed that police had taken meat samples from Mr Akhlaq's fridge. But police told the BBC that they had never collected meat samples from his home. Now, eight months later, the investigating police officer, Anurag Singh, has clarified that the meat samples were collected from the place of the mob attack, about 100 metres (330ft) away from Mr Akhlaq's house. "The body of Akhlaq was lying near a transformer near his house and that is where we found some meat and took samples of it," he told the BBC. | 0.477353 |
50_1 | Last year, a Muslim man in northern India was killed in a mob lynching over allegations that his family had been storing and consuming beef at home. The case sparked widespread outrage and a furious debate about religious tolerance. Now, there's a fresh twist in the case that has raised questions over the investigation - and highlighted tensions over beef in India. Mohammed Akhlaq was beaten to a death in the district of Dadri in September over rumours he had consumed beef. Hindus consider cows to be sacred, and for many, eating beef is taboo. The slaughter of cows is also banned in many Indian states. A lab test cited widely in the aftermath of the killing said the meat allegedly found in his refrigerator was mutton and not beef. However a new lab report, revealed by the lawyers of 18 people on trial for his murder, said that the meat in question was in fact beef. Later, it was also revealed that the meat was never in his house, but found inside a bin near his home. Although police are adamant that the type of meat is irrelevant to the case, the defence team is using the new test results to demand the release of the 18 suspects, on the grounds that they were "provoked" into attacking Mr Akhlaq. The court will hear a petition on Monday demanding that charges of cow slaughter are brought against Mr Akhlaq's family. Why was there a discrepancy between the two lab tests, and why it has taken so long for a second report to come out? Soon after the incident many media reports had claimed that police had taken meat samples from Mr Akhlaq's fridge. But police told the BBC that they had never collected meat samples from his home. Now, eight months later, the investigating police officer, Anurag Singh, has clarified that the meat samples were collected from the place of the mob attack, about 100 metres (330ft) away from Mr Akhlaq's house. "The body of Akhlaq was lying near a transformer near his house and that is where we found some meat and took samples of it," he told the BBC. The first report, released soon after Mr Akhlaq's death, said the meat in question was mutton and was widely reported in India media. However, Mr HC Singh, in-charge of the Mathura forensic investigation laboratory which released the second report, told BBC News that the preliminary test was only based on a "physical examination" of the meat samples. The examination was carried out by a veterinary physician, but even he had recommended that it be sent to a lab for further conclusive testing, he added. "Ours is the only laboratory that is equipped to do such analysis," Mr Singh said. According to Mr Singh, his laboratory had known that the meat was beef as early as October. However the test results were only submitted to the police in December. Mr Singh attributed the delay to a "lack of postage stamps" at the laboratory and the fact that they did not have a chairman for three months - excuses that have not convinced many people. Correspondents say the delay has led many to speculate that the laboratory was pressured into not revealing the test results, given the tensions brought about as a result of the incident. The lab report was only revealed to the public in June after lawyers for the 18 people accused of Mr Akhlaq's murder asked the court for a copy. Tensions in Bashara village, where Mr Akhlaq lived with his family before he was murdered, are high. The latest lab report has spurred relatives of the arrested men to petition the court, demanding that a case of cow slaughter be filed against his family. The few hundred Muslims who still live in the village say they live in fear. Reports of cow vigilante groups attacking people ferrying cattle, Hindu extremists holding arms training sessions, and reports of private Hindu armed groups operating in the region have heightened their fears. Some talk of leaving the village for good. Prem Singh was Mr Akhlaq's neighbour and both families got along well, celebrating festivals together and attending one another's weddings. But now he is listed as an eyewitness to Mr Akhlaq "killing a cow" and two of his grandsons are among the 18 men arrested. His wife is angry at the arrests, and told me: "Would a Muslim tolerate it if we kill a pig and throw it outside their house?" The court and police have consistently insisted that the new lab results will have no bearing on the case. The police investigating the case told the BBC that "this has nothing to do with the investigation of the murder of Akhlaq by a mob." And Ram Sharan Yadav, one of the lawyers for the accused, said that the court had turned down their request for a copy of the second lab result. The lawyer for Mr Akhlaq's family said that "in any case there is no law in the country that says a man can be murdered because he slaughtered a prohibited animal". Uttar Pradesh is one of the 10 Indian states where the slaughter of cow, calf, bull and bullock is completely banned. However the slaughter of buffaloes and the sale and consumption of its beef is permitted. The defence lawyers are insisting that the mob was "provoked" and want all charges against them dismissed. It is unclear if this will work as a line of defence - police stand firm on the fact that the two things are unrelated, and the courts have also indicated that this is not a factor that they will take into consideration. | Why was a second test carried out? | 2,005 | The first report, released soon after Mr Akhlaq's death, said the meat in question was mutton and was widely reported in India media. However, Mr HC Singh, in-charge of the Mathura forensic investigation laboratory which released the second report, told BBC News that the preliminary test was only based on a "physical examination" of the meat samples. The examination was carried out by a veterinary physician, but even he had recommended that it be sent to a lab for further conclusive testing, he added. "Ours is the only laboratory that is equipped to do such analysis," Mr Singh said. | 0.410791 |
50_2 | Last year, a Muslim man in northern India was killed in a mob lynching over allegations that his family had been storing and consuming beef at home. The case sparked widespread outrage and a furious debate about religious tolerance. Now, there's a fresh twist in the case that has raised questions over the investigation - and highlighted tensions over beef in India. Mohammed Akhlaq was beaten to a death in the district of Dadri in September over rumours he had consumed beef. Hindus consider cows to be sacred, and for many, eating beef is taboo. The slaughter of cows is also banned in many Indian states. A lab test cited widely in the aftermath of the killing said the meat allegedly found in his refrigerator was mutton and not beef. However a new lab report, revealed by the lawyers of 18 people on trial for his murder, said that the meat in question was in fact beef. Later, it was also revealed that the meat was never in his house, but found inside a bin near his home. Although police are adamant that the type of meat is irrelevant to the case, the defence team is using the new test results to demand the release of the 18 suspects, on the grounds that they were "provoked" into attacking Mr Akhlaq. The court will hear a petition on Monday demanding that charges of cow slaughter are brought against Mr Akhlaq's family. Why was there a discrepancy between the two lab tests, and why it has taken so long for a second report to come out? Soon after the incident many media reports had claimed that police had taken meat samples from Mr Akhlaq's fridge. But police told the BBC that they had never collected meat samples from his home. Now, eight months later, the investigating police officer, Anurag Singh, has clarified that the meat samples were collected from the place of the mob attack, about 100 metres (330ft) away from Mr Akhlaq's house. "The body of Akhlaq was lying near a transformer near his house and that is where we found some meat and took samples of it," he told the BBC. The first report, released soon after Mr Akhlaq's death, said the meat in question was mutton and was widely reported in India media. However, Mr HC Singh, in-charge of the Mathura forensic investigation laboratory which released the second report, told BBC News that the preliminary test was only based on a "physical examination" of the meat samples. The examination was carried out by a veterinary physician, but even he had recommended that it be sent to a lab for further conclusive testing, he added. "Ours is the only laboratory that is equipped to do such analysis," Mr Singh said. According to Mr Singh, his laboratory had known that the meat was beef as early as October. However the test results were only submitted to the police in December. Mr Singh attributed the delay to a "lack of postage stamps" at the laboratory and the fact that they did not have a chairman for three months - excuses that have not convinced many people. Correspondents say the delay has led many to speculate that the laboratory was pressured into not revealing the test results, given the tensions brought about as a result of the incident. The lab report was only revealed to the public in June after lawyers for the 18 people accused of Mr Akhlaq's murder asked the court for a copy. Tensions in Bashara village, where Mr Akhlaq lived with his family before he was murdered, are high. The latest lab report has spurred relatives of the arrested men to petition the court, demanding that a case of cow slaughter be filed against his family. The few hundred Muslims who still live in the village say they live in fear. Reports of cow vigilante groups attacking people ferrying cattle, Hindu extremists holding arms training sessions, and reports of private Hindu armed groups operating in the region have heightened their fears. Some talk of leaving the village for good. Prem Singh was Mr Akhlaq's neighbour and both families got along well, celebrating festivals together and attending one another's weddings. But now he is listed as an eyewitness to Mr Akhlaq "killing a cow" and two of his grandsons are among the 18 men arrested. His wife is angry at the arrests, and told me: "Would a Muslim tolerate it if we kill a pig and throw it outside their house?" The court and police have consistently insisted that the new lab results will have no bearing on the case. The police investigating the case told the BBC that "this has nothing to do with the investigation of the murder of Akhlaq by a mob." And Ram Sharan Yadav, one of the lawyers for the accused, said that the court had turned down their request for a copy of the second lab result. The lawyer for Mr Akhlaq's family said that "in any case there is no law in the country that says a man can be murdered because he slaughtered a prohibited animal". Uttar Pradesh is one of the 10 Indian states where the slaughter of cow, calf, bull and bullock is completely banned. However the slaughter of buffaloes and the sale and consumption of its beef is permitted. The defence lawyers are insisting that the mob was "provoked" and want all charges against them dismissed. It is unclear if this will work as a line of defence - police stand firm on the fact that the two things are unrelated, and the courts have also indicated that this is not a factor that they will take into consideration. | Why did the results of the second test take so long? | 2,595 | According to Mr Singh, his laboratory had known that the meat was beef as early as October. However the test results were only submitted to the police in December. Mr Singh attributed the delay to a "lack of postage stamps" at the laboratory and the fact that they did not have a chairman for three months - excuses that have not convinced many people. Correspondents say the delay has led many to speculate that the laboratory was pressured into not revealing the test results, given the tensions brought about as a result of the incident. The lab report was only revealed to the public in June after lawyers for the 18 people accused of Mr Akhlaq's murder asked the court for a copy. | 0.504086 |
50_3 | Last year, a Muslim man in northern India was killed in a mob lynching over allegations that his family had been storing and consuming beef at home. The case sparked widespread outrage and a furious debate about religious tolerance. Now, there's a fresh twist in the case that has raised questions over the investigation - and highlighted tensions over beef in India. Mohammed Akhlaq was beaten to a death in the district of Dadri in September over rumours he had consumed beef. Hindus consider cows to be sacred, and for many, eating beef is taboo. The slaughter of cows is also banned in many Indian states. A lab test cited widely in the aftermath of the killing said the meat allegedly found in his refrigerator was mutton and not beef. However a new lab report, revealed by the lawyers of 18 people on trial for his murder, said that the meat in question was in fact beef. Later, it was also revealed that the meat was never in his house, but found inside a bin near his home. Although police are adamant that the type of meat is irrelevant to the case, the defence team is using the new test results to demand the release of the 18 suspects, on the grounds that they were "provoked" into attacking Mr Akhlaq. The court will hear a petition on Monday demanding that charges of cow slaughter are brought against Mr Akhlaq's family. Why was there a discrepancy between the two lab tests, and why it has taken so long for a second report to come out? Soon after the incident many media reports had claimed that police had taken meat samples from Mr Akhlaq's fridge. But police told the BBC that they had never collected meat samples from his home. Now, eight months later, the investigating police officer, Anurag Singh, has clarified that the meat samples were collected from the place of the mob attack, about 100 metres (330ft) away from Mr Akhlaq's house. "The body of Akhlaq was lying near a transformer near his house and that is where we found some meat and took samples of it," he told the BBC. The first report, released soon after Mr Akhlaq's death, said the meat in question was mutton and was widely reported in India media. However, Mr HC Singh, in-charge of the Mathura forensic investigation laboratory which released the second report, told BBC News that the preliminary test was only based on a "physical examination" of the meat samples. The examination was carried out by a veterinary physician, but even he had recommended that it be sent to a lab for further conclusive testing, he added. "Ours is the only laboratory that is equipped to do such analysis," Mr Singh said. According to Mr Singh, his laboratory had known that the meat was beef as early as October. However the test results were only submitted to the police in December. Mr Singh attributed the delay to a "lack of postage stamps" at the laboratory and the fact that they did not have a chairman for three months - excuses that have not convinced many people. Correspondents say the delay has led many to speculate that the laboratory was pressured into not revealing the test results, given the tensions brought about as a result of the incident. The lab report was only revealed to the public in June after lawyers for the 18 people accused of Mr Akhlaq's murder asked the court for a copy. Tensions in Bashara village, where Mr Akhlaq lived with his family before he was murdered, are high. The latest lab report has spurred relatives of the arrested men to petition the court, demanding that a case of cow slaughter be filed against his family. The few hundred Muslims who still live in the village say they live in fear. Reports of cow vigilante groups attacking people ferrying cattle, Hindu extremists holding arms training sessions, and reports of private Hindu armed groups operating in the region have heightened their fears. Some talk of leaving the village for good. Prem Singh was Mr Akhlaq's neighbour and both families got along well, celebrating festivals together and attending one another's weddings. But now he is listed as an eyewitness to Mr Akhlaq "killing a cow" and two of his grandsons are among the 18 men arrested. His wife is angry at the arrests, and told me: "Would a Muslim tolerate it if we kill a pig and throw it outside their house?" The court and police have consistently insisted that the new lab results will have no bearing on the case. The police investigating the case told the BBC that "this has nothing to do with the investigation of the murder of Akhlaq by a mob." And Ram Sharan Yadav, one of the lawyers for the accused, said that the court had turned down their request for a copy of the second lab result. The lawyer for Mr Akhlaq's family said that "in any case there is no law in the country that says a man can be murdered because he slaughtered a prohibited animal". Uttar Pradesh is one of the 10 Indian states where the slaughter of cow, calf, bull and bullock is completely banned. However the slaughter of buffaloes and the sale and consumption of its beef is permitted. The defence lawyers are insisting that the mob was "provoked" and want all charges against them dismissed. It is unclear if this will work as a line of defence - police stand firm on the fact that the two things are unrelated, and the courts have also indicated that this is not a factor that they will take into consideration. | Will this have a bearing on the murder trial? | 4,257 | The court and police have consistently insisted that the new lab results will have no bearing on the case. The police investigating the case told the BBC that "this has nothing to do with the investigation of the murder of Akhlaq by a mob." And Ram Sharan Yadav, one of the lawyers for the accused, said that the court had turned down their request for a copy of the second lab result. The lawyer for Mr Akhlaq's family said that "in any case there is no law in the country that says a man can be murdered because he slaughtered a prohibited animal". Uttar Pradesh is one of the 10 Indian states where the slaughter of cow, calf, bull and bullock is completely banned. However the slaughter of buffaloes and the sale and consumption of its beef is permitted. The defence lawyers are insisting that the mob was "provoked" and want all charges against them dismissed. It is unclear if this will work as a line of defence - police stand firm on the fact that the two things are unrelated, and the courts have also indicated that this is not a factor that they will take into consideration. | 0.374146 |
51_0 | US President Donald Trump has said Huawei could be part of a trade deal between the US and China, despite branding the telecoms firm "very dangerous". The US-China trade war has escalated in recent weeks with tariff hikes and threats of more action. Washington has also targeted Huawei by putting the firm on a trade blacklist. The US argues Huawei poses a national security risk, while Beijing accuses the US of "bullying" the company. "Huawei is something that is very dangerous," Mr Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday. "You look at what they've done from a security standpoint, a military standpoint. Very dangerous." Last week, the Trump administration added Huawei - the world's second largest smartphone maker - to its "entity list", which bans the company from acquiring technology from US firms without government approval. But Mr Trump has said it is "possible" that the company could be part of any trade agreement with Beijing. "If we made a deal, I could imagine Huawei being possibly included in some form or some part of it," he said. Huawei faces a growing backlash from Western countries, led by the US, over possible risks posed by using its products in next-generation 5G mobile networks. Several countries have raised concerns that Huawei equipment could be used by China for surveillance, allegations the company has vehemently denied. Huawei has said its work does not pose any threats and that it is independent from the Chinese government. The US trade ban on Huawei has already had a ripple effect on the global tech industry, with several companies stepping back from the company. "The best response to the US bullying is that Chinese firms continue to grow stronger," China's Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng said at a briefing in Beijing on Thursday. Mr Trump's latest comments on Huawei came on the heels of an announcement of a $16bn ($12.6bn) aid programme to help US farmers hurt by the trade conflict with China. Earlier this month the US increased tariffs on $200bn worth of Chinese imports from 10% to 25% after the two sides failed to reach a deal on trade. China hit back by announcing plans to raise levies on $60bn of US imports from 1 June. The Trump administration has threatened to impose duties on another $300bn worth of Chinese goods, prompting industry to urge and end to the trade war as it warned of a "catastrophic" effect on consumers. For now, efforts toward resolving the trade dispute appear to have stalled. No formal discussions have been scheduled since the last talks ended without a deal on 10 May. On Thursday, China's Commerce Ministry's Mr Gao fired a shot at the US, saying if they want to continue trade talks "they should show sincerity and correct their wrong actions". The world's two largest economies have been engaged in a fractious dispute over trade since the early days of Mr Trump's presidency. Not only does the US accuse China of stealing intellectual property, but it wants Beijing to make changes to its economic policies, which it says unfairly favour domestic companies through subsidies. Mr Trump also wants to cut America's trade deficit with China, which he says is hurting US manufacturing. | What are the concerns about Huawei? | 1,066 | Huawei faces a growing backlash from Western countries, led by the US, over possible risks posed by using its products in next-generation 5G mobile networks. Several countries have raised concerns that Huawei equipment could be used by China for surveillance, allegations the company has vehemently denied. Huawei has said its work does not pose any threats and that it is independent from the Chinese government. The US trade ban on Huawei has already had a ripple effect on the global tech industry, with several companies stepping back from the company. "The best response to the US bullying is that Chinese firms continue to grow stronger," China's Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng said at a briefing in Beijing on Thursday. | 0.708744 |
51_1 | US President Donald Trump has said Huawei could be part of a trade deal between the US and China, despite branding the telecoms firm "very dangerous". The US-China trade war has escalated in recent weeks with tariff hikes and threats of more action. Washington has also targeted Huawei by putting the firm on a trade blacklist. The US argues Huawei poses a national security risk, while Beijing accuses the US of "bullying" the company. "Huawei is something that is very dangerous," Mr Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday. "You look at what they've done from a security standpoint, a military standpoint. Very dangerous." Last week, the Trump administration added Huawei - the world's second largest smartphone maker - to its "entity list", which bans the company from acquiring technology from US firms without government approval. But Mr Trump has said it is "possible" that the company could be part of any trade agreement with Beijing. "If we made a deal, I could imagine Huawei being possibly included in some form or some part of it," he said. Huawei faces a growing backlash from Western countries, led by the US, over possible risks posed by using its products in next-generation 5G mobile networks. Several countries have raised concerns that Huawei equipment could be used by China for surveillance, allegations the company has vehemently denied. Huawei has said its work does not pose any threats and that it is independent from the Chinese government. The US trade ban on Huawei has already had a ripple effect on the global tech industry, with several companies stepping back from the company. "The best response to the US bullying is that Chinese firms continue to grow stronger," China's Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng said at a briefing in Beijing on Thursday. Mr Trump's latest comments on Huawei came on the heels of an announcement of a $16bn ($12.6bn) aid programme to help US farmers hurt by the trade conflict with China. Earlier this month the US increased tariffs on $200bn worth of Chinese imports from 10% to 25% after the two sides failed to reach a deal on trade. China hit back by announcing plans to raise levies on $60bn of US imports from 1 June. The Trump administration has threatened to impose duties on another $300bn worth of Chinese goods, prompting industry to urge and end to the trade war as it warned of a "catastrophic" effect on consumers. For now, efforts toward resolving the trade dispute appear to have stalled. No formal discussions have been scheduled since the last talks ended without a deal on 10 May. On Thursday, China's Commerce Ministry's Mr Gao fired a shot at the US, saying if they want to continue trade talks "they should show sincerity and correct their wrong actions". The world's two largest economies have been engaged in a fractious dispute over trade since the early days of Mr Trump's presidency. Not only does the US accuse China of stealing intellectual property, but it wants Beijing to make changes to its economic policies, which it says unfairly favour domestic companies through subsidies. Mr Trump also wants to cut America's trade deficit with China, which he says is hurting US manufacturing. | What about trade tariffs? | 1,799 | Mr Trump's latest comments on Huawei came on the heels of an announcement of a $16bn ($12.6bn) aid programme to help US farmers hurt by the trade conflict with China. Earlier this month the US increased tariffs on $200bn worth of Chinese imports from 10% to 25% after the two sides failed to reach a deal on trade. China hit back by announcing plans to raise levies on $60bn of US imports from 1 June. The Trump administration has threatened to impose duties on another $300bn worth of Chinese goods, prompting industry to urge and end to the trade war as it warned of a "catastrophic" effect on consumers. For now, efforts toward resolving the trade dispute appear to have stalled. No formal discussions have been scheduled since the last talks ended without a deal on 10 May. On Thursday, China's Commerce Ministry's Mr Gao fired a shot at the US, saying if they want to continue trade talks "they should show sincerity and correct their wrong actions". The world's two largest economies have been engaged in a fractious dispute over trade since the early days of Mr Trump's presidency. Not only does the US accuse China of stealing intellectual property, but it wants Beijing to make changes to its economic policies, which it says unfairly favour domestic companies through subsidies. Mr Trump also wants to cut America's trade deficit with China, which he says is hurting US manufacturing. | 0.533147 |
52_0 | The death toll following the tsunami caused by the Anak Krakatau volcano in Indonesia has risen to at least 429, the disaster mitigation agency says. On Saturday giant waves crashed into coastal towns on the islands of Sumatra and Java. It is thought that volcanic activity set off undersea landslides which in turn generated the killer waves. About 150 people are still missing, while more than 16,000 have been displaced, the agency says. Coastal residents near the volcano have been warned to keep away from beaches amid fears it could trigger a new tsunami. Anak Krakatau erupted again on Sunday, spewing ash and smoke. Video shot from a charter plane captured the magnitude of the volcanic event in the Sunda Strait, between Sumatra and Java. Rescue efforts are being hampered by blocked roads but heavy lifting equipment is being transported to badly hit areas to help search for victims. On Monday, a spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency told a news conference that another tsunami was a possibility because of the continued volcanic eruptions of Anak Krakatau. "Recommendations from [the] Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency are that people should not carry out activities on the beach and stay away from the coast for a while," said spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. Anak Krakatau, which emerged in 1927 from the caldera that was formed during the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883, has seen increased activity in recent months with people asked to avoid the area around its crater. On Monday Mr Sutopo put out a series of tweets explaining why there was no early warning for this tsunami. He said that Indonesia's early warning system is set up to monitor earthquakes but not undersea landslides and volcanic eruptions, which can also generate deadly waves. But, he added, with 13% of the world's volcanoes in Indonesia alone, it was crucial for the country to develop such system. He confirmed there was no tsunami advance warning system on the night of the disaster, adding that because of lack of funds, vandalism to the buoys and technical faults there had been no operational tsunami warning system since 2012. Geologist Raphael Paris, whose 2012 study predicted the collapse of a flank of Anak Krakatau and a subsequent tsunami, said: "There is a big uncertainty on the stability of the volcanic cone now, and the probability for future collapses and tsunamis is perhaps non-negligible." The tsunami struck at 21:30 local time (14:30 GMT) during a local holiday, with few of the warning signals that might have come had it been generated by an earthquake. Seawater did not recede as it would with an earthquake tsunami. Experts say that even if there had been warning buoys near the volcano, there would have been minimal alert time. The waves destroyed hundreds of buildings, sweeping away cars and uprooting trees in several popular tourist destinations, including the Tanjung Lesung beach resort, west Java. Footage shared on social media showed a large wave crashing into a tent in the resort, in which popular Indonesian rock band Seventeen were performing. Members of the band were seen being swept away as the wave destroyed the stage. By Jonathan Amos, BBC science correspondent Everyone in the region will have been aware of Anak Krakatau, the volcano that emerged in the sea channel just less than 100 years ago. But its rumblings and eruptions have been described by local experts as relatively low-scale and semi-continuous. In other words, it's been part of the background. And yet it is well known that volcanoes have the capacity to generate big waves. The mechanism, as ever, is the displacement of a large volume of water. The first satellite imagery returned after the event on Saturday points strongly to a collapse in the west-southwest flank of the volcano. This would have sent millions of tonnes of rocky debris into the sea, pushing out waves in all directions. Indonesia is prone to tsunamis because it lies on the Ring of Fire - the line of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that circles virtually the entire Pacific Rim. In September, more than 2,000 people died when a powerful earthquake struck just off the central Indonesian island of Sulawesi, setting off a tsunami that engulfed the coastal city of Palu. On 26 December 2004, a series of huge waves triggered by a powerful earthquake in the Indian Ocean killed about 228,000 people in 13 countries, mostly in Indonesia. However, tsunamis caused by volcanic activity like this are less frequent. In August 1883, Krakatoa underwent one of the most violent volcanic eruptions in recorded history: - Massive tsunamis with waves of up to 41m killed more than 30,000 people - Thousands more were killed by hot ash - The eruptions were equivalent to 200 megatons of TNT - about 13,000 times the nuclear yield of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 - The eruptions were heard thousands of kilometres away - World temperatures dropped by more than 1C the following year - The volcanic island virtually disappeared Are you in the affected area? If it is safe to do so, get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. or WhatsApp us on +44 7555 173285 Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Send pictures/video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy | What warning was given? | 895 | On Monday, a spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency told a news conference that another tsunami was a possibility because of the continued volcanic eruptions of Anak Krakatau. "Recommendations from [the] Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency are that people should not carry out activities on the beach and stay away from the coast for a while," said spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. Anak Krakatau, which emerged in 1927 from the caldera that was formed during the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883, has seen increased activity in recent months with people asked to avoid the area around its crater. On Monday Mr Sutopo put out a series of tweets explaining why there was no early warning for this tsunami. He said that Indonesia's early warning system is set up to monitor earthquakes but not undersea landslides and volcanic eruptions, which can also generate deadly waves. But, he added, with 13% of the world's volcanoes in Indonesia alone, it was crucial for the country to develop such system. He confirmed there was no tsunami advance warning system on the night of the disaster, adding that because of lack of funds, vandalism to the buoys and technical faults there had been no operational tsunami warning system since 2012. Geologist Raphael Paris, whose 2012 study predicted the collapse of a flank of Anak Krakatau and a subsequent tsunami, said: "There is a big uncertainty on the stability of the volcanic cone now, and the probability for future collapses and tsunamis is perhaps non-negligible." | 0.383968 |
52_1 | The death toll following the tsunami caused by the Anak Krakatau volcano in Indonesia has risen to at least 429, the disaster mitigation agency says. On Saturday giant waves crashed into coastal towns on the islands of Sumatra and Java. It is thought that volcanic activity set off undersea landslides which in turn generated the killer waves. About 150 people are still missing, while more than 16,000 have been displaced, the agency says. Coastal residents near the volcano have been warned to keep away from beaches amid fears it could trigger a new tsunami. Anak Krakatau erupted again on Sunday, spewing ash and smoke. Video shot from a charter plane captured the magnitude of the volcanic event in the Sunda Strait, between Sumatra and Java. Rescue efforts are being hampered by blocked roads but heavy lifting equipment is being transported to badly hit areas to help search for victims. On Monday, a spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency told a news conference that another tsunami was a possibility because of the continued volcanic eruptions of Anak Krakatau. "Recommendations from [the] Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency are that people should not carry out activities on the beach and stay away from the coast for a while," said spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. Anak Krakatau, which emerged in 1927 from the caldera that was formed during the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883, has seen increased activity in recent months with people asked to avoid the area around its crater. On Monday Mr Sutopo put out a series of tweets explaining why there was no early warning for this tsunami. He said that Indonesia's early warning system is set up to monitor earthquakes but not undersea landslides and volcanic eruptions, which can also generate deadly waves. But, he added, with 13% of the world's volcanoes in Indonesia alone, it was crucial for the country to develop such system. He confirmed there was no tsunami advance warning system on the night of the disaster, adding that because of lack of funds, vandalism to the buoys and technical faults there had been no operational tsunami warning system since 2012. Geologist Raphael Paris, whose 2012 study predicted the collapse of a flank of Anak Krakatau and a subsequent tsunami, said: "There is a big uncertainty on the stability of the volcanic cone now, and the probability for future collapses and tsunamis is perhaps non-negligible." The tsunami struck at 21:30 local time (14:30 GMT) during a local holiday, with few of the warning signals that might have come had it been generated by an earthquake. Seawater did not recede as it would with an earthquake tsunami. Experts say that even if there had been warning buoys near the volcano, there would have been minimal alert time. The waves destroyed hundreds of buildings, sweeping away cars and uprooting trees in several popular tourist destinations, including the Tanjung Lesung beach resort, west Java. Footage shared on social media showed a large wave crashing into a tent in the resort, in which popular Indonesian rock band Seventeen were performing. Members of the band were seen being swept away as the wave destroyed the stage. By Jonathan Amos, BBC science correspondent Everyone in the region will have been aware of Anak Krakatau, the volcano that emerged in the sea channel just less than 100 years ago. But its rumblings and eruptions have been described by local experts as relatively low-scale and semi-continuous. In other words, it's been part of the background. And yet it is well known that volcanoes have the capacity to generate big waves. The mechanism, as ever, is the displacement of a large volume of water. The first satellite imagery returned after the event on Saturday points strongly to a collapse in the west-southwest flank of the volcano. This would have sent millions of tonnes of rocky debris into the sea, pushing out waves in all directions. Indonesia is prone to tsunamis because it lies on the Ring of Fire - the line of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that circles virtually the entire Pacific Rim. In September, more than 2,000 people died when a powerful earthquake struck just off the central Indonesian island of Sulawesi, setting off a tsunami that engulfed the coastal city of Palu. On 26 December 2004, a series of huge waves triggered by a powerful earthquake in the Indian Ocean killed about 228,000 people in 13 countries, mostly in Indonesia. However, tsunamis caused by volcanic activity like this are less frequent. In August 1883, Krakatoa underwent one of the most violent volcanic eruptions in recorded history: - Massive tsunamis with waves of up to 41m killed more than 30,000 people - Thousands more were killed by hot ash - The eruptions were equivalent to 200 megatons of TNT - about 13,000 times the nuclear yield of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 - The eruptions were heard thousands of kilometres away - World temperatures dropped by more than 1C the following year - The volcanic island virtually disappeared Are you in the affected area? If it is safe to do so, get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. or WhatsApp us on +44 7555 173285 Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Send pictures/video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy | Why was Saturday's tsunami so deadly? | 2,426 | The tsunami struck at 21:30 local time (14:30 GMT) during a local holiday, with few of the warning signals that might have come had it been generated by an earthquake. Seawater did not recede as it would with an earthquake tsunami. Experts say that even if there had been warning buoys near the volcano, there would have been minimal alert time. The waves destroyed hundreds of buildings, sweeping away cars and uprooting trees in several popular tourist destinations, including the Tanjung Lesung beach resort, west Java. Footage shared on social media showed a large wave crashing into a tent in the resort, in which popular Indonesian rock band Seventeen were performing. Members of the band were seen being swept away as the wave destroyed the stage. | 0.58057 |
52_2 | The death toll following the tsunami caused by the Anak Krakatau volcano in Indonesia has risen to at least 429, the disaster mitigation agency says. On Saturday giant waves crashed into coastal towns on the islands of Sumatra and Java. It is thought that volcanic activity set off undersea landslides which in turn generated the killer waves. About 150 people are still missing, while more than 16,000 have been displaced, the agency says. Coastal residents near the volcano have been warned to keep away from beaches amid fears it could trigger a new tsunami. Anak Krakatau erupted again on Sunday, spewing ash and smoke. Video shot from a charter plane captured the magnitude of the volcanic event in the Sunda Strait, between Sumatra and Java. Rescue efforts are being hampered by blocked roads but heavy lifting equipment is being transported to badly hit areas to help search for victims. On Monday, a spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency told a news conference that another tsunami was a possibility because of the continued volcanic eruptions of Anak Krakatau. "Recommendations from [the] Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency are that people should not carry out activities on the beach and stay away from the coast for a while," said spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. Anak Krakatau, which emerged in 1927 from the caldera that was formed during the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883, has seen increased activity in recent months with people asked to avoid the area around its crater. On Monday Mr Sutopo put out a series of tweets explaining why there was no early warning for this tsunami. He said that Indonesia's early warning system is set up to monitor earthquakes but not undersea landslides and volcanic eruptions, which can also generate deadly waves. But, he added, with 13% of the world's volcanoes in Indonesia alone, it was crucial for the country to develop such system. He confirmed there was no tsunami advance warning system on the night of the disaster, adding that because of lack of funds, vandalism to the buoys and technical faults there had been no operational tsunami warning system since 2012. Geologist Raphael Paris, whose 2012 study predicted the collapse of a flank of Anak Krakatau and a subsequent tsunami, said: "There is a big uncertainty on the stability of the volcanic cone now, and the probability for future collapses and tsunamis is perhaps non-negligible." The tsunami struck at 21:30 local time (14:30 GMT) during a local holiday, with few of the warning signals that might have come had it been generated by an earthquake. Seawater did not recede as it would with an earthquake tsunami. Experts say that even if there had been warning buoys near the volcano, there would have been minimal alert time. The waves destroyed hundreds of buildings, sweeping away cars and uprooting trees in several popular tourist destinations, including the Tanjung Lesung beach resort, west Java. Footage shared on social media showed a large wave crashing into a tent in the resort, in which popular Indonesian rock band Seventeen were performing. Members of the band were seen being swept away as the wave destroyed the stage. By Jonathan Amos, BBC science correspondent Everyone in the region will have been aware of Anak Krakatau, the volcano that emerged in the sea channel just less than 100 years ago. But its rumblings and eruptions have been described by local experts as relatively low-scale and semi-continuous. In other words, it's been part of the background. And yet it is well known that volcanoes have the capacity to generate big waves. The mechanism, as ever, is the displacement of a large volume of water. The first satellite imagery returned after the event on Saturday points strongly to a collapse in the west-southwest flank of the volcano. This would have sent millions of tonnes of rocky debris into the sea, pushing out waves in all directions. Indonesia is prone to tsunamis because it lies on the Ring of Fire - the line of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that circles virtually the entire Pacific Rim. In September, more than 2,000 people died when a powerful earthquake struck just off the central Indonesian island of Sulawesi, setting off a tsunami that engulfed the coastal city of Palu. On 26 December 2004, a series of huge waves triggered by a powerful earthquake in the Indian Ocean killed about 228,000 people in 13 countries, mostly in Indonesia. However, tsunamis caused by volcanic activity like this are less frequent. In August 1883, Krakatoa underwent one of the most violent volcanic eruptions in recorded history: - Massive tsunamis with waves of up to 41m killed more than 30,000 people - Thousands more were killed by hot ash - The eruptions were equivalent to 200 megatons of TNT - about 13,000 times the nuclear yield of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 - The eruptions were heard thousands of kilometres away - World temperatures dropped by more than 1C the following year - The volcanic island virtually disappeared Are you in the affected area? If it is safe to do so, get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. or WhatsApp us on +44 7555 173285 Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Send pictures/video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy | How did the tsunami happen? | 3,181 | By Jonathan Amos, BBC science correspondent Everyone in the region will have been aware of Anak Krakatau, the volcano that emerged in the sea channel just less than 100 years ago. But its rumblings and eruptions have been described by local experts as relatively low-scale and semi-continuous. In other words, it's been part of the background. And yet it is well known that volcanoes have the capacity to generate big waves. The mechanism, as ever, is the displacement of a large volume of water. The first satellite imagery returned after the event on Saturday points strongly to a collapse in the west-southwest flank of the volcano. This would have sent millions of tonnes of rocky debris into the sea, pushing out waves in all directions. | 0.538098 |
52_3 | The death toll following the tsunami caused by the Anak Krakatau volcano in Indonesia has risen to at least 429, the disaster mitigation agency says. On Saturday giant waves crashed into coastal towns on the islands of Sumatra and Java. It is thought that volcanic activity set off undersea landslides which in turn generated the killer waves. About 150 people are still missing, while more than 16,000 have been displaced, the agency says. Coastal residents near the volcano have been warned to keep away from beaches amid fears it could trigger a new tsunami. Anak Krakatau erupted again on Sunday, spewing ash and smoke. Video shot from a charter plane captured the magnitude of the volcanic event in the Sunda Strait, between Sumatra and Java. Rescue efforts are being hampered by blocked roads but heavy lifting equipment is being transported to badly hit areas to help search for victims. On Monday, a spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency told a news conference that another tsunami was a possibility because of the continued volcanic eruptions of Anak Krakatau. "Recommendations from [the] Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency are that people should not carry out activities on the beach and stay away from the coast for a while," said spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. Anak Krakatau, which emerged in 1927 from the caldera that was formed during the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883, has seen increased activity in recent months with people asked to avoid the area around its crater. On Monday Mr Sutopo put out a series of tweets explaining why there was no early warning for this tsunami. He said that Indonesia's early warning system is set up to monitor earthquakes but not undersea landslides and volcanic eruptions, which can also generate deadly waves. But, he added, with 13% of the world's volcanoes in Indonesia alone, it was crucial for the country to develop such system. He confirmed there was no tsunami advance warning system on the night of the disaster, adding that because of lack of funds, vandalism to the buoys and technical faults there had been no operational tsunami warning system since 2012. Geologist Raphael Paris, whose 2012 study predicted the collapse of a flank of Anak Krakatau and a subsequent tsunami, said: "There is a big uncertainty on the stability of the volcanic cone now, and the probability for future collapses and tsunamis is perhaps non-negligible." The tsunami struck at 21:30 local time (14:30 GMT) during a local holiday, with few of the warning signals that might have come had it been generated by an earthquake. Seawater did not recede as it would with an earthquake tsunami. Experts say that even if there had been warning buoys near the volcano, there would have been minimal alert time. The waves destroyed hundreds of buildings, sweeping away cars and uprooting trees in several popular tourist destinations, including the Tanjung Lesung beach resort, west Java. Footage shared on social media showed a large wave crashing into a tent in the resort, in which popular Indonesian rock band Seventeen were performing. Members of the band were seen being swept away as the wave destroyed the stage. By Jonathan Amos, BBC science correspondent Everyone in the region will have been aware of Anak Krakatau, the volcano that emerged in the sea channel just less than 100 years ago. But its rumblings and eruptions have been described by local experts as relatively low-scale and semi-continuous. In other words, it's been part of the background. And yet it is well known that volcanoes have the capacity to generate big waves. The mechanism, as ever, is the displacement of a large volume of water. The first satellite imagery returned after the event on Saturday points strongly to a collapse in the west-southwest flank of the volcano. This would have sent millions of tonnes of rocky debris into the sea, pushing out waves in all directions. Indonesia is prone to tsunamis because it lies on the Ring of Fire - the line of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that circles virtually the entire Pacific Rim. In September, more than 2,000 people died when a powerful earthquake struck just off the central Indonesian island of Sulawesi, setting off a tsunami that engulfed the coastal city of Palu. On 26 December 2004, a series of huge waves triggered by a powerful earthquake in the Indian Ocean killed about 228,000 people in 13 countries, mostly in Indonesia. However, tsunamis caused by volcanic activity like this are less frequent. In August 1883, Krakatoa underwent one of the most violent volcanic eruptions in recorded history: - Massive tsunamis with waves of up to 41m killed more than 30,000 people - Thousands more were killed by hot ash - The eruptions were equivalent to 200 megatons of TNT - about 13,000 times the nuclear yield of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 - The eruptions were heard thousands of kilometres away - World temperatures dropped by more than 1C the following year - The volcanic island virtually disappeared Are you in the affected area? If it is safe to do so, get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. or WhatsApp us on +44 7555 173285 Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Send pictures/video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy | How common are tsunamis in Indonesia? | 3,924 | Indonesia is prone to tsunamis because it lies on the Ring of Fire - the line of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that circles virtually the entire Pacific Rim. In September, more than 2,000 people died when a powerful earthquake struck just off the central Indonesian island of Sulawesi, setting off a tsunami that engulfed the coastal city of Palu. On 26 December 2004, a series of huge waves triggered by a powerful earthquake in the Indian Ocean killed about 228,000 people in 13 countries, mostly in Indonesia. However, tsunamis caused by volcanic activity like this are less frequent. | 0.738571 |
53_1 | Some 100,000 people have fled their homes in north Syria, the UN reports, as Turkey presses on with its cross-border offensive on Kurdish-held areas. Many people are sheltering in schools or other buildings in Hassakeh city and the town of Tal Tamer, the UN says. Turkey took action on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump pulled American troops out of the area. At least 11 civilians have died. Humanitarian groups say the number of people affected will rise further. Dozens of fighters from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and pro-Turkish factions have been killed. The first death of a Turkish soldier was confirmed by Turkey's military. Analysts say the US withdrawal in effect gave Turkey the green light to begin its cross-border assault. Much of the region has been outside the control of the Syrian government as a consequence of the civil war which began in 2011. It has been controlled by the SDF since 2015. The SDF have been key allies of the US in the battle against the Islamic State (IS) group but Turkey regards the Kurdish militias of the SDF as "terrorists" who support an anti-Turkish insurgency. Turkey defended its offensive as a bid to create a "safe zone" free of Kurdish militias which could also house Syrian refugees. "We will not stop it no matter what anyone says," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday. 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, IS said it had planted a car bomb that killed six people - civilians and members of the security forces - in the border town of Qamishli on Friday. Meanwhile, US media report that an explosion occurred near a US base in Kobane, but no injuries have been reported. On Thursday, Turkish troops partly encircled the towns of Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad. But while the Turkish military said its operation was going to plan, Kurdish sources and activists from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said the offensive had not made much progress. Turkish warplanes have struck targets in both towns, and video footage has shown columns of smoke rising above them. Tal Abyad's only public hospital has been forced to close. The Kurdish Red Crescent said there had been 11 confirmed civilian deaths so far and 28 serious injuries, mostly in Ras al-Ain and another border town, Qamishli. Some are children. At least five people, including a Syrian baby, were reportedly killed in Kurdish shelling of Turkish border towns. The SOHR reported at least 29 deaths among the SDF and 17 from among pro-Turkish Syrian rebels (known as the Syrian National Army), as more than 10 villages fell into Turkish hands. In a later report they said that seven members of pro-Turkish forces including a Turkish soldier had been killed as the SDF retook a village in Tal Abyad region. Turkey's military confirmed a soldier's death, and said three others had been wounded. Turkey's Anadolu news agency said late on Thursday 228 Kurdish militants had been "neutralised" since the start of the operation. The casualty reports could not be independently verified. A refugee crisis is developing. The UN's Office for the Coordination 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. On Friday Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he had shared "serious concerns" about the operation in a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. He expected Turkey, a Nato member, to "act with restraint", he added. Mr Erdogan has strongly defended the incursion, threatening to send some of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees it hosts to Europe if the Turkish offensive is described as an occupation. Also on Friday, US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper said the Turkish operation "risks the security of ISIS prison camps" and could further destabilise the region. He added that the US was "not abandoning" its Kurdish partners there. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that President Donald Trump had authorised new sanctions on Turkey, but added that the US had not yet chosen to activate them. The SDF say they are holding more than 12,000 suspected IS members in seven prisons, and at least 4,000 of them are foreign nationals. The exact locations have not been revealed, but some are reportedly close to the Turkish border. Two camps - Roj and Ain Issa - holding families of suspected IS members are inside the "safe zone". On Friday the Kurdish-led authorities said discussions were under way on how to move the Ain Issa camp, which had been hit by shelling. Turkey has said it will take responsibility for the IS prisoners it found during its offensive. Are you in the affected area? If it is safe to do so contact us 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 | What about displaced people? | 3,196 | A refugee crisis is developing. The UN's Office for the Coordination 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. | 0.426406 |
54_3 | The government has announced that most imports into the UK would not attract a tariff in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Under a temporary scheme 87% of imports by value would be eligible for zero-tariff access. At the moment 80% of imports are tariff free. Tariffs would be maintained to protect some industries, including agriculture. Beef, lamb, poultry and some dairy products would receive protection. A tariff is a tax applied to goods that are traded on international markets. In the great majority of cases, tariffs are applied to imported goods by the country importing them. But there can also be tariffs on exported goods. The new tariff regime would mark a shift in favour of products from non-EU countries. It would mean 82% of imports from the EU would be tariff-free, down from 100% now. 92% percent of imports from the rest of the world would pay no border duty, up from 56%. Under the plan, the UK car industry will receive some protection, with some imported cars attracting tariffs. But car parts from the EU would be tariff free, which will help car plants in the UK. Also, the ceramics industry would receive some protection from cheap imports. Industry bodies and businesses are still poring over the 1,477-page document which outlines the new plan. Imports of cars from the EU will have a tariff of 10% applied, which would add PS1,500 to a typical family car. Volkswagen has already said the cost would be passed on to the buyer. Car parts such as engines would have no new tax applied to avoid disruption to the movement of components. A spokesman for Ford UK warned that the tariffs would "deal a devastating blow to much of the complex and integrated automotive industry, and would damage the competitiveness of Ford's engine manufacturing in the UK". While some tariffs will protect farmers producing meat, other sectors of farming will have low or no tarrifs. The National Farmers' Union President, Minette Batters, said that eggs, cereals, fruit and vegetables would not receive any protection under the plans. The plans would see the current tariff rate on oranges cut from 16% to 0%, the rate for onions down from 9.6% to 0% and the tariff on imported televisions down from 14% to 0%. Unite assistant general secretary for manufacturing Steve Turner described the potential no-deal as "economic vandalism which is threatening jobs and livelihoods" and called for tariffs to be dropped on EU imports. Carolyn Fairbairn, director general of the CBI described the changes as a "sledgehammer to our economy" as companies spend more on stockpiling. She said: "These are being imposed on this country with no consultation with business with no time to prepare." Trade minister Liam Fox will speak to business leaders at 15:00 GMT to discuss the tariffs, Reuters reported. Trade Policy Minister George Hollingbery said: "Our priority is securing a deal with the EU as this will avoid disruption to our global trading relationships. However, we must prepare for all eventualities." He said: "This balanced approach will help to support British jobs and avoid potential price spikes that would hit the poorest households the hardest." "The new tariff seems a reasonable compromise between protecting vulnerable (and politically important) sectors and keeping prices down for consumers," said Prof Alan Winters, director of the UK Trade Policy Observatory at the University of Sussex. "For producers, there will be relief in some sectors and nasty surprises for others," he said. The government also announced that it will not introduce any new checks or controls, or require customs declarations for nearly all goods moving from across the border from Ireland to Northern Ireland in the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal. The move, to avoid friction at the UK's land border with the EU, will be temporary while a long solution is found. The government said tariffs will be payable on goods moving from the EU into the rest of the UK via Northern Ireland. It insisted that this would create no border down the Irish sea because there would be no checks on goods moved between Northern Ireland and Britain. But Prof Winters said it "almost certainly" violates World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules that demand equal treatment for all trading partners, he said. "Leaving the Irish border open also opens up the possibility of some EU goods being shipped to the UK via Ireland and so avoiding UK tariffs." | How will the Irish border system work? | 3,502 | The government also announced that it will not introduce any new checks or controls, or require customs declarations for nearly all goods moving from across the border from Ireland to Northern Ireland in the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal. The move, to avoid friction at the UK's land border with the EU, will be temporary while a long solution is found. The government said tariffs will be payable on goods moving from the EU into the rest of the UK via Northern Ireland. It insisted that this would create no border down the Irish sea because there would be no checks on goods moved between Northern Ireland and Britain. But Prof Winters said it "almost certainly" violates World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules that demand equal treatment for all trading partners, he said. "Leaving the Irish border open also opens up the possibility of some EU goods being shipped to the UK via Ireland and so avoiding UK tariffs." | 0.550015 |
61_1 | Twelve Thai boys trapped in a cave have exchanged emotional letters with their parents, for the first time since their ordeal began two weeks ago. "Don't worry, we are all strong," one child said in a note. "Teacher, don't give us lots of homework!" he joked. The football coach who took the boys into the cave apologised to parents, but they wrote he was not to blame. Officials say that they have a window of up to four days before rains will make the rescue more difficult. The boys were exploring the cave when they became trapped by floodwaters on 23 June. The handwritten letters from the group were handed to British divers on Friday and released on the Thai Navy Seal Facebook page on Saturday. "Don't worry about me, I'm safe." a boy nicknamed Pong said. Another wrote: "Nick loves Mum and Dad and siblings. If I can get out, Mum and Dad please bring me mookatha (Thai barbecue) to eat." In his letter, the 25-year-old coach Ekkapol Chantawong, also known as Ake, said: "Dear all kids' parents, now all of them are fine, the rescue team is treating us well. "And I promise I will take care of the kids as best as I can... I also sincerely apologise to the kids' parents." In their letters, posted on the local government's Facebook page, several parents make clear that they do not blame the coach. "Mums and dads are not angry at you. Thank you for helping take care of the kids," one said. Another reads: "Tell Coach Ake: Don't think too much. We are not angry at him." It was the first communication since attempts to establish a phone line inside the cave failed earlier this week. Helier Cheung, BBC News, Maesai district The letters make for remarkable reading. Words of love, reassurance and encouragement are interspersed with talk of food the boys are craving - and birthday parties. At least two of the boys have had their birthdays while stuck inside the cave. One of them, Note, has just turned 15. At the MyWay garage, where Note's father works, some of the workers have known Note since he was born - and describe him as a smart kid who loves sport and helps his father with mechanical work over the holidays. They were touched by his letter - but still full of concern for the boys. One of them, Rinlinee Sombat, told the BBC: "He writes just like his Mum. But I want to see him even more than I want to see his handwriting." Meanwhile, Ponrawee Tachavandee said he had spoken to Note's mother on Friday night - and she had been distraught since learning about the death of a Thai navy diver that day. He said she had told him that the "navy Seal had practised for so long, and was so strong, but also died. How about a boy who has never dived before?" The boys were found inside the cave by British rescue divers on Monday, 10 days after they went missing. They were perched on a rock shelf in a small chamber about 4km (2.5 miles) from the cave mouth. Teams of Thai and international divers have since supplied them with food, oxygen and medical attention. There are concerns about the falling oxygen level in the chamber, but officials say an air line into the cave has now been installed. The danger of their situation became clear when a former Thai navy diver died after delivering air tanks to the group on Friday. Above ground, a huge military and civilian operation is racing against the clock to bring the boys out. Monsoon rains are threatening further flooding in the coming weeks and month. On Saturday, the governor of the Chiang Rai region, where the cave is located, said the next three to four days were "the most favourable time for the operation in terms of the water, the weather and the boys' health". Narongsak Osottanakorn said that after that, further rains could imperil the group. "The water level may rise to the area where the children are sitting and make the area less than 10 sq m [100 sq ft]," he said. Another concern, he added, was the growing concentration of carbon dioxide exhaled by the boys and rescue workers. He gave no details about how the rescue might be carried out. Meanwhile, rescuers outside have dug more than 100 holes in an attempt to reach the cave by a direct route. | What is the situation inside the cave? | 2,677 | The boys were found inside the cave by British rescue divers on Monday, 10 days after they went missing. They were perched on a rock shelf in a small chamber about 4km (2.5 miles) from the cave mouth. Teams of Thai and international divers have since supplied them with food, oxygen and medical attention. There are concerns about the falling oxygen level in the chamber, but officials say an air line into the cave has now been installed. The danger of their situation became clear when a former Thai navy diver died after delivering air tanks to the group on Friday. | 0.588792 |
61_2 | Twelve Thai boys trapped in a cave have exchanged emotional letters with their parents, for the first time since their ordeal began two weeks ago. "Don't worry, we are all strong," one child said in a note. "Teacher, don't give us lots of homework!" he joked. The football coach who took the boys into the cave apologised to parents, but they wrote he was not to blame. Officials say that they have a window of up to four days before rains will make the rescue more difficult. The boys were exploring the cave when they became trapped by floodwaters on 23 June. The handwritten letters from the group were handed to British divers on Friday and released on the Thai Navy Seal Facebook page on Saturday. "Don't worry about me, I'm safe." a boy nicknamed Pong said. Another wrote: "Nick loves Mum and Dad and siblings. If I can get out, Mum and Dad please bring me mookatha (Thai barbecue) to eat." In his letter, the 25-year-old coach Ekkapol Chantawong, also known as Ake, said: "Dear all kids' parents, now all of them are fine, the rescue team is treating us well. "And I promise I will take care of the kids as best as I can... I also sincerely apologise to the kids' parents." In their letters, posted on the local government's Facebook page, several parents make clear that they do not blame the coach. "Mums and dads are not angry at you. Thank you for helping take care of the kids," one said. Another reads: "Tell Coach Ake: Don't think too much. We are not angry at him." It was the first communication since attempts to establish a phone line inside the cave failed earlier this week. Helier Cheung, BBC News, Maesai district The letters make for remarkable reading. Words of love, reassurance and encouragement are interspersed with talk of food the boys are craving - and birthday parties. At least two of the boys have had their birthdays while stuck inside the cave. One of them, Note, has just turned 15. At the MyWay garage, where Note's father works, some of the workers have known Note since he was born - and describe him as a smart kid who loves sport and helps his father with mechanical work over the holidays. They were touched by his letter - but still full of concern for the boys. One of them, Rinlinee Sombat, told the BBC: "He writes just like his Mum. But I want to see him even more than I want to see his handwriting." Meanwhile, Ponrawee Tachavandee said he had spoken to Note's mother on Friday night - and she had been distraught since learning about the death of a Thai navy diver that day. He said she had told him that the "navy Seal had practised for so long, and was so strong, but also died. How about a boy who has never dived before?" The boys were found inside the cave by British rescue divers on Monday, 10 days after they went missing. They were perched on a rock shelf in a small chamber about 4km (2.5 miles) from the cave mouth. Teams of Thai and international divers have since supplied them with food, oxygen and medical attention. There are concerns about the falling oxygen level in the chamber, but officials say an air line into the cave has now been installed. The danger of their situation became clear when a former Thai navy diver died after delivering air tanks to the group on Friday. Above ground, a huge military and civilian operation is racing against the clock to bring the boys out. Monsoon rains are threatening further flooding in the coming weeks and month. On Saturday, the governor of the Chiang Rai region, where the cave is located, said the next three to four days were "the most favourable time for the operation in terms of the water, the weather and the boys' health". Narongsak Osottanakorn said that after that, further rains could imperil the group. "The water level may rise to the area where the children are sitting and make the area less than 10 sq m [100 sq ft]," he said. Another concern, he added, was the growing concentration of carbon dioxide exhaled by the boys and rescue workers. He gave no details about how the rescue might be carried out. Meanwhile, rescuers outside have dug more than 100 holes in an attempt to reach the cave by a direct route. | When could the group be rescued? | 3,246 | Above ground, a huge military and civilian operation is racing against the clock to bring the boys out. Monsoon rains are threatening further flooding in the coming weeks and month. On Saturday, the governor of the Chiang Rai region, where the cave is located, said the next three to four days were "the most favourable time for the operation in terms of the water, the weather and the boys' health". Narongsak Osottanakorn said that after that, further rains could imperil the group. "The water level may rise to the area where the children are sitting and make the area less than 10 sq m [100 sq ft]," he said. Another concern, he added, was the growing concentration of carbon dioxide exhaled by the boys and rescue workers. He gave no details about how the rescue might be carried out. Meanwhile, rescuers outside have dug more than 100 holes in an attempt to reach the cave by a direct route. | 0.368248 |
64_3 | Leading opposition politician Imran Khan has promised to create a "new Pakistan" ahead of general elections this summer. What are the former cricketer's prospects - and who are the "electables" he hopes will help him? Mr Khan addressed a rally of tens of thousands of supporters in the eastern city of Lahore, where he launched his party's campaign. No date for the vote has been announced but it is expected to take place in July or August. Mr Khan told the crowd he would create a Pakistan where all citizens were held accountable irrespective of their backgrounds. He also said he wanted to improve access to education and healthcare, as well as promote tax collection and reduce corruption. His PTI party currently has 32 parliamentary seats, compared with the 186 of the ruling PML-N party. Recent opinion polls also suggest the PTI is less popular than the PML-N, although the margin has narrowed since the last election in 2013. "Opinion polls can be extremely misleading," Mr Khan told the BBC in an interview. Mr Khan has made fighting corruption his party's central pitch. "The way Pakistan is headed, the whole issue about corruption, the issue about governance... I believe that the election campaign will swing the big undecided vote towards the PTI," he told the BBC. The former prime minister and head of the PML-N, Nawaz Sharif, is currently on trial in an anti-corruption court. A verdict is expected in the coming weeks, which could see him sent to jail. He was disqualified from office last year following an inquiry into his family's finances - which Imran Khan campaigned for. However, Mr Sharif remains a popular figure and has held a number of large rallies since his disqualification. Supporters of Mr Sharif claim Pakistan's military establishment secretly pushed for his removal as they disagreed over key issues such as the country's relationship with India. Both the Pakistani army and Imran Khan deny that. Mr Khan alleged that the PML-N were themselves sponsored by the military in the 1990s. He added: "The current military chief, Gen Bajwa, is probably the most pro-democratic man we have ever seen." The military has directly ruled Pakistan for nearly half its existence, and it has exerted a strong influence throughout much of the rest of the country's lifespan. Politics in the country are often seen through the lens of civil-military relations - but Mr Khan told the BBC he had "no concern" about the military's role in Pakistani society. Mr Khan has faced accusations of being soft on Islamist extremism, at one stage earning the nickname "Taliban Khan". He strongly rejects the claims and says he has merely advocated peace talks with insurgent groups as a way of resolving conflict within Pakistan. When asked by the BBC whether Pakistan would be more or less "liberal" were he to be elected prime minister, he dismissed the question. "Pakistan's issue is nothing to do with liberalism or fundamentalism. Pakistan has an issue of governance," he said. "We have 25 million children out of school, we have the highest child mortality rate in the world. This is the West looking upon Pakistan as a liberalism and fundamentalism issue. "It is not an issue. Every human society has its extremists and its liberals." On international affairs Mr Khan, like other Pakistani politicians, has denied US allegations that the country is providing "safe havens" for the Afghan Taliban and its allies. At the Lahore rally, a senior politician from Mr Khan's party led a chant proclaiming, "anyone who is a friend of the US is a traitor". Mr Khan told the BBC: "The US has had the worst Afghan policy. For 16 years they've been trying to use a military solution and they failed. "Where are the safe havens? They should point them out - 70,000 Pakistanis have died fighting the US war." "Electables" are politicians with their own personal vote banks, who are not tied ideologically to a political party. Analysts say it is not clear what the impact would be on levels of support for the PML-N, if Mr Sharif were convicted in his ongoing anti-corruption trial. Some believe it could boost support for him as a "martyr". Others say it could lead to defections of so-called "electables" to Mr Khan's PTI. "There are some electables who have a good track record," Mr Khan said. "Especially in rural areas you have to have someone who has a network to win the election." Mr Khan said he would not allow "electables" with tarnished political records to join the party. Senior Pakistani journalist Iftikhar Ahmad, from the Daily Jang newspaper, said he believed there were around 60 such candidates in constituencies in Punjab alone who might switch allegiance to the PTI if they deemed it in their interest. The key battleground between Mr Khan and the PML-N will be the province of Punjab, which holds more than half of the 272 directly-elected seats in the Pakistani parliament. Lahore, where Mr Khan launched his election campaign on Sunday, is the capital of Punjab. | Where does Mr Khan stand on extremism? | 2,477 | Mr Khan has faced accusations of being soft on Islamist extremism, at one stage earning the nickname "Taliban Khan". He strongly rejects the claims and says he has merely advocated peace talks with insurgent groups as a way of resolving conflict within Pakistan. When asked by the BBC whether Pakistan would be more or less "liberal" were he to be elected prime minister, he dismissed the question. "Pakistan's issue is nothing to do with liberalism or fundamentalism. Pakistan has an issue of governance," he said. "We have 25 million children out of school, we have the highest child mortality rate in the world. This is the West looking upon Pakistan as a liberalism and fundamentalism issue. "It is not an issue. Every human society has its extremists and its liberals." On international affairs Mr Khan, like other Pakistani politicians, has denied US allegations that the country is providing "safe havens" for the Afghan Taliban and its allies. At the Lahore rally, a senior politician from Mr Khan's party led a chant proclaiming, "anyone who is a friend of the US is a traitor". Mr Khan told the BBC: "The US has had the worst Afghan policy. For 16 years they've been trying to use a military solution and they failed. "Where are the safe havens? They should point them out - 70,000 Pakistanis have died fighting the US war." | 0.655861 |
66_0 | After five days of debate on Theresa May's Brexit agreement, MPs will finally vote on the deal later. The final day of debate will end with a speech from the prime minister at about 18:20 GMT. But before the vote on the Brexit agreement happens, MPs will get a chance to reshape, or reject, the deal by voting on a series of amendments to it, from about 19:00 GMT. This will start with votes on three or four backbench amendments that could reshape the deal. Each amendment will take about 15 minutes. The vote on the withdrawal agreement itself is unlikely to happen before 20:00 and is expected to be followed by a statement from Mrs May. There will be live updates on the BBC News website and it will be broadcast on the BBC News channel or watch BBC Parliament live on BBC iPlayer. Amendments give MPs the chance to reshape, or reject, the deal. Commons Speaker John Bercow has selected four amendments to be put to the vote: Labour frontbench amendment - Rejects the deal because it fails to provide a permanent customs union and "strong single market deal", as set out in Labour's "six tests" - Rejects leaving with no deal - Resolves to "pursue every option" that prevents either no-deal or leaving on the basis of the current deal SNP and Plaid Cymru amendment - Declines to approve Theresa May's Brexit deal "in line with the views of the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly that they would be damaging for Scotland, Wales and the nations and regions of the UK as a whole" - Calls for the UK's departure from the EU to be delayed until another withdrawal deal is agreed. Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh's amendment - Makes clear the Northern Ireland backstop is temporary and should remain temporary - Calls for assurance that, if the backstop doesn't end by the close of 2021, this will be treated as a fundamental change of circumstances and would terminate the Withdrawal Treaty on 1 January 2022 - Backed by 15 other Tory Brexiteers. Conservative MP John Baron's amendment - Gives the UK the right to terminate the Northern Ireland backstop without the agreement of the EU - Amendment backed by cross-party group of Brexiteers, including 12 Conservatives, one independent and one DUP MP. John Bercow told MPs that if they back Sir Edward Leigh's amendment, John Baron's amendment will not be voted on. - You can see the full text of the motion and the amendments put down by MPs here. There is a question mark over how far the government's withdrawal agreement could be modified by MPs before it no longer has force under international law, or the EU judges it to be in breach of what was agreed by Mrs May. The government had indicated it would back an amendment proposed by Conservative MP Hugo Swire, which accepted the government's deal as the EU Withdrawal Bill but included provisions to: - Make the government report to Parliament in March 2020 on the status of the arrangements to supersede the Northern Ireland backstop. This is the controversial "insurance policy" aimed at preventing the return of a physical border in Northern Ireland if the UK and EU have not agreed on a new trade deal by December 2020 - Give Parliament a vote on whether to extend the 21-month post-Brexit transition period, which would end in December 2020 - Give Parliament a vote on whether to implement the backstop - Impose "a duty" on the government to agree a future relationship with the EU, or alternative arrangements, within one year of the backstop coming into force. But Speaker Bercow has not selected this amendment to be put to the vote, although MPs will be able to refer to it during the debate. | What time will the vote happen? | 102 | The final day of debate will end with a speech from the prime minister at about 18:20 GMT. But before the vote on the Brexit agreement happens, MPs will get a chance to reshape, or reject, the deal by voting on a series of amendments to it, from about 19:00 GMT. This will start with votes on three or four backbench amendments that could reshape the deal. Each amendment will take about 15 minutes. The vote on the withdrawal agreement itself is unlikely to happen before 20:00 and is expected to be followed by a statement from Mrs May. | 0.50389 |
66_1 | After five days of debate on Theresa May's Brexit agreement, MPs will finally vote on the deal later. The final day of debate will end with a speech from the prime minister at about 18:20 GMT. But before the vote on the Brexit agreement happens, MPs will get a chance to reshape, or reject, the deal by voting on a series of amendments to it, from about 19:00 GMT. This will start with votes on three or four backbench amendments that could reshape the deal. Each amendment will take about 15 minutes. The vote on the withdrawal agreement itself is unlikely to happen before 20:00 and is expected to be followed by a statement from Mrs May. There will be live updates on the BBC News website and it will be broadcast on the BBC News channel or watch BBC Parliament live on BBC iPlayer. Amendments give MPs the chance to reshape, or reject, the deal. Commons Speaker John Bercow has selected four amendments to be put to the vote: Labour frontbench amendment - Rejects the deal because it fails to provide a permanent customs union and "strong single market deal", as set out in Labour's "six tests" - Rejects leaving with no deal - Resolves to "pursue every option" that prevents either no-deal or leaving on the basis of the current deal SNP and Plaid Cymru amendment - Declines to approve Theresa May's Brexit deal "in line with the views of the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly that they would be damaging for Scotland, Wales and the nations and regions of the UK as a whole" - Calls for the UK's departure from the EU to be delayed until another withdrawal deal is agreed. Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh's amendment - Makes clear the Northern Ireland backstop is temporary and should remain temporary - Calls for assurance that, if the backstop doesn't end by the close of 2021, this will be treated as a fundamental change of circumstances and would terminate the Withdrawal Treaty on 1 January 2022 - Backed by 15 other Tory Brexiteers. Conservative MP John Baron's amendment - Gives the UK the right to terminate the Northern Ireland backstop without the agreement of the EU - Amendment backed by cross-party group of Brexiteers, including 12 Conservatives, one independent and one DUP MP. John Bercow told MPs that if they back Sir Edward Leigh's amendment, John Baron's amendment will not be voted on. - You can see the full text of the motion and the amendments put down by MPs here. There is a question mark over how far the government's withdrawal agreement could be modified by MPs before it no longer has force under international law, or the EU judges it to be in breach of what was agreed by Mrs May. The government had indicated it would back an amendment proposed by Conservative MP Hugo Swire, which accepted the government's deal as the EU Withdrawal Bill but included provisions to: - Make the government report to Parliament in March 2020 on the status of the arrangements to supersede the Northern Ireland backstop. This is the controversial "insurance policy" aimed at preventing the return of a physical border in Northern Ireland if the UK and EU have not agreed on a new trade deal by December 2020 - Give Parliament a vote on whether to extend the 21-month post-Brexit transition period, which would end in December 2020 - Give Parliament a vote on whether to implement the backstop - Impose "a duty" on the government to agree a future relationship with the EU, or alternative arrangements, within one year of the backstop coming into force. But Speaker Bercow has not selected this amendment to be put to the vote, although MPs will be able to refer to it during the debate. | How can I watch the debate and the vote? | 641 | There will be live updates on the BBC News website and it will be broadcast on the BBC News channel or watch BBC Parliament live on BBC iPlayer. | 0.386464 |
68_0 | Recently, there have been more stories about Yahoo shutting bits of its business than celebrating successes. The firm's own internet services are now valued to be worth a fraction of its stake in the e-commerce giant Alibaba. So, after the US tax authorities effectively blocked Yahoo's sales of shares in the Chinese business, chief executive Marissa Mayer opted for plan B: sell off Yahoo's core business. Since February, dozens of US-based companies have been linked to a potential bid. But the UK-based owner of the Daily Mail newspaper has now confirmed it is in discussions with unnamed parties to make an offer - an announcement that caught many by surprise. In much of the world, Yahoo may be considered a marginal internet brand. But in the US, it is still a force to be reckoned with. In February, it was the States' third most visited online platform, attracting more than 204 million people, according to research firm Comscore. To put that in context, Facebook had only 1% more users and Google's apps and websites only 17% more. Yahoo's news and sports are read by about one in four people at least once a week in the country, according to a University of Oxford study. And there are reports that its personal finance coverage is proving popular with millennials - those born in the 1980s and later - thanks to it mixing articles about how to deal with debt with more traditional earnings coverage. Other properties, including its blogging platform Tumblr, photo-sharing service Flickr, web-based email accounts and Q&A site Yahoo Answers continue to have international appeal. All of which means the firm can state that "more than one billion people" regularly use its products. Investors are getting restless because Yahoo's share of users doesn't match its share of online advertising sales. Last year, Yahoo accounted for only 1.5% of marketers' mobile online spend, according to a study by eMarketer. By contrast, Google scooped up 35% and Facebook 19%. Furthermore, Yahoo's position appears to be getting worse. The firm has predicted that its overall revenues will drop by about 15% this year, according to documents seen by the news site Recode. A large part of the problem is that while Yahoo can serve up huge numbers of ads, they are less targeted than those of its rivals. "User data is key. Google and Facebook have a huge number of logged-in users, so they can track who it is using their services and use the information to let advertisers direct their ads," explained Joseph Evans from Enders Analysis. "Yahoo might have a lot of users, but most of them are not logged into its services, so are effectively anonymous eyeballs. "They are not totally anonymous - there is some behavioural data that Yahoo makes use of - but generally Google and Facebook are better at knowing who you are." A chance to grow its US audience. MailOnline and DailyMail.com were the only overseas publications to feature in the country's top 10 most visited news websites and apps last year, attracting more than 51 million readers. But Yahoo - and its partner ABC News - still managed to attract more than double that figure. "The US has been the main driver of digital growth for Daily Mail & General Trust, but whilst traffic has grown well they haven't quite monetised this traffic as successfully as they would have liked," said Ian Whittaker, a media analyst at the investment bank Liberum. "The combined inventory of DMGT and Yahoo would make a compelling offer to media buyers as they could offer them a significant amount of verified impressions in a 'brand-safe' environment." Another industry watcher added that the two firms' online activities appear to be a good match. "Mail Online is fun and a bit salacious," commented Mathew Horsman from the Mediatique consultancy. "It trends reasonably young and has a reputation for being a quick and dirty way of getting celebrity news, but its personal finance and property coverage are also among its strong suits. "So, there are some interesting overlaps." Far from it. Many think a deal with Verizon would make more sense. The mobile network has sought to diversify its interests, and bought AOL last year - which gave it ownership of the Huffington Post, Techcrunch, Engadget and other news sites. Shortly afterwards, Verizon announced it would start combining personal knows about its mobile network subscribers - which is tied to their handsets - with the tracking data already gathered by AOL's sites. By doing so it said it could deliver more "personalised" ads. "A Verizon-AOL-Yahoo tie-up would start to reach the sort of scale where they could become a 'third force' in advertising," said Mr Evans. "Verizon already has one of the most sophisticated ad technology platforms and has built up a large number of user identities, so combining that with Yahoo's large number of users would allow it to offer a similar level of service to advertisers as Google and Facebook." Other bidders might be attracted by Yahoo's intellectual property, The New York Post recently reported that the firm owned about 6,000 patents, which it said could be worth $4bn (PS2.8bn). Recode added that Ms Mayer has been talking up the value of Index - a voice-controlled search tool developed by Yahoo that has yet to be launched. Google, Microsoft, Apple and Amazon already have virtual assistants of their own, but might be interested in acquiring Index if it genuinely offers innovative tricks of its own. | Does anyone use Yahoo anymore? | 666 | In much of the world, Yahoo may be considered a marginal internet brand. But in the US, it is still a force to be reckoned with. In February, it was the States' third most visited online platform, attracting more than 204 million people, according to research firm Comscore. To put that in context, Facebook had only 1% more users and Google's apps and websites only 17% more. Yahoo's news and sports are read by about one in four people at least once a week in the country, according to a University of Oxford study. And there are reports that its personal finance coverage is proving popular with millennials - those born in the 1980s and later - thanks to it mixing articles about how to deal with debt with more traditional earnings coverage. Other properties, including its blogging platform Tumblr, photo-sharing service Flickr, web-based email accounts and Q&A site Yahoo Answers continue to have international appeal. All of which means the firm can state that "more than one billion people" regularly use its products. | 0.449626 |
70_0 | As voters go to the polls in local and mayoral elections, here's a guide to what's going on and where... Voting will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 BST on 4 May. Elections will be held in 34 councils in England, all 32 councils in Scotland and all 22 councils in Wales. In addition, six areas in England are voting for newly-created "combined local authority mayors". These mayors will mostly be responsible for economic development in their regions, but some will have powers over transport and housing. Doncaster and North Tyneside are also voting for local authority mayors, who are elected leaders of their respective councils. The Manchester Gorton parliamentary by-election triggered by the death of Labour MP Gerald Kaufman was also due to take place, but has now been delayed until the general election on 8 June. Here's the full list of council elections: Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cornwall Cumbria Derbyshire Devon Doncaster Dorset Durham East Sussex Essex Gloucestershire Hampshire Hertfordshire Isle of Wight Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumberland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Shropshire Somerset Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Warwickshire West Sussex Wiltshire Worcestershire Aberdeen Aberdeenshire Angus Argyll & Bute Clackmannanshire Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Dumfries & Galloway Dundee East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Lothian East Renfrewshire Edinburgh Falkirk Fife Glasgow Highland Inverclyde Midlothian Moray North Ayshire North Lanarkshire Orkney Perth & Kinross Renfrewshire Scottish Borders Shetland South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire Stirling West Dunbartonshire West Lothian Anglesey Blaunau Gwent Bridgend Caerphilly Cardiff Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Conwy Denbighshire Flintshire Gwynedd Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Neath Port Talbot Newport Pembrokeshire Powys Rhonda Cynon Taf Swansea Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Wrexham A total of 4,851 council seats are up for grabs across England, Wales and Scotland. - Labour are defending 1,535 seats - The Conservatives are defending 1,136 seats - The Lib Dems are defending 484 seats - The SNP are defending 438 seats - Plaid Cymru are defending 170 seats - UKIP are defending 146 seats - The Green Party are defending 34 seats These figures are estimates because there have been boundary changes since they were last contested. There are also 687 independent councillors, with no party allegiances, whose seats are being contested. The rest of the total is made up of residents' association councillors and parties with a handful of representatives, including Cornish separatists Mebyon Kernow, who have four councillors. Some English and Welsh councils will begin counting ballots as soon as polls close at 22:00 BST. Others will start counting on Friday morning, with results continuing all day Friday. Scotland's 32 councils will start their counts on Friday morning, with first results expected from midday. Most mayoral results will be declared on Friday. There will be full live text and video coverage of the results as they come in on the BBC News website and on special BBC news programmes. You must be registered to vote, be at least 18 on polling day in England and Wales or 16 in Scotland, be resident in Britain and be British or a Commonwealth or a European Union citizen. To take part in the polls, voters had to be registered by midnight on Thursday, 13 April if living in England or Wales, and by Monday, 17 April if living in Scotland. It's too late to register for Thursday's local elections, but voters have until 22 May to take part in the general election on 8 June. For more information click here. Convicted prisoners, anybody found guilty of election corruption within the past five years. Members of the House of Lords and anyone subject to any legal incapacity to vote. If you are registered to vote you should have received a polling card telling you where you should go to cast your vote on Thursday. You do not have to take the card with you when you go to vote. No form of identity is required. If your polling card hasn't arrived, contact the electoral services department at your local council. The deadline for asking for a postal vote from the electoral registration office at your local council has passed. If you have applied to vote by post, you cannot vote in person at the polling station. However, you can return your postal vote to the polling station before 22:00 BST, or to the returning officer at your local council before they close if you do not want to post it or it is too late to post it. See the Electoral Commission's guidelines for postal voting. You can only apply for a long-term proxy vote if you have a specific reason such as a disability or being overseas. To vote by proxy for just one election, you must have a reason - for example you will be on holiday or away owing to work. The deadline to vote by proxy has already passed, but if you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 17:00 BST on polling day. As long as you are registered to vote in both places you can choose to vote at either your home address or your student address - or in both places if they are in different council areas. To help blind and partially sighted voters, there has to be a "tactile device" in each polling station and there are rules on the size of print on ballot papers. The vast majority of polling stations are now more accessible for wheelchair users. Proxy ballots are allowed for those unable to vote because of disability. A doctor's note is required if the person with disabilities is applying for an indefinite proxy vote. There is no literacy qualification for voting: anyone who cannot read or write can ask the polling officer at the polling station to mark their ballot, or have the candidates names read out, or take a companion to help them. No. People cannot be forced to vote and registration is not compulsory. Yes. The ballot papers contain a serial number and it is possible, but illegal, to trace all the votes to the people who cast them. The number is there to stop electoral fraud. Not all councils hold elections at the same time. All councillors are elected for a term of four years, but the four-year cycle of elections is different for different councils. This year it is the turn of all the English county councils, who last had elections in 2013, and seven other authorities. Next year will see elections to all the London boroughs and some of the smaller district councils. There are also some councils who elect a third of councillors each year for three out of the four-year cycle. Six new mayors are being elected to represent several regions of England. These mayors are being created as part of the government's drive to devolve more power to English regions. The mayors will serve and represent a number of local authorities in each region. Their exact powers vary according to the different agreements reached between local authorities and the government, but will mainly cover economic strategy, transport and planning. Local authority mayors are also being elected in Doncaster and North Tyneside. Mayors are elected using the Supplementary Vote system, which means voters choose first and second preferences for mayor. Candidates must be aged 18 or over and either be British or citizens of other European Union or Commonwealth countries. In addition, those standing in English council elections must be on the electoral register of the council concerned or must have lived in or worked in the council area within the past year. Those banned from standing in the elections include anyone employed by the local authority, bankrupts and people in a variety of politically restricted jobs. The deadline has passed to register as a candidate for these elections. All political parties have to be registered with the Electoral Commission if they want their names to appear on the ballot papers. The commission will need the names of three party officials and details of the party's financial structure. It can refuse to register a party if its name is confusingly similar to another party's or if the name is deemed offensive. The deadline has passed to register a political party for these elections. The top official of the local authority is the returning officer for the elections in each constituency, with the day-to-day running of the poll left to the head of the council's electoral registration office. They do not have to be - it is just convention. One theory about its origins is that people were not paid until Fridays and so holding polls on Thursdays ensured they were not too drunk to vote. The Electoral Commission has recommended trials of weekend voting to boost turnout. Every part of the corporation has to follow election guidelines published by the BBC They included advice on "appropriate" level of coverage to give to each of the political parties. | When are the polls? | 105 | Voting will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 BST on 4 May. | 0.553736 |
70_3 | As voters go to the polls in local and mayoral elections, here's a guide to what's going on and where... Voting will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 BST on 4 May. Elections will be held in 34 councils in England, all 32 councils in Scotland and all 22 councils in Wales. In addition, six areas in England are voting for newly-created "combined local authority mayors". These mayors will mostly be responsible for economic development in their regions, but some will have powers over transport and housing. Doncaster and North Tyneside are also voting for local authority mayors, who are elected leaders of their respective councils. The Manchester Gorton parliamentary by-election triggered by the death of Labour MP Gerald Kaufman was also due to take place, but has now been delayed until the general election on 8 June. Here's the full list of council elections: Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cornwall Cumbria Derbyshire Devon Doncaster Dorset Durham East Sussex Essex Gloucestershire Hampshire Hertfordshire Isle of Wight Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumberland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Shropshire Somerset Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Warwickshire West Sussex Wiltshire Worcestershire Aberdeen Aberdeenshire Angus Argyll & Bute Clackmannanshire Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Dumfries & Galloway Dundee East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Lothian East Renfrewshire Edinburgh Falkirk Fife Glasgow Highland Inverclyde Midlothian Moray North Ayshire North Lanarkshire Orkney Perth & Kinross Renfrewshire Scottish Borders Shetland South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire Stirling West Dunbartonshire West Lothian Anglesey Blaunau Gwent Bridgend Caerphilly Cardiff Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Conwy Denbighshire Flintshire Gwynedd Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Neath Port Talbot Newport Pembrokeshire Powys Rhonda Cynon Taf Swansea Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Wrexham A total of 4,851 council seats are up for grabs across England, Wales and Scotland. - Labour are defending 1,535 seats - The Conservatives are defending 1,136 seats - The Lib Dems are defending 484 seats - The SNP are defending 438 seats - Plaid Cymru are defending 170 seats - UKIP are defending 146 seats - The Green Party are defending 34 seats These figures are estimates because there have been boundary changes since they were last contested. There are also 687 independent councillors, with no party allegiances, whose seats are being contested. The rest of the total is made up of residents' association councillors and parties with a handful of representatives, including Cornish separatists Mebyon Kernow, who have four councillors. Some English and Welsh councils will begin counting ballots as soon as polls close at 22:00 BST. Others will start counting on Friday morning, with results continuing all day Friday. Scotland's 32 councils will start their counts on Friday morning, with first results expected from midday. Most mayoral results will be declared on Friday. There will be full live text and video coverage of the results as they come in on the BBC News website and on special BBC news programmes. You must be registered to vote, be at least 18 on polling day in England and Wales or 16 in Scotland, be resident in Britain and be British or a Commonwealth or a European Union citizen. To take part in the polls, voters had to be registered by midnight on Thursday, 13 April if living in England or Wales, and by Monday, 17 April if living in Scotland. It's too late to register for Thursday's local elections, but voters have until 22 May to take part in the general election on 8 June. For more information click here. Convicted prisoners, anybody found guilty of election corruption within the past five years. Members of the House of Lords and anyone subject to any legal incapacity to vote. If you are registered to vote you should have received a polling card telling you where you should go to cast your vote on Thursday. You do not have to take the card with you when you go to vote. No form of identity is required. If your polling card hasn't arrived, contact the electoral services department at your local council. The deadline for asking for a postal vote from the electoral registration office at your local council has passed. If you have applied to vote by post, you cannot vote in person at the polling station. However, you can return your postal vote to the polling station before 22:00 BST, or to the returning officer at your local council before they close if you do not want to post it or it is too late to post it. See the Electoral Commission's guidelines for postal voting. You can only apply for a long-term proxy vote if you have a specific reason such as a disability or being overseas. To vote by proxy for just one election, you must have a reason - for example you will be on holiday or away owing to work. The deadline to vote by proxy has already passed, but if you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 17:00 BST on polling day. As long as you are registered to vote in both places you can choose to vote at either your home address or your student address - or in both places if they are in different council areas. To help blind and partially sighted voters, there has to be a "tactile device" in each polling station and there are rules on the size of print on ballot papers. The vast majority of polling stations are now more accessible for wheelchair users. Proxy ballots are allowed for those unable to vote because of disability. A doctor's note is required if the person with disabilities is applying for an indefinite proxy vote. There is no literacy qualification for voting: anyone who cannot read or write can ask the polling officer at the polling station to mark their ballot, or have the candidates names read out, or take a companion to help them. No. People cannot be forced to vote and registration is not compulsory. Yes. The ballot papers contain a serial number and it is possible, but illegal, to trace all the votes to the people who cast them. The number is there to stop electoral fraud. Not all councils hold elections at the same time. All councillors are elected for a term of four years, but the four-year cycle of elections is different for different councils. This year it is the turn of all the English county councils, who last had elections in 2013, and seven other authorities. Next year will see elections to all the London boroughs and some of the smaller district councils. There are also some councils who elect a third of councillors each year for three out of the four-year cycle. Six new mayors are being elected to represent several regions of England. These mayors are being created as part of the government's drive to devolve more power to English regions. The mayors will serve and represent a number of local authorities in each region. Their exact powers vary according to the different agreements reached between local authorities and the government, but will mainly cover economic strategy, transport and planning. Local authority mayors are also being elected in Doncaster and North Tyneside. Mayors are elected using the Supplementary Vote system, which means voters choose first and second preferences for mayor. Candidates must be aged 18 or over and either be British or citizens of other European Union or Commonwealth countries. In addition, those standing in English council elections must be on the electoral register of the council concerned or must have lived in or worked in the council area within the past year. Those banned from standing in the elections include anyone employed by the local authority, bankrupts and people in a variety of politically restricted jobs. The deadline has passed to register as a candidate for these elections. All political parties have to be registered with the Electoral Commission if they want their names to appear on the ballot papers. The commission will need the names of three party officials and details of the party's financial structure. It can refuse to register a party if its name is confusingly similar to another party's or if the name is deemed offensive. The deadline has passed to register a political party for these elections. The top official of the local authority is the returning officer for the elections in each constituency, with the day-to-day running of the poll left to the head of the council's electoral registration office. They do not have to be - it is just convention. One theory about its origins is that people were not paid until Fridays and so holding polls on Thursdays ensured they were not too drunk to vote. The Electoral Commission has recommended trials of weekend voting to boost turnout. Every part of the corporation has to follow election guidelines published by the BBC They included advice on "appropriate" level of coverage to give to each of the political parties. | When are we expecting the results? | 2,661 | Some English and Welsh councils will begin counting ballots as soon as polls close at 22:00 BST. Others will start counting on Friday morning, with results continuing all day Friday. Scotland's 32 councils will start their counts on Friday morning, with first results expected from midday. Most mayoral results will be declared on Friday. | 0.376892 |
70_4 | As voters go to the polls in local and mayoral elections, here's a guide to what's going on and where... Voting will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 BST on 4 May. Elections will be held in 34 councils in England, all 32 councils in Scotland and all 22 councils in Wales. In addition, six areas in England are voting for newly-created "combined local authority mayors". These mayors will mostly be responsible for economic development in their regions, but some will have powers over transport and housing. Doncaster and North Tyneside are also voting for local authority mayors, who are elected leaders of their respective councils. The Manchester Gorton parliamentary by-election triggered by the death of Labour MP Gerald Kaufman was also due to take place, but has now been delayed until the general election on 8 June. Here's the full list of council elections: Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cornwall Cumbria Derbyshire Devon Doncaster Dorset Durham East Sussex Essex Gloucestershire Hampshire Hertfordshire Isle of Wight Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumberland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Shropshire Somerset Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Warwickshire West Sussex Wiltshire Worcestershire Aberdeen Aberdeenshire Angus Argyll & Bute Clackmannanshire Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Dumfries & Galloway Dundee East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Lothian East Renfrewshire Edinburgh Falkirk Fife Glasgow Highland Inverclyde Midlothian Moray North Ayshire North Lanarkshire Orkney Perth & Kinross Renfrewshire Scottish Borders Shetland South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire Stirling West Dunbartonshire West Lothian Anglesey Blaunau Gwent Bridgend Caerphilly Cardiff Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Conwy Denbighshire Flintshire Gwynedd Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Neath Port Talbot Newport Pembrokeshire Powys Rhonda Cynon Taf Swansea Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Wrexham A total of 4,851 council seats are up for grabs across England, Wales and Scotland. - Labour are defending 1,535 seats - The Conservatives are defending 1,136 seats - The Lib Dems are defending 484 seats - The SNP are defending 438 seats - Plaid Cymru are defending 170 seats - UKIP are defending 146 seats - The Green Party are defending 34 seats These figures are estimates because there have been boundary changes since they were last contested. There are also 687 independent councillors, with no party allegiances, whose seats are being contested. The rest of the total is made up of residents' association councillors and parties with a handful of representatives, including Cornish separatists Mebyon Kernow, who have four councillors. Some English and Welsh councils will begin counting ballots as soon as polls close at 22:00 BST. Others will start counting on Friday morning, with results continuing all day Friday. Scotland's 32 councils will start their counts on Friday morning, with first results expected from midday. Most mayoral results will be declared on Friday. There will be full live text and video coverage of the results as they come in on the BBC News website and on special BBC news programmes. You must be registered to vote, be at least 18 on polling day in England and Wales or 16 in Scotland, be resident in Britain and be British or a Commonwealth or a European Union citizen. To take part in the polls, voters had to be registered by midnight on Thursday, 13 April if living in England or Wales, and by Monday, 17 April if living in Scotland. It's too late to register for Thursday's local elections, but voters have until 22 May to take part in the general election on 8 June. For more information click here. Convicted prisoners, anybody found guilty of election corruption within the past five years. Members of the House of Lords and anyone subject to any legal incapacity to vote. If you are registered to vote you should have received a polling card telling you where you should go to cast your vote on Thursday. You do not have to take the card with you when you go to vote. No form of identity is required. If your polling card hasn't arrived, contact the electoral services department at your local council. The deadline for asking for a postal vote from the electoral registration office at your local council has passed. If you have applied to vote by post, you cannot vote in person at the polling station. However, you can return your postal vote to the polling station before 22:00 BST, or to the returning officer at your local council before they close if you do not want to post it or it is too late to post it. See the Electoral Commission's guidelines for postal voting. You can only apply for a long-term proxy vote if you have a specific reason such as a disability or being overseas. To vote by proxy for just one election, you must have a reason - for example you will be on holiday or away owing to work. The deadline to vote by proxy has already passed, but if you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 17:00 BST on polling day. As long as you are registered to vote in both places you can choose to vote at either your home address or your student address - or in both places if they are in different council areas. To help blind and partially sighted voters, there has to be a "tactile device" in each polling station and there are rules on the size of print on ballot papers. The vast majority of polling stations are now more accessible for wheelchair users. Proxy ballots are allowed for those unable to vote because of disability. A doctor's note is required if the person with disabilities is applying for an indefinite proxy vote. There is no literacy qualification for voting: anyone who cannot read or write can ask the polling officer at the polling station to mark their ballot, or have the candidates names read out, or take a companion to help them. No. People cannot be forced to vote and registration is not compulsory. Yes. The ballot papers contain a serial number and it is possible, but illegal, to trace all the votes to the people who cast them. The number is there to stop electoral fraud. Not all councils hold elections at the same time. All councillors are elected for a term of four years, but the four-year cycle of elections is different for different councils. This year it is the turn of all the English county councils, who last had elections in 2013, and seven other authorities. Next year will see elections to all the London boroughs and some of the smaller district councils. There are also some councils who elect a third of councillors each year for three out of the four-year cycle. Six new mayors are being elected to represent several regions of England. These mayors are being created as part of the government's drive to devolve more power to English regions. The mayors will serve and represent a number of local authorities in each region. Their exact powers vary according to the different agreements reached between local authorities and the government, but will mainly cover economic strategy, transport and planning. Local authority mayors are also being elected in Doncaster and North Tyneside. Mayors are elected using the Supplementary Vote system, which means voters choose first and second preferences for mayor. Candidates must be aged 18 or over and either be British or citizens of other European Union or Commonwealth countries. In addition, those standing in English council elections must be on the electoral register of the council concerned or must have lived in or worked in the council area within the past year. Those banned from standing in the elections include anyone employed by the local authority, bankrupts and people in a variety of politically restricted jobs. The deadline has passed to register as a candidate for these elections. All political parties have to be registered with the Electoral Commission if they want their names to appear on the ballot papers. The commission will need the names of three party officials and details of the party's financial structure. It can refuse to register a party if its name is confusingly similar to another party's or if the name is deemed offensive. The deadline has passed to register a political party for these elections. The top official of the local authority is the returning officer for the elections in each constituency, with the day-to-day running of the poll left to the head of the council's electoral registration office. They do not have to be - it is just convention. One theory about its origins is that people were not paid until Fridays and so holding polls on Thursdays ensured they were not too drunk to vote. The Electoral Commission has recommended trials of weekend voting to boost turnout. Every part of the corporation has to follow election guidelines published by the BBC They included advice on "appropriate" level of coverage to give to each of the political parties. | Where can I watch the results? | 3,000 | There will be full live text and video coverage of the results as they come in on the BBC News website and on special BBC news programmes. | 0.641574 |
70_6 | As voters go to the polls in local and mayoral elections, here's a guide to what's going on and where... Voting will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 BST on 4 May. Elections will be held in 34 councils in England, all 32 councils in Scotland and all 22 councils in Wales. In addition, six areas in England are voting for newly-created "combined local authority mayors". These mayors will mostly be responsible for economic development in their regions, but some will have powers over transport and housing. Doncaster and North Tyneside are also voting for local authority mayors, who are elected leaders of their respective councils. The Manchester Gorton parliamentary by-election triggered by the death of Labour MP Gerald Kaufman was also due to take place, but has now been delayed until the general election on 8 June. Here's the full list of council elections: Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cornwall Cumbria Derbyshire Devon Doncaster Dorset Durham East Sussex Essex Gloucestershire Hampshire Hertfordshire Isle of Wight Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumberland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Shropshire Somerset Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Warwickshire West Sussex Wiltshire Worcestershire Aberdeen Aberdeenshire Angus Argyll & Bute Clackmannanshire Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Dumfries & Galloway Dundee East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Lothian East Renfrewshire Edinburgh Falkirk Fife Glasgow Highland Inverclyde Midlothian Moray North Ayshire North Lanarkshire Orkney Perth & Kinross Renfrewshire Scottish Borders Shetland South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire Stirling West Dunbartonshire West Lothian Anglesey Blaunau Gwent Bridgend Caerphilly Cardiff Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Conwy Denbighshire Flintshire Gwynedd Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Neath Port Talbot Newport Pembrokeshire Powys Rhonda Cynon Taf Swansea Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Wrexham A total of 4,851 council seats are up for grabs across England, Wales and Scotland. - Labour are defending 1,535 seats - The Conservatives are defending 1,136 seats - The Lib Dems are defending 484 seats - The SNP are defending 438 seats - Plaid Cymru are defending 170 seats - UKIP are defending 146 seats - The Green Party are defending 34 seats These figures are estimates because there have been boundary changes since they were last contested. There are also 687 independent councillors, with no party allegiances, whose seats are being contested. The rest of the total is made up of residents' association councillors and parties with a handful of representatives, including Cornish separatists Mebyon Kernow, who have four councillors. Some English and Welsh councils will begin counting ballots as soon as polls close at 22:00 BST. Others will start counting on Friday morning, with results continuing all day Friday. Scotland's 32 councils will start their counts on Friday morning, with first results expected from midday. Most mayoral results will be declared on Friday. There will be full live text and video coverage of the results as they come in on the BBC News website and on special BBC news programmes. You must be registered to vote, be at least 18 on polling day in England and Wales or 16 in Scotland, be resident in Britain and be British or a Commonwealth or a European Union citizen. To take part in the polls, voters had to be registered by midnight on Thursday, 13 April if living in England or Wales, and by Monday, 17 April if living in Scotland. It's too late to register for Thursday's local elections, but voters have until 22 May to take part in the general election on 8 June. For more information click here. Convicted prisoners, anybody found guilty of election corruption within the past five years. Members of the House of Lords and anyone subject to any legal incapacity to vote. If you are registered to vote you should have received a polling card telling you where you should go to cast your vote on Thursday. You do not have to take the card with you when you go to vote. No form of identity is required. If your polling card hasn't arrived, contact the electoral services department at your local council. The deadline for asking for a postal vote from the electoral registration office at your local council has passed. If you have applied to vote by post, you cannot vote in person at the polling station. However, you can return your postal vote to the polling station before 22:00 BST, or to the returning officer at your local council before they close if you do not want to post it or it is too late to post it. See the Electoral Commission's guidelines for postal voting. You can only apply for a long-term proxy vote if you have a specific reason such as a disability or being overseas. To vote by proxy for just one election, you must have a reason - for example you will be on holiday or away owing to work. The deadline to vote by proxy has already passed, but if you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 17:00 BST on polling day. As long as you are registered to vote in both places you can choose to vote at either your home address or your student address - or in both places if they are in different council areas. To help blind and partially sighted voters, there has to be a "tactile device" in each polling station and there are rules on the size of print on ballot papers. The vast majority of polling stations are now more accessible for wheelchair users. Proxy ballots are allowed for those unable to vote because of disability. A doctor's note is required if the person with disabilities is applying for an indefinite proxy vote. There is no literacy qualification for voting: anyone who cannot read or write can ask the polling officer at the polling station to mark their ballot, or have the candidates names read out, or take a companion to help them. No. People cannot be forced to vote and registration is not compulsory. Yes. The ballot papers contain a serial number and it is possible, but illegal, to trace all the votes to the people who cast them. The number is there to stop electoral fraud. Not all councils hold elections at the same time. All councillors are elected for a term of four years, but the four-year cycle of elections is different for different councils. This year it is the turn of all the English county councils, who last had elections in 2013, and seven other authorities. Next year will see elections to all the London boroughs and some of the smaller district councils. There are also some councils who elect a third of councillors each year for three out of the four-year cycle. Six new mayors are being elected to represent several regions of England. These mayors are being created as part of the government's drive to devolve more power to English regions. The mayors will serve and represent a number of local authorities in each region. Their exact powers vary according to the different agreements reached between local authorities and the government, but will mainly cover economic strategy, transport and planning. Local authority mayors are also being elected in Doncaster and North Tyneside. Mayors are elected using the Supplementary Vote system, which means voters choose first and second preferences for mayor. Candidates must be aged 18 or over and either be British or citizens of other European Union or Commonwealth countries. In addition, those standing in English council elections must be on the electoral register of the council concerned or must have lived in or worked in the council area within the past year. Those banned from standing in the elections include anyone employed by the local authority, bankrupts and people in a variety of politically restricted jobs. The deadline has passed to register as a candidate for these elections. All political parties have to be registered with the Electoral Commission if they want their names to appear on the ballot papers. The commission will need the names of three party officials and details of the party's financial structure. It can refuse to register a party if its name is confusingly similar to another party's or if the name is deemed offensive. The deadline has passed to register a political party for these elections. The top official of the local authority is the returning officer for the elections in each constituency, with the day-to-day running of the poll left to the head of the council's electoral registration office. They do not have to be - it is just convention. One theory about its origins is that people were not paid until Fridays and so holding polls on Thursdays ensured they were not too drunk to vote. The Electoral Commission has recommended trials of weekend voting to boost turnout. Every part of the corporation has to follow election guidelines published by the BBC They included advice on "appropriate" level of coverage to give to each of the political parties. | Who is barred from voting? | 3,661 | Convicted prisoners, anybody found guilty of election corruption within the past five years. Members of the House of Lords and anyone subject to any legal incapacity to vote. | 0.518076 |
70_7 | As voters go to the polls in local and mayoral elections, here's a guide to what's going on and where... Voting will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 BST on 4 May. Elections will be held in 34 councils in England, all 32 councils in Scotland and all 22 councils in Wales. In addition, six areas in England are voting for newly-created "combined local authority mayors". These mayors will mostly be responsible for economic development in their regions, but some will have powers over transport and housing. Doncaster and North Tyneside are also voting for local authority mayors, who are elected leaders of their respective councils. The Manchester Gorton parliamentary by-election triggered by the death of Labour MP Gerald Kaufman was also due to take place, but has now been delayed until the general election on 8 June. Here's the full list of council elections: Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cornwall Cumbria Derbyshire Devon Doncaster Dorset Durham East Sussex Essex Gloucestershire Hampshire Hertfordshire Isle of Wight Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumberland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Shropshire Somerset Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Warwickshire West Sussex Wiltshire Worcestershire Aberdeen Aberdeenshire Angus Argyll & Bute Clackmannanshire Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Dumfries & Galloway Dundee East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Lothian East Renfrewshire Edinburgh Falkirk Fife Glasgow Highland Inverclyde Midlothian Moray North Ayshire North Lanarkshire Orkney Perth & Kinross Renfrewshire Scottish Borders Shetland South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire Stirling West Dunbartonshire West Lothian Anglesey Blaunau Gwent Bridgend Caerphilly Cardiff Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Conwy Denbighshire Flintshire Gwynedd Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Neath Port Talbot Newport Pembrokeshire Powys Rhonda Cynon Taf Swansea Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Wrexham A total of 4,851 council seats are up for grabs across England, Wales and Scotland. - Labour are defending 1,535 seats - The Conservatives are defending 1,136 seats - The Lib Dems are defending 484 seats - The SNP are defending 438 seats - Plaid Cymru are defending 170 seats - UKIP are defending 146 seats - The Green Party are defending 34 seats These figures are estimates because there have been boundary changes since they were last contested. There are also 687 independent councillors, with no party allegiances, whose seats are being contested. The rest of the total is made up of residents' association councillors and parties with a handful of representatives, including Cornish separatists Mebyon Kernow, who have four councillors. Some English and Welsh councils will begin counting ballots as soon as polls close at 22:00 BST. Others will start counting on Friday morning, with results continuing all day Friday. Scotland's 32 councils will start their counts on Friday morning, with first results expected from midday. Most mayoral results will be declared on Friday. There will be full live text and video coverage of the results as they come in on the BBC News website and on special BBC news programmes. You must be registered to vote, be at least 18 on polling day in England and Wales or 16 in Scotland, be resident in Britain and be British or a Commonwealth or a European Union citizen. To take part in the polls, voters had to be registered by midnight on Thursday, 13 April if living in England or Wales, and by Monday, 17 April if living in Scotland. It's too late to register for Thursday's local elections, but voters have until 22 May to take part in the general election on 8 June. For more information click here. Convicted prisoners, anybody found guilty of election corruption within the past five years. Members of the House of Lords and anyone subject to any legal incapacity to vote. If you are registered to vote you should have received a polling card telling you where you should go to cast your vote on Thursday. You do not have to take the card with you when you go to vote. No form of identity is required. If your polling card hasn't arrived, contact the electoral services department at your local council. The deadline for asking for a postal vote from the electoral registration office at your local council has passed. If you have applied to vote by post, you cannot vote in person at the polling station. However, you can return your postal vote to the polling station before 22:00 BST, or to the returning officer at your local council before they close if you do not want to post it or it is too late to post it. See the Electoral Commission's guidelines for postal voting. You can only apply for a long-term proxy vote if you have a specific reason such as a disability or being overseas. To vote by proxy for just one election, you must have a reason - for example you will be on holiday or away owing to work. The deadline to vote by proxy has already passed, but if you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 17:00 BST on polling day. As long as you are registered to vote in both places you can choose to vote at either your home address or your student address - or in both places if they are in different council areas. To help blind and partially sighted voters, there has to be a "tactile device" in each polling station and there are rules on the size of print on ballot papers. The vast majority of polling stations are now more accessible for wheelchair users. Proxy ballots are allowed for those unable to vote because of disability. A doctor's note is required if the person with disabilities is applying for an indefinite proxy vote. There is no literacy qualification for voting: anyone who cannot read or write can ask the polling officer at the polling station to mark their ballot, or have the candidates names read out, or take a companion to help them. No. People cannot be forced to vote and registration is not compulsory. Yes. The ballot papers contain a serial number and it is possible, but illegal, to trace all the votes to the people who cast them. The number is there to stop electoral fraud. Not all councils hold elections at the same time. All councillors are elected for a term of four years, but the four-year cycle of elections is different for different councils. This year it is the turn of all the English county councils, who last had elections in 2013, and seven other authorities. Next year will see elections to all the London boroughs and some of the smaller district councils. There are also some councils who elect a third of councillors each year for three out of the four-year cycle. Six new mayors are being elected to represent several regions of England. These mayors are being created as part of the government's drive to devolve more power to English regions. The mayors will serve and represent a number of local authorities in each region. Their exact powers vary according to the different agreements reached between local authorities and the government, but will mainly cover economic strategy, transport and planning. Local authority mayors are also being elected in Doncaster and North Tyneside. Mayors are elected using the Supplementary Vote system, which means voters choose first and second preferences for mayor. Candidates must be aged 18 or over and either be British or citizens of other European Union or Commonwealth countries. In addition, those standing in English council elections must be on the electoral register of the council concerned or must have lived in or worked in the council area within the past year. Those banned from standing in the elections include anyone employed by the local authority, bankrupts and people in a variety of politically restricted jobs. The deadline has passed to register as a candidate for these elections. All political parties have to be registered with the Electoral Commission if they want their names to appear on the ballot papers. The commission will need the names of three party officials and details of the party's financial structure. It can refuse to register a party if its name is confusingly similar to another party's or if the name is deemed offensive. The deadline has passed to register a political party for these elections. The top official of the local authority is the returning officer for the elections in each constituency, with the day-to-day running of the poll left to the head of the council's electoral registration office. They do not have to be - it is just convention. One theory about its origins is that people were not paid until Fridays and so holding polls on Thursdays ensured they were not too drunk to vote. The Electoral Commission has recommended trials of weekend voting to boost turnout. Every part of the corporation has to follow election guidelines published by the BBC They included advice on "appropriate" level of coverage to give to each of the political parties. | How do I vote? | 3,836 | If you are registered to vote you should have received a polling card telling you where you should go to cast your vote on Thursday. You do not have to take the card with you when you go to vote. No form of identity is required. If your polling card hasn't arrived, contact the electoral services department at your local council. | 0.573717 |
70_8 | As voters go to the polls in local and mayoral elections, here's a guide to what's going on and where... Voting will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 BST on 4 May. Elections will be held in 34 councils in England, all 32 councils in Scotland and all 22 councils in Wales. In addition, six areas in England are voting for newly-created "combined local authority mayors". These mayors will mostly be responsible for economic development in their regions, but some will have powers over transport and housing. Doncaster and North Tyneside are also voting for local authority mayors, who are elected leaders of their respective councils. The Manchester Gorton parliamentary by-election triggered by the death of Labour MP Gerald Kaufman was also due to take place, but has now been delayed until the general election on 8 June. Here's the full list of council elections: Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cornwall Cumbria Derbyshire Devon Doncaster Dorset Durham East Sussex Essex Gloucestershire Hampshire Hertfordshire Isle of Wight Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumberland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Shropshire Somerset Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Warwickshire West Sussex Wiltshire Worcestershire Aberdeen Aberdeenshire Angus Argyll & Bute Clackmannanshire Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Dumfries & Galloway Dundee East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Lothian East Renfrewshire Edinburgh Falkirk Fife Glasgow Highland Inverclyde Midlothian Moray North Ayshire North Lanarkshire Orkney Perth & Kinross Renfrewshire Scottish Borders Shetland South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire Stirling West Dunbartonshire West Lothian Anglesey Blaunau Gwent Bridgend Caerphilly Cardiff Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Conwy Denbighshire Flintshire Gwynedd Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Neath Port Talbot Newport Pembrokeshire Powys Rhonda Cynon Taf Swansea Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Wrexham A total of 4,851 council seats are up for grabs across England, Wales and Scotland. - Labour are defending 1,535 seats - The Conservatives are defending 1,136 seats - The Lib Dems are defending 484 seats - The SNP are defending 438 seats - Plaid Cymru are defending 170 seats - UKIP are defending 146 seats - The Green Party are defending 34 seats These figures are estimates because there have been boundary changes since they were last contested. There are also 687 independent councillors, with no party allegiances, whose seats are being contested. The rest of the total is made up of residents' association councillors and parties with a handful of representatives, including Cornish separatists Mebyon Kernow, who have four councillors. Some English and Welsh councils will begin counting ballots as soon as polls close at 22:00 BST. Others will start counting on Friday morning, with results continuing all day Friday. Scotland's 32 councils will start their counts on Friday morning, with first results expected from midday. Most mayoral results will be declared on Friday. There will be full live text and video coverage of the results as they come in on the BBC News website and on special BBC news programmes. You must be registered to vote, be at least 18 on polling day in England and Wales or 16 in Scotland, be resident in Britain and be British or a Commonwealth or a European Union citizen. To take part in the polls, voters had to be registered by midnight on Thursday, 13 April if living in England or Wales, and by Monday, 17 April if living in Scotland. It's too late to register for Thursday's local elections, but voters have until 22 May to take part in the general election on 8 June. For more information click here. Convicted prisoners, anybody found guilty of election corruption within the past five years. Members of the House of Lords and anyone subject to any legal incapacity to vote. If you are registered to vote you should have received a polling card telling you where you should go to cast your vote on Thursday. You do not have to take the card with you when you go to vote. No form of identity is required. If your polling card hasn't arrived, contact the electoral services department at your local council. The deadline for asking for a postal vote from the electoral registration office at your local council has passed. If you have applied to vote by post, you cannot vote in person at the polling station. However, you can return your postal vote to the polling station before 22:00 BST, or to the returning officer at your local council before they close if you do not want to post it or it is too late to post it. See the Electoral Commission's guidelines for postal voting. You can only apply for a long-term proxy vote if you have a specific reason such as a disability or being overseas. To vote by proxy for just one election, you must have a reason - for example you will be on holiday or away owing to work. The deadline to vote by proxy has already passed, but if you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 17:00 BST on polling day. As long as you are registered to vote in both places you can choose to vote at either your home address or your student address - or in both places if they are in different council areas. To help blind and partially sighted voters, there has to be a "tactile device" in each polling station and there are rules on the size of print on ballot papers. The vast majority of polling stations are now more accessible for wheelchair users. Proxy ballots are allowed for those unable to vote because of disability. A doctor's note is required if the person with disabilities is applying for an indefinite proxy vote. There is no literacy qualification for voting: anyone who cannot read or write can ask the polling officer at the polling station to mark their ballot, or have the candidates names read out, or take a companion to help them. No. People cannot be forced to vote and registration is not compulsory. Yes. The ballot papers contain a serial number and it is possible, but illegal, to trace all the votes to the people who cast them. The number is there to stop electoral fraud. Not all councils hold elections at the same time. All councillors are elected for a term of four years, but the four-year cycle of elections is different for different councils. This year it is the turn of all the English county councils, who last had elections in 2013, and seven other authorities. Next year will see elections to all the London boroughs and some of the smaller district councils. There are also some councils who elect a third of councillors each year for three out of the four-year cycle. Six new mayors are being elected to represent several regions of England. These mayors are being created as part of the government's drive to devolve more power to English regions. The mayors will serve and represent a number of local authorities in each region. Their exact powers vary according to the different agreements reached between local authorities and the government, but will mainly cover economic strategy, transport and planning. Local authority mayors are also being elected in Doncaster and North Tyneside. Mayors are elected using the Supplementary Vote system, which means voters choose first and second preferences for mayor. Candidates must be aged 18 or over and either be British or citizens of other European Union or Commonwealth countries. In addition, those standing in English council elections must be on the electoral register of the council concerned or must have lived in or worked in the council area within the past year. Those banned from standing in the elections include anyone employed by the local authority, bankrupts and people in a variety of politically restricted jobs. The deadline has passed to register as a candidate for these elections. All political parties have to be registered with the Electoral Commission if they want their names to appear on the ballot papers. The commission will need the names of three party officials and details of the party's financial structure. It can refuse to register a party if its name is confusingly similar to another party's or if the name is deemed offensive. The deadline has passed to register a political party for these elections. The top official of the local authority is the returning officer for the elections in each constituency, with the day-to-day running of the poll left to the head of the council's electoral registration office. They do not have to be - it is just convention. One theory about its origins is that people were not paid until Fridays and so holding polls on Thursdays ensured they were not too drunk to vote. The Electoral Commission has recommended trials of weekend voting to boost turnout. Every part of the corporation has to follow election guidelines published by the BBC They included advice on "appropriate" level of coverage to give to each of the political parties. | Can I vote by post? | 4,168 | The deadline for asking for a postal vote from the electoral registration office at your local council has passed. If you have applied to vote by post, you cannot vote in person at the polling station. However, you can return your postal vote to the polling station before 22:00 BST, or to the returning officer at your local council before they close if you do not want to post it or it is too late to post it. See the Electoral Commission's guidelines for postal voting. | 0.587614 |
70_9 | As voters go to the polls in local and mayoral elections, here's a guide to what's going on and where... Voting will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 BST on 4 May. Elections will be held in 34 councils in England, all 32 councils in Scotland and all 22 councils in Wales. In addition, six areas in England are voting for newly-created "combined local authority mayors". These mayors will mostly be responsible for economic development in their regions, but some will have powers over transport and housing. Doncaster and North Tyneside are also voting for local authority mayors, who are elected leaders of their respective councils. The Manchester Gorton parliamentary by-election triggered by the death of Labour MP Gerald Kaufman was also due to take place, but has now been delayed until the general election on 8 June. Here's the full list of council elections: Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cornwall Cumbria Derbyshire Devon Doncaster Dorset Durham East Sussex Essex Gloucestershire Hampshire Hertfordshire Isle of Wight Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumberland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Shropshire Somerset Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Warwickshire West Sussex Wiltshire Worcestershire Aberdeen Aberdeenshire Angus Argyll & Bute Clackmannanshire Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Dumfries & Galloway Dundee East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Lothian East Renfrewshire Edinburgh Falkirk Fife Glasgow Highland Inverclyde Midlothian Moray North Ayshire North Lanarkshire Orkney Perth & Kinross Renfrewshire Scottish Borders Shetland South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire Stirling West Dunbartonshire West Lothian Anglesey Blaunau Gwent Bridgend Caerphilly Cardiff Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Conwy Denbighshire Flintshire Gwynedd Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Neath Port Talbot Newport Pembrokeshire Powys Rhonda Cynon Taf Swansea Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Wrexham A total of 4,851 council seats are up for grabs across England, Wales and Scotland. - Labour are defending 1,535 seats - The Conservatives are defending 1,136 seats - The Lib Dems are defending 484 seats - The SNP are defending 438 seats - Plaid Cymru are defending 170 seats - UKIP are defending 146 seats - The Green Party are defending 34 seats These figures are estimates because there have been boundary changes since they were last contested. There are also 687 independent councillors, with no party allegiances, whose seats are being contested. The rest of the total is made up of residents' association councillors and parties with a handful of representatives, including Cornish separatists Mebyon Kernow, who have four councillors. Some English and Welsh councils will begin counting ballots as soon as polls close at 22:00 BST. Others will start counting on Friday morning, with results continuing all day Friday. Scotland's 32 councils will start their counts on Friday morning, with first results expected from midday. Most mayoral results will be declared on Friday. There will be full live text and video coverage of the results as they come in on the BBC News website and on special BBC news programmes. You must be registered to vote, be at least 18 on polling day in England and Wales or 16 in Scotland, be resident in Britain and be British or a Commonwealth or a European Union citizen. To take part in the polls, voters had to be registered by midnight on Thursday, 13 April if living in England or Wales, and by Monday, 17 April if living in Scotland. It's too late to register for Thursday's local elections, but voters have until 22 May to take part in the general election on 8 June. For more information click here. Convicted prisoners, anybody found guilty of election corruption within the past five years. Members of the House of Lords and anyone subject to any legal incapacity to vote. If you are registered to vote you should have received a polling card telling you where you should go to cast your vote on Thursday. You do not have to take the card with you when you go to vote. No form of identity is required. If your polling card hasn't arrived, contact the electoral services department at your local council. The deadline for asking for a postal vote from the electoral registration office at your local council has passed. If you have applied to vote by post, you cannot vote in person at the polling station. However, you can return your postal vote to the polling station before 22:00 BST, or to the returning officer at your local council before they close if you do not want to post it or it is too late to post it. See the Electoral Commission's guidelines for postal voting. You can only apply for a long-term proxy vote if you have a specific reason such as a disability or being overseas. To vote by proxy for just one election, you must have a reason - for example you will be on holiday or away owing to work. The deadline to vote by proxy has already passed, but if you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 17:00 BST on polling day. As long as you are registered to vote in both places you can choose to vote at either your home address or your student address - or in both places if they are in different council areas. To help blind and partially sighted voters, there has to be a "tactile device" in each polling station and there are rules on the size of print on ballot papers. The vast majority of polling stations are now more accessible for wheelchair users. Proxy ballots are allowed for those unable to vote because of disability. A doctor's note is required if the person with disabilities is applying for an indefinite proxy vote. There is no literacy qualification for voting: anyone who cannot read or write can ask the polling officer at the polling station to mark their ballot, or have the candidates names read out, or take a companion to help them. No. People cannot be forced to vote and registration is not compulsory. Yes. The ballot papers contain a serial number and it is possible, but illegal, to trace all the votes to the people who cast them. The number is there to stop electoral fraud. Not all councils hold elections at the same time. All councillors are elected for a term of four years, but the four-year cycle of elections is different for different councils. This year it is the turn of all the English county councils, who last had elections in 2013, and seven other authorities. Next year will see elections to all the London boroughs and some of the smaller district councils. There are also some councils who elect a third of councillors each year for three out of the four-year cycle. Six new mayors are being elected to represent several regions of England. These mayors are being created as part of the government's drive to devolve more power to English regions. The mayors will serve and represent a number of local authorities in each region. Their exact powers vary according to the different agreements reached between local authorities and the government, but will mainly cover economic strategy, transport and planning. Local authority mayors are also being elected in Doncaster and North Tyneside. Mayors are elected using the Supplementary Vote system, which means voters choose first and second preferences for mayor. Candidates must be aged 18 or over and either be British or citizens of other European Union or Commonwealth countries. In addition, those standing in English council elections must be on the electoral register of the council concerned or must have lived in or worked in the council area within the past year. Those banned from standing in the elections include anyone employed by the local authority, bankrupts and people in a variety of politically restricted jobs. The deadline has passed to register as a candidate for these elections. All political parties have to be registered with the Electoral Commission if they want their names to appear on the ballot papers. The commission will need the names of three party officials and details of the party's financial structure. It can refuse to register a party if its name is confusingly similar to another party's or if the name is deemed offensive. The deadline has passed to register a political party for these elections. The top official of the local authority is the returning officer for the elections in each constituency, with the day-to-day running of the poll left to the head of the council's electoral registration office. They do not have to be - it is just convention. One theory about its origins is that people were not paid until Fridays and so holding polls on Thursdays ensured they were not too drunk to vote. The Electoral Commission has recommended trials of weekend voting to boost turnout. Every part of the corporation has to follow election guidelines published by the BBC They included advice on "appropriate" level of coverage to give to each of the political parties. | What about proxy votes? | 4,641 | You can only apply for a long-term proxy vote if you have a specific reason such as a disability or being overseas. To vote by proxy for just one election, you must have a reason - for example you will be on holiday or away owing to work. The deadline to vote by proxy has already passed, but if you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 17:00 BST on polling day. | 0.582219 |
70_11 | As voters go to the polls in local and mayoral elections, here's a guide to what's going on and where... Voting will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 BST on 4 May. Elections will be held in 34 councils in England, all 32 councils in Scotland and all 22 councils in Wales. In addition, six areas in England are voting for newly-created "combined local authority mayors". These mayors will mostly be responsible for economic development in their regions, but some will have powers over transport and housing. Doncaster and North Tyneside are also voting for local authority mayors, who are elected leaders of their respective councils. The Manchester Gorton parliamentary by-election triggered by the death of Labour MP Gerald Kaufman was also due to take place, but has now been delayed until the general election on 8 June. Here's the full list of council elections: Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cornwall Cumbria Derbyshire Devon Doncaster Dorset Durham East Sussex Essex Gloucestershire Hampshire Hertfordshire Isle of Wight Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumberland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Shropshire Somerset Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Warwickshire West Sussex Wiltshire Worcestershire Aberdeen Aberdeenshire Angus Argyll & Bute Clackmannanshire Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Dumfries & Galloway Dundee East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Lothian East Renfrewshire Edinburgh Falkirk Fife Glasgow Highland Inverclyde Midlothian Moray North Ayshire North Lanarkshire Orkney Perth & Kinross Renfrewshire Scottish Borders Shetland South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire Stirling West Dunbartonshire West Lothian Anglesey Blaunau Gwent Bridgend Caerphilly Cardiff Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Conwy Denbighshire Flintshire Gwynedd Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Neath Port Talbot Newport Pembrokeshire Powys Rhonda Cynon Taf Swansea Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Wrexham A total of 4,851 council seats are up for grabs across England, Wales and Scotland. - Labour are defending 1,535 seats - The Conservatives are defending 1,136 seats - The Lib Dems are defending 484 seats - The SNP are defending 438 seats - Plaid Cymru are defending 170 seats - UKIP are defending 146 seats - The Green Party are defending 34 seats These figures are estimates because there have been boundary changes since they were last contested. There are also 687 independent councillors, with no party allegiances, whose seats are being contested. The rest of the total is made up of residents' association councillors and parties with a handful of representatives, including Cornish separatists Mebyon Kernow, who have four councillors. Some English and Welsh councils will begin counting ballots as soon as polls close at 22:00 BST. Others will start counting on Friday morning, with results continuing all day Friday. Scotland's 32 councils will start their counts on Friday morning, with first results expected from midday. Most mayoral results will be declared on Friday. There will be full live text and video coverage of the results as they come in on the BBC News website and on special BBC news programmes. You must be registered to vote, be at least 18 on polling day in England and Wales or 16 in Scotland, be resident in Britain and be British or a Commonwealth or a European Union citizen. To take part in the polls, voters had to be registered by midnight on Thursday, 13 April if living in England or Wales, and by Monday, 17 April if living in Scotland. It's too late to register for Thursday's local elections, but voters have until 22 May to take part in the general election on 8 June. For more information click here. Convicted prisoners, anybody found guilty of election corruption within the past five years. Members of the House of Lords and anyone subject to any legal incapacity to vote. If you are registered to vote you should have received a polling card telling you where you should go to cast your vote on Thursday. You do not have to take the card with you when you go to vote. No form of identity is required. If your polling card hasn't arrived, contact the electoral services department at your local council. The deadline for asking for a postal vote from the electoral registration office at your local council has passed. If you have applied to vote by post, you cannot vote in person at the polling station. However, you can return your postal vote to the polling station before 22:00 BST, or to the returning officer at your local council before they close if you do not want to post it or it is too late to post it. See the Electoral Commission's guidelines for postal voting. You can only apply for a long-term proxy vote if you have a specific reason such as a disability or being overseas. To vote by proxy for just one election, you must have a reason - for example you will be on holiday or away owing to work. The deadline to vote by proxy has already passed, but if you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 17:00 BST on polling day. As long as you are registered to vote in both places you can choose to vote at either your home address or your student address - or in both places if they are in different council areas. To help blind and partially sighted voters, there has to be a "tactile device" in each polling station and there are rules on the size of print on ballot papers. The vast majority of polling stations are now more accessible for wheelchair users. Proxy ballots are allowed for those unable to vote because of disability. A doctor's note is required if the person with disabilities is applying for an indefinite proxy vote. There is no literacy qualification for voting: anyone who cannot read or write can ask the polling officer at the polling station to mark their ballot, or have the candidates names read out, or take a companion to help them. No. People cannot be forced to vote and registration is not compulsory. Yes. The ballot papers contain a serial number and it is possible, but illegal, to trace all the votes to the people who cast them. The number is there to stop electoral fraud. Not all councils hold elections at the same time. All councillors are elected for a term of four years, but the four-year cycle of elections is different for different councils. This year it is the turn of all the English county councils, who last had elections in 2013, and seven other authorities. Next year will see elections to all the London boroughs and some of the smaller district councils. There are also some councils who elect a third of councillors each year for three out of the four-year cycle. Six new mayors are being elected to represent several regions of England. These mayors are being created as part of the government's drive to devolve more power to English regions. The mayors will serve and represent a number of local authorities in each region. Their exact powers vary according to the different agreements reached between local authorities and the government, but will mainly cover economic strategy, transport and planning. Local authority mayors are also being elected in Doncaster and North Tyneside. Mayors are elected using the Supplementary Vote system, which means voters choose first and second preferences for mayor. Candidates must be aged 18 or over and either be British or citizens of other European Union or Commonwealth countries. In addition, those standing in English council elections must be on the electoral register of the council concerned or must have lived in or worked in the council area within the past year. Those banned from standing in the elections include anyone employed by the local authority, bankrupts and people in a variety of politically restricted jobs. The deadline has passed to register as a candidate for these elections. All political parties have to be registered with the Electoral Commission if they want their names to appear on the ballot papers. The commission will need the names of three party officials and details of the party's financial structure. It can refuse to register a party if its name is confusingly similar to another party's or if the name is deemed offensive. The deadline has passed to register a political party for these elections. The top official of the local authority is the returning officer for the elections in each constituency, with the day-to-day running of the poll left to the head of the council's electoral registration office. They do not have to be - it is just convention. One theory about its origins is that people were not paid until Fridays and so holding polls on Thursdays ensured they were not too drunk to vote. The Electoral Commission has recommended trials of weekend voting to boost turnout. Every part of the corporation has to follow election guidelines published by the BBC They included advice on "appropriate" level of coverage to give to each of the political parties. | What help is there for disabled voters? | 5,256 | To help blind and partially sighted voters, there has to be a "tactile device" in each polling station and there are rules on the size of print on ballot papers. The vast majority of polling stations are now more accessible for wheelchair users. Proxy ballots are allowed for those unable to vote because of disability. A doctor's note is required if the person with disabilities is applying for an indefinite proxy vote. | 0.661083 |
70_12 | As voters go to the polls in local and mayoral elections, here's a guide to what's going on and where... Voting will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 BST on 4 May. Elections will be held in 34 councils in England, all 32 councils in Scotland and all 22 councils in Wales. In addition, six areas in England are voting for newly-created "combined local authority mayors". These mayors will mostly be responsible for economic development in their regions, but some will have powers over transport and housing. Doncaster and North Tyneside are also voting for local authority mayors, who are elected leaders of their respective councils. The Manchester Gorton parliamentary by-election triggered by the death of Labour MP Gerald Kaufman was also due to take place, but has now been delayed until the general election on 8 June. Here's the full list of council elections: Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cornwall Cumbria Derbyshire Devon Doncaster Dorset Durham East Sussex Essex Gloucestershire Hampshire Hertfordshire Isle of Wight Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumberland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Shropshire Somerset Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Warwickshire West Sussex Wiltshire Worcestershire Aberdeen Aberdeenshire Angus Argyll & Bute Clackmannanshire Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Dumfries & Galloway Dundee East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Lothian East Renfrewshire Edinburgh Falkirk Fife Glasgow Highland Inverclyde Midlothian Moray North Ayshire North Lanarkshire Orkney Perth & Kinross Renfrewshire Scottish Borders Shetland South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire Stirling West Dunbartonshire West Lothian Anglesey Blaunau Gwent Bridgend Caerphilly Cardiff Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Conwy Denbighshire Flintshire Gwynedd Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Neath Port Talbot Newport Pembrokeshire Powys Rhonda Cynon Taf Swansea Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Wrexham A total of 4,851 council seats are up for grabs across England, Wales and Scotland. - Labour are defending 1,535 seats - The Conservatives are defending 1,136 seats - The Lib Dems are defending 484 seats - The SNP are defending 438 seats - Plaid Cymru are defending 170 seats - UKIP are defending 146 seats - The Green Party are defending 34 seats These figures are estimates because there have been boundary changes since they were last contested. There are also 687 independent councillors, with no party allegiances, whose seats are being contested. The rest of the total is made up of residents' association councillors and parties with a handful of representatives, including Cornish separatists Mebyon Kernow, who have four councillors. Some English and Welsh councils will begin counting ballots as soon as polls close at 22:00 BST. Others will start counting on Friday morning, with results continuing all day Friday. Scotland's 32 councils will start their counts on Friday morning, with first results expected from midday. Most mayoral results will be declared on Friday. There will be full live text and video coverage of the results as they come in on the BBC News website and on special BBC news programmes. You must be registered to vote, be at least 18 on polling day in England and Wales or 16 in Scotland, be resident in Britain and be British or a Commonwealth or a European Union citizen. To take part in the polls, voters had to be registered by midnight on Thursday, 13 April if living in England or Wales, and by Monday, 17 April if living in Scotland. It's too late to register for Thursday's local elections, but voters have until 22 May to take part in the general election on 8 June. For more information click here. Convicted prisoners, anybody found guilty of election corruption within the past five years. Members of the House of Lords and anyone subject to any legal incapacity to vote. If you are registered to vote you should have received a polling card telling you where you should go to cast your vote on Thursday. You do not have to take the card with you when you go to vote. No form of identity is required. If your polling card hasn't arrived, contact the electoral services department at your local council. The deadline for asking for a postal vote from the electoral registration office at your local council has passed. If you have applied to vote by post, you cannot vote in person at the polling station. However, you can return your postal vote to the polling station before 22:00 BST, or to the returning officer at your local council before they close if you do not want to post it or it is too late to post it. See the Electoral Commission's guidelines for postal voting. You can only apply for a long-term proxy vote if you have a specific reason such as a disability or being overseas. To vote by proxy for just one election, you must have a reason - for example you will be on holiday or away owing to work. The deadline to vote by proxy has already passed, but if you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 17:00 BST on polling day. As long as you are registered to vote in both places you can choose to vote at either your home address or your student address - or in both places if they are in different council areas. To help blind and partially sighted voters, there has to be a "tactile device" in each polling station and there are rules on the size of print on ballot papers. The vast majority of polling stations are now more accessible for wheelchair users. Proxy ballots are allowed for those unable to vote because of disability. A doctor's note is required if the person with disabilities is applying for an indefinite proxy vote. There is no literacy qualification for voting: anyone who cannot read or write can ask the polling officer at the polling station to mark their ballot, or have the candidates names read out, or take a companion to help them. No. People cannot be forced to vote and registration is not compulsory. Yes. The ballot papers contain a serial number and it is possible, but illegal, to trace all the votes to the people who cast them. The number is there to stop electoral fraud. Not all councils hold elections at the same time. All councillors are elected for a term of four years, but the four-year cycle of elections is different for different councils. This year it is the turn of all the English county councils, who last had elections in 2013, and seven other authorities. Next year will see elections to all the London boroughs and some of the smaller district councils. There are also some councils who elect a third of councillors each year for three out of the four-year cycle. Six new mayors are being elected to represent several regions of England. These mayors are being created as part of the government's drive to devolve more power to English regions. The mayors will serve and represent a number of local authorities in each region. Their exact powers vary according to the different agreements reached between local authorities and the government, but will mainly cover economic strategy, transport and planning. Local authority mayors are also being elected in Doncaster and North Tyneside. Mayors are elected using the Supplementary Vote system, which means voters choose first and second preferences for mayor. Candidates must be aged 18 or over and either be British or citizens of other European Union or Commonwealth countries. In addition, those standing in English council elections must be on the electoral register of the council concerned or must have lived in or worked in the council area within the past year. Those banned from standing in the elections include anyone employed by the local authority, bankrupts and people in a variety of politically restricted jobs. The deadline has passed to register as a candidate for these elections. All political parties have to be registered with the Electoral Commission if they want their names to appear on the ballot papers. The commission will need the names of three party officials and details of the party's financial structure. It can refuse to register a party if its name is confusingly similar to another party's or if the name is deemed offensive. The deadline has passed to register a political party for these elections. The top official of the local authority is the returning officer for the elections in each constituency, with the day-to-day running of the poll left to the head of the council's electoral registration office. They do not have to be - it is just convention. One theory about its origins is that people were not paid until Fridays and so holding polls on Thursdays ensured they were not too drunk to vote. The Electoral Commission has recommended trials of weekend voting to boost turnout. Every part of the corporation has to follow election guidelines published by the BBC They included advice on "appropriate" level of coverage to give to each of the political parties. | What happens if a voter is illiterate? | 5,678 | There is no literacy qualification for voting: anyone who cannot read or write can ask the polling officer at the polling station to mark their ballot, or have the candidates names read out, or take a companion to help them. | 0.598634 |
70_14 | As voters go to the polls in local and mayoral elections, here's a guide to what's going on and where... Voting will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 BST on 4 May. Elections will be held in 34 councils in England, all 32 councils in Scotland and all 22 councils in Wales. In addition, six areas in England are voting for newly-created "combined local authority mayors". These mayors will mostly be responsible for economic development in their regions, but some will have powers over transport and housing. Doncaster and North Tyneside are also voting for local authority mayors, who are elected leaders of their respective councils. The Manchester Gorton parliamentary by-election triggered by the death of Labour MP Gerald Kaufman was also due to take place, but has now been delayed until the general election on 8 June. Here's the full list of council elections: Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cornwall Cumbria Derbyshire Devon Doncaster Dorset Durham East Sussex Essex Gloucestershire Hampshire Hertfordshire Isle of Wight Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumberland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Shropshire Somerset Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Warwickshire West Sussex Wiltshire Worcestershire Aberdeen Aberdeenshire Angus Argyll & Bute Clackmannanshire Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Dumfries & Galloway Dundee East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Lothian East Renfrewshire Edinburgh Falkirk Fife Glasgow Highland Inverclyde Midlothian Moray North Ayshire North Lanarkshire Orkney Perth & Kinross Renfrewshire Scottish Borders Shetland South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire Stirling West Dunbartonshire West Lothian Anglesey Blaunau Gwent Bridgend Caerphilly Cardiff Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Conwy Denbighshire Flintshire Gwynedd Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Neath Port Talbot Newport Pembrokeshire Powys Rhonda Cynon Taf Swansea Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Wrexham A total of 4,851 council seats are up for grabs across England, Wales and Scotland. - Labour are defending 1,535 seats - The Conservatives are defending 1,136 seats - The Lib Dems are defending 484 seats - The SNP are defending 438 seats - Plaid Cymru are defending 170 seats - UKIP are defending 146 seats - The Green Party are defending 34 seats These figures are estimates because there have been boundary changes since they were last contested. There are also 687 independent councillors, with no party allegiances, whose seats are being contested. The rest of the total is made up of residents' association councillors and parties with a handful of representatives, including Cornish separatists Mebyon Kernow, who have four councillors. Some English and Welsh councils will begin counting ballots as soon as polls close at 22:00 BST. Others will start counting on Friday morning, with results continuing all day Friday. Scotland's 32 councils will start their counts on Friday morning, with first results expected from midday. Most mayoral results will be declared on Friday. There will be full live text and video coverage of the results as they come in on the BBC News website and on special BBC news programmes. You must be registered to vote, be at least 18 on polling day in England and Wales or 16 in Scotland, be resident in Britain and be British or a Commonwealth or a European Union citizen. To take part in the polls, voters had to be registered by midnight on Thursday, 13 April if living in England or Wales, and by Monday, 17 April if living in Scotland. It's too late to register for Thursday's local elections, but voters have until 22 May to take part in the general election on 8 June. For more information click here. Convicted prisoners, anybody found guilty of election corruption within the past five years. Members of the House of Lords and anyone subject to any legal incapacity to vote. If you are registered to vote you should have received a polling card telling you where you should go to cast your vote on Thursday. You do not have to take the card with you when you go to vote. No form of identity is required. If your polling card hasn't arrived, contact the electoral services department at your local council. The deadline for asking for a postal vote from the electoral registration office at your local council has passed. If you have applied to vote by post, you cannot vote in person at the polling station. However, you can return your postal vote to the polling station before 22:00 BST, or to the returning officer at your local council before they close if you do not want to post it or it is too late to post it. See the Electoral Commission's guidelines for postal voting. You can only apply for a long-term proxy vote if you have a specific reason such as a disability or being overseas. To vote by proxy for just one election, you must have a reason - for example you will be on holiday or away owing to work. The deadline to vote by proxy has already passed, but if you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 17:00 BST on polling day. As long as you are registered to vote in both places you can choose to vote at either your home address or your student address - or in both places if they are in different council areas. To help blind and partially sighted voters, there has to be a "tactile device" in each polling station and there are rules on the size of print on ballot papers. The vast majority of polling stations are now more accessible for wheelchair users. Proxy ballots are allowed for those unable to vote because of disability. A doctor's note is required if the person with disabilities is applying for an indefinite proxy vote. There is no literacy qualification for voting: anyone who cannot read or write can ask the polling officer at the polling station to mark their ballot, or have the candidates names read out, or take a companion to help them. No. People cannot be forced to vote and registration is not compulsory. Yes. The ballot papers contain a serial number and it is possible, but illegal, to trace all the votes to the people who cast them. The number is there to stop electoral fraud. Not all councils hold elections at the same time. All councillors are elected for a term of four years, but the four-year cycle of elections is different for different councils. This year it is the turn of all the English county councils, who last had elections in 2013, and seven other authorities. Next year will see elections to all the London boroughs and some of the smaller district councils. There are also some councils who elect a third of councillors each year for three out of the four-year cycle. Six new mayors are being elected to represent several regions of England. These mayors are being created as part of the government's drive to devolve more power to English regions. The mayors will serve and represent a number of local authorities in each region. Their exact powers vary according to the different agreements reached between local authorities and the government, but will mainly cover economic strategy, transport and planning. Local authority mayors are also being elected in Doncaster and North Tyneside. Mayors are elected using the Supplementary Vote system, which means voters choose first and second preferences for mayor. Candidates must be aged 18 or over and either be British or citizens of other European Union or Commonwealth countries. In addition, those standing in English council elections must be on the electoral register of the council concerned or must have lived in or worked in the council area within the past year. Those banned from standing in the elections include anyone employed by the local authority, bankrupts and people in a variety of politically restricted jobs. The deadline has passed to register as a candidate for these elections. All political parties have to be registered with the Electoral Commission if they want their names to appear on the ballot papers. The commission will need the names of three party officials and details of the party's financial structure. It can refuse to register a party if its name is confusingly similar to another party's or if the name is deemed offensive. The deadline has passed to register a political party for these elections. The top official of the local authority is the returning officer for the elections in each constituency, with the day-to-day running of the poll left to the head of the council's electoral registration office. They do not have to be - it is just convention. One theory about its origins is that people were not paid until Fridays and so holding polls on Thursdays ensured they were not too drunk to vote. The Electoral Commission has recommended trials of weekend voting to boost turnout. Every part of the corporation has to follow election guidelines published by the BBC They included advice on "appropriate" level of coverage to give to each of the political parties. | Is my vote secret? | 5,975 | Yes. The ballot papers contain a serial number and it is possible, but illegal, to trace all the votes to the people who cast them. The number is there to stop electoral fraud. | 0.383543 |
70_16 | As voters go to the polls in local and mayoral elections, here's a guide to what's going on and where... Voting will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 BST on 4 May. Elections will be held in 34 councils in England, all 32 councils in Scotland and all 22 councils in Wales. In addition, six areas in England are voting for newly-created "combined local authority mayors". These mayors will mostly be responsible for economic development in their regions, but some will have powers over transport and housing. Doncaster and North Tyneside are also voting for local authority mayors, who are elected leaders of their respective councils. The Manchester Gorton parliamentary by-election triggered by the death of Labour MP Gerald Kaufman was also due to take place, but has now been delayed until the general election on 8 June. Here's the full list of council elections: Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cornwall Cumbria Derbyshire Devon Doncaster Dorset Durham East Sussex Essex Gloucestershire Hampshire Hertfordshire Isle of Wight Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumberland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Shropshire Somerset Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Warwickshire West Sussex Wiltshire Worcestershire Aberdeen Aberdeenshire Angus Argyll & Bute Clackmannanshire Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Dumfries & Galloway Dundee East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Lothian East Renfrewshire Edinburgh Falkirk Fife Glasgow Highland Inverclyde Midlothian Moray North Ayshire North Lanarkshire Orkney Perth & Kinross Renfrewshire Scottish Borders Shetland South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire Stirling West Dunbartonshire West Lothian Anglesey Blaunau Gwent Bridgend Caerphilly Cardiff Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Conwy Denbighshire Flintshire Gwynedd Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Neath Port Talbot Newport Pembrokeshire Powys Rhonda Cynon Taf Swansea Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Wrexham A total of 4,851 council seats are up for grabs across England, Wales and Scotland. - Labour are defending 1,535 seats - The Conservatives are defending 1,136 seats - The Lib Dems are defending 484 seats - The SNP are defending 438 seats - Plaid Cymru are defending 170 seats - UKIP are defending 146 seats - The Green Party are defending 34 seats These figures are estimates because there have been boundary changes since they were last contested. There are also 687 independent councillors, with no party allegiances, whose seats are being contested. The rest of the total is made up of residents' association councillors and parties with a handful of representatives, including Cornish separatists Mebyon Kernow, who have four councillors. Some English and Welsh councils will begin counting ballots as soon as polls close at 22:00 BST. Others will start counting on Friday morning, with results continuing all day Friday. Scotland's 32 councils will start their counts on Friday morning, with first results expected from midday. Most mayoral results will be declared on Friday. There will be full live text and video coverage of the results as they come in on the BBC News website and on special BBC news programmes. You must be registered to vote, be at least 18 on polling day in England and Wales or 16 in Scotland, be resident in Britain and be British or a Commonwealth or a European Union citizen. To take part in the polls, voters had to be registered by midnight on Thursday, 13 April if living in England or Wales, and by Monday, 17 April if living in Scotland. It's too late to register for Thursday's local elections, but voters have until 22 May to take part in the general election on 8 June. For more information click here. Convicted prisoners, anybody found guilty of election corruption within the past five years. Members of the House of Lords and anyone subject to any legal incapacity to vote. If you are registered to vote you should have received a polling card telling you where you should go to cast your vote on Thursday. You do not have to take the card with you when you go to vote. No form of identity is required. If your polling card hasn't arrived, contact the electoral services department at your local council. The deadline for asking for a postal vote from the electoral registration office at your local council has passed. If you have applied to vote by post, you cannot vote in person at the polling station. However, you can return your postal vote to the polling station before 22:00 BST, or to the returning officer at your local council before they close if you do not want to post it or it is too late to post it. See the Electoral Commission's guidelines for postal voting. You can only apply for a long-term proxy vote if you have a specific reason such as a disability or being overseas. To vote by proxy for just one election, you must have a reason - for example you will be on holiday or away owing to work. The deadline to vote by proxy has already passed, but if you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 17:00 BST on polling day. As long as you are registered to vote in both places you can choose to vote at either your home address or your student address - or in both places if they are in different council areas. To help blind and partially sighted voters, there has to be a "tactile device" in each polling station and there are rules on the size of print on ballot papers. The vast majority of polling stations are now more accessible for wheelchair users. Proxy ballots are allowed for those unable to vote because of disability. A doctor's note is required if the person with disabilities is applying for an indefinite proxy vote. There is no literacy qualification for voting: anyone who cannot read or write can ask the polling officer at the polling station to mark their ballot, or have the candidates names read out, or take a companion to help them. No. People cannot be forced to vote and registration is not compulsory. Yes. The ballot papers contain a serial number and it is possible, but illegal, to trace all the votes to the people who cast them. The number is there to stop electoral fraud. Not all councils hold elections at the same time. All councillors are elected for a term of four years, but the four-year cycle of elections is different for different councils. This year it is the turn of all the English county councils, who last had elections in 2013, and seven other authorities. Next year will see elections to all the London boroughs and some of the smaller district councils. There are also some councils who elect a third of councillors each year for three out of the four-year cycle. Six new mayors are being elected to represent several regions of England. These mayors are being created as part of the government's drive to devolve more power to English regions. The mayors will serve and represent a number of local authorities in each region. Their exact powers vary according to the different agreements reached between local authorities and the government, but will mainly cover economic strategy, transport and planning. Local authority mayors are also being elected in Doncaster and North Tyneside. Mayors are elected using the Supplementary Vote system, which means voters choose first and second preferences for mayor. Candidates must be aged 18 or over and either be British or citizens of other European Union or Commonwealth countries. In addition, those standing in English council elections must be on the electoral register of the council concerned or must have lived in or worked in the council area within the past year. Those banned from standing in the elections include anyone employed by the local authority, bankrupts and people in a variety of politically restricted jobs. The deadline has passed to register as a candidate for these elections. All political parties have to be registered with the Electoral Commission if they want their names to appear on the ballot papers. The commission will need the names of three party officials and details of the party's financial structure. It can refuse to register a party if its name is confusingly similar to another party's or if the name is deemed offensive. The deadline has passed to register a political party for these elections. The top official of the local authority is the returning officer for the elections in each constituency, with the day-to-day running of the poll left to the head of the council's electoral registration office. They do not have to be - it is just convention. One theory about its origins is that people were not paid until Fridays and so holding polls on Thursdays ensured they were not too drunk to vote. The Electoral Commission has recommended trials of weekend voting to boost turnout. Every part of the corporation has to follow election guidelines published by the BBC They included advice on "appropriate" level of coverage to give to each of the political parties. | What about mayoral elections? | 6,661 | Six new mayors are being elected to represent several regions of England. These mayors are being created as part of the government's drive to devolve more power to English regions. The mayors will serve and represent a number of local authorities in each region. Their exact powers vary according to the different agreements reached between local authorities and the government, but will mainly cover economic strategy, transport and planning. Local authority mayors are also being elected in Doncaster and North Tyneside. Mayors are elected using the Supplementary Vote system, which means voters choose first and second preferences for mayor. | 0.583146 |
70_17 | As voters go to the polls in local and mayoral elections, here's a guide to what's going on and where... Voting will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 BST on 4 May. Elections will be held in 34 councils in England, all 32 councils in Scotland and all 22 councils in Wales. In addition, six areas in England are voting for newly-created "combined local authority mayors". These mayors will mostly be responsible for economic development in their regions, but some will have powers over transport and housing. Doncaster and North Tyneside are also voting for local authority mayors, who are elected leaders of their respective councils. The Manchester Gorton parliamentary by-election triggered by the death of Labour MP Gerald Kaufman was also due to take place, but has now been delayed until the general election on 8 June. Here's the full list of council elections: Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cornwall Cumbria Derbyshire Devon Doncaster Dorset Durham East Sussex Essex Gloucestershire Hampshire Hertfordshire Isle of Wight Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumberland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Shropshire Somerset Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Warwickshire West Sussex Wiltshire Worcestershire Aberdeen Aberdeenshire Angus Argyll & Bute Clackmannanshire Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Dumfries & Galloway Dundee East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Lothian East Renfrewshire Edinburgh Falkirk Fife Glasgow Highland Inverclyde Midlothian Moray North Ayshire North Lanarkshire Orkney Perth & Kinross Renfrewshire Scottish Borders Shetland South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire Stirling West Dunbartonshire West Lothian Anglesey Blaunau Gwent Bridgend Caerphilly Cardiff Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Conwy Denbighshire Flintshire Gwynedd Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Neath Port Talbot Newport Pembrokeshire Powys Rhonda Cynon Taf Swansea Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Wrexham A total of 4,851 council seats are up for grabs across England, Wales and Scotland. - Labour are defending 1,535 seats - The Conservatives are defending 1,136 seats - The Lib Dems are defending 484 seats - The SNP are defending 438 seats - Plaid Cymru are defending 170 seats - UKIP are defending 146 seats - The Green Party are defending 34 seats These figures are estimates because there have been boundary changes since they were last contested. There are also 687 independent councillors, with no party allegiances, whose seats are being contested. The rest of the total is made up of residents' association councillors and parties with a handful of representatives, including Cornish separatists Mebyon Kernow, who have four councillors. Some English and Welsh councils will begin counting ballots as soon as polls close at 22:00 BST. Others will start counting on Friday morning, with results continuing all day Friday. Scotland's 32 councils will start their counts on Friday morning, with first results expected from midday. Most mayoral results will be declared on Friday. There will be full live text and video coverage of the results as they come in on the BBC News website and on special BBC news programmes. You must be registered to vote, be at least 18 on polling day in England and Wales or 16 in Scotland, be resident in Britain and be British or a Commonwealth or a European Union citizen. To take part in the polls, voters had to be registered by midnight on Thursday, 13 April if living in England or Wales, and by Monday, 17 April if living in Scotland. It's too late to register for Thursday's local elections, but voters have until 22 May to take part in the general election on 8 June. For more information click here. Convicted prisoners, anybody found guilty of election corruption within the past five years. Members of the House of Lords and anyone subject to any legal incapacity to vote. If you are registered to vote you should have received a polling card telling you where you should go to cast your vote on Thursday. You do not have to take the card with you when you go to vote. No form of identity is required. If your polling card hasn't arrived, contact the electoral services department at your local council. The deadline for asking for a postal vote from the electoral registration office at your local council has passed. If you have applied to vote by post, you cannot vote in person at the polling station. However, you can return your postal vote to the polling station before 22:00 BST, or to the returning officer at your local council before they close if you do not want to post it or it is too late to post it. See the Electoral Commission's guidelines for postal voting. You can only apply for a long-term proxy vote if you have a specific reason such as a disability or being overseas. To vote by proxy for just one election, you must have a reason - for example you will be on holiday or away owing to work. The deadline to vote by proxy has already passed, but if you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 17:00 BST on polling day. As long as you are registered to vote in both places you can choose to vote at either your home address or your student address - or in both places if they are in different council areas. To help blind and partially sighted voters, there has to be a "tactile device" in each polling station and there are rules on the size of print on ballot papers. The vast majority of polling stations are now more accessible for wheelchair users. Proxy ballots are allowed for those unable to vote because of disability. A doctor's note is required if the person with disabilities is applying for an indefinite proxy vote. There is no literacy qualification for voting: anyone who cannot read or write can ask the polling officer at the polling station to mark their ballot, or have the candidates names read out, or take a companion to help them. No. People cannot be forced to vote and registration is not compulsory. Yes. The ballot papers contain a serial number and it is possible, but illegal, to trace all the votes to the people who cast them. The number is there to stop electoral fraud. Not all councils hold elections at the same time. All councillors are elected for a term of four years, but the four-year cycle of elections is different for different councils. This year it is the turn of all the English county councils, who last had elections in 2013, and seven other authorities. Next year will see elections to all the London boroughs and some of the smaller district councils. There are also some councils who elect a third of councillors each year for three out of the four-year cycle. Six new mayors are being elected to represent several regions of England. These mayors are being created as part of the government's drive to devolve more power to English regions. The mayors will serve and represent a number of local authorities in each region. Their exact powers vary according to the different agreements reached between local authorities and the government, but will mainly cover economic strategy, transport and planning. Local authority mayors are also being elected in Doncaster and North Tyneside. Mayors are elected using the Supplementary Vote system, which means voters choose first and second preferences for mayor. Candidates must be aged 18 or over and either be British or citizens of other European Union or Commonwealth countries. In addition, those standing in English council elections must be on the electoral register of the council concerned or must have lived in or worked in the council area within the past year. Those banned from standing in the elections include anyone employed by the local authority, bankrupts and people in a variety of politically restricted jobs. The deadline has passed to register as a candidate for these elections. All political parties have to be registered with the Electoral Commission if they want their names to appear on the ballot papers. The commission will need the names of three party officials and details of the party's financial structure. It can refuse to register a party if its name is confusingly similar to another party's or if the name is deemed offensive. The deadline has passed to register a political party for these elections. The top official of the local authority is the returning officer for the elections in each constituency, with the day-to-day running of the poll left to the head of the council's electoral registration office. They do not have to be - it is just convention. One theory about its origins is that people were not paid until Fridays and so holding polls on Thursdays ensured they were not too drunk to vote. The Electoral Commission has recommended trials of weekend voting to boost turnout. Every part of the corporation has to follow election guidelines published by the BBC They included advice on "appropriate" level of coverage to give to each of the political parties. | Who can stand as a candidate? | 7,306 | Candidates must be aged 18 or over and either be British or citizens of other European Union or Commonwealth countries. In addition, those standing in English council elections must be on the electoral register of the council concerned or must have lived in or worked in the council area within the past year. Those banned from standing in the elections include anyone employed by the local authority, bankrupts and people in a variety of politically restricted jobs. The deadline has passed to register as a candidate for these elections. | 0.506611 |
70_18 | As voters go to the polls in local and mayoral elections, here's a guide to what's going on and where... Voting will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 BST on 4 May. Elections will be held in 34 councils in England, all 32 councils in Scotland and all 22 councils in Wales. In addition, six areas in England are voting for newly-created "combined local authority mayors". These mayors will mostly be responsible for economic development in their regions, but some will have powers over transport and housing. Doncaster and North Tyneside are also voting for local authority mayors, who are elected leaders of their respective councils. The Manchester Gorton parliamentary by-election triggered by the death of Labour MP Gerald Kaufman was also due to take place, but has now been delayed until the general election on 8 June. Here's the full list of council elections: Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cornwall Cumbria Derbyshire Devon Doncaster Dorset Durham East Sussex Essex Gloucestershire Hampshire Hertfordshire Isle of Wight Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumberland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Shropshire Somerset Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Warwickshire West Sussex Wiltshire Worcestershire Aberdeen Aberdeenshire Angus Argyll & Bute Clackmannanshire Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Dumfries & Galloway Dundee East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Lothian East Renfrewshire Edinburgh Falkirk Fife Glasgow Highland Inverclyde Midlothian Moray North Ayshire North Lanarkshire Orkney Perth & Kinross Renfrewshire Scottish Borders Shetland South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire Stirling West Dunbartonshire West Lothian Anglesey Blaunau Gwent Bridgend Caerphilly Cardiff Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Conwy Denbighshire Flintshire Gwynedd Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Neath Port Talbot Newport Pembrokeshire Powys Rhonda Cynon Taf Swansea Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Wrexham A total of 4,851 council seats are up for grabs across England, Wales and Scotland. - Labour are defending 1,535 seats - The Conservatives are defending 1,136 seats - The Lib Dems are defending 484 seats - The SNP are defending 438 seats - Plaid Cymru are defending 170 seats - UKIP are defending 146 seats - The Green Party are defending 34 seats These figures are estimates because there have been boundary changes since they were last contested. There are also 687 independent councillors, with no party allegiances, whose seats are being contested. The rest of the total is made up of residents' association councillors and parties with a handful of representatives, including Cornish separatists Mebyon Kernow, who have four councillors. Some English and Welsh councils will begin counting ballots as soon as polls close at 22:00 BST. Others will start counting on Friday morning, with results continuing all day Friday. Scotland's 32 councils will start their counts on Friday morning, with first results expected from midday. Most mayoral results will be declared on Friday. There will be full live text and video coverage of the results as they come in on the BBC News website and on special BBC news programmes. You must be registered to vote, be at least 18 on polling day in England and Wales or 16 in Scotland, be resident in Britain and be British or a Commonwealth or a European Union citizen. To take part in the polls, voters had to be registered by midnight on Thursday, 13 April if living in England or Wales, and by Monday, 17 April if living in Scotland. It's too late to register for Thursday's local elections, but voters have until 22 May to take part in the general election on 8 June. For more information click here. Convicted prisoners, anybody found guilty of election corruption within the past five years. Members of the House of Lords and anyone subject to any legal incapacity to vote. If you are registered to vote you should have received a polling card telling you where you should go to cast your vote on Thursday. You do not have to take the card with you when you go to vote. No form of identity is required. If your polling card hasn't arrived, contact the electoral services department at your local council. The deadline for asking for a postal vote from the electoral registration office at your local council has passed. If you have applied to vote by post, you cannot vote in person at the polling station. However, you can return your postal vote to the polling station before 22:00 BST, or to the returning officer at your local council before they close if you do not want to post it or it is too late to post it. See the Electoral Commission's guidelines for postal voting. You can only apply for a long-term proxy vote if you have a specific reason such as a disability or being overseas. To vote by proxy for just one election, you must have a reason - for example you will be on holiday or away owing to work. The deadline to vote by proxy has already passed, but if you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 17:00 BST on polling day. As long as you are registered to vote in both places you can choose to vote at either your home address or your student address - or in both places if they are in different council areas. To help blind and partially sighted voters, there has to be a "tactile device" in each polling station and there are rules on the size of print on ballot papers. The vast majority of polling stations are now more accessible for wheelchair users. Proxy ballots are allowed for those unable to vote because of disability. A doctor's note is required if the person with disabilities is applying for an indefinite proxy vote. There is no literacy qualification for voting: anyone who cannot read or write can ask the polling officer at the polling station to mark their ballot, or have the candidates names read out, or take a companion to help them. No. People cannot be forced to vote and registration is not compulsory. Yes. The ballot papers contain a serial number and it is possible, but illegal, to trace all the votes to the people who cast them. The number is there to stop electoral fraud. Not all councils hold elections at the same time. All councillors are elected for a term of four years, but the four-year cycle of elections is different for different councils. This year it is the turn of all the English county councils, who last had elections in 2013, and seven other authorities. Next year will see elections to all the London boroughs and some of the smaller district councils. There are also some councils who elect a third of councillors each year for three out of the four-year cycle. Six new mayors are being elected to represent several regions of England. These mayors are being created as part of the government's drive to devolve more power to English regions. The mayors will serve and represent a number of local authorities in each region. Their exact powers vary according to the different agreements reached between local authorities and the government, but will mainly cover economic strategy, transport and planning. Local authority mayors are also being elected in Doncaster and North Tyneside. Mayors are elected using the Supplementary Vote system, which means voters choose first and second preferences for mayor. Candidates must be aged 18 or over and either be British or citizens of other European Union or Commonwealth countries. In addition, those standing in English council elections must be on the electoral register of the council concerned or must have lived in or worked in the council area within the past year. Those banned from standing in the elections include anyone employed by the local authority, bankrupts and people in a variety of politically restricted jobs. The deadline has passed to register as a candidate for these elections. All political parties have to be registered with the Electoral Commission if they want their names to appear on the ballot papers. The commission will need the names of three party officials and details of the party's financial structure. It can refuse to register a party if its name is confusingly similar to another party's or if the name is deemed offensive. The deadline has passed to register a political party for these elections. The top official of the local authority is the returning officer for the elections in each constituency, with the day-to-day running of the poll left to the head of the council's electoral registration office. They do not have to be - it is just convention. One theory about its origins is that people were not paid until Fridays and so holding polls on Thursdays ensured they were not too drunk to vote. The Electoral Commission has recommended trials of weekend voting to boost turnout. Every part of the corporation has to follow election guidelines published by the BBC They included advice on "appropriate" level of coverage to give to each of the political parties. | How can I set up a political party? | 7,846 | All political parties have to be registered with the Electoral Commission if they want their names to appear on the ballot papers. The commission will need the names of three party officials and details of the party's financial structure. It can refuse to register a party if its name is confusingly similar to another party's or if the name is deemed offensive. The deadline has passed to register a political party for these elections. | 0.498603 |
70_19 | As voters go to the polls in local and mayoral elections, here's a guide to what's going on and where... Voting will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 BST on 4 May. Elections will be held in 34 councils in England, all 32 councils in Scotland and all 22 councils in Wales. In addition, six areas in England are voting for newly-created "combined local authority mayors". These mayors will mostly be responsible for economic development in their regions, but some will have powers over transport and housing. Doncaster and North Tyneside are also voting for local authority mayors, who are elected leaders of their respective councils. The Manchester Gorton parliamentary by-election triggered by the death of Labour MP Gerald Kaufman was also due to take place, but has now been delayed until the general election on 8 June. Here's the full list of council elections: Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cornwall Cumbria Derbyshire Devon Doncaster Dorset Durham East Sussex Essex Gloucestershire Hampshire Hertfordshire Isle of Wight Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumberland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Shropshire Somerset Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Warwickshire West Sussex Wiltshire Worcestershire Aberdeen Aberdeenshire Angus Argyll & Bute Clackmannanshire Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Dumfries & Galloway Dundee East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Lothian East Renfrewshire Edinburgh Falkirk Fife Glasgow Highland Inverclyde Midlothian Moray North Ayshire North Lanarkshire Orkney Perth & Kinross Renfrewshire Scottish Borders Shetland South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire Stirling West Dunbartonshire West Lothian Anglesey Blaunau Gwent Bridgend Caerphilly Cardiff Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Conwy Denbighshire Flintshire Gwynedd Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Neath Port Talbot Newport Pembrokeshire Powys Rhonda Cynon Taf Swansea Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Wrexham A total of 4,851 council seats are up for grabs across England, Wales and Scotland. - Labour are defending 1,535 seats - The Conservatives are defending 1,136 seats - The Lib Dems are defending 484 seats - The SNP are defending 438 seats - Plaid Cymru are defending 170 seats - UKIP are defending 146 seats - The Green Party are defending 34 seats These figures are estimates because there have been boundary changes since they were last contested. There are also 687 independent councillors, with no party allegiances, whose seats are being contested. The rest of the total is made up of residents' association councillors and parties with a handful of representatives, including Cornish separatists Mebyon Kernow, who have four councillors. Some English and Welsh councils will begin counting ballots as soon as polls close at 22:00 BST. Others will start counting on Friday morning, with results continuing all day Friday. Scotland's 32 councils will start their counts on Friday morning, with first results expected from midday. Most mayoral results will be declared on Friday. There will be full live text and video coverage of the results as they come in on the BBC News website and on special BBC news programmes. You must be registered to vote, be at least 18 on polling day in England and Wales or 16 in Scotland, be resident in Britain and be British or a Commonwealth or a European Union citizen. To take part in the polls, voters had to be registered by midnight on Thursday, 13 April if living in England or Wales, and by Monday, 17 April if living in Scotland. It's too late to register for Thursday's local elections, but voters have until 22 May to take part in the general election on 8 June. For more information click here. Convicted prisoners, anybody found guilty of election corruption within the past five years. Members of the House of Lords and anyone subject to any legal incapacity to vote. If you are registered to vote you should have received a polling card telling you where you should go to cast your vote on Thursday. You do not have to take the card with you when you go to vote. No form of identity is required. If your polling card hasn't arrived, contact the electoral services department at your local council. The deadline for asking for a postal vote from the electoral registration office at your local council has passed. If you have applied to vote by post, you cannot vote in person at the polling station. However, you can return your postal vote to the polling station before 22:00 BST, or to the returning officer at your local council before they close if you do not want to post it or it is too late to post it. See the Electoral Commission's guidelines for postal voting. You can only apply for a long-term proxy vote if you have a specific reason such as a disability or being overseas. To vote by proxy for just one election, you must have a reason - for example you will be on holiday or away owing to work. The deadline to vote by proxy has already passed, but if you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 17:00 BST on polling day. As long as you are registered to vote in both places you can choose to vote at either your home address or your student address - or in both places if they are in different council areas. To help blind and partially sighted voters, there has to be a "tactile device" in each polling station and there are rules on the size of print on ballot papers. The vast majority of polling stations are now more accessible for wheelchair users. Proxy ballots are allowed for those unable to vote because of disability. A doctor's note is required if the person with disabilities is applying for an indefinite proxy vote. There is no literacy qualification for voting: anyone who cannot read or write can ask the polling officer at the polling station to mark their ballot, or have the candidates names read out, or take a companion to help them. No. People cannot be forced to vote and registration is not compulsory. Yes. The ballot papers contain a serial number and it is possible, but illegal, to trace all the votes to the people who cast them. The number is there to stop electoral fraud. Not all councils hold elections at the same time. All councillors are elected for a term of four years, but the four-year cycle of elections is different for different councils. This year it is the turn of all the English county councils, who last had elections in 2013, and seven other authorities. Next year will see elections to all the London boroughs and some of the smaller district councils. There are also some councils who elect a third of councillors each year for three out of the four-year cycle. Six new mayors are being elected to represent several regions of England. These mayors are being created as part of the government's drive to devolve more power to English regions. The mayors will serve and represent a number of local authorities in each region. Their exact powers vary according to the different agreements reached between local authorities and the government, but will mainly cover economic strategy, transport and planning. Local authority mayors are also being elected in Doncaster and North Tyneside. Mayors are elected using the Supplementary Vote system, which means voters choose first and second preferences for mayor. Candidates must be aged 18 or over and either be British or citizens of other European Union or Commonwealth countries. In addition, those standing in English council elections must be on the electoral register of the council concerned or must have lived in or worked in the council area within the past year. Those banned from standing in the elections include anyone employed by the local authority, bankrupts and people in a variety of politically restricted jobs. The deadline has passed to register as a candidate for these elections. All political parties have to be registered with the Electoral Commission if they want their names to appear on the ballot papers. The commission will need the names of three party officials and details of the party's financial structure. It can refuse to register a party if its name is confusingly similar to another party's or if the name is deemed offensive. The deadline has passed to register a political party for these elections. The top official of the local authority is the returning officer for the elections in each constituency, with the day-to-day running of the poll left to the head of the council's electoral registration office. They do not have to be - it is just convention. One theory about its origins is that people were not paid until Fridays and so holding polls on Thursdays ensured they were not too drunk to vote. The Electoral Commission has recommended trials of weekend voting to boost turnout. Every part of the corporation has to follow election guidelines published by the BBC They included advice on "appropriate" level of coverage to give to each of the political parties. | Who organises the election? | 8,284 | The top official of the local authority is the returning officer for the elections in each constituency, with the day-to-day running of the poll left to the head of the council's electoral registration office. | 0.580465 |
70_20 | As voters go to the polls in local and mayoral elections, here's a guide to what's going on and where... Voting will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 BST on 4 May. Elections will be held in 34 councils in England, all 32 councils in Scotland and all 22 councils in Wales. In addition, six areas in England are voting for newly-created "combined local authority mayors". These mayors will mostly be responsible for economic development in their regions, but some will have powers over transport and housing. Doncaster and North Tyneside are also voting for local authority mayors, who are elected leaders of their respective councils. The Manchester Gorton parliamentary by-election triggered by the death of Labour MP Gerald Kaufman was also due to take place, but has now been delayed until the general election on 8 June. Here's the full list of council elections: Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cornwall Cumbria Derbyshire Devon Doncaster Dorset Durham East Sussex Essex Gloucestershire Hampshire Hertfordshire Isle of Wight Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumberland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Shropshire Somerset Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Warwickshire West Sussex Wiltshire Worcestershire Aberdeen Aberdeenshire Angus Argyll & Bute Clackmannanshire Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Dumfries & Galloway Dundee East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Lothian East Renfrewshire Edinburgh Falkirk Fife Glasgow Highland Inverclyde Midlothian Moray North Ayshire North Lanarkshire Orkney Perth & Kinross Renfrewshire Scottish Borders Shetland South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire Stirling West Dunbartonshire West Lothian Anglesey Blaunau Gwent Bridgend Caerphilly Cardiff Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Conwy Denbighshire Flintshire Gwynedd Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Neath Port Talbot Newport Pembrokeshire Powys Rhonda Cynon Taf Swansea Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Wrexham A total of 4,851 council seats are up for grabs across England, Wales and Scotland. - Labour are defending 1,535 seats - The Conservatives are defending 1,136 seats - The Lib Dems are defending 484 seats - The SNP are defending 438 seats - Plaid Cymru are defending 170 seats - UKIP are defending 146 seats - The Green Party are defending 34 seats These figures are estimates because there have been boundary changes since they were last contested. There are also 687 independent councillors, with no party allegiances, whose seats are being contested. The rest of the total is made up of residents' association councillors and parties with a handful of representatives, including Cornish separatists Mebyon Kernow, who have four councillors. Some English and Welsh councils will begin counting ballots as soon as polls close at 22:00 BST. Others will start counting on Friday morning, with results continuing all day Friday. Scotland's 32 councils will start their counts on Friday morning, with first results expected from midday. Most mayoral results will be declared on Friday. There will be full live text and video coverage of the results as they come in on the BBC News website and on special BBC news programmes. You must be registered to vote, be at least 18 on polling day in England and Wales or 16 in Scotland, be resident in Britain and be British or a Commonwealth or a European Union citizen. To take part in the polls, voters had to be registered by midnight on Thursday, 13 April if living in England or Wales, and by Monday, 17 April if living in Scotland. It's too late to register for Thursday's local elections, but voters have until 22 May to take part in the general election on 8 June. For more information click here. Convicted prisoners, anybody found guilty of election corruption within the past five years. Members of the House of Lords and anyone subject to any legal incapacity to vote. If you are registered to vote you should have received a polling card telling you where you should go to cast your vote on Thursday. You do not have to take the card with you when you go to vote. No form of identity is required. If your polling card hasn't arrived, contact the electoral services department at your local council. The deadline for asking for a postal vote from the electoral registration office at your local council has passed. If you have applied to vote by post, you cannot vote in person at the polling station. However, you can return your postal vote to the polling station before 22:00 BST, or to the returning officer at your local council before they close if you do not want to post it or it is too late to post it. See the Electoral Commission's guidelines for postal voting. You can only apply for a long-term proxy vote if you have a specific reason such as a disability or being overseas. To vote by proxy for just one election, you must have a reason - for example you will be on holiday or away owing to work. The deadline to vote by proxy has already passed, but if you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 17:00 BST on polling day. As long as you are registered to vote in both places you can choose to vote at either your home address or your student address - or in both places if they are in different council areas. To help blind and partially sighted voters, there has to be a "tactile device" in each polling station and there are rules on the size of print on ballot papers. The vast majority of polling stations are now more accessible for wheelchair users. Proxy ballots are allowed for those unable to vote because of disability. A doctor's note is required if the person with disabilities is applying for an indefinite proxy vote. There is no literacy qualification for voting: anyone who cannot read or write can ask the polling officer at the polling station to mark their ballot, or have the candidates names read out, or take a companion to help them. No. People cannot be forced to vote and registration is not compulsory. Yes. The ballot papers contain a serial number and it is possible, but illegal, to trace all the votes to the people who cast them. The number is there to stop electoral fraud. Not all councils hold elections at the same time. All councillors are elected for a term of four years, but the four-year cycle of elections is different for different councils. This year it is the turn of all the English county councils, who last had elections in 2013, and seven other authorities. Next year will see elections to all the London boroughs and some of the smaller district councils. There are also some councils who elect a third of councillors each year for three out of the four-year cycle. Six new mayors are being elected to represent several regions of England. These mayors are being created as part of the government's drive to devolve more power to English regions. The mayors will serve and represent a number of local authorities in each region. Their exact powers vary according to the different agreements reached between local authorities and the government, but will mainly cover economic strategy, transport and planning. Local authority mayors are also being elected in Doncaster and North Tyneside. Mayors are elected using the Supplementary Vote system, which means voters choose first and second preferences for mayor. Candidates must be aged 18 or over and either be British or citizens of other European Union or Commonwealth countries. In addition, those standing in English council elections must be on the electoral register of the council concerned or must have lived in or worked in the council area within the past year. Those banned from standing in the elections include anyone employed by the local authority, bankrupts and people in a variety of politically restricted jobs. The deadline has passed to register as a candidate for these elections. All political parties have to be registered with the Electoral Commission if they want their names to appear on the ballot papers. The commission will need the names of three party officials and details of the party's financial structure. It can refuse to register a party if its name is confusingly similar to another party's or if the name is deemed offensive. The deadline has passed to register a political party for these elections. The top official of the local authority is the returning officer for the elections in each constituency, with the day-to-day running of the poll left to the head of the council's electoral registration office. They do not have to be - it is just convention. One theory about its origins is that people were not paid until Fridays and so holding polls on Thursdays ensured they were not too drunk to vote. The Electoral Commission has recommended trials of weekend voting to boost turnout. Every part of the corporation has to follow election guidelines published by the BBC They included advice on "appropriate" level of coverage to give to each of the political parties. | Why are elections held on Thursdays? | 8,494 | They do not have to be - it is just convention. One theory about its origins is that people were not paid until Fridays and so holding polls on Thursdays ensured they were not too drunk to vote. The Electoral Commission has recommended trials of weekend voting to boost turnout. | 0.662169 |
70_21 | As voters go to the polls in local and mayoral elections, here's a guide to what's going on and where... Voting will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 BST on 4 May. Elections will be held in 34 councils in England, all 32 councils in Scotland and all 22 councils in Wales. In addition, six areas in England are voting for newly-created "combined local authority mayors". These mayors will mostly be responsible for economic development in their regions, but some will have powers over transport and housing. Doncaster and North Tyneside are also voting for local authority mayors, who are elected leaders of their respective councils. The Manchester Gorton parliamentary by-election triggered by the death of Labour MP Gerald Kaufman was also due to take place, but has now been delayed until the general election on 8 June. Here's the full list of council elections: Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cornwall Cumbria Derbyshire Devon Doncaster Dorset Durham East Sussex Essex Gloucestershire Hampshire Hertfordshire Isle of Wight Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumberland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Shropshire Somerset Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Warwickshire West Sussex Wiltshire Worcestershire Aberdeen Aberdeenshire Angus Argyll & Bute Clackmannanshire Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Dumfries & Galloway Dundee East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Lothian East Renfrewshire Edinburgh Falkirk Fife Glasgow Highland Inverclyde Midlothian Moray North Ayshire North Lanarkshire Orkney Perth & Kinross Renfrewshire Scottish Borders Shetland South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire Stirling West Dunbartonshire West Lothian Anglesey Blaunau Gwent Bridgend Caerphilly Cardiff Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Conwy Denbighshire Flintshire Gwynedd Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Neath Port Talbot Newport Pembrokeshire Powys Rhonda Cynon Taf Swansea Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Wrexham A total of 4,851 council seats are up for grabs across England, Wales and Scotland. - Labour are defending 1,535 seats - The Conservatives are defending 1,136 seats - The Lib Dems are defending 484 seats - The SNP are defending 438 seats - Plaid Cymru are defending 170 seats - UKIP are defending 146 seats - The Green Party are defending 34 seats These figures are estimates because there have been boundary changes since they were last contested. There are also 687 independent councillors, with no party allegiances, whose seats are being contested. The rest of the total is made up of residents' association councillors and parties with a handful of representatives, including Cornish separatists Mebyon Kernow, who have four councillors. Some English and Welsh councils will begin counting ballots as soon as polls close at 22:00 BST. Others will start counting on Friday morning, with results continuing all day Friday. Scotland's 32 councils will start their counts on Friday morning, with first results expected from midday. Most mayoral results will be declared on Friday. There will be full live text and video coverage of the results as they come in on the BBC News website and on special BBC news programmes. You must be registered to vote, be at least 18 on polling day in England and Wales or 16 in Scotland, be resident in Britain and be British or a Commonwealth or a European Union citizen. To take part in the polls, voters had to be registered by midnight on Thursday, 13 April if living in England or Wales, and by Monday, 17 April if living in Scotland. It's too late to register for Thursday's local elections, but voters have until 22 May to take part in the general election on 8 June. For more information click here. Convicted prisoners, anybody found guilty of election corruption within the past five years. Members of the House of Lords and anyone subject to any legal incapacity to vote. If you are registered to vote you should have received a polling card telling you where you should go to cast your vote on Thursday. You do not have to take the card with you when you go to vote. No form of identity is required. If your polling card hasn't arrived, contact the electoral services department at your local council. The deadline for asking for a postal vote from the electoral registration office at your local council has passed. If you have applied to vote by post, you cannot vote in person at the polling station. However, you can return your postal vote to the polling station before 22:00 BST, or to the returning officer at your local council before they close if you do not want to post it or it is too late to post it. See the Electoral Commission's guidelines for postal voting. You can only apply for a long-term proxy vote if you have a specific reason such as a disability or being overseas. To vote by proxy for just one election, you must have a reason - for example you will be on holiday or away owing to work. The deadline to vote by proxy has already passed, but if you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 17:00 BST on polling day. As long as you are registered to vote in both places you can choose to vote at either your home address or your student address - or in both places if they are in different council areas. To help blind and partially sighted voters, there has to be a "tactile device" in each polling station and there are rules on the size of print on ballot papers. The vast majority of polling stations are now more accessible for wheelchair users. Proxy ballots are allowed for those unable to vote because of disability. A doctor's note is required if the person with disabilities is applying for an indefinite proxy vote. There is no literacy qualification for voting: anyone who cannot read or write can ask the polling officer at the polling station to mark their ballot, or have the candidates names read out, or take a companion to help them. No. People cannot be forced to vote and registration is not compulsory. Yes. The ballot papers contain a serial number and it is possible, but illegal, to trace all the votes to the people who cast them. The number is there to stop electoral fraud. Not all councils hold elections at the same time. All councillors are elected for a term of four years, but the four-year cycle of elections is different for different councils. This year it is the turn of all the English county councils, who last had elections in 2013, and seven other authorities. Next year will see elections to all the London boroughs and some of the smaller district councils. There are also some councils who elect a third of councillors each year for three out of the four-year cycle. Six new mayors are being elected to represent several regions of England. These mayors are being created as part of the government's drive to devolve more power to English regions. The mayors will serve and represent a number of local authorities in each region. Their exact powers vary according to the different agreements reached between local authorities and the government, but will mainly cover economic strategy, transport and planning. Local authority mayors are also being elected in Doncaster and North Tyneside. Mayors are elected using the Supplementary Vote system, which means voters choose first and second preferences for mayor. Candidates must be aged 18 or over and either be British or citizens of other European Union or Commonwealth countries. In addition, those standing in English council elections must be on the electoral register of the council concerned or must have lived in or worked in the council area within the past year. Those banned from standing in the elections include anyone employed by the local authority, bankrupts and people in a variety of politically restricted jobs. The deadline has passed to register as a candidate for these elections. All political parties have to be registered with the Electoral Commission if they want their names to appear on the ballot papers. The commission will need the names of three party officials and details of the party's financial structure. It can refuse to register a party if its name is confusingly similar to another party's or if the name is deemed offensive. The deadline has passed to register a political party for these elections. The top official of the local authority is the returning officer for the elections in each constituency, with the day-to-day running of the poll left to the head of the council's electoral registration office. They do not have to be - it is just convention. One theory about its origins is that people were not paid until Fridays and so holding polls on Thursdays ensured they were not too drunk to vote. The Electoral Commission has recommended trials of weekend voting to boost turnout. Every part of the corporation has to follow election guidelines published by the BBC They included advice on "appropriate" level of coverage to give to each of the political parties. | Are there rules for the BBC's coverage? | 8,773 | Every part of the corporation has to follow election guidelines published by the BBC They included advice on "appropriate" level of coverage to give to each of the political parties. | 0.61157 |
72_1 | The US Senate is poised to loosen banking rules instituted in the wake of the 2007-2009 financial crisis, marking a key turning point in the long-running debate over the regulations. The proposal would reduce the number of firms subject to strict oversight. Supporters, who include Democrats and Republicans, say the plan will offer relief to smaller, community banks burdened by high compliance costs. Critics say measures go much further, relaxing rules on major institutions. The Senate began its debate on Wednesday and is expected to approve the measure in a vote as soon as this week, sending the bill to the House. The House has already shown its appetite for change, passing a far more radical rollback last year. This proposal, formally the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act, is more narrowly focused on banking and lending rules than the House effort. The changes include: - Raising the threshold for strictest oversight from $50bn to $250bn. That leaves about a dozen firms subject to the toughest rules, but supervision would ease on about two dozen banks, including international players such as Barclays and Deutsche Bank's US operation. - Creating exemptions from the Volcker Rule, which bars banks from using their own funds to engage in risky trading or sponsoring their own hedge funds to do so. - Providing a new way for banks to satisfy a requirement that they are lending to qualified borrowers and relaxing requirements to report demographic information about home loans to the government. - Directing the Federal Reserve to tailor regulation for the biggest banks and adjusting calculations for requirements for holding capital in the event of a crisis The campaign to revise the 2010 banking rules, known as Dodd-Frank, started almost as soon as the sprawling measure was signed. Critics said that the law - which established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; created capital requirements and stress tests for banks; and instituted new lending requirements among other changes - was too complicated and costly, stifling economic growth. Republicans pledged to overhaul the law; President Donald Trump promised a 'haircut'. Smaller, community banks, which have lost market share since the 1990s, helped galvanise bipartisan support for reform. They argued that the rules imposed disproportionate costs on them and gave bigger institutions with more money and muscle an advantage. Mike Crapo, a Republican from Idaho, has stewarded the bill through years of negotiations. He says the changes will make it easier for people and businesses to get access to credit, while preserving much of the regulatory framework. The legislation has also won support from some Democrats in moderate states, such as Montana and Virginia. (Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, who was Hillary Clinton's vice presidential nominee, is among the backers.) Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat who represents Massachusetts, is spearheading opposition to the bill. She argues it will weaken consumer protection and open the door to risky behaviour that banks want to pursue for higher profits. "We've seen this movie before and we know how it ends," she said. Outside of the Senate reaction has been mixed. Sheila Bair, former chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, has warned against a part of the bill that would change the capital requirement calculations. Phil Angelides, a former California treasurer who led the US inquiry into the causes, said policymakers are using a "deceptive guise of aiding regional and community banks" to undo important protections. "Its provisions would put us on the road to re-creating conditions that the [inquiry commission] concluded led to the 2008 crisis," he wrote in a letter. | What are people saying about the bill in the Senate? | 2,440 | Mike Crapo, a Republican from Idaho, has stewarded the bill through years of negotiations. He says the changes will make it easier for people and businesses to get access to credit, while preserving much of the regulatory framework. The legislation has also won support from some Democrats in moderate states, such as Montana and Virginia. (Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, who was Hillary Clinton's vice presidential nominee, is among the backers.) Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat who represents Massachusetts, is spearheading opposition to the bill. She argues it will weaken consumer protection and open the door to risky behaviour that banks want to pursue for higher profits. "We've seen this movie before and we know how it ends," she said. | 0.537568 |
73_2 | The pound plummeted in Asian trading early on Friday. And no-one really seems to know why. Did a trader make a mistake? Did the computers go haywire? And where will the pound go next? Overnight the value of the pound fell dramatically. It was briefly down 6%, hitting a value of $1.18 against the dollar at 7:09am in Hong Kong (00:09 in the UK). The British currency has been on a downward trend since the Brexit vote, but this was the biggest move since the referendum on 23 June. The pound recovered to $1.24, which was still down 1.5% on Thursday's value. No-one knows for definite. Market watchers quickly pointed to computer algorithms, which could have been reacting to a news story about French President Francois Hollande saying he wants to see tough negotiations with the UK over Brexit. But it could also have been human error, as simple as a trader adding an extra zero to a number by mistake when making an order. It could also have been exacerbated by the time. It was after 7pm in New York, so financial markets there had closed. It was the middle of the night in Europe, so markets here were also closed. Both these regions are major players in the foreign exchange market. As the strife began for sterling, there were fewer buyers active in the market. Extreme movements are more likely at times of lower trading volumes as there are fewer trades to calm any market panic. Also known as automated trading, this is where specialised, bespoke computer programs are designed to help traders work faster. They will receive information from multiple sources such as data on previous crises and trades, as well as information from news sites and even social media. The programs then trade immediately in response. The growth of automated trading has been rapid. The Bank for International Settlements says that between the 2007 and 2013, algorithmic trading at Electronic Broking Services (EBS), an FX trading platform used by market-making banks, grew from 28% to 68% of volumes. Absolutely. Computers cannot put the information they are receiving into context. "The algorithms can over-react to news," says Kathleen Brooks, research director at spreadbetter City Index. "They are a fantastic tool, but cannot be used in isolation, you need a human keeping an eye on them." It's unlikely. The foreign exchange market is not one single market as it were, there are several platforms based in different countries. A central clearing house, which records information on trades, as you have with stock market trading, would allow for an investigation into where a rogue trade came from. Aside from the uncertainty as to whether this is what caused the pound to dive, the absence of a clearing house for the foreign exchange markets means this type of probe is not possible. This means the person or firm responsible would have to own up. The good news is that the value of the pound recovered slightly, after the initial plunge. But the gradual decrease is expected to continue as the UK's economy struggles to cope with Brexit uncertainty. John Wraith, head of UK rates strategy at UBS, predicts: "It is only a matter of time before less positive [economic] data starts to appear." He expects the pound to reach parity with the euro by the end of next year - it last came close in late 2008. Mr Wraith forecasts sterling will hit $1.20 by the end of 2017. In the short term, we will pay more for our holiday money, receiving less foreign currency for our pounds when we exchange them. In the longer term, it is possible we will see prices in shops rise as companies importing goods into the UK pass on the higher cost they will see as a result of paying for things in currencies other than the pound. | What exactly is algorithmic trading? | 1,389 | Also known as automated trading, this is where specialised, bespoke computer programs are designed to help traders work faster. They will receive information from multiple sources such as data on previous crises and trades, as well as information from news sites and even social media. The programs then trade immediately in response. The growth of automated trading has been rapid. The Bank for International Settlements says that between the 2007 and 2013, algorithmic trading at Electronic Broking Services (EBS), an FX trading platform used by market-making banks, grew from 28% to 68% of volumes. | 0.559616 |
73_5 | The pound plummeted in Asian trading early on Friday. And no-one really seems to know why. Did a trader make a mistake? Did the computers go haywire? And where will the pound go next? Overnight the value of the pound fell dramatically. It was briefly down 6%, hitting a value of $1.18 against the dollar at 7:09am in Hong Kong (00:09 in the UK). The British currency has been on a downward trend since the Brexit vote, but this was the biggest move since the referendum on 23 June. The pound recovered to $1.24, which was still down 1.5% on Thursday's value. No-one knows for definite. Market watchers quickly pointed to computer algorithms, which could have been reacting to a news story about French President Francois Hollande saying he wants to see tough negotiations with the UK over Brexit. But it could also have been human error, as simple as a trader adding an extra zero to a number by mistake when making an order. It could also have been exacerbated by the time. It was after 7pm in New York, so financial markets there had closed. It was the middle of the night in Europe, so markets here were also closed. Both these regions are major players in the foreign exchange market. As the strife began for sterling, there were fewer buyers active in the market. Extreme movements are more likely at times of lower trading volumes as there are fewer trades to calm any market panic. Also known as automated trading, this is where specialised, bespoke computer programs are designed to help traders work faster. They will receive information from multiple sources such as data on previous crises and trades, as well as information from news sites and even social media. The programs then trade immediately in response. The growth of automated trading has been rapid. The Bank for International Settlements says that between the 2007 and 2013, algorithmic trading at Electronic Broking Services (EBS), an FX trading platform used by market-making banks, grew from 28% to 68% of volumes. Absolutely. Computers cannot put the information they are receiving into context. "The algorithms can over-react to news," says Kathleen Brooks, research director at spreadbetter City Index. "They are a fantastic tool, but cannot be used in isolation, you need a human keeping an eye on them." It's unlikely. The foreign exchange market is not one single market as it were, there are several platforms based in different countries. A central clearing house, which records information on trades, as you have with stock market trading, would allow for an investigation into where a rogue trade came from. Aside from the uncertainty as to whether this is what caused the pound to dive, the absence of a clearing house for the foreign exchange markets means this type of probe is not possible. This means the person or firm responsible would have to own up. The good news is that the value of the pound recovered slightly, after the initial plunge. But the gradual decrease is expected to continue as the UK's economy struggles to cope with Brexit uncertainty. John Wraith, head of UK rates strategy at UBS, predicts: "It is only a matter of time before less positive [economic] data starts to appear." He expects the pound to reach parity with the euro by the end of next year - it last came close in late 2008. Mr Wraith forecasts sterling will hit $1.20 by the end of 2017. In the short term, we will pay more for our holiday money, receiving less foreign currency for our pounds when we exchange them. In the longer term, it is possible we will see prices in shops rise as companies importing goods into the UK pass on the higher cost they will see as a result of paying for things in currencies other than the pound. | Where will the pound go from here? | 2,845 | The good news is that the value of the pound recovered slightly, after the initial plunge. But the gradual decrease is expected to continue as the UK's economy struggles to cope with Brexit uncertainty. John Wraith, head of UK rates strategy at UBS, predicts: "It is only a matter of time before less positive [economic] data starts to appear." He expects the pound to reach parity with the euro by the end of next year - it last came close in late 2008. Mr Wraith forecasts sterling will hit $1.20 by the end of 2017. | 0.450744 |
76_2 | US immigration officials say they have temporarily released about 300 people who were arrested in a massive raid in Mississippi on Wednesday. Democrats and rights groups have condemned the arrests as "cruel". Nearly 700 workers from seven agricultural processing plants were arrested for allegedly not having proper documentation to be in the US. Pictures emerged of children crying after being separated from their parents. Officials say they took steps to ensure any children were properly cared for. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said "approximately 680 removable aliens" had been detained during the operation, which saw agents arriving in buses to question and arrest workers at the plants. President Donald Trump had announced an immigration crackdown in June, saying "millions of illegal aliens who [had] found their way into the US" would be removed. ICE spokesman Bryan Cox told the BBC that, of the 680 people arrested in Wednesday's raids, more than 300 had been released with notices to appear before immigration judges. "They were placed into proceedings before the federal immigration courts and will have their day in court at a later date," he said in an emailed statement. Those who were not released will be moved to an ICE detention facility and held there, Mr Cox said. About 30 of the people detained were released on humanitarian grounds, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi said. Mr Cox said those arrested were asked if they had any dependents needing care or if they had any children at school who needed to be picked up. They were given access to phones at the processing site to make arrangements to care for their children. He said those with childcare issues were "expeditiously processed and returned". In response to critics who called the raids cruel and harmful to the workers' children, Mr Cox said the agency had directed two Homeland Security Investigations employees to notify schools of the operation and provide contact details for any children whose parents did not pick them up. "This agency took extensive steps in planning for this operation to take special care of situations involving adults who may have childcare situations or children at school at the time of their arrest." Those detained had been taken to a Mississippi National Guard hangar for questioning. ICE did not share details about the nationalities of those detained, but the Mexican government has reportedly sent consular staff to the area to help any of their nationals who may be involved. The raids took place just hours before Mr Trump arrived in the majority Latino city of El Paso to mark a mass shooting which left 22 people dead. About 600 ICE agents arrived at the chicken processing plants, owned by five different companies, in the towns of Bay Springs, Canton, Carthage, Morton, Pelahatchie and Sebastopol. Friends and family looked on as officers surrounded plants and began to arrest the workers. Nora Preciado, a supervising attorney at the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), told the BBC that, in many workplace raids, "ICE often singles out people in a discriminatory fashion by focusing only on the Latino workers, and there are many incidents of excessive force during the detention and arrests". "These raids are rife with constitutional rights' violations, including agents having no legal authority to detain or arrest workers based solely on immigration status without probable cause," she said. "Generally, regardless of whether released or not, anyone unauthorised will be put into deportation proceedings." In the Mississippi raids, officials said they executed federal criminal and administrative search warrants for the arrested individuals. Some children were taken to a local gym after they came home to find their parents gone. In one video posted on Facebook from the Koch Foods plant in Morton, a young girl can be heard weeping uncontrollably as bystanders watch people being loaded on to a bus. An officer allows her to see her mother, who is the girl's only legal guardian, before the buses leave. Because the young girl is a US citizen, her mother will not be deported, the officer says. According to the Washington Post, the girl's mother had not been released as of Wednesday night. Ms Preciado of the NILC said research shows raids like this have a "harmful impact on safety, educational success, social and behavioural well-being and overall health of children in immigrant families". Scott County schools superintendent Tony McGee told the Clarion Ledger newspaper that one child had started kindergarten on Tuesday, only to have their parent arrested on Wednesday. Mr McGee said at least six families had a parent detained in the raids, with children ranging in age from kindergarten to high school. "We'll worry about the school part of it after we get all this sorted out," he added. "You can't expect a child to stay focused on the schoolwork when he's trying to focus on where Mom and Dad are." Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba condemned the raids as "dehumanising and ineffective". The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) called the operation "unnecessary and cruel". But Mike Hurst, US Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, said ICE agents were executing warrants to arrest the "illegal aliens". "They have to follow our laws, they have to abide by our rules, they have to come here legally or they shouldn't come here at all," he told a press conference. Some Trump supporters on Twitter also backed the agency, saying the law must be enforced. Democratic presidential hopeful Kamala Harris said in a tweet: "These ICE raids are designed to tear families apart, spread fear, and terrorise communities. These children went to daycare and are now returning home without their parents because Trump wants to play politics with their lives." Fellow 2020 contender Cory Booker echoed the same sentiment. "The moral vandalism of this administration has no end - how is traumatising these kids, abandoning them, making anyone any safer?" | What happened to the children? | 3,729 | Some children were taken to a local gym after they came home to find their parents gone. In one video posted on Facebook from the Koch Foods plant in Morton, a young girl can be heard weeping uncontrollably as bystanders watch people being loaded on to a bus. An officer allows her to see her mother, who is the girl's only legal guardian, before the buses leave. Because the young girl is a US citizen, her mother will not be deported, the officer says. According to the Washington Post, the girl's mother had not been released as of Wednesday night. Ms Preciado of the NILC said research shows raids like this have a "harmful impact on safety, educational success, social and behavioural well-being and overall health of children in immigrant families". Scott County schools superintendent Tony McGee told the Clarion Ledger newspaper that one child had started kindergarten on Tuesday, only to have their parent arrested on Wednesday. Mr McGee said at least six families had a parent detained in the raids, with children ranging in age from kindergarten to high school. "We'll worry about the school part of it after we get all this sorted out," he added. "You can't expect a child to stay focused on the schoolwork when he's trying to focus on where Mom and Dad are." | 0.40255 |
77_0 | The stories of three people stranded in the Australian outback for two weeks have captured global attention. Two of them survived, while a body was found on Thursday, presumably of the third person. The outback is a vast remote area in the centre of Australia: dry, arid and almost entirely uninhabited. During summer, the outback can get extremely hot and getting lost is dangerous - but experts insist that most deaths are preventable. So what are the chances of surviving if lost and what are the factors that take or save a life? "The biggest two factors are heat and dehydration," explains Dr Matt Brearley of Australia's Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre. Generally, a person can survive for three days without water - but that is only under certain conditions: without physical exertion or being exposed to too much heat in the direct sun. In the unforgiving summer of the outback, the window for surviving without water might be as short as one day, he explains. Only with shade and with minimal physical activity would a three-day survival in the outback be possible. The heat will likely shorten that window. Especially if - like in the most recent case - you're trying to free a car stuck in mud or even if you decide to walk and look for help. The group of three that got stranded in the Northern Territories had been travelling by car when their vehicle got stuck in a riverbed. They tried to free the vehicle but after three days split up to find help. "Food is actually one of the least concerns in a situation like this," says Gordon Dedman of Bushcraft Survival Australia. People can survive without food for about three weeks, he explains. That means that long before food becomes an issue, it's the heat and the water that'll become crucial. "We sum it up with the rule of three: you can survive three minutes without air, three days without water and three weeks without food." Both the risks of dehydration and starvation are higher if someone in a weaker physical condition to begin with - which includes children and the elderly. Aside from the dangers of dehydration, it's the heat itself that comes into play. Temperatures can rise well above 40C (104F) during the summer and that means that unsheltered exposure for a prolonged period of time can be deadly. "The normal body temperature is between 37 and 38 degrees," explains Dr Brearley . "If it rises above 40C, it gets dangerous." "If you're doing physically strenuous activity, like getting a car out of a ditch or even just walking trying to reach help, your body temperature rises." And when it then is very hot outside, there's a risk the body can't cool down properly. "If the body temperature stays above 40 degrees, your organs begin to fail - kidney and brain functions can be impaired and that means the person can die." In winter, outback temperatures can drop to freezing levels at night which means that warm clothing is also essential for survival. "The best thing is to stay with the vehicle, that's a very important rule," stresses Mr Dedman. A car can be spotted much more easily by an aircraft and search missions are usually conducted from the air. So as long as there is some shelter at or around the car, it's best to stay put and wait to be found - rather than venture out to search for help. "The problem is often that these decisions are made when people are already in a heat stress environment," Mr Brearley explains. "And that means you're more likely to make the wrong decision." It is therefore important to have a Plan B long beforehand, so that you can then stick to that when things go wrong. If you do go out to look for help then key advice is to find a fence and stick with it. Farmers conduct regular checks on their fences and it's much more likely someone is found that way. One survivor from the recent group was in fact found by a farmer who was performing checks on his land, known locally as a station - about 160km (100 miles) south of the town of Alice Springs, police said. "The tragedy of most of these cases is that they are very preventable," explains Mr Dedman. Very often it just boils down to precaution and preparation ahead of a trip to the outback. The fundamental basics are that you let someone know exactly where you're travelling and when you expect to be back. Also ensure you can call for help. Normal mobile phones don't have a signal across most of the outback. "That's why people should bring either a satellite phone or an EPIRB on such trips," the outback coach stresses. An Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) is a device which can send a distress signal which will be picked up by local authorities who will then launch a search operation. "With the right knowledge and preparation, getting stranded might be little more than an inconvenient camping experience," he says. | How long can you survive without water? | 534 | "The biggest two factors are heat and dehydration," explains Dr Matt Brearley of Australia's Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre. Generally, a person can survive for three days without water - but that is only under certain conditions: without physical exertion or being exposed to too much heat in the direct sun. In the unforgiving summer of the outback, the window for surviving without water might be as short as one day, he explains. Only with shade and with minimal physical activity would a three-day survival in the outback be possible. The heat will likely shorten that window. Especially if - like in the most recent case - you're trying to free a car stuck in mud or even if you decide to walk and look for help. The group of three that got stranded in the Northern Territories had been travelling by car when their vehicle got stuck in a riverbed. They tried to free the vehicle but after three days split up to find help. | 0.584003 |
77_1 | The stories of three people stranded in the Australian outback for two weeks have captured global attention. Two of them survived, while a body was found on Thursday, presumably of the third person. The outback is a vast remote area in the centre of Australia: dry, arid and almost entirely uninhabited. During summer, the outback can get extremely hot and getting lost is dangerous - but experts insist that most deaths are preventable. So what are the chances of surviving if lost and what are the factors that take or save a life? "The biggest two factors are heat and dehydration," explains Dr Matt Brearley of Australia's Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre. Generally, a person can survive for three days without water - but that is only under certain conditions: without physical exertion or being exposed to too much heat in the direct sun. In the unforgiving summer of the outback, the window for surviving without water might be as short as one day, he explains. Only with shade and with minimal physical activity would a three-day survival in the outback be possible. The heat will likely shorten that window. Especially if - like in the most recent case - you're trying to free a car stuck in mud or even if you decide to walk and look for help. The group of three that got stranded in the Northern Territories had been travelling by car when their vehicle got stuck in a riverbed. They tried to free the vehicle but after three days split up to find help. "Food is actually one of the least concerns in a situation like this," says Gordon Dedman of Bushcraft Survival Australia. People can survive without food for about three weeks, he explains. That means that long before food becomes an issue, it's the heat and the water that'll become crucial. "We sum it up with the rule of three: you can survive three minutes without air, three days without water and three weeks without food." Both the risks of dehydration and starvation are higher if someone in a weaker physical condition to begin with - which includes children and the elderly. Aside from the dangers of dehydration, it's the heat itself that comes into play. Temperatures can rise well above 40C (104F) during the summer and that means that unsheltered exposure for a prolonged period of time can be deadly. "The normal body temperature is between 37 and 38 degrees," explains Dr Brearley . "If it rises above 40C, it gets dangerous." "If you're doing physically strenuous activity, like getting a car out of a ditch or even just walking trying to reach help, your body temperature rises." And when it then is very hot outside, there's a risk the body can't cool down properly. "If the body temperature stays above 40 degrees, your organs begin to fail - kidney and brain functions can be impaired and that means the person can die." In winter, outback temperatures can drop to freezing levels at night which means that warm clothing is also essential for survival. "The best thing is to stay with the vehicle, that's a very important rule," stresses Mr Dedman. A car can be spotted much more easily by an aircraft and search missions are usually conducted from the air. So as long as there is some shelter at or around the car, it's best to stay put and wait to be found - rather than venture out to search for help. "The problem is often that these decisions are made when people are already in a heat stress environment," Mr Brearley explains. "And that means you're more likely to make the wrong decision." It is therefore important to have a Plan B long beforehand, so that you can then stick to that when things go wrong. If you do go out to look for help then key advice is to find a fence and stick with it. Farmers conduct regular checks on their fences and it's much more likely someone is found that way. One survivor from the recent group was in fact found by a farmer who was performing checks on his land, known locally as a station - about 160km (100 miles) south of the town of Alice Springs, police said. "The tragedy of most of these cases is that they are very preventable," explains Mr Dedman. Very often it just boils down to precaution and preparation ahead of a trip to the outback. The fundamental basics are that you let someone know exactly where you're travelling and when you expect to be back. Also ensure you can call for help. Normal mobile phones don't have a signal across most of the outback. "That's why people should bring either a satellite phone or an EPIRB on such trips," the outback coach stresses. An Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) is a device which can send a distress signal which will be picked up by local authorities who will then launch a search operation. "With the right knowledge and preparation, getting stranded might be little more than an inconvenient camping experience," he says. | How long without food? | 1,474 | "Food is actually one of the least concerns in a situation like this," says Gordon Dedman of Bushcraft Survival Australia. People can survive without food for about three weeks, he explains. That means that long before food becomes an issue, it's the heat and the water that'll become crucial. "We sum it up with the rule of three: you can survive three minutes without air, three days without water and three weeks without food." Both the risks of dehydration and starvation are higher if someone in a weaker physical condition to begin with - which includes children and the elderly. | 0.760776 |
77_2 | The stories of three people stranded in the Australian outback for two weeks have captured global attention. Two of them survived, while a body was found on Thursday, presumably of the third person. The outback is a vast remote area in the centre of Australia: dry, arid and almost entirely uninhabited. During summer, the outback can get extremely hot and getting lost is dangerous - but experts insist that most deaths are preventable. So what are the chances of surviving if lost and what are the factors that take or save a life? "The biggest two factors are heat and dehydration," explains Dr Matt Brearley of Australia's Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre. Generally, a person can survive for three days without water - but that is only under certain conditions: without physical exertion or being exposed to too much heat in the direct sun. In the unforgiving summer of the outback, the window for surviving without water might be as short as one day, he explains. Only with shade and with minimal physical activity would a three-day survival in the outback be possible. The heat will likely shorten that window. Especially if - like in the most recent case - you're trying to free a car stuck in mud or even if you decide to walk and look for help. The group of three that got stranded in the Northern Territories had been travelling by car when their vehicle got stuck in a riverbed. They tried to free the vehicle but after three days split up to find help. "Food is actually one of the least concerns in a situation like this," says Gordon Dedman of Bushcraft Survival Australia. People can survive without food for about three weeks, he explains. That means that long before food becomes an issue, it's the heat and the water that'll become crucial. "We sum it up with the rule of three: you can survive three minutes without air, three days without water and three weeks without food." Both the risks of dehydration and starvation are higher if someone in a weaker physical condition to begin with - which includes children and the elderly. Aside from the dangers of dehydration, it's the heat itself that comes into play. Temperatures can rise well above 40C (104F) during the summer and that means that unsheltered exposure for a prolonged period of time can be deadly. "The normal body temperature is between 37 and 38 degrees," explains Dr Brearley . "If it rises above 40C, it gets dangerous." "If you're doing physically strenuous activity, like getting a car out of a ditch or even just walking trying to reach help, your body temperature rises." And when it then is very hot outside, there's a risk the body can't cool down properly. "If the body temperature stays above 40 degrees, your organs begin to fail - kidney and brain functions can be impaired and that means the person can die." In winter, outback temperatures can drop to freezing levels at night which means that warm clothing is also essential for survival. "The best thing is to stay with the vehicle, that's a very important rule," stresses Mr Dedman. A car can be spotted much more easily by an aircraft and search missions are usually conducted from the air. So as long as there is some shelter at or around the car, it's best to stay put and wait to be found - rather than venture out to search for help. "The problem is often that these decisions are made when people are already in a heat stress environment," Mr Brearley explains. "And that means you're more likely to make the wrong decision." It is therefore important to have a Plan B long beforehand, so that you can then stick to that when things go wrong. If you do go out to look for help then key advice is to find a fence and stick with it. Farmers conduct regular checks on their fences and it's much more likely someone is found that way. One survivor from the recent group was in fact found by a farmer who was performing checks on his land, known locally as a station - about 160km (100 miles) south of the town of Alice Springs, police said. "The tragedy of most of these cases is that they are very preventable," explains Mr Dedman. Very often it just boils down to precaution and preparation ahead of a trip to the outback. The fundamental basics are that you let someone know exactly where you're travelling and when you expect to be back. Also ensure you can call for help. Normal mobile phones don't have a signal across most of the outback. "That's why people should bring either a satellite phone or an EPIRB on such trips," the outback coach stresses. An Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) is a device which can send a distress signal which will be picked up by local authorities who will then launch a search operation. "With the right knowledge and preparation, getting stranded might be little more than an inconvenient camping experience," he says. | How dangerous is the heat? | 2,060 | Aside from the dangers of dehydration, it's the heat itself that comes into play. Temperatures can rise well above 40C (104F) during the summer and that means that unsheltered exposure for a prolonged period of time can be deadly. "The normal body temperature is between 37 and 38 degrees," explains Dr Brearley . "If it rises above 40C, it gets dangerous." "If you're doing physically strenuous activity, like getting a car out of a ditch or even just walking trying to reach help, your body temperature rises." And when it then is very hot outside, there's a risk the body can't cool down properly. "If the body temperature stays above 40 degrees, your organs begin to fail - kidney and brain functions can be impaired and that means the person can die." In winter, outback temperatures can drop to freezing levels at night which means that warm clothing is also essential for survival. | 0.513663 |
78_0 | Detectives investigating devices sent to addresses in London and Glasgow have said a claim of responsibility has been made in the name of the "IRA". The Met and Police Scotland said similar packages were sent in the past by dissident Northern Ireland groups. Officers also revealed that one package may be unaccounted for. The devices arrived on 5 and 6 March at Waterloo Station, buildings near Heathrow Airport and London City Airport and the University of Glasgow. A joint statement from Police Scotland and the Metropolitan Police said the claim of "IRA" responsibility was received on Monday by the Belfast-based Irish News. A recognised codeword was used. It added: "Given the packages received last week bore similarities to devices sent in the past which were linked to dissident groups associated with Northern Ireland-related terrorism, officers were already looking at this as a line of inquiry. However, we continue to keep an open mind and enquiries continue. "We are also aware that those claiming responsibility have indicated five devices were sent. At this time, only four devices have been recovered. "Extensive advice has already been issued to relevant businesses and sectors to be vigilant for and report suspicious packages to police. This advice was previously sent to armed forces personnel and is being reiterated again in light of this claim. "We continue to urge the public to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to police." Julian O'Neill, BBC Northern Ireland Home Affairs Correspondent The parcel bomb incidents come almost a year after MI5 downgraded the threat posed in Britain by Irish Republicans. It is currently classified as "moderate", meaning attacks are possible, but not likely. In Northern Ireland, the risk is greater, exemplified by a car bomb which detonated in Londonderry in January. All the attacks were claimed by an organisation calling itself the IRA. It is often referred to as "the new IRA", to distinguish it from the group which was active in Northern Ireland's troubles. It is comprised of dissidents who never accepted its namesake's ceasefire more than 20 years ago. Police on both sides of the Irish Sea have mostly been able to contain its threat. They have described it as "a small" organisation, perhaps with 50 or so actively engaging in terrorist activity. On 5 March, three "small improvised explosive devices" were found at sites across London. Scotland Yard said the packages were all A4-sized white postal bags containing yellow Jiffy bags. One caught fire when opened by staff at Heathrow. Irish police have been assisting the Met as the Heathrow and Waterloo packages had Republic of Ireland stamps. The following day, a suspect package was found in the mail room at Glasgow University. Several university buildings were evacuated before bomb disposal officers detonated the item. | Who are 'the new IRA'? | 1,463 | Julian O'Neill, BBC Northern Ireland Home Affairs Correspondent The parcel bomb incidents come almost a year after MI5 downgraded the threat posed in Britain by Irish Republicans. It is currently classified as "moderate", meaning attacks are possible, but not likely. In Northern Ireland, the risk is greater, exemplified by a car bomb which detonated in Londonderry in January. All the attacks were claimed by an organisation calling itself the IRA. It is often referred to as "the new IRA", to distinguish it from the group which was active in Northern Ireland's troubles. It is comprised of dissidents who never accepted its namesake's ceasefire more than 20 years ago. Police on both sides of the Irish Sea have mostly been able to contain its threat. They have described it as "a small" organisation, perhaps with 50 or so actively engaging in terrorist activity. | 0.573327 |
79_0 | The European Court of Human Rights is due to rule on whether the Russian government should have done more to prevent a school siege in the city of Beslan in which more than 330 people died in 2004. Chechen separatists took more than 1,000 hostages at School Number One, the vast majority of them children. It ended when Russian security forces stormed the building. Survivors say the troops used excessive force. A Russian inquiry stalled years ago. No Russian official has been held responsible for the high number of deaths, which included 186 children. Masked men and women, wearing bomb belts, burst into the school, opening fire in the courtyard as a ceremony marking the beginning of the school year was finishing. The hostages were crammed into their school sports hall beneath explosives strung from the basketball hoops. Their captors were demanding Russian troops pull out of Chechnya. The tense siege ended suddenly on the third day with two deadly explosions and intense gunfire. Witnesses described the operation by Russian security forces as chaotic, saying that the troops used excessive force and heavy weapons. Only one of the hostage takers was caught alive and put on trial. For more than a decade, survivors and relatives have been asking whether the siege could have been prevented and whether so many people had to die in the rescue operation. They say officials, including President Vladimir Putin, mishandled the hostage crisis and ignored intelligence indicating that a hostage-taking scenario was being planned. A Russian investigation into the events stalled several years ago. More than 400 of them have applied to the court in Strasbourg in the hope that it can deliver answers. The European Court of Human Rights is run by the Council of Europe, a pan-European human rights body of which Russia is a member. The council is a distinct entity and is not a branch of the European Union (EU). It aims to apply and to protect the civil and political rights of the continent's citizens. The court only hears a case when all domestic legal avenues have been exhausted. Countries must comply with the court's verdicts, although the court cannot directly enforce this. | What happened in Beslan? | 556 | Masked men and women, wearing bomb belts, burst into the school, opening fire in the courtyard as a ceremony marking the beginning of the school year was finishing. The hostages were crammed into their school sports hall beneath explosives strung from the basketball hoops. Their captors were demanding Russian troops pull out of Chechnya. The tense siege ended suddenly on the third day with two deadly explosions and intense gunfire. Witnesses described the operation by Russian security forces as chaotic, saying that the troops used excessive force and heavy weapons. Only one of the hostage takers was caught alive and put on trial. | 0.373052 |
82_0 | Rival protests over a murder in the east German city of Chemnitz have ended with several people injured as objects were hurled by both sides, police say. Far-right activists had gathered in the centre for a second day as a Syrian and an Iraqi remained under arrest on suspicion of Sunday's deadly stabbing. Anti-Nazi activists rallied just metres away, accusing the far right of using the death for political ends. Injuries were caused when protesters on both sides threw objects, police say. German Chancellor Angela Merkel had warned that "vigilante justice" would not be tolerated. Police warned masked demonstrators who were picking up stones in the city, about 200km (120 miles) south of Berlin, that their actions were being filmed. Earlier, authorities said police were investigating alleged assaults on an Afghan, a Syrian and a Bulgarian during the unrest that broke out on Sunday. Reports have included mentions of protesters chasing foreigners, though there are few details. Chemnitz police, quoted by the local broadcaster MDR, said: "We did not anticipate such a total of participants [on Sunday]". Bigger crowds thronged the city centre on Monday. MDR estimated the far-right turnout to be 5,000, with some 1,000 leftists opposed to them. It is unclear what triggered a fight which reportedly preceded the stabbing, at about 03:15 (01:15 GMT) on Sunday, on the sidelines of a street festival. The far-right demonstration in the city centre on Sunday caused the festival to be cancelled abruptly. The stabbing victim, a carpenter aged 35, was critically wounded and died in hospital. He has been named as Daniel H, who had a German mother and a Cuban father. Two other German men with him, aged 33 and 38, were seriously hurt, police say. The Syrian detainee is 23 and the Iraqi 22. Police have denied rumours on social media that the fight was linked to the sexual harassment of a woman. A half-Cuban woman who grew up with Daniel H, Nancy Larssen, told Deutsche Welle news that media misreporting had helped fuel the "horrible" far-right protest. "It's sad that in the media they're just saying that a German has died, and that's why all the neo-Nazis and hooligans are out, but the media should describe who died, and what skin colour he had, because I don't think they'd be doing all this if they knew," she said. Another friend of Daniel H, quoted by the Chemnitz news site Freie Presse, described him as left-wing, with a seven-year-old son. Initially, about 100 people gathered on Sunday for a rally which passed off without incident, AFP news agency reports. However, some 800 people later gathered at the Karl Marx monument, a focal point in the centre of Chemnitz. The monument is a throwback to the city's days as a model socialist city in the former German Democratic Republic, when it was renamed Karl-Marx-Stadt. Freelance journalist Johannes Grunert told Spiegel Online he had witnessed some protesters using bottles to attack people "who did not look German". Pegida, the far-right street movement, called for a new demonstration on Monday afternoon, while an MP from the far-right political party AfD, Markus Frohnmaier, tweeted: "If the state is no longer to protect citizens then people take to the streets and protect themselves. It's as simple as that!" "Today it's a citizen's duty to stop the lethal 'knife migration'!" he wrote, alluding to the influx of migrants in recent years. "It could have targeted your father, son or brother!" As the heap of wreaths and candles at the spot where the murder occurred grew larger on Monday evening, right-wing demonstrators massed at the Marx monument, and counter-demonstrators gathered close by. Police reported some Hitler salutes among the far-right crowd, who held anti-immigration placards with messages like "Stop the asylum flood". "We don't tolerate such unlawful assemblies and the hounding of people who look different or have different origins and attempts to spread hatred on the streets," Mrs Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, told journalists. "That has no place in our cities and we, as the German government, condemn it in the strongest terms. Our basic message for Chemnitz and beyond is that there is no place in Germany for vigilante justice, for groups that want to spread hatred on the streets, for intolerance and for extremism." Martina Renner, an MP for the radical Left party, accused the far right of seeking to exploit the murder for political ends. "A terrible murder, the background to which is still unclear, is being instrumentalised in the most repugnant way for racist riots in Chemnitz," she said in a tweet. In 2015, Chancellor Merkel decided to let in a record 890,000 asylum seekers. Syrians fleeing the civil war comprised the biggest group - a 403% rise on Syrian arrivals the previous year, the German migration office reported. She and her allies were punished by voters at last year's general election, when the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) entered parliament for the first time, winning 12.6% of the vote and more than 90 seats. Chemnitz is in Saxony, a region where AfD and Pegida are particularly strong. | What happened on Sunday? | 1,253 | It is unclear what triggered a fight which reportedly preceded the stabbing, at about 03:15 (01:15 GMT) on Sunday, on the sidelines of a street festival. The far-right demonstration in the city centre on Sunday caused the festival to be cancelled abruptly. The stabbing victim, a carpenter aged 35, was critically wounded and died in hospital. He has been named as Daniel H, who had a German mother and a Cuban father. Two other German men with him, aged 33 and 38, were seriously hurt, police say. The Syrian detainee is 23 and the Iraqi 22. Police have denied rumours on social media that the fight was linked to the sexual harassment of a woman. A half-Cuban woman who grew up with Daniel H, Nancy Larssen, told Deutsche Welle news that media misreporting had helped fuel the "horrible" far-right protest. "It's sad that in the media they're just saying that a German has died, and that's why all the neo-Nazis and hooligans are out, but the media should describe who died, and what skin colour he had, because I don't think they'd be doing all this if they knew," she said. Another friend of Daniel H, quoted by the Chemnitz news site Freie Presse, described him as left-wing, with a seven-year-old son. | 0.361439 |
82_1 | Rival protests over a murder in the east German city of Chemnitz have ended with several people injured as objects were hurled by both sides, police say. Far-right activists had gathered in the centre for a second day as a Syrian and an Iraqi remained under arrest on suspicion of Sunday's deadly stabbing. Anti-Nazi activists rallied just metres away, accusing the far right of using the death for political ends. Injuries were caused when protesters on both sides threw objects, police say. German Chancellor Angela Merkel had warned that "vigilante justice" would not be tolerated. Police warned masked demonstrators who were picking up stones in the city, about 200km (120 miles) south of Berlin, that their actions were being filmed. Earlier, authorities said police were investigating alleged assaults on an Afghan, a Syrian and a Bulgarian during the unrest that broke out on Sunday. Reports have included mentions of protesters chasing foreigners, though there are few details. Chemnitz police, quoted by the local broadcaster MDR, said: "We did not anticipate such a total of participants [on Sunday]". Bigger crowds thronged the city centre on Monday. MDR estimated the far-right turnout to be 5,000, with some 1,000 leftists opposed to them. It is unclear what triggered a fight which reportedly preceded the stabbing, at about 03:15 (01:15 GMT) on Sunday, on the sidelines of a street festival. The far-right demonstration in the city centre on Sunday caused the festival to be cancelled abruptly. The stabbing victim, a carpenter aged 35, was critically wounded and died in hospital. He has been named as Daniel H, who had a German mother and a Cuban father. Two other German men with him, aged 33 and 38, were seriously hurt, police say. The Syrian detainee is 23 and the Iraqi 22. Police have denied rumours on social media that the fight was linked to the sexual harassment of a woman. A half-Cuban woman who grew up with Daniel H, Nancy Larssen, told Deutsche Welle news that media misreporting had helped fuel the "horrible" far-right protest. "It's sad that in the media they're just saying that a German has died, and that's why all the neo-Nazis and hooligans are out, but the media should describe who died, and what skin colour he had, because I don't think they'd be doing all this if they knew," she said. Another friend of Daniel H, quoted by the Chemnitz news site Freie Presse, described him as left-wing, with a seven-year-old son. Initially, about 100 people gathered on Sunday for a rally which passed off without incident, AFP news agency reports. However, some 800 people later gathered at the Karl Marx monument, a focal point in the centre of Chemnitz. The monument is a throwback to the city's days as a model socialist city in the former German Democratic Republic, when it was renamed Karl-Marx-Stadt. Freelance journalist Johannes Grunert told Spiegel Online he had witnessed some protesters using bottles to attack people "who did not look German". Pegida, the far-right street movement, called for a new demonstration on Monday afternoon, while an MP from the far-right political party AfD, Markus Frohnmaier, tweeted: "If the state is no longer to protect citizens then people take to the streets and protect themselves. It's as simple as that!" "Today it's a citizen's duty to stop the lethal 'knife migration'!" he wrote, alluding to the influx of migrants in recent years. "It could have targeted your father, son or brother!" As the heap of wreaths and candles at the spot where the murder occurred grew larger on Monday evening, right-wing demonstrators massed at the Marx monument, and counter-demonstrators gathered close by. Police reported some Hitler salutes among the far-right crowd, who held anti-immigration placards with messages like "Stop the asylum flood". "We don't tolerate such unlawful assemblies and the hounding of people who look different or have different origins and attempts to spread hatred on the streets," Mrs Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, told journalists. "That has no place in our cities and we, as the German government, condemn it in the strongest terms. Our basic message for Chemnitz and beyond is that there is no place in Germany for vigilante justice, for groups that want to spread hatred on the streets, for intolerance and for extremism." Martina Renner, an MP for the radical Left party, accused the far right of seeking to exploit the murder for political ends. "A terrible murder, the background to which is still unclear, is being instrumentalised in the most repugnant way for racist riots in Chemnitz," she said in a tweet. In 2015, Chancellor Merkel decided to let in a record 890,000 asylum seekers. Syrians fleeing the civil war comprised the biggest group - a 403% rise on Syrian arrivals the previous year, the German migration office reported. She and her allies were punished by voters at last year's general election, when the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) entered parliament for the first time, winning 12.6% of the vote and more than 90 seats. Chemnitz is in Saxony, a region where AfD and Pegida are particularly strong. | How did protests spread? | 2,461 | Initially, about 100 people gathered on Sunday for a rally which passed off without incident, AFP news agency reports. However, some 800 people later gathered at the Karl Marx monument, a focal point in the centre of Chemnitz. The monument is a throwback to the city's days as a model socialist city in the former German Democratic Republic, when it was renamed Karl-Marx-Stadt. Freelance journalist Johannes Grunert told Spiegel Online he had witnessed some protesters using bottles to attack people "who did not look German". Pegida, the far-right street movement, called for a new demonstration on Monday afternoon, while an MP from the far-right political party AfD, Markus Frohnmaier, tweeted: "If the state is no longer to protect citizens then people take to the streets and protect themselves. It's as simple as that!" "Today it's a citizen's duty to stop the lethal 'knife migration'!" he wrote, alluding to the influx of migrants in recent years. "It could have targeted your father, son or brother!" As the heap of wreaths and candles at the spot where the murder occurred grew larger on Monday evening, right-wing demonstrators massed at the Marx monument, and counter-demonstrators gathered close by. Police reported some Hitler salutes among the far-right crowd, who held anti-immigration placards with messages like "Stop the asylum flood". | 0.438982 |
82_2 | Rival protests over a murder in the east German city of Chemnitz have ended with several people injured as objects were hurled by both sides, police say. Far-right activists had gathered in the centre for a second day as a Syrian and an Iraqi remained under arrest on suspicion of Sunday's deadly stabbing. Anti-Nazi activists rallied just metres away, accusing the far right of using the death for political ends. Injuries were caused when protesters on both sides threw objects, police say. German Chancellor Angela Merkel had warned that "vigilante justice" would not be tolerated. Police warned masked demonstrators who were picking up stones in the city, about 200km (120 miles) south of Berlin, that their actions were being filmed. Earlier, authorities said police were investigating alleged assaults on an Afghan, a Syrian and a Bulgarian during the unrest that broke out on Sunday. Reports have included mentions of protesters chasing foreigners, though there are few details. Chemnitz police, quoted by the local broadcaster MDR, said: "We did not anticipate such a total of participants [on Sunday]". Bigger crowds thronged the city centre on Monday. MDR estimated the far-right turnout to be 5,000, with some 1,000 leftists opposed to them. It is unclear what triggered a fight which reportedly preceded the stabbing, at about 03:15 (01:15 GMT) on Sunday, on the sidelines of a street festival. The far-right demonstration in the city centre on Sunday caused the festival to be cancelled abruptly. The stabbing victim, a carpenter aged 35, was critically wounded and died in hospital. He has been named as Daniel H, who had a German mother and a Cuban father. Two other German men with him, aged 33 and 38, were seriously hurt, police say. The Syrian detainee is 23 and the Iraqi 22. Police have denied rumours on social media that the fight was linked to the sexual harassment of a woman. A half-Cuban woman who grew up with Daniel H, Nancy Larssen, told Deutsche Welle news that media misreporting had helped fuel the "horrible" far-right protest. "It's sad that in the media they're just saying that a German has died, and that's why all the neo-Nazis and hooligans are out, but the media should describe who died, and what skin colour he had, because I don't think they'd be doing all this if they knew," she said. Another friend of Daniel H, quoted by the Chemnitz news site Freie Presse, described him as left-wing, with a seven-year-old son. Initially, about 100 people gathered on Sunday for a rally which passed off without incident, AFP news agency reports. However, some 800 people later gathered at the Karl Marx monument, a focal point in the centre of Chemnitz. The monument is a throwback to the city's days as a model socialist city in the former German Democratic Republic, when it was renamed Karl-Marx-Stadt. Freelance journalist Johannes Grunert told Spiegel Online he had witnessed some protesters using bottles to attack people "who did not look German". Pegida, the far-right street movement, called for a new demonstration on Monday afternoon, while an MP from the far-right political party AfD, Markus Frohnmaier, tweeted: "If the state is no longer to protect citizens then people take to the streets and protect themselves. It's as simple as that!" "Today it's a citizen's duty to stop the lethal 'knife migration'!" he wrote, alluding to the influx of migrants in recent years. "It could have targeted your father, son or brother!" As the heap of wreaths and candles at the spot where the murder occurred grew larger on Monday evening, right-wing demonstrators massed at the Marx monument, and counter-demonstrators gathered close by. Police reported some Hitler salutes among the far-right crowd, who held anti-immigration placards with messages like "Stop the asylum flood". "We don't tolerate such unlawful assemblies and the hounding of people who look different or have different origins and attempts to spread hatred on the streets," Mrs Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, told journalists. "That has no place in our cities and we, as the German government, condemn it in the strongest terms. Our basic message for Chemnitz and beyond is that there is no place in Germany for vigilante justice, for groups that want to spread hatred on the streets, for intolerance and for extremism." Martina Renner, an MP for the radical Left party, accused the far right of seeking to exploit the murder for political ends. "A terrible murder, the background to which is still unclear, is being instrumentalised in the most repugnant way for racist riots in Chemnitz," she said in a tweet. In 2015, Chancellor Merkel decided to let in a record 890,000 asylum seekers. Syrians fleeing the civil war comprised the biggest group - a 403% rise on Syrian arrivals the previous year, the German migration office reported. She and her allies were punished by voters at last year's general election, when the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) entered parliament for the first time, winning 12.6% of the vote and more than 90 seats. Chemnitz is in Saxony, a region where AfD and Pegida are particularly strong. | What did Merkel's office say exactly? | 3,818 | "We don't tolerate such unlawful assemblies and the hounding of people who look different or have different origins and attempts to spread hatred on the streets," Mrs Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, told journalists. "That has no place in our cities and we, as the German government, condemn it in the strongest terms. Our basic message for Chemnitz and beyond is that there is no place in Germany for vigilante justice, for groups that want to spread hatred on the streets, for intolerance and for extremism." Martina Renner, an MP for the radical Left party, accused the far right of seeking to exploit the murder for political ends. "A terrible murder, the background to which is still unclear, is being instrumentalised in the most repugnant way for racist riots in Chemnitz," she said in a tweet. | 0.463429 |
82_3 | Rival protests over a murder in the east German city of Chemnitz have ended with several people injured as objects were hurled by both sides, police say. Far-right activists had gathered in the centre for a second day as a Syrian and an Iraqi remained under arrest on suspicion of Sunday's deadly stabbing. Anti-Nazi activists rallied just metres away, accusing the far right of using the death for political ends. Injuries were caused when protesters on both sides threw objects, police say. German Chancellor Angela Merkel had warned that "vigilante justice" would not be tolerated. Police warned masked demonstrators who were picking up stones in the city, about 200km (120 miles) south of Berlin, that their actions were being filmed. Earlier, authorities said police were investigating alleged assaults on an Afghan, a Syrian and a Bulgarian during the unrest that broke out on Sunday. Reports have included mentions of protesters chasing foreigners, though there are few details. Chemnitz police, quoted by the local broadcaster MDR, said: "We did not anticipate such a total of participants [on Sunday]". Bigger crowds thronged the city centre on Monday. MDR estimated the far-right turnout to be 5,000, with some 1,000 leftists opposed to them. It is unclear what triggered a fight which reportedly preceded the stabbing, at about 03:15 (01:15 GMT) on Sunday, on the sidelines of a street festival. The far-right demonstration in the city centre on Sunday caused the festival to be cancelled abruptly. The stabbing victim, a carpenter aged 35, was critically wounded and died in hospital. He has been named as Daniel H, who had a German mother and a Cuban father. Two other German men with him, aged 33 and 38, were seriously hurt, police say. The Syrian detainee is 23 and the Iraqi 22. Police have denied rumours on social media that the fight was linked to the sexual harassment of a woman. A half-Cuban woman who grew up with Daniel H, Nancy Larssen, told Deutsche Welle news that media misreporting had helped fuel the "horrible" far-right protest. "It's sad that in the media they're just saying that a German has died, and that's why all the neo-Nazis and hooligans are out, but the media should describe who died, and what skin colour he had, because I don't think they'd be doing all this if they knew," she said. Another friend of Daniel H, quoted by the Chemnitz news site Freie Presse, described him as left-wing, with a seven-year-old son. Initially, about 100 people gathered on Sunday for a rally which passed off without incident, AFP news agency reports. However, some 800 people later gathered at the Karl Marx monument, a focal point in the centre of Chemnitz. The monument is a throwback to the city's days as a model socialist city in the former German Democratic Republic, when it was renamed Karl-Marx-Stadt. Freelance journalist Johannes Grunert told Spiegel Online he had witnessed some protesters using bottles to attack people "who did not look German". Pegida, the far-right street movement, called for a new demonstration on Monday afternoon, while an MP from the far-right political party AfD, Markus Frohnmaier, tweeted: "If the state is no longer to protect citizens then people take to the streets and protect themselves. It's as simple as that!" "Today it's a citizen's duty to stop the lethal 'knife migration'!" he wrote, alluding to the influx of migrants in recent years. "It could have targeted your father, son or brother!" As the heap of wreaths and candles at the spot where the murder occurred grew larger on Monday evening, right-wing demonstrators massed at the Marx monument, and counter-demonstrators gathered close by. Police reported some Hitler salutes among the far-right crowd, who held anti-immigration placards with messages like "Stop the asylum flood". "We don't tolerate such unlawful assemblies and the hounding of people who look different or have different origins and attempts to spread hatred on the streets," Mrs Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, told journalists. "That has no place in our cities and we, as the German government, condemn it in the strongest terms. Our basic message for Chemnitz and beyond is that there is no place in Germany for vigilante justice, for groups that want to spread hatred on the streets, for intolerance and for extremism." Martina Renner, an MP for the radical Left party, accused the far right of seeking to exploit the murder for political ends. "A terrible murder, the background to which is still unclear, is being instrumentalised in the most repugnant way for racist riots in Chemnitz," she said in a tweet. In 2015, Chancellor Merkel decided to let in a record 890,000 asylum seekers. Syrians fleeing the civil war comprised the biggest group - a 403% rise on Syrian arrivals the previous year, the German migration office reported. She and her allies were punished by voters at last year's general election, when the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) entered parliament for the first time, winning 12.6% of the vote and more than 90 seats. Chemnitz is in Saxony, a region where AfD and Pegida are particularly strong. | Why is the migrant issue so thorny? | 4,625 | In 2015, Chancellor Merkel decided to let in a record 890,000 asylum seekers. Syrians fleeing the civil war comprised the biggest group - a 403% rise on Syrian arrivals the previous year, the German migration office reported. She and her allies were punished by voters at last year's general election, when the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) entered parliament for the first time, winning 12.6% of the vote and more than 90 seats. Chemnitz is in Saxony, a region where AfD and Pegida are particularly strong. | 0.398071 |
83_1 | Indonesia's so-called fire season last year was one of the worst on record, but the fires are back and burning out of control with a state of emergency already declared in one province. Between about June and October, more than 100,000 fires burned down millions of hectares of fragile forest lands. There were human and animal fatalities, and the economic damage was estimated to be more than $15bn (PS10bn). For more than 20 years these fires have been an annual occurrence, as farmers and agricultural companies clear Indonesia's forests and carbon-rich peatlands to make way for pulpwood, palm oil and rubber plantations, or for smaller scale subsistence farming. But the fires have been getting gradually worse. Last year, the fires were so bad, that parts of Indonesia, together with cities across South East Asia, were blanketed in a thick toxic haze for weeks at a time. Half a million people were hospitalised due to the haze, and it was estimated that in those five months about 1.7 billion tonnes of carbon - roughly equivalent to what Brazil produces in a year - had been released into the atmosphere. Indonesia promised that it would do more to prevent the fires from returning in 2016. But the fires are back already - and now burning out of control. A state of emergency has been declared in the western province of Riau, on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, and the army and police have been called in to try to fight the blazes. So what more can the Indonesian government do? Indonesia's government owns the majority of the country's forest land. It provides grants or concessions to small scale farmers and to large companies. In the 1980s burning forest areas to clear land for agriculture was sanctioned by the government, and today Indonesia has the highest rate of deforestation in the world. For the last two decades, however, it has been against the law to clear more than two hectares of land each year, and using slash-and-burn methods for clearing is illegal. But large companies have been accused of paying off small farmers for the use of their concession land - sometimes with just cigarettes and clothes - and then asking those small farmers to clear it for them. - Farmers cut down forests and wild plants on their land, then set a fire to clear what remains - It is cheap and quick and some farmers believe they are ridding their land of diseases that could hurt their crops - Fires to clear land can spark wild fires and spread to carbon-rich peatlands - The peat fires release vast amounts of carbon emissions Policing the companies and small farmers responsible for lighting fires has been a huge challenge, and the forestry industry is often described as being riddled with corruption. Last year President Joko Widodo told the BBC that he had gone to great lengths to tackle the fires, including the deployment of more than 10,000 police and soldiers and water-bombing planes. And Mr Widodo said further development of peatlands would be banned, and that, where possible, his country's carbon-rich lands should be restored. But he also told the BBC it would take at least three years before the world would see significant improvements as a result of on-going efforts to control the fires. When the fires restarted this year, Henry Purnomo, a scientist who works at the Centre for International Forestry Resarch (Cifor), an organisation which works closely with the government, said Indonesia was employing some of its best fire-prevention efforts to date. He says while the fires are not yet very big "we will need to move fast to suppress those fires burning now". Cifor's Mr Purnomo said environmental workers were out in the field doing their best to rehabilitate about 600,000 hectares of precious peatlands - with the aim of restoring some two million hectares in the coming years. "There is a lot of important work being done by the government as well as the private sector, including the giant companies and the wood plantation companies - they are trying to work together," he said. "And President Jokowi has said regional chiefs of police will be replaced if there are ongoing fires in their region." In December last year, Indonesia announced that more than 50 companies would be punished for their role in the fires - and that further investigations were taking place. Just weeks later, however, a $565m lawsuit against one plantation company was rejected due to lack of evidence. However Mr Purnomo said Indonesia's government was continuing to investigate companies with questionable operations. But there still are concerns that directives from central government may be ignored locally. Meanwhile, Indonesia's anti-corruption commission said it was encouraging local government agencies in affected areas to come together on prevention efforts and report illegal behaviour to the authorities. But Dian Patria, acting director of research and development at Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission, says the biggest challenge is that no-one wants to be held responsible for the decades-old problem. "There has been bad governance and bad management of the forests, based on our study of the last 12 years, and everyone says it is the fault of the previous minister, or previous governor," says Mr Patria. "There are a lot of stakeholders - local government, public and also the licensees - they must be less corrupt and work with us to solve it right now. The private sector especially has to be responsible." he added. "Many of the companies you must realise are based in Singapore and Malaysia too. They are not just Indonesian companies." Peter Holmgren, head of Cifor told the BBC that his teams are developing longer-term programmes to improve the situation. But he said there were no quick or easy solutions. "It's not a matter of putting the fires out today - it's a matter of changing how land is being used, how agriculture is being practised and how the opportunities for people's livelihood are developing," he said. Mr Holmgren, who is based in Indonesia, but works across 45 countries in fire prevention and research, also said it was not just about providing aid to Indonesia or to poor farmers. "It's obviously now primarily a matter of domestic policies and domestic regulations," he said. "But... a lot of the activities that are going on are because there are investments in land conversion and development - and obviously those investments engage international financial institutions in different ways. "So there are probably opportunities in looking at how the international finance system is regulating itself. And to look at the standards around which investments by large international institutions are being made." International forestry and fire fighting experts say one of the biggest problems facing Indonesia is its lack of fire-fighting know-how, particularly at a local level. And fire prevention expert Tony Bartlett says wildfires, particularly forest fires, are an increasing problem as the impact of climate change increases. Mr Bartlett who works for Australia's Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) says the international community can support Indonesia in tackling the blazes. He argues it is essential to quickly detect and respond to forest fires "with people that are well trained, properly managed and coordinated, and who can deal with different types of forest fires." "But it's very difficult when you have peatland on fire," he said. "Forest fires look easy by comparison." In the longer term, Cifor's head Mr Holmgren says one solution would be to take agriculture away from peatland completely. But he argues the root of the problem is the income insecurity of poor farmers and that tackling that should be the priority. "The target is poverty," he says. "The target is economic growth and inclusive green growth. And the target is food security," he added. "If the issue is isolated to and portrayed as a climate change matter - and that's the story that everyone is hearing - then that is missing the target." | How has Indonesia tackled its fires in the past? | 2,546 | Policing the companies and small farmers responsible for lighting fires has been a huge challenge, and the forestry industry is often described as being riddled with corruption. Last year President Joko Widodo told the BBC that he had gone to great lengths to tackle the fires, including the deployment of more than 10,000 police and soldiers and water-bombing planes. And Mr Widodo said further development of peatlands would be banned, and that, where possible, his country's carbon-rich lands should be restored. But he also told the BBC it would take at least three years before the world would see significant improvements as a result of on-going efforts to control the fires. When the fires restarted this year, Henry Purnomo, a scientist who works at the Centre for International Forestry Resarch (Cifor), an organisation which works closely with the government, said Indonesia was employing some of its best fire-prevention efforts to date. He says while the fires are not yet very big "we will need to move fast to suppress those fires burning now". | 0.730993 |
84_0 | UK and EU politicians have given very different accounts of how the UK's Brexit negotiations should proceed. The EU's Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmstrom, says the UK cannot begin negotiating trade terms with the bloc until after it has left. "First you exit then you negotiate," she told BBC Newsnight. But the BBC understands other EU Commission officials privately believe it is "inconceivable" that trade talks would not start before the UK's exit. One of the candidates to be next UK prime minister, Liam Fox, called Ms Malmstrom's stance "bizarre and stupid", saying the Brexit talks would include trade. But the BBC's Chris Morris in Brussels says Ms Malmstrom's view of two consecutive sets of negotiations appears technically correct. At the EU summit this week the 27 government leaders - without the UK - agreed Brexit "divorce" talks should begin and end before any talks on a new settlement for the UK, Chris Morris says. Brussels sources told our correspondent there was a real determination among the leaders not to mix the two. The statement from the 27 said they wanted the UK to be "a close partner of the EU". But they also spoke of an agreement to be "concluded with the UK as a third country". The phrase "third country" means the UK post-Brexit. Outside the EU, the UK would trade with the bloc under World Trade Organization rules, pending a possible new deal on free trade. WTO conditions would mean trade tariffs and non-tariff barriers, as the UK would no longer be in the EU single market. Not until a new Conservative leader is elected, who will replace David Cameron as prime minister by October. Then it will be up to the new leader to decide when to trigger the EU's Article 50, the procedure for withdrawing from the EU. Article 50 sets a two-year deadline for withdrawal from the EU. But the detailed negotiations on the UK's future relations with the EU could last years longer. Much depends on who wins the Conservative leadership. There are also divisions in the Leave camp over which of the UK's current EU arrangements should be kept. Immigration was such a key issue in the referendum there is likely to be hard bargaining over free movement of EU workers. But EU leaders have said access to the single market requires the free movement of people. Achieving continued preferential access to the EU single market of 500m consumers would be a big prize for the UK. But there are also voices in the Leave camp urging a UK focus on trade with other partners. Could there be free trade without free movement? Once the UK has given notification under Article 50, the European Council - that is, the other 27 governments and council president - will adopt guidelines for the negotiations. It is not yet clear how the EU will organise its negotiating team, but the European Commission will take charge of the details. The final deals on UK withdrawal and a future UK-EU relationship will have to be agreed by the EU's top institutions - the European Council, Commission and European Parliament. | When do Brexit talks start? | 1,519 | Not until a new Conservative leader is elected, who will replace David Cameron as prime minister by October. Then it will be up to the new leader to decide when to trigger the EU's Article 50, the procedure for withdrawing from the EU. Article 50 sets a two-year deadline for withdrawal from the EU. But the detailed negotiations on the UK's future relations with the EU could last years longer. | 0.413182 |
84_1 | UK and EU politicians have given very different accounts of how the UK's Brexit negotiations should proceed. The EU's Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmstrom, says the UK cannot begin negotiating trade terms with the bloc until after it has left. "First you exit then you negotiate," she told BBC Newsnight. But the BBC understands other EU Commission officials privately believe it is "inconceivable" that trade talks would not start before the UK's exit. One of the candidates to be next UK prime minister, Liam Fox, called Ms Malmstrom's stance "bizarre and stupid", saying the Brexit talks would include trade. But the BBC's Chris Morris in Brussels says Ms Malmstrom's view of two consecutive sets of negotiations appears technically correct. At the EU summit this week the 27 government leaders - without the UK - agreed Brexit "divorce" talks should begin and end before any talks on a new settlement for the UK, Chris Morris says. Brussels sources told our correspondent there was a real determination among the leaders not to mix the two. The statement from the 27 said they wanted the UK to be "a close partner of the EU". But they also spoke of an agreement to be "concluded with the UK as a third country". The phrase "third country" means the UK post-Brexit. Outside the EU, the UK would trade with the bloc under World Trade Organization rules, pending a possible new deal on free trade. WTO conditions would mean trade tariffs and non-tariff barriers, as the UK would no longer be in the EU single market. Not until a new Conservative leader is elected, who will replace David Cameron as prime minister by October. Then it will be up to the new leader to decide when to trigger the EU's Article 50, the procedure for withdrawing from the EU. Article 50 sets a two-year deadline for withdrawal from the EU. But the detailed negotiations on the UK's future relations with the EU could last years longer. Much depends on who wins the Conservative leadership. There are also divisions in the Leave camp over which of the UK's current EU arrangements should be kept. Immigration was such a key issue in the referendum there is likely to be hard bargaining over free movement of EU workers. But EU leaders have said access to the single market requires the free movement of people. Achieving continued preferential access to the EU single market of 500m consumers would be a big prize for the UK. But there are also voices in the Leave camp urging a UK focus on trade with other partners. Could there be free trade without free movement? Once the UK has given notification under Article 50, the European Council - that is, the other 27 governments and council president - will adopt guidelines for the negotiations. It is not yet clear how the EU will organise its negotiating team, but the European Commission will take charge of the details. The final deals on UK withdrawal and a future UK-EU relationship will have to be agreed by the EU's top institutions - the European Council, Commission and European Parliament. | What sort of deal does the UK want? | 1,915 | Much depends on who wins the Conservative leadership. There are also divisions in the Leave camp over which of the UK's current EU arrangements should be kept. Immigration was such a key issue in the referendum there is likely to be hard bargaining over free movement of EU workers. But EU leaders have said access to the single market requires the free movement of people. Achieving continued preferential access to the EU single market of 500m consumers would be a big prize for the UK. But there are also voices in the Leave camp urging a UK focus on trade with other partners. Could there be free trade without free movement? | 0.434633 |
84_2 | UK and EU politicians have given very different accounts of how the UK's Brexit negotiations should proceed. The EU's Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmstrom, says the UK cannot begin negotiating trade terms with the bloc until after it has left. "First you exit then you negotiate," she told BBC Newsnight. But the BBC understands other EU Commission officials privately believe it is "inconceivable" that trade talks would not start before the UK's exit. One of the candidates to be next UK prime minister, Liam Fox, called Ms Malmstrom's stance "bizarre and stupid", saying the Brexit talks would include trade. But the BBC's Chris Morris in Brussels says Ms Malmstrom's view of two consecutive sets of negotiations appears technically correct. At the EU summit this week the 27 government leaders - without the UK - agreed Brexit "divorce" talks should begin and end before any talks on a new settlement for the UK, Chris Morris says. Brussels sources told our correspondent there was a real determination among the leaders not to mix the two. The statement from the 27 said they wanted the UK to be "a close partner of the EU". But they also spoke of an agreement to be "concluded with the UK as a third country". The phrase "third country" means the UK post-Brexit. Outside the EU, the UK would trade with the bloc under World Trade Organization rules, pending a possible new deal on free trade. WTO conditions would mean trade tariffs and non-tariff barriers, as the UK would no longer be in the EU single market. Not until a new Conservative leader is elected, who will replace David Cameron as prime minister by October. Then it will be up to the new leader to decide when to trigger the EU's Article 50, the procedure for withdrawing from the EU. Article 50 sets a two-year deadline for withdrawal from the EU. But the detailed negotiations on the UK's future relations with the EU could last years longer. Much depends on who wins the Conservative leadership. There are also divisions in the Leave camp over which of the UK's current EU arrangements should be kept. Immigration was such a key issue in the referendum there is likely to be hard bargaining over free movement of EU workers. But EU leaders have said access to the single market requires the free movement of people. Achieving continued preferential access to the EU single market of 500m consumers would be a big prize for the UK. But there are also voices in the Leave camp urging a UK focus on trade with other partners. Could there be free trade without free movement? Once the UK has given notification under Article 50, the European Council - that is, the other 27 governments and council president - will adopt guidelines for the negotiations. It is not yet clear how the EU will organise its negotiating team, but the European Commission will take charge of the details. The final deals on UK withdrawal and a future UK-EU relationship will have to be agreed by the EU's top institutions - the European Council, Commission and European Parliament. | Who will negotiate with the UK? | 2,545 | Once the UK has given notification under Article 50, the European Council - that is, the other 27 governments and council president - will adopt guidelines for the negotiations. It is not yet clear how the EU will organise its negotiating team, but the European Commission will take charge of the details. The final deals on UK withdrawal and a future UK-EU relationship will have to be agreed by the EU's top institutions - the European Council, Commission and European Parliament. | 0.62786 |
91_0 | Bushfires ravaging the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) have largely destroyed a very small town, residents have said. More than 80 fires - including 20 uncontained - were still burning on Monday following record temperatures. The Rural Fire Service (RFS) said it was remarkable no lives were lost amid "catastrophic" weekend conditions. But about nine of 12 buildings in the tiny community of Uarbry had been destroyed, according to locals. RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons could not confirm that number but said "most buildings" in Uarbry had been razed or damaged. The blaze, dubbed Sir Ivan, had an active fire edge of about 200km (124 miles) and had burned through 50,000 hectares near Dunedoo, Mr Fitzsimmons said. "One of our captains in that local area was a resident of Uarbry," he said. "He was out fighting the fires and he has come back to find that his home is destroyed." Local resident Peter Gilmour told Sydney's Daily Telegraph that only three houses in the town were unaffected. "Most neighbours have lost everything," he said. More than 2,500 firefighters, many of them volunteers, were battling the fires. One firefighter had suffered a severe hand laceration, while another suffered serious burns to the hands, arms and face, Mr Fitzsimmons said. Officials said the weekend conditions were worse than during the 2009 "Black Saturday" fires in the state of Victoria, which killed 173 people. NSW broke its record for the hottest average statewide temperature on Saturday, with 44C. The towns of Forbes (46.C) and Richmond (47C) had their hottest days on record. Interstate, records were also broken in the Queensland towns of Gatton (45.6C), Oakley (42.6C), Toowoomba (40.8C) and Kingaroy (41.6C). Australia's weather bureau forecast a cool change to arrive on Monday. Emergency Services Minister Troy Grant said the conditions were unprecedented. "Those in our community who are feeling relieved that we may have dodged a bullet, we must remember that there are many who have been devastated by fires in their regions," he said. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian thanked firefighters for their efforts. "We are not out of the woods, however, we are beyond the worst part of those catastrophic conditions that existed over the weekend," she said. Australia is particularly prone to bushfires as much of the country has both a hot, dry climate, and plenty of vegetation to burn. All it then takes to start a fire is ignition, and there can be as many as a thousand lightning strikes in a storm. Their impact can be reduced by preparation: authorities can clear vulnerable land in advance and build more fire-resistant settlements; individuals can prepare their own defences and escape plans. Less fast-moving fires can be fought by "direct attack" - ground troops with hoses - but more dangerous situations have to be fought with strategic techniques like "back-burning" land ahead of an advancing fire, to starve it of fuel when it arrives. Read more: Fighting Australia's bushfire threat | What causes the fires? | 2,275 | Australia is particularly prone to bushfires as much of the country has both a hot, dry climate, and plenty of vegetation to burn. All it then takes to start a fire is ignition, and there can be as many as a thousand lightning strikes in a storm. | 0.481242 |
96_1 | European leaders have welcomed the result of the Netherlands election, which saw the anti-immigration party of Geert Wilders fail to become the largest in parliament. Prime Minister Mark Rutte's centre-right VVD won by some margin. For Francois Hollande of France it was a "clear victory against extremism", while German Chancellor Angela Merkel hailed a "good day for democracy". The vote was closely watched ahead of elections in France and Germany. The Netherlands was seen by many as a bellwether for how populist parties will perform in those polls. - Chancellor Merkel: "I was very glad, and I think many people are, that a high turnout led to a very pro-European result." - Centrist French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron: "A breakthrough for the extreme right is not a foregone conclusion." - European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker: The people of the Netherlands voted for "free and tolerant societies in a prosperous Europe". - European Jewish Congress: "We hope that this electoral victory will begin ... a 'domino effect' of mainstream parties pushing back against extremism and populism". In contrast, Turkey, currently embroiled in a bitter dispute with the Netherlands, had little positive to say. "Hey Rutte, you may have won the election as first party, but you have lost a friend like Turkey," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a rally. Celebrating victory, Mr Rutte said the Dutch people had rejected "the wrong kind of populism". "The Netherlands said 'Whoa!'" he declared. With all but two vote counts complete, the prime minister's party has won 33 out of 150 seats, a loss of eight seats from the previous parliament. Mr Wilders' Freedom party was in second place on 20 seats, a gain of five, with the Christian Democrats (CDA) and the liberal D66 party close behind with 19 seats each. The Green-Left party also did well, winning 14 seats, an increase of 10. The Labour Party (PvdA), the junior party in the governing coalition, suffered a historic defeat by winning only nine seats, a loss of 29. Turnout was 80.2%, which analysts say may have benefited pro-EU and liberal parties. The number of voters was a record 10.3 million, according to public broadcaster NOS. France goes to the polls next month to elect a new president, with the far right National Front forecast to increase its vote dramatically. In Germany, the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) may win seats in parliament for the first time in September's general election. Mr Rutte had already spoken of the election as a quarter-final against populism ahead of the French and German polls. Weeks before the election, opinion polls forecast the PVV winning the biggest number of seats but Mr Wilders' lead vanished as the vote drew near. He had pledged to take the Netherlands out of the EU, close all mosques and ban the Koran. He warned that Mr Rutte had "not seen the last" of him. "It's not the 30 seats I hoped for but we have gained seats," he added. "This patriotic spring will happen." Defeated Labour leader Lodewijk Asscher agreed that "populism is not over". The anger and insecurity of voters was reflected in the increased vote for Mr Wilders and the wider fragmentation of Dutch politics, he said. In reality his party gained five seats and, as he pointed out, it is now the second biggest in parliament not the third. But his decline in the polls was clear and it is being seen partly as self-inflicted. He refused to take part in two TV debates because of scathing comments about him made by his brother, Paul, on the same TV channel. But it was as much Mark Rutte's success as Geert Wilders' failure. The prime minister's response to Nazi slurs against the Dutch made by the Turkish president was praised across the political spectrum. As parliamentary seats are allocated in exact proportion to a party's vote share, the VVD will need to go into coalition with three other parties. If recent Dutch history teaches you anything about coalition-building, it is that it will not happen overnight. In 2012 it took 54 days, and that was relatively fast as it involved just two parties. Mr Rutte has spoken of a "zero chance" of working with Mr Wilders' PVV, and will look instead to the Christian Democrats and D66, which are both pro-EU. It would still be several seats short of forming a government and would need further support from a fourth party. The VVD has much in common with the liberal D66 in backing progressive policies on soft drugs and assisted dying. But that would be resisted by both parties with a Christian background. The path to a coalition will not be easy. - VVD - People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Leader: PM Mark Rutte) - PVV - Freedom Party (Leader: Geert Wilders) - CDA - Christian Democratic Appeal (Leader: Sybrand Buma) - D66 - Democrats 66 (Leader: Alexander Pechtold) - Green-Left - (Leader: Jesse Klaver) - SP - Socialist Party (Leader: Emile Roemer) - PvdA - Labour Party (Leader: Lodewijk Asscher) | Where does Wilders stand now? | 2,604 | Weeks before the election, opinion polls forecast the PVV winning the biggest number of seats but Mr Wilders' lead vanished as the vote drew near. He had pledged to take the Netherlands out of the EU, close all mosques and ban the Koran. He warned that Mr Rutte had "not seen the last" of him. "It's not the 30 seats I hoped for but we have gained seats," he added. "This patriotic spring will happen." Defeated Labour leader Lodewijk Asscher agreed that "populism is not over". The anger and insecurity of voters was reflected in the increased vote for Mr Wilders and the wider fragmentation of Dutch politics, he said. | 0.397436 |
97_0 | A violent storm on the Sun could cripple communications on Earth and cause huge economic damage, scientists have warned. Why are solar storms such a threat? In 1972, dozens of sea mines off the coast of Vietnam mysteriously exploded. It was recently confirmed the cause was solar storms, which can significantly disrupt the Earth's magnetic field. Today, the effects of a similar event could be much more serious - disrupting the technology we rely on for everything from satellites to power grids. The cost to the UK economy alone of an unexpected event has been estimated at PS16bn. There are good reasons why we are vulnerable to events taking place millions of miles from Earth. The Sun is a star, a seething mass of electrified hydrogen. As this fluid moves around, it builds up energy within its complex magnetic field. This magnetic energy is released through intense flashes of light known as solar flares and through vast eruptions of material and magnetic fields known as coronal mass ejections or solar storms. While flares can disrupt radio communication on Earth, solar storms pose the greatest threat. Each storm contains the energy equivalent to 100,000 times the world's entire nuclear arsenal, although this is spread throughout an enormous volume in space. The Sun rotates like a vast spinning firework, launching eruptions into space in all directions. If one of these heads towards our planet, with a magnetic field aligned opposite to the Earth's, the two fields can merge together. As the solar storm washes past, some of the Earth's magnetic field is distorted into a long tail. And when this distorted magnetic field eventually snaps back, it accelerates electrified particles towards the Earth. Here, they strike the upper atmosphere, heating it and causing it to glow in a spectacular display known as the northern and southern lights. But this distortion of the Earth's magnetic field has other, more significant effects. It is thought to have triggered the sea mines back in 1972. The mines were designed to detect small variations in the magnetic field caused by the approach of metal-hulled boats. But their engineers hadn't anticipated that solar activity could have the same effect. Scientists are looking for clues as to what triggers these vast eruptions and, once they have been launched, how to track them through interplanetary space. Our records of the Earth's magnetic field go back as far as the mid-19th Century. They suggest an extreme space weather event is likely to occur once every 100 years, although smaller events will happen more frequently. In 1859, the Carrington Event - most extreme solar storm recorded to date - caused telegraph systems to spark and for the northern lights to be spotted as far south as the Bahamas. The next time it happens, the effects are likely to be far more serious. With every solar cycle, our global community has become more reliant on technology. In 2018, space satellites are central to global communication and navigation, while aeroplanes connect continents and extensive power grids crisscross the world. All of these could be badly affected by the aftermath of extreme solar events. Electronic systems on spacecraft and aeroplanes could be harmed as their miniaturised electronics are zapped by energetic particles accelerated into our atmosphere, while power networks on the ground can be overwhelmed by excess electrical currents. More like this Enough satellites and power grids have failed during past space weather events to make it clear that the Sun must be closely monitored, to help predict when a solar storm will affect Earth. Forecasters are working on this all over the world, from the UK's Met Office to the Australian Met Bureau and the Noaa Space Weather Prediction Center in the US. All being well, they can detect when a storm is heading towards Earth and predict its arrival time within six hours. That still leaves relatively little time to prepare but forecasting would cut the cost to the UK economy from PS16bn to PS3bn. Space weather now appears on the UK government's risk register, alongside other, more familiar risks such as a flu pandemic and severe flooding. It has been rated at the equivalent risk as a severe heatwave or the emergence of a new infectious disease. Government agencies are now speaking to power companies, spacecraft and airline operators to ensure they have plans in place to limit the impact of an extreme space weather event. It is vital, for example, to make sure enough power is available to refrigerate supplies of food and medicine as well as to make sure water and fuel can be pumped as needed. If communication with some satellites is lost, familiar technologies such as sat-navs and satellite television could stop working. Spacecraft engineers study extreme events so they can build resilience into spacecraft, protecting vulnerable electronics and installing backup systems. An accurate space weather forecast would enable operators to further protect their assets by ensuring they were in a safe state as the storm passed. Many planes fly over the north pole en route from Europe to North America. During space weather events, aircraft operators re-route aeroplanes away from the polar skies, where most of the energetic particles enter Earth's atmosphere. This is to limit exposure to enhanced radiation doses and ensure reliable radio communication. We have learned much about space weather since the events of 1972 but as modern technologies evolve, we need to make sure they can withstand the worst the Sun can throw at us. About this piece This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from an expert working for an outside organisation. Chris Scott is a professor of space and atmospheric physics, at the University of Reading. Follow him on Twitter at @ProfChrisScott. Edited by Eleanor Lawrie | What causes an extreme solar event? | 683 | The Sun is a star, a seething mass of electrified hydrogen. As this fluid moves around, it builds up energy within its complex magnetic field. This magnetic energy is released through intense flashes of light known as solar flares and through vast eruptions of material and magnetic fields known as coronal mass ejections or solar storms. While flares can disrupt radio communication on Earth, solar storms pose the greatest threat. Each storm contains the energy equivalent to 100,000 times the world's entire nuclear arsenal, although this is spread throughout an enormous volume in space. The Sun rotates like a vast spinning firework, launching eruptions into space in all directions. If one of these heads towards our planet, with a magnetic field aligned opposite to the Earth's, the two fields can merge together. As the solar storm washes past, some of the Earth's magnetic field is distorted into a long tail. And when this distorted magnetic field eventually snaps back, it accelerates electrified particles towards the Earth. Here, they strike the upper atmosphere, heating it and causing it to glow in a spectacular display known as the northern and southern lights. But this distortion of the Earth's magnetic field has other, more significant effects. It is thought to have triggered the sea mines back in 1972. The mines were designed to detect small variations in the magnetic field caused by the approach of metal-hulled boats. But their engineers hadn't anticipated that solar activity could have the same effect. | 0.657736 |
99_0 | Britain's bus network has shrunk to levels last seen in the late 1980s, BBC analysis has revealed. Rising car use and cuts to public funding are being blamed for a loss of 134 million miles of coverage over the past decade alone. Some cut-off communities have taken to starting their own services, with Wales and north-west England hardest hit. The government has encouraged councils and bus companies to work together to halt the decline. One lobbying group fears the scale of the miles lost are a sign buses are on course to be cut to the same extent railways were in the 1960s. During that decade thousands of miles of track were scrapped and hundreds of stations closed following a report by British Railways Board chairman Dr Richard Beeching. Chris Todd, of the Campaign for Better Transport, said: "We are not talking a loss of that level, but we are heading that way. "We live in a society that is quite prepared to completely abandon certain groups of people and leave them with no options of getting around." Communities around the UK say the shrinking bus network is leaving people unable to reach basic services such as shops and GP surgeries. In Chard in Somerset, mother Melissa Whittaker told the BBC how a 10-mile journey to take her autistic son Issac to their nearest community hospital can take three hours, the same time it would take to walk. Villagers in Ditton Priors, Shropshire, who have not had a regular bus service since 2012, say some elderly residents have been forced to move away. And some cut-off communities have even gone as far as setting up their own replacement bus services. Cumbria's Western Dales Bus company runs its routes with the help of 20 volunteer drivers. One of its directors, John Carey, said the National Lottery-funded company was a lifeline for hundreds in the county. He said: "Without this people would have been cut off, absolutely. "They wouldn't have been able to go to the shops. It has preserved the mobility of elderly residents in the area." Although car use is at an all-time high, buses remain Britain's most popular form of public transport. But analysis of official statistics by the BBC Shared Data Unit found the UK's bus network has shrunk by 8% in the last decade. That equates to 134 million fewer miles - the equivalent of more than 5,000 trips around the equator. Passenger numbers have increased marginally (0.7%) over the same period. There are a number of reasons why Britain's bus network is shrinking in size, according to John Disney, a transport researcher and lecturer at Nottingham Business School. He said: "Commercial operators have definitely, over the last 10 years, become much more risk-averse and so they are really concentrating on what they consider to be their core routes and are not really bothered about much else." He said at the same time many local authorities, which would have stepped up to subsidise unprofitable routes, have reduced this spending. But the trade body for operators, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), denied the claim that companies were becoming risk-averse. A spokeswoman said: "Where routes become unviable, sound business decisions need to be taken and there are many examples of operators continuing to operate lightly used and uneconomic services, or developing innovative ways of meeting passengers' needs." In England, the scale of the bus network has fallen to levels last seen in 1991, even though passenger numbers are now 8% higher than they were then. The figures show big regional variations, with the North West the worst-hit, losing nearly a quarter (23%) of miles from its network in a decade. London, the East of England and the South East, on the other hand, were the only English regions to see bus mileage increase over the past decade. The capital now accounts for a quarter of all bus miles travelled in England, the highest proportion since this measurement began in 1982. This has prompted campaigners to describe England's public transport system as "two-tier". Outside the capital, England's metropolitan areas were hardest hit, which experts believe is linked to increasing congestion. The bus coverage in metropolitan areas has dropped by a tenth since 2013-14 alone, figures show, while rural areas saw bus routes cut by 7.8%. Wales has seen the biggest drop in bus coverage over the past decade. Annual bus mileage fell by a fifth between 2006-07 and 2016-17, a loss of 15 million miles. Experts suggest the slump in Wales could be down to a succession of bus companies going into administration in recent years. A spokesman for the Welsh government said the figures do not reflect growth on some local services and the longer distance TrawsCymru network of buses. Scotland's network shrank by 15% over the past decade. The Scottish region hit hardest was South West and Strathclyde, which saw bus mileage fall by more than a fifth in 10 years. Only one Scottish region saw bus mileage increase: North East, Tayside and Central, which covers Dundee and Aberdeen. Northern Ireland's bus network is publicly-run. It covers 6.4% fewer miles a year than it did ten years ago, a loss of 2.6 million miles. Most of Britain's bus network is provided by commercial companies, although local government can subsidise routes which are deemed unprofitable but socially important. Many campaigners say the shrinking pot of funding available for these subsidies is a major contributor to the decline of Britain's buses. However, the BBC's analysis shows subsidy cuts are only part of the picture. Excluding London, all English regions have seen bus subsidies reduced in the past four years, losing a third (32%) of their subsidised miles on average. But at the same time, bus companies have also been reducing the number of commercially-run miles in the North, while increasing them in the South, the analysis shows. In Brighton and Hove, for instance, its bus network appears to be thriving, despite only 3% of miles now being paid for by the council. Some areas have seen public sector investment pay off. In Nottingham, which has the third highest bus use per head of population in England, passengers can travel with a range of different companies using a Robin Hood card. But the authority there also spends more on buses each year than the whole of Tyne and Wear, which has four times the population. The Local Government Association has said councils could do more to prop up transport routes if they had more Whitehall funding. Its transport spokesman Chris Tett said the shrinking of Britain's bus network was "hugely concerning". The government has given English 'metro mayors' new powers to set up Transport for London-style bus franchise systems. It means they could set the routes and timetables for their areas and invite companies to bid to run them. The Bus Services Act 2017 also aims to get local authorities and bus companies in other areas of England to work in partnership to improve services. A spokeswoman for the Department for Transport said: "Buses connect people, homes and businesses, and that's why we have given councils extra powers to work in partnership with bus companies to improve the service passengers expect and deserve." The Shared Data Unit makes data journalism available to news organisations across the media industry, as part of a partnership between the BBC and the News Media Association. This piece of content was produced by local newspaper journalists working alongside BBC staff. For more information on methodology, click here. For the full dataset, click here. Read more about the Local News Partnerships here. | Why is the bus network shrinking? | 2,411 | There are a number of reasons why Britain's bus network is shrinking in size, according to John Disney, a transport researcher and lecturer at Nottingham Business School. He said: "Commercial operators have definitely, over the last 10 years, become much more risk-averse and so they are really concentrating on what they consider to be their core routes and are not really bothered about much else." He said at the same time many local authorities, which would have stepped up to subsidise unprofitable routes, have reduced this spending. But the trade body for operators, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), denied the claim that companies were becoming risk-averse. A spokeswoman said: "Where routes become unviable, sound business decisions need to be taken and there are many examples of operators continuing to operate lightly used and uneconomic services, or developing innovative ways of meeting passengers' needs." | 0.57525 |
100_0 | US special envoy Stephen Biegun has urged North Korea to come to the negotiating table, saying: "We are here, let's get this done." His comments in Seoul come days after North Korea conducted missile tests at a satellite launch site. North Korea has set an end-of-year deadline for the US to come up with a new denuclearisation deal that would involve significant sanctions relief. It said the US could expect a "Christmas gift" if it did not comply. Mr Biegun - the US special representative for North Korea - called Pyongyang's statements "hostile, negative and so unnecessary", adding that the US had a "goal... not a deadline". He called for Pyongyang to enter talks with the US, saying to his North Korean counterparts: "It is time for us to do our jobs. Let's get this done. We are here and you know how to reach us." US President Donald Trump has said he will not lift sanctions until North Korea fully abandons its nuclear programme. North Korea said if the US did not make an acceptable offer, it would find a "new way". Pyongyang appears to have shut the door on further US talks, focusing instead on testing missiles. On 8 December, it said it carried out a "very important test". It held a second test less than a week later on 14 December. Both tests were said to be carried out at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground - a site that North Korea had promised to dismantle. It's not clear exactly what was being tested - but Ankit Panda, North Korea expert at the Federation of American Scientists, told the BBC it could be a ground test for a ballistic missile engine. The US and North Korea have reached a nuclear impasse. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his US counterpart Mr Trump held historic talks in Singapore in June 2018 and in Vietnam earlier this year aimed at denuclearisation. They also held "impromptu" talks at the Demilitarised Zone that separates North and South Korea in June. But talks have stalled since then - a recent meeting of officials in Stockholm ended without progress - and North Korea restarted testing of its short-range ballistic missiles. North Korea also appears to have renewed its verbal attacks against Mr Trump for the first time in two years. The foreign ministry said if Mr Trump was confrontational, it "must really be diagnosed as the relapse of the dotage of a dotard". The North first called Mr Trump a dotard, meaning old and weak, in 2017. | What tests did North Korea carry out? | 1,030 | Pyongyang appears to have shut the door on further US talks, focusing instead on testing missiles. On 8 December, it said it carried out a "very important test". It held a second test less than a week later on 14 December. Both tests were said to be carried out at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground - a site that North Korea had promised to dismantle. It's not clear exactly what was being tested - but Ankit Panda, North Korea expert at the Federation of American Scientists, told the BBC it could be a ground test for a ballistic missile engine. | 0.687835 |
100_1 | US special envoy Stephen Biegun has urged North Korea to come to the negotiating table, saying: "We are here, let's get this done." His comments in Seoul come days after North Korea conducted missile tests at a satellite launch site. North Korea has set an end-of-year deadline for the US to come up with a new denuclearisation deal that would involve significant sanctions relief. It said the US could expect a "Christmas gift" if it did not comply. Mr Biegun - the US special representative for North Korea - called Pyongyang's statements "hostile, negative and so unnecessary", adding that the US had a "goal... not a deadline". He called for Pyongyang to enter talks with the US, saying to his North Korean counterparts: "It is time for us to do our jobs. Let's get this done. We are here and you know how to reach us." US President Donald Trump has said he will not lift sanctions until North Korea fully abandons its nuclear programme. North Korea said if the US did not make an acceptable offer, it would find a "new way". Pyongyang appears to have shut the door on further US talks, focusing instead on testing missiles. On 8 December, it said it carried out a "very important test". It held a second test less than a week later on 14 December. Both tests were said to be carried out at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground - a site that North Korea had promised to dismantle. It's not clear exactly what was being tested - but Ankit Panda, North Korea expert at the Federation of American Scientists, told the BBC it could be a ground test for a ballistic missile engine. The US and North Korea have reached a nuclear impasse. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his US counterpart Mr Trump held historic talks in Singapore in June 2018 and in Vietnam earlier this year aimed at denuclearisation. They also held "impromptu" talks at the Demilitarised Zone that separates North and South Korea in June. But talks have stalled since then - a recent meeting of officials in Stockholm ended without progress - and North Korea restarted testing of its short-range ballistic missiles. North Korea also appears to have renewed its verbal attacks against Mr Trump for the first time in two years. The foreign ministry said if Mr Trump was confrontational, it "must really be diagnosed as the relapse of the dotage of a dotard". The North first called Mr Trump a dotard, meaning old and weak, in 2017. | How are US - North Korea relations? | 1,581 | The US and North Korea have reached a nuclear impasse. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his US counterpart Mr Trump held historic talks in Singapore in June 2018 and in Vietnam earlier this year aimed at denuclearisation. They also held "impromptu" talks at the Demilitarised Zone that separates North and South Korea in June. But talks have stalled since then - a recent meeting of officials in Stockholm ended without progress - and North Korea restarted testing of its short-range ballistic missiles. North Korea also appears to have renewed its verbal attacks against Mr Trump for the first time in two years. The foreign ministry said if Mr Trump was confrontational, it "must really be diagnosed as the relapse of the dotage of a dotard". The North first called Mr Trump a dotard, meaning old and weak, in 2017. | 0.599533 |
103_0 | Italian police are investigating a leaked photo of a blindfolded American teenager who is accused of killing an officer in Rome. The photo of murder suspect Gabriel Christian Natale-Hjorth, 18, was shown by Italian media on Sunday. Mr Natale-Hjorth and his friend, 19-year-old Finnegan Lee Elder, were arrested on suspicion of killing police officer Mario Cerciello Rega on Friday. Rega, 35, was stabbed to death in the Prati neighbourhood of Rome. He was allegedly knifed eight times after he investigated a drug deal gone wrong involving the teen suspects. Police have alleged that Mr Natale-Hjorth and Mr Elder, both students from San Francisco, California, "confessed to their guilt". The picture of Mr Natale-Hjorth, showing him blindfolded with his head bowed and hands restrained behind his back, was taken after their arrest. It was leaked to Italian newspaper, Corriere della Sera, whose article about the picture likened it to the treatment of prisoners at the US military detention camp Guantanamo Bay. Italy's military police, the Carabinieri, has sought to distance itself from the leak of the photo and has launched an investigation. "This is an unacceptable episode and should be treated as such," commander general of the force, Giovanni Nistri, told Corriere della Sera. Police commander Francesco Gargaro said the blindfolding of a suspect is "illegal", telling the Associated Press that the officer responsible did so by "mistake". The officer blindfolded Mr Natale-Hjorth to prevent him from seeing documents pertaining to the investigation, the commander said. Italian news agency Ansa reported that the officer is to be taken off operational duty. Italian politicians and human rights groups expressed concern at the photo, but Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini was less sympathetic. "To those who complain about the blindfolding of a person arrested, I remind them that the only victim to cry for is a ... Carabinieri... who died while doing his job, killed by people who, if guilty, deserve to spend their life in prison," Mr Salvini tweeted. The two suspects were allegedly in the Trastevere area, near to Vatican City, trying to buy drugs. They are said to have stolen a rucksack from an alleged drug dealer who had sold them fake product, according to Ansa. They reportedly offered to bring it back to him, if he paid them $100 (PS80; EUR90) and gave them a gram of cocaine. As they waited, they were approached by Rega and a colleague as part of a plain-clothed operation because the police had been tipped off about the bag exchange, Ansa reported. A brawl ensued, during which Rega was stabbed several times. He was taken to hospital, where he died of his injuries. Mr Natale-Hjorth and Mr Elder, who face charges of murder and attempted extortion, appeared in court on Saturday. Officers found a large knife hidden in the false ceiling of their hotel room. The pair were "ready to leave" Italy when found, police said. Vice-Brigadier Rega had been married only 43 days and had returned from his honeymoon just this week. "Mario was a lovely lad," Sandro Ottaviani, commander of Rome's Piazza Farnese Carabinieri station, was quoted as saying by Ansa. "He never held back at work and he was a figurehead for the whole district. He always helped everyone. He did voluntary work, accompanying sick people to Lourdes and Loreto. Every Tuesday he went to Termini train station to feed the needy." Grieving family members and friends paid tribute to Rega at a church ceremony in Rome on Sunday. His funeral will be held in his hometown of Somma Vesuviana, near Naples, on Monday, in the same church in which he was married. | What do we know about Rega's killing? | 2,074 | The two suspects were allegedly in the Trastevere area, near to Vatican City, trying to buy drugs. They are said to have stolen a rucksack from an alleged drug dealer who had sold them fake product, according to Ansa. They reportedly offered to bring it back to him, if he paid them $100 (PS80; EUR90) and gave them a gram of cocaine. As they waited, they were approached by Rega and a colleague as part of a plain-clothed operation because the police had been tipped off about the bag exchange, Ansa reported. A brawl ensued, during which Rega was stabbed several times. He was taken to hospital, where he died of his injuries. Mr Natale-Hjorth and Mr Elder, who face charges of murder and attempted extortion, appeared in court on Saturday. Officers found a large knife hidden in the false ceiling of their hotel room. The pair were "ready to leave" Italy when found, police said. | 0.471357 |
107_0 | An artist in India is challenging sexist drawings of women in comic books by parodying them using male heroes in poses typically associated with women. She-Hulk has superhuman strength and speed and is one of the most formidable hand-to-hand combatants in the Marvel world. Like Hulk, not only does she have physical power, she's also completely green. Yet, on a 1991 comic book cover, she is shown in a seductive pose, wearing a G-string bikini, with her curves sharply accentuated. Indian artist Shreya Arora was shocked when she saw the image. "For Hulk, the visual representation focuses on his strength. For She-Hulk, all we see is an emphasis on sexuality," says Arora, who grew up reading comic books. The 21-year-old graphic designer decided she wanted to flip the narrative. Her artwork draws inspiration from comic book covers but parodies the male superheroes using body language typically associated with women. The result - covers with familiar characters, such as Superman and Batman, in strikingly unusual poses and outfits. A scantily-clad Spiderman is pictured in only a thong, a coy Hulk covers himself with a newspaper, while an Iron Man with prominent buttocks crawls on a ledge. "The way female heroines are drawn would never be applied to men," Arora tells BBC 100 Women. Marvel, DC and other publishers in the comic world have been accused of sexism before. But Arora, who is in her third year at the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, says she only noticed the issue while she was studying in France. "Maybe seeing comics with text in a language I wasn't familiar with, made me focus more on the visuals," she says. Part of the problem is that "comic books are very often drawn by men, for men to enjoy", she argues. "The current depiction of superheroines exists because of this vicious cycle. Companies decide on a specific target market and then use that demographic as a reason to continue the same problematic process of content creation. "I wish comic book publishers would see that there is definitely a market for more inclusive comics." Her project has been criticised for not acknowledging that comics show not only female characters with unrealistic body shapes and poses, but male ones too. Arora maintains the comics are misogynistic, particularly on the front covers. "Body standards for men, with huge biceps and rock-hard abs, exist to make them look strong and powerful, which superheroes are known for," she says. "The body standards for women are tweaked to make them look sexy. "People deem the body types of real-life athletic, strong women, like Serena Williams, 'too masculine'. "If creators wanted to make superheroines look strong, they have plenty of real life inspiration to choose from." Arora is working on other projects that look at sexist representations of the female body and gender imbalance in media. She is behind a bogus magazine ad showing a woman with zipped-up lips, unable to speak out against domestic abuse. Her image of a magazine cover has the headline, "Why getting sexually assaulted is your fault" - a prompt to start a conversation about victim-blaming. "While there are a lot of young, passionate artists currently working on social issues and starting important conversations, even these conversations have a privilege bar - people with access to the internet, fluent in English, and to an extent, visually literate," says Arora. "But there are people in India and other countries, who do not fit these criteria. I want to bridge the gap between all this good intent, and the lack of impact at a grass-roots level". Produced by Valeria Perasso, social affairs correspondent for BBC Languages. BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year. We create documentaries, features and interviews about their lives, giving more space for stories that put women at the centre. Follow BBC 100 Women on Instagram and Facebook and join the conversation. | What is 100 Women? | 3,677 | 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. | 0.55738 |
108_0 | The chairman of the US Senate Judiciary Committee has vowed to investigate allegations that top FBI and justice department officials discussed ways to remove President Trump from office. Senator Lindsey Graham said the claims were an "attempted bureaucratic coup". Ex-acting FBI chief Andrew McCabe said Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had talks in 2017 about a constitutional clause that allows the removal of a president if deemed unfit. Mr Rosenstein has previously denied it. The pledge by Mr Graham, a Republican who has become one of the president's biggest defenders, comes after Mr McCabe appeared on US broadcaster CBS saying Mr Rosenstein discussed the numbers needed to invoke the clause, known as the 25th Amendment to the US constitution. In the 60 Minutes interview aired on Sunday, Mr McCabe also said that: - The FBI "had reason to investigate" the president's links with Russia, based on Mr Trump's actions - Mr Rosenstein had been "absolutely serious" when he discussed secretly wearing a wire to record Mr Trump - Mr Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin had told him North Korea did not have the capability to hit the US with ballistic missiles - and, when US intelligence officials contradicted this assessment, responded with: "I don't care. I believe Putin" The White House said Mr McCabe, who was fired last year for allegedly lying to government investigators, had "no credibility". President Trump has posted several tweets on Monday morning in response to the interview, and what he described as "many lies" by the "now disgraced" Mr McCabe. He also said that it looked like him and Mr Rosenstein were attempting to carry out a "very illegal act" and a "coup attempt" against his leadership. The allegations that Mr Rosenstein discussed invoking the amendment were first reported last year by the New York Times, which cited anonymous sources. However, Mr McCabe's quotes are the first to be made on the record from someone present at the meeting where the alleged comments were reportedly made - in May 2017, after Mr Trump fired FBI director James Comey, according to Mr McCabe. "The discussion of the 25th Amendment was simply [that] Rod raised the issue and discussed it with me in the context of thinking about how many other cabinet officials might support such an effort," he said. Mr McCabe also said Mr Rosenstein was openly "counting votes, or possible votes" and that he was "very concerned" about the president "his capacity and about his intent at that point in time." "To be fair, it was an unbelievably stressful time... it was really something that he kind of threw out in a very frenzied chaotic conversation about where we were and what we needed to do next." Mr Rosenstein has previously strongly denied having such discussions, saying there was "no basis" to invoking the amendment. Reacting to the interview, Senator Graham described it as "stunning" and pledged to hold a hearing at the Senate Judiciary Committee to determine "who's telling the truth" and that he could issue subpoenas - a court order forcing a witness to appear to give testimony - "if that's what it takes". The powerful committee he chairs oversees the US judiciary. "I think everybody in the country needs to know if it happened. I'm going to do everything I can to get to the bottom of Department of Justice [and] FBI behaviour toward President Trump and his campaign," he told CBS. It provides for the removal of a president if he is deemed unfit for office. Duties are transferred to the vice-president. Activating the relevant section of the 25th Amendment would require the approval of eight of the 15 members of Mr Trump's cabinet, the vice-president and two-thirds majorities in Congress. Ronald Reagan and George W Bush used the amendment to temporarily transfer power when they were medically anaesthetised. Mr Rosenstein is also alleged to have offered to secretly record Mr Trump, amid concerns about possible obstruction of justice relating to the investigation into alleged collusion between the president's campaign team and Russia. When the allegations first emerged in the New York Times, Mr Rosenstein said the report was "inaccurate and factually incorrect". A source told the BBC at the time that Mr Rosenstein's comment "was sarcastic and was never discussed with any intention of recording a conversation with the president". However, Mr McCabe said that Mr Rosenstein "was not joking. He was absolutely serious". "It was incredibly turbulent, incredibly stressful. And it was clear to me that that stress was - was impacting the deputy attorney general. "We talked about why the president had insisted on firing [Mr Comey] and whether or not he was thinking about the Russia investigation. And in the context of that conversation, the deputy attorney general offered to wear a wire into the White House. "I never actually considered taking him up on the offer," he added. Mr McCabe said the FBI was right to investigate Mr Trump's ties to Russia. When Mr Trump had told journalists and Russian diplomats that the Russia inquiry was among the reasons he had fired Mr Comey, his comments indicated that "a crime may have been committed", he said. Mr McCabe said he was "very concerned" about the Russia case, and wanted to ensure that "were I removed quickly and reassigned or fired, that the case could not be closed or vanish in the night without a trace". The justice department says Mr McCabe's account is "inaccurate and factually incorrect". It also denied Mr Rosenstein authorised any recording or considered invoking the Amendment. Meanwhile, the White House said: "Andrew McCabe was fired in disgrace from the FBI for lying, and he opened a completely baseless investigation into the president - everyone knows he has no credibility." Mr McCabe, who took over the FBI in 2017, was himself fired as deputy director in March last year just two days before he was due to retire. He was sacked by US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who said an internal review found he leaked information and misled investigators. Mr McCabe denied the claims and said he was being targeted because of his involvement in the inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election. He has now written a book on his time in the post. | What are the 25th Amendment claims? | 1,732 | The allegations that Mr Rosenstein discussed invoking the amendment were first reported last year by the New York Times, which cited anonymous sources. However, Mr McCabe's quotes are the first to be made on the record from someone present at the meeting where the alleged comments were reportedly made - in May 2017, after Mr Trump fired FBI director James Comey, according to Mr McCabe. "The discussion of the 25th Amendment was simply [that] Rod raised the issue and discussed it with me in the context of thinking about how many other cabinet officials might support such an effort," he said. Mr McCabe also said Mr Rosenstein was openly "counting votes, or possible votes" and that he was "very concerned" about the president "his capacity and about his intent at that point in time." "To be fair, it was an unbelievably stressful time... it was really something that he kind of threw out in a very frenzied chaotic conversation about where we were and what we needed to do next." Mr Rosenstein has previously strongly denied having such discussions, saying there was "no basis" to invoking the amendment. Reacting to the interview, Senator Graham described it as "stunning" and pledged to hold a hearing at the Senate Judiciary Committee to determine "who's telling the truth" and that he could issue subpoenas - a court order forcing a witness to appear to give testimony - "if that's what it takes". The powerful committee he chairs oversees the US judiciary. "I think everybody in the country needs to know if it happened. I'm going to do everything I can to get to the bottom of Department of Justice [and] FBI behaviour toward President Trump and his campaign," he told CBS. | 0.564261 |
108_1 | The chairman of the US Senate Judiciary Committee has vowed to investigate allegations that top FBI and justice department officials discussed ways to remove President Trump from office. Senator Lindsey Graham said the claims were an "attempted bureaucratic coup". Ex-acting FBI chief Andrew McCabe said Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had talks in 2017 about a constitutional clause that allows the removal of a president if deemed unfit. Mr Rosenstein has previously denied it. The pledge by Mr Graham, a Republican who has become one of the president's biggest defenders, comes after Mr McCabe appeared on US broadcaster CBS saying Mr Rosenstein discussed the numbers needed to invoke the clause, known as the 25th Amendment to the US constitution. In the 60 Minutes interview aired on Sunday, Mr McCabe also said that: - The FBI "had reason to investigate" the president's links with Russia, based on Mr Trump's actions - Mr Rosenstein had been "absolutely serious" when he discussed secretly wearing a wire to record Mr Trump - Mr Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin had told him North Korea did not have the capability to hit the US with ballistic missiles - and, when US intelligence officials contradicted this assessment, responded with: "I don't care. I believe Putin" The White House said Mr McCabe, who was fired last year for allegedly lying to government investigators, had "no credibility". President Trump has posted several tweets on Monday morning in response to the interview, and what he described as "many lies" by the "now disgraced" Mr McCabe. He also said that it looked like him and Mr Rosenstein were attempting to carry out a "very illegal act" and a "coup attempt" against his leadership. The allegations that Mr Rosenstein discussed invoking the amendment were first reported last year by the New York Times, which cited anonymous sources. However, Mr McCabe's quotes are the first to be made on the record from someone present at the meeting where the alleged comments were reportedly made - in May 2017, after Mr Trump fired FBI director James Comey, according to Mr McCabe. "The discussion of the 25th Amendment was simply [that] Rod raised the issue and discussed it with me in the context of thinking about how many other cabinet officials might support such an effort," he said. Mr McCabe also said Mr Rosenstein was openly "counting votes, or possible votes" and that he was "very concerned" about the president "his capacity and about his intent at that point in time." "To be fair, it was an unbelievably stressful time... it was really something that he kind of threw out in a very frenzied chaotic conversation about where we were and what we needed to do next." Mr Rosenstein has previously strongly denied having such discussions, saying there was "no basis" to invoking the amendment. Reacting to the interview, Senator Graham described it as "stunning" and pledged to hold a hearing at the Senate Judiciary Committee to determine "who's telling the truth" and that he could issue subpoenas - a court order forcing a witness to appear to give testimony - "if that's what it takes". The powerful committee he chairs oversees the US judiciary. "I think everybody in the country needs to know if it happened. I'm going to do everything I can to get to the bottom of Department of Justice [and] FBI behaviour toward President Trump and his campaign," he told CBS. It provides for the removal of a president if he is deemed unfit for office. Duties are transferred to the vice-president. Activating the relevant section of the 25th Amendment would require the approval of eight of the 15 members of Mr Trump's cabinet, the vice-president and two-thirds majorities in Congress. Ronald Reagan and George W Bush used the amendment to temporarily transfer power when they were medically anaesthetised. Mr Rosenstein is also alleged to have offered to secretly record Mr Trump, amid concerns about possible obstruction of justice relating to the investigation into alleged collusion between the president's campaign team and Russia. When the allegations first emerged in the New York Times, Mr Rosenstein said the report was "inaccurate and factually incorrect". A source told the BBC at the time that Mr Rosenstein's comment "was sarcastic and was never discussed with any intention of recording a conversation with the president". However, Mr McCabe said that Mr Rosenstein "was not joking. He was absolutely serious". "It was incredibly turbulent, incredibly stressful. And it was clear to me that that stress was - was impacting the deputy attorney general. "We talked about why the president had insisted on firing [Mr Comey] and whether or not he was thinking about the Russia investigation. And in the context of that conversation, the deputy attorney general offered to wear a wire into the White House. "I never actually considered taking him up on the offer," he added. Mr McCabe said the FBI was right to investigate Mr Trump's ties to Russia. When Mr Trump had told journalists and Russian diplomats that the Russia inquiry was among the reasons he had fired Mr Comey, his comments indicated that "a crime may have been committed", he said. Mr McCabe said he was "very concerned" about the Russia case, and wanted to ensure that "were I removed quickly and reassigned or fired, that the case could not be closed or vanish in the night without a trace". The justice department says Mr McCabe's account is "inaccurate and factually incorrect". It also denied Mr Rosenstein authorised any recording or considered invoking the Amendment. Meanwhile, the White House said: "Andrew McCabe was fired in disgrace from the FBI for lying, and he opened a completely baseless investigation into the president - everyone knows he has no credibility." Mr McCabe, who took over the FBI in 2017, was himself fired as deputy director in March last year just two days before he was due to retire. He was sacked by US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who said an internal review found he leaked information and misled investigators. Mr McCabe denied the claims and said he was being targeted because of his involvement in the inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election. He has now written a book on his time in the post. | What is the 25th Amendment? | 3,418 | It provides for the removal of a president if he is deemed unfit for office. Duties are transferred to the vice-president. Activating the relevant section of the 25th Amendment would require the approval of eight of the 15 members of Mr Trump's cabinet, the vice-president and two-thirds majorities in Congress. Ronald Reagan and George W Bush used the amendment to temporarily transfer power when they were medically anaesthetised. | 0.674748 |
108_3 | The chairman of the US Senate Judiciary Committee has vowed to investigate allegations that top FBI and justice department officials discussed ways to remove President Trump from office. Senator Lindsey Graham said the claims were an "attempted bureaucratic coup". Ex-acting FBI chief Andrew McCabe said Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had talks in 2017 about a constitutional clause that allows the removal of a president if deemed unfit. Mr Rosenstein has previously denied it. The pledge by Mr Graham, a Republican who has become one of the president's biggest defenders, comes after Mr McCabe appeared on US broadcaster CBS saying Mr Rosenstein discussed the numbers needed to invoke the clause, known as the 25th Amendment to the US constitution. In the 60 Minutes interview aired on Sunday, Mr McCabe also said that: - The FBI "had reason to investigate" the president's links with Russia, based on Mr Trump's actions - Mr Rosenstein had been "absolutely serious" when he discussed secretly wearing a wire to record Mr Trump - Mr Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin had told him North Korea did not have the capability to hit the US with ballistic missiles - and, when US intelligence officials contradicted this assessment, responded with: "I don't care. I believe Putin" The White House said Mr McCabe, who was fired last year for allegedly lying to government investigators, had "no credibility". President Trump has posted several tweets on Monday morning in response to the interview, and what he described as "many lies" by the "now disgraced" Mr McCabe. He also said that it looked like him and Mr Rosenstein were attempting to carry out a "very illegal act" and a "coup attempt" against his leadership. The allegations that Mr Rosenstein discussed invoking the amendment were first reported last year by the New York Times, which cited anonymous sources. However, Mr McCabe's quotes are the first to be made on the record from someone present at the meeting where the alleged comments were reportedly made - in May 2017, after Mr Trump fired FBI director James Comey, according to Mr McCabe. "The discussion of the 25th Amendment was simply [that] Rod raised the issue and discussed it with me in the context of thinking about how many other cabinet officials might support such an effort," he said. Mr McCabe also said Mr Rosenstein was openly "counting votes, or possible votes" and that he was "very concerned" about the president "his capacity and about his intent at that point in time." "To be fair, it was an unbelievably stressful time... it was really something that he kind of threw out in a very frenzied chaotic conversation about where we were and what we needed to do next." Mr Rosenstein has previously strongly denied having such discussions, saying there was "no basis" to invoking the amendment. Reacting to the interview, Senator Graham described it as "stunning" and pledged to hold a hearing at the Senate Judiciary Committee to determine "who's telling the truth" and that he could issue subpoenas - a court order forcing a witness to appear to give testimony - "if that's what it takes". The powerful committee he chairs oversees the US judiciary. "I think everybody in the country needs to know if it happened. I'm going to do everything I can to get to the bottom of Department of Justice [and] FBI behaviour toward President Trump and his campaign," he told CBS. It provides for the removal of a president if he is deemed unfit for office. Duties are transferred to the vice-president. Activating the relevant section of the 25th Amendment would require the approval of eight of the 15 members of Mr Trump's cabinet, the vice-president and two-thirds majorities in Congress. Ronald Reagan and George W Bush used the amendment to temporarily transfer power when they were medically anaesthetised. Mr Rosenstein is also alleged to have offered to secretly record Mr Trump, amid concerns about possible obstruction of justice relating to the investigation into alleged collusion between the president's campaign team and Russia. When the allegations first emerged in the New York Times, Mr Rosenstein said the report was "inaccurate and factually incorrect". A source told the BBC at the time that Mr Rosenstein's comment "was sarcastic and was never discussed with any intention of recording a conversation with the president". However, Mr McCabe said that Mr Rosenstein "was not joking. He was absolutely serious". "It was incredibly turbulent, incredibly stressful. And it was clear to me that that stress was - was impacting the deputy attorney general. "We talked about why the president had insisted on firing [Mr Comey] and whether or not he was thinking about the Russia investigation. And in the context of that conversation, the deputy attorney general offered to wear a wire into the White House. "I never actually considered taking him up on the offer," he added. Mr McCabe said the FBI was right to investigate Mr Trump's ties to Russia. When Mr Trump had told journalists and Russian diplomats that the Russia inquiry was among the reasons he had fired Mr Comey, his comments indicated that "a crime may have been committed", he said. Mr McCabe said he was "very concerned" about the Russia case, and wanted to ensure that "were I removed quickly and reassigned or fired, that the case could not be closed or vanish in the night without a trace". The justice department says Mr McCabe's account is "inaccurate and factually incorrect". It also denied Mr Rosenstein authorised any recording or considered invoking the Amendment. Meanwhile, the White House said: "Andrew McCabe was fired in disgrace from the FBI for lying, and he opened a completely baseless investigation into the president - everyone knows he has no credibility." Mr McCabe, who took over the FBI in 2017, was himself fired as deputy director in March last year just two days before he was due to retire. He was sacked by US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who said an internal review found he leaked information and misled investigators. Mr McCabe denied the claims and said he was being targeted because of his involvement in the inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election. He has now written a book on his time in the post. | What did McCabe say about the Russia inquiry? | 4,928 | Mr McCabe said the FBI was right to investigate Mr Trump's ties to Russia. When Mr Trump had told journalists and Russian diplomats that the Russia inquiry was among the reasons he had fired Mr Comey, his comments indicated that "a crime may have been committed", he said. Mr McCabe said he was "very concerned" about the Russia case, and wanted to ensure that "were I removed quickly and reassigned or fired, that the case could not be closed or vanish in the night without a trace". | 0.693854 |
111_0 | A Toronto landscaper accused of killing eight men who went missing between 2010-17 has pleaded guilty to their murders. Bruce McArthur, 67, was arrested last January and charged in the deaths of two men, and police subsequently charged him in six other cases. Most of his victims had links to Toronto's Gay Village neighbourhood. Many of the victims' remains were found in plant pots on one property in Toronto's Leaside neighbourhood. Each of the first-degree murder charges carry an automatic life sentence, meaning he will not be able to apply for release until the age of 91. His sentencing hearing will begin on 4 February, in which friends and relatives will be give impact statements, describing how the killings have affected their lives. The judge must also decide whether to sentence him to consecutive life sentences, or whether he can serve eight life sentences concurrently. In court on Tuesday, Crown prosecutor Michael Cantlon described how McArthur had "staged" and photographed the victims, keeping mementos such as jewellery and a notebook. He described all of the crimes as "sexual in nature", adding that there is evidence he tied the victims up during the murders. While many of the remains were buried in planters at 53 Mallory Crescent in Toronto, where McArthur worked as a gardener, others were buried in a nearby ravine. McArthur had an agreement with the home's elderly residents to store his landscaping equipment there in exchange for free lawn care, according to the authorities. Police say they found a duffle bag with duct tape, a surgical glove, rope, zip ties, a black bungee cord and syringes in his bedroom when they searched his property, according to court documents. They say that some of the victims were killed during a sexual assault or while being "unlawfully confined". The arrest launched a massive investigation that spanned Canada's largest city, one of the largest such investigations in the history of Toronto police. Investigators searched dozens of properties linked to the self-employed landscaper and looked into cold cases dating back decades. By Robin Levinson-King in the Toronto court In a packed courtroom, Bruce McArthur's eight guilty pleas marked the beginning of the end of a saga that has haunted Toronto's LGBT community for years. Dressed in a black cable-knit sweater and a plaid shirt, McArthur spoke softly and matter-of-factly when addressing the court, which was filled with family and friends of his victims. As the plea deal was read, they were stoic, but outside of the courtroom, many embraced with signs of relief in their eyes. For years, rumours of a serial killer stalking Toronto's Gay Village has left the city's LGBT community afraid. McArthur's conviction, and his subsequent sentencing to life in prison, will bring closure for many. But nagging questions remain: how did he get away with it for so long? Why did he do it? So far, all of the eight victims except one had ties to the city's Gay Village. Many were immigrants from South Asia or the Middle East. Members of Toronto's LGBT community have criticised police, saying they did not take their concerns about the missing men seriously. The first two alleged victims were identified in January as Andrew Kinsman, 49, and Selim Esen, 44, who both went missing in 2017. Since then, police have named Skandaraj Navaratnam, 40, who disappeared on Labour Day weekend in 2010; Soroush Mahmudi, 50, reported missing in 2015; Dean Lisowick, 47, who is believed to have been killed in April 2016; Abdulbasir Faizi, 42, who disappeared in 2010; Majeed Kayhan, 58, who disappeared in 2012; and Kirushna Kumar Kanagaratnam, 37, who police believe was killed in January 2016. Karen Fraser, one of the residents of the home where victims were recovered, told reporters outside the courthouse that the couple feels "violated" by the man they knew for more than a decade. "What does remorse look like? I only saw a blank face," she said, calling him "evil" and a "shuffling, broken man, as he should be". She had previously met two of the victims, whom she did not name, at her property with McArthur. She said thinking about their last moments "haunts her". "They're not just on a list or a photograph, they were people standing in front of me." Mrs Fraser said that in her mind, there were two Bruce McArthurs: "Bruce A" and "Bruce B". Lead Homicide Detective David Dickinson said investigators are glad for the guilty plea, which will spare victims and families a trial. An independent review has been ordered to look into how police handle missing persons cases. "If mistakes were made we should learn from them," Detective Dickinson said. Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention Director Haran Vijayanathan, who has been speaking on behalf of many victims' families since McArthur's arrest, said they are grateful. "We have closure now finally. We don't have to guess and wait and anticipate and come to court meetings and just walk away with no answers," he said. "So this is really good for closure for everyone." | What were his crimes? | 888 | In court on Tuesday, Crown prosecutor Michael Cantlon described how McArthur had "staged" and photographed the victims, keeping mementos such as jewellery and a notebook. He described all of the crimes as "sexual in nature", adding that there is evidence he tied the victims up during the murders. While many of the remains were buried in planters at 53 Mallory Crescent in Toronto, where McArthur worked as a gardener, others were buried in a nearby ravine. McArthur had an agreement with the home's elderly residents to store his landscaping equipment there in exchange for free lawn care, according to the authorities. Police say they found a duffle bag with duct tape, a surgical glove, rope, zip ties, a black bungee cord and syringes in his bedroom when they searched his property, according to court documents. They say that some of the victims were killed during a sexual assault or while being "unlawfully confined". The arrest launched a massive investigation that spanned Canada's largest city, one of the largest such investigations in the history of Toronto police. Investigators searched dozens of properties linked to the self-employed landscaper and looked into cold cases dating back decades. | 0.352648 |
111_2 | A Toronto landscaper accused of killing eight men who went missing between 2010-17 has pleaded guilty to their murders. Bruce McArthur, 67, was arrested last January and charged in the deaths of two men, and police subsequently charged him in six other cases. Most of his victims had links to Toronto's Gay Village neighbourhood. Many of the victims' remains were found in plant pots on one property in Toronto's Leaside neighbourhood. Each of the first-degree murder charges carry an automatic life sentence, meaning he will not be able to apply for release until the age of 91. His sentencing hearing will begin on 4 February, in which friends and relatives will be give impact statements, describing how the killings have affected their lives. The judge must also decide whether to sentence him to consecutive life sentences, or whether he can serve eight life sentences concurrently. In court on Tuesday, Crown prosecutor Michael Cantlon described how McArthur had "staged" and photographed the victims, keeping mementos such as jewellery and a notebook. He described all of the crimes as "sexual in nature", adding that there is evidence he tied the victims up during the murders. While many of the remains were buried in planters at 53 Mallory Crescent in Toronto, where McArthur worked as a gardener, others were buried in a nearby ravine. McArthur had an agreement with the home's elderly residents to store his landscaping equipment there in exchange for free lawn care, according to the authorities. Police say they found a duffle bag with duct tape, a surgical glove, rope, zip ties, a black bungee cord and syringes in his bedroom when they searched his property, according to court documents. They say that some of the victims were killed during a sexual assault or while being "unlawfully confined". The arrest launched a massive investigation that spanned Canada's largest city, one of the largest such investigations in the history of Toronto police. Investigators searched dozens of properties linked to the self-employed landscaper and looked into cold cases dating back decades. By Robin Levinson-King in the Toronto court In a packed courtroom, Bruce McArthur's eight guilty pleas marked the beginning of the end of a saga that has haunted Toronto's LGBT community for years. Dressed in a black cable-knit sweater and a plaid shirt, McArthur spoke softly and matter-of-factly when addressing the court, which was filled with family and friends of his victims. As the plea deal was read, they were stoic, but outside of the courtroom, many embraced with signs of relief in their eyes. For years, rumours of a serial killer stalking Toronto's Gay Village has left the city's LGBT community afraid. McArthur's conviction, and his subsequent sentencing to life in prison, will bring closure for many. But nagging questions remain: how did he get away with it for so long? Why did he do it? So far, all of the eight victims except one had ties to the city's Gay Village. Many were immigrants from South Asia or the Middle East. Members of Toronto's LGBT community have criticised police, saying they did not take their concerns about the missing men seriously. The first two alleged victims were identified in January as Andrew Kinsman, 49, and Selim Esen, 44, who both went missing in 2017. Since then, police have named Skandaraj Navaratnam, 40, who disappeared on Labour Day weekend in 2010; Soroush Mahmudi, 50, reported missing in 2015; Dean Lisowick, 47, who is believed to have been killed in April 2016; Abdulbasir Faizi, 42, who disappeared in 2010; Majeed Kayhan, 58, who disappeared in 2012; and Kirushna Kumar Kanagaratnam, 37, who police believe was killed in January 2016. Karen Fraser, one of the residents of the home where victims were recovered, told reporters outside the courthouse that the couple feels "violated" by the man they knew for more than a decade. "What does remorse look like? I only saw a blank face," she said, calling him "evil" and a "shuffling, broken man, as he should be". She had previously met two of the victims, whom she did not name, at her property with McArthur. She said thinking about their last moments "haunts her". "They're not just on a list or a photograph, they were people standing in front of me." Mrs Fraser said that in her mind, there were two Bruce McArthurs: "Bruce A" and "Bruce B". Lead Homicide Detective David Dickinson said investigators are glad for the guilty plea, which will spare victims and families a trial. An independent review has been ordered to look into how police handle missing persons cases. "If mistakes were made we should learn from them," Detective Dickinson said. Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention Director Haran Vijayanathan, who has been speaking on behalf of many victims' families since McArthur's arrest, said they are grateful. "We have closure now finally. We don't have to guess and wait and anticipate and come to court meetings and just walk away with no answers," he said. "So this is really good for closure for everyone." | Who are the victims? | 2,906 | So far, all of the eight victims except one had ties to the city's Gay Village. Many were immigrants from South Asia or the Middle East. Members of Toronto's LGBT community have criticised police, saying they did not take their concerns about the missing men seriously. The first two alleged victims were identified in January as Andrew Kinsman, 49, and Selim Esen, 44, who both went missing in 2017. Since then, police have named Skandaraj Navaratnam, 40, who disappeared on Labour Day weekend in 2010; Soroush Mahmudi, 50, reported missing in 2015; Dean Lisowick, 47, who is believed to have been killed in April 2016; Abdulbasir Faizi, 42, who disappeared in 2010; Majeed Kayhan, 58, who disappeared in 2012; and Kirushna Kumar Kanagaratnam, 37, who police believe was killed in January 2016. | 0.48791 |
114_2 | President Lenin Moreno has imposed a night curfew near government buildings after protesters clashed with security forces inside Ecuador's heavily guarded parliament. Demonstrators briefly burst through a police cordon before being driven back with tear gas, witnesses said. Mr Moreno declared a state of emergency last week but has failed to end protests led by indigenous groups. They are demanding an end to austerity and the return of fuel subsidies. Petrol prices have soared by more than 100% since last Thursday when the subsidies were removed. The unrest has forced President Lenin Moreno to move the government out of the capital. Indigenous-led protests have toppled three presidents in the past few decades. Amid the worst unrest in years, the embattled government has said it is open to mediation through the United Nations or the Roman Catholic Church. Witnesses said protesters, some of whom were carrying wooden shields, broke through a security cordon around the National Assembly building on Tuesday. Once inside they waved flags and chanted slogans before being forced back by security forces using tear gas. No staff were in the building at the time. Other government buildings in the capital were also attacked and damaged, local media reported. Across Ecuador, two people have died in the recent disturbances and dozens more have been injured. Later on Tuesday, Mr Moreno declared a curfew restricting movement near government buildings between 20:00 and 05:00 in a bid to quell the unrest. The president has refused to resign, reportedly telling broadcaster Teleamazonas "under no circumstance" would he quit. "I don't see why I should if I'm making the right decisions," he reportedly said. President Moreno had earlier announced that he had temporarily moved government operations from the capital to the port city of Guayaquil. Mr Moreno's announcement last week of an end to subsidies that had been holding down fuel prices triggered a strike by transport unions. The unions later stopped their action, but protests have continued. Indigenous demonstrators have blocked roads and highways in the country and thousands have travelled to the capital Quito for bigger protests. Some of the road blockages have affected petrol deliveries, leading to fuel shortages in parts of the country. Officials said on Tuesday that the number of arrests had risen to 570. Mr Moreno has declared a two-month national emergency over the unrest. Mr Moreno said the subsidies, which cost the government $1.3bn (PS1bn) annually, were no longer affordable. The elimination of the subsidies, introduced in the 1970s, are part of his plan to shore up Ecuador's flagging economy and ease its debt burden. The government has agreed to cut public spending as part of a loan deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The agreement, signed in March, allows Ecuador to borrow $4.2bn (PS3.4bn). | Why were fuel subsidies scrapped? | 2,454 | Mr Moreno said the subsidies, which cost the government $1.3bn (PS1bn) annually, were no longer affordable. The elimination of the subsidies, introduced in the 1970s, are part of his plan to shore up Ecuador's flagging economy and ease its debt burden. The government has agreed to cut public spending as part of a loan deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The agreement, signed in March, allows Ecuador to borrow $4.2bn (PS3.4bn). | 0.376375 |
115_2 | US senators have passed a sweeping tax cuts bill, paving the way for Donald Trump's first big legislative victory. The package would mark the biggest tax overhaul since the 1980s. It was passed by 51 votes to 49, after a series of amendments in a marathon session. Democrats complained it only benefited the wealthy and big business. The plan sees a sharp cut in corporation tax, but a Senate committee finding has warned it would add $1tn (PS742bn) to the budget deficit. President Trump wants the measures enacted by the end of the year and he congratulated Republicans for taking the US "one step closer to delivering massive tax cuts for working families". The Senate will now have to merge its legislation with that passed last month by the House of Representatives, before it can be signed into law by the president. On Saturday, a triumphant Mr Trump told supporters at a New York fundraiser: "So last night we passed in the history of the country, the largest tax cuts and reform... what we're doing is, if you look at it, we're going to grow the country, we're going to grow jobs. We're going to be growing everything." The move is as a major victory for Mr Trump, who since taking office has struggled to get major legislative movement in Congress - including fulfilling his vow to repeal and replace Obamacare. His presidency has also been dogged by an independent investigation into Russian attempts to influence the 2016 US election and possible collusion with his campaign team. On Friday, ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn became the Trump administration's most senior member to be charged in the investigation. Analysis: Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington The US Senate, a seemingly insurmountable roadblock for the Republican agenda for much of this year, has at last given its assent to a major piece of legislation. Perhaps unsurprisingly it was sweeping tax cuts - always beloved by conservatives - that finally brought the party together and gave President Donald Trump the opportunity to claim a landmark legislative achievement. It wasn't always pretty. Senate negotiators were handwriting amendments to the massive bill practically up until the final votes were taken. Deals within deals were cut to satisfy recalcitrant legislators. Democrats howled at the permanent cuts provided to corporations, while middle-class taxpayer benefits had sunset clauses. In the end, however, a combination of hope and fear were enough to drag a slim majority into the yes column. The hope is that a booming economy will give Republicans a chance to run on their tax policy when they stand before voters next November. The fear was that yet another failure would have led to a revolt among the party's big donors and traditional business constituencies. The House and Senate must now smooth out differences in their bills and vote on the compromise. It's not the end of the race, but the finish line is in sight. Presiding over the Senate, Vice-President Mike Pence declared the 51-49 victory to applause from Republicans in the early hours of Saturday morning. The final draft of the bill went through several changes in order to bring reluctant Republicans on board. Republicans have a 52-48 majority in the Senate. Random tax provisions you may have missed Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the corporate tax rate would be permanently lowered from 35% to 20%, while future foreign profits of US-based firms would be mainly exempt from tax. The measures were passed despite the non-partisan Senate Joint Committee on Taxation warning on Thursday that the bill would add significantly to the federal deficit over a decade. The committee's findings contradicted a White House claim that economic growth would compensate for the tax cuts. Most Americans across all income levels would see modest tax breaks until 2026 and the committee said after that families earning under $75,000 a year would likely face higher taxes. Some opponents highlighted a measure that would end a requirement introduced under Obamacare for most taxpayers to buy health insurance or face a fine. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, scrapping the mandate would push up insurance premiums and lead to 13 million people losing cover by 2027. There were some last minute changes, including a $10,000 property tax deduction as requested by Senator Susan Collins, one of the Republicans who had been reluctant to back the bill. After the vote, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said his opponents would pay the price at the ballot box in mid-term elections next year. "My Republican friends will ultimately pay consequences for this bill in 2018 and beyond. The Republican party will never again be the party of tax cuts for middle-class people," he warned. He said the measures would endanger social security and medical provision. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders was among the most vocal critics, declaring during the debate that the American treasury was "being looted". But Republican Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, who succeeded in bringing dissenting party members into line, said the legislation would prove to be "just what the country needs to get growing again". He brushed aside complaints that it was pushed through without proper scrutiny, saying: "Everybody had plenty of opportunity to see the measure. You complain about process when you're losing and that's what you heard on the floor tonight." Republican Senator Bill Cassidy also praised the bill, saying "working families and middle-income families across the nation will be better off". Democrats were angry about the last-minute revisions, complaining that they had not been given enough time to digest the nearly 500-page document, with handwritten changes to the legislation. The only Republican senator who refused to back the legislation was Bob Corker. "I am not able to cast aside my fiscal concerns and vote for legislation that... could deepen the debt burden on future generations," he said. | How did senators react? | 4,441 | After the vote, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said his opponents would pay the price at the ballot box in mid-term elections next year. "My Republican friends will ultimately pay consequences for this bill in 2018 and beyond. The Republican party will never again be the party of tax cuts for middle-class people," he warned. He said the measures would endanger social security and medical provision. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders was among the most vocal critics, declaring during the debate that the American treasury was "being looted". But Republican Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, who succeeded in bringing dissenting party members into line, said the legislation would prove to be "just what the country needs to get growing again". He brushed aside complaints that it was pushed through without proper scrutiny, saying: "Everybody had plenty of opportunity to see the measure. You complain about process when you're losing and that's what you heard on the floor tonight." Republican Senator Bill Cassidy also praised the bill, saying "working families and middle-income families across the nation will be better off". Democrats were angry about the last-minute revisions, complaining that they had not been given enough time to digest the nearly 500-page document, with handwritten changes to the legislation. The only Republican senator who refused to back the legislation was Bob Corker. "I am not able to cast aside my fiscal concerns and vote for legislation that... could deepen the debt burden on future generations," he said. | 0.433918 |
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