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5111_2 | Measles has a devastating impact on the body's immune system that could make it harder to fight infections for years, a pair of studies show. The virus can cause "immune amnesia" - meaning the body forgets how to fight bugs it once knew how to beat. Measles also resets the immune system to a "baby-like" state, compromising its ability to devise ways of tackling new infections. Experts said the findings showed the importance of vaccination. Measles is a virus that initially causes a runny nose, sneezing and fever. A few days later it leads to a blotchy rash that starts off on the face and spreads across the body. Most people will recover, but measles can cause life-long disability. It can be deadly, especially if it causes pneumonia in the lungs or encephalitis (swelling in the brain). It is estimated that 110,000 people die from measles each year around the world. The findings were based on detailed analysis of unvaccinated children in an Orthodox Protestant community in the Netherlands. Blood samples were taken from the children, and then again two months after a measles outbreak in 2013. Research groups in the United States, UK and Netherlands were analysing the samples to assess the impact of measles on the immune system. The focus was on antibodies - the tiny proteins that stick to foreign invaders - and the white blood cells that make them. The immune system has a memory of the hostile invaders it has fought off before. Part of this memory is kept in memory B-cells, which are a type of immune cell that has specialised in producing just one type of antibody. But the measles virus can infect and destroy these cells, causing "immune amnesia". Researchers at Harvard Medical School looked at blood samples from 77 children. They used a tool, called VirScan, that is like a fancy fishing rod that can catch thousands of different types of antibodies. It allowed the team to build up an incredibly detailed picture of the children's immune system before and after a measles infection. Results, published in the journal Science, showed the children lost 20% of their repertoire of antibodies on average. One child, who had a severe measles infections, lost 73% of the types of antibody they could produce. "Measles is like the first 10 years of an untreated HIV infection compressed into a few weeks - that's the kind of immunological memory damage," Dr Michael Mina told the BBC. Not every antibody matters. An antibody might be one (of the huge number) that do very little, but another might completely neutralise a microscopic intruder. "If you delete that one then you've got a problem," Prof Stephen Elledge told the BBC. Essentially, it is a game of chance but the more antibodies that get wiped out, the greater the chance of hitting a crucial one. And without it, your body may be vulnerable to infection once again. This was borne out in the study with one particularly well-known antibody (for neutralising respiratory syncytial virus) disappearing in some children. Prof Elledge said measles was even more dangerous than people realised, as there could be "five times or more indirect deaths due to immune amnesia" than the initial infection caused. The researchers think the biggest problem is in sub-Saharan Africa where malnourished children are more likely to have larger swathes of their immune system wiped out. The studies have not been done to prove this, but the US team fear the figure could exceed 90% of the antibodies. "Those are the ones we think are the greatest concern," said Dr Mina. As well as memory B-cells there are naive B-cells and it is the latter we rely on to fight off something new. "They are the armour underneath," said Dr Velislava Petrova, from the Sanger Institute said. Her study, published in Science Immunology, looked at 26 children and also showed that measles can wipe out the memory of previous infections. But the research also showed the virus had an effect on the naive B-cells too. These cells have their DNA rearranged - a process called somatic recombination - so the immune system can produce a diverse array of back-up antibodies. The hope is one of them will work against a new infection. Babies start off making a very narrow range of antibodies, which become more and more varied with age. Measles hits the reset button so the immune system only has a limited range of antibodies to work with. Dr Petrova said: "The measles virus removed immune memory cells that are created in response to other pathogens they had seen before. "They also returned the immune system back to a baby-like state where they have limited ability to respond to new pathogens." The pair of studies focused only on the immediate aftermath of a measles infection. However, the research was partially inspired by a study that came out in 2015, which provides some clues to what happens in the long term. It looked at patterns in causes of death in rich countries and showed that children were more likely to die for two-to-three years after a measles infection. Those results suggest it may take that long for the immune system to fully recover. The timescales may be different in poorer countries where diseases spread more readily, the researchers suggest. There are two answers to this question, and they are both vaccination. Being immunised against measles, often through the MMR jab, almost eliminates the risk of catching measles. But if somebody's immune system is devastated by measles then the researchers suggest they may need to have their childhood vaccines again. "Revaccination against polio might not seem important in the UK or US, but in Afghanistan (one of the few places where the disease is still endemic) then you might want to vaccinate again," said Dr Mina. Yes. The study looked only at antibodies and the B-cells that produce them, but there are also equally important memory T-cells. Measles can infected these T-cells too, but the studies have not yet been done on what happens to them. "We do have really interesting anecdotal evidence suggesting the T-cell response would be affected in a very similar way," said Dr Mina. Prof Arne Akbar, president of the British Society for Immunology, said the studies were "elegant and thorough". He highlighted the "crucial" finding that the MMR vaccine, which contains a weakened measles virus, did not cause immune amnesia. "It is doubly important to make sure you and your children are vaccinated against measles," he said. Liam Sollis, from Unicef UK, said: "With vaccination rates in the UK falling and recently losing our measles-free status, an outbreak is now a ticking time bomb. "Vaccines are the safest and most effective preventative measures against highly infectious disease." Follow James on Twitter. | How does measles wipe out immune memory? | 1,368 | The immune system has a memory of the hostile invaders it has fought off before. Part of this memory is kept in memory B-cells, which are a type of immune cell that has specialised in producing just one type of antibody. But the measles virus can infect and destroy these cells, causing "immune amnesia". Researchers at Harvard Medical School looked at blood samples from 77 children. They used a tool, called VirScan, that is like a fancy fishing rod that can catch thousands of different types of antibodies. It allowed the team to build up an incredibly detailed picture of the children's immune system before and after a measles infection. Results, published in the journal Science, showed the children lost 20% of their repertoire of antibodies on average. One child, who had a severe measles infections, lost 73% of the types of antibody they could produce. "Measles is like the first 10 years of an untreated HIV infection compressed into a few weeks - that's the kind of immunological memory damage," Dr Michael Mina told the BBC. | 0.842254 | 0.860314 | 0.851284 |
3648_1 | A teenager in Mexico has invented a bra to detect breast cancer. But does it work? And if so, how? Julian Rios Cantu, 18, has made a bra that he says will be an early warning system for breast cancer symptoms. The Eva bra, made by him and three friends who formed a company together, is only at the prototype stage. But they have raised enough money to start tests and, this week, won the top prize at the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards. Their company, Higia Technologies, beat young entrepreneurs from around the world to win $20,000 (PS15,500) to develop their idea. Cancerous tumours may turn skin a different temperature due to increased blood flow. The idea of the Eva bra is that biosensors would measure temperatures, log them in an app, and alert a user to any disturbing changes. Women using the bra would need to wear it for 60-90 minutes a week to get accurate measurements. In one interview last year, Julian said having the sensors inside a bra would mean the breasts were in the same position each time measurements were taken. This is in the really early stages. It hasn't been fully tested yet and there would need to be medical trials before cancer experts started recommending it as a way to find cancer. Anna Perman from Cancer Research UK told the BBC: "We know that tumours often have an abnormal system of blood vessels, but we also know that increased blood flow isn't necessarily a reliable marker of cancer. "At present, there is no evidence to show whether this bra is a reliable way to detect tumours, and it's certainly not a good idea for women to use technology that hasn't been tested in good-quality scientific trials. "It's great to see young people like Julian getting into science and having ideas that could help with cancer diagnosis. But an important part of science is rigorous testing, to make sure innovations like this actually benefit patients." Get to know your body - this goes for men as well as women. Early signs of breast cancer include: - lumps in the chest or armpit area - a change in the size, shape or feel of a breast - fluid leaking from the nipple (not breast milk) - pain in the chest You can see more about the symptoms here - and you should see a doctor if anything alarms you. Ms Perman says: "Finding breast cancer at an early stage can make a real difference to the chance of surviving the disease, so our advice is to get to know what's normal for you, and if you notice anything unusual, see your GP." He had a particular personal motivation for this project - when he was 13, his mother nearly died after her breast cancer was not detected early. A doctor told her the lumps she had found were not malignant, but the doctor was wrong. Six months later, a second mammography found they were cancerous and in the end, both her breasts were removed. After researching the illness and current diagnostic practices, Julian came up with his idea, filed a patent, gathered some friends to help run the business, and went about making a product that he hopes to have on sale as early as the end of next year. | Will a cancer-detecting bra actually work? | 1,046 | This is in the really early stages. It hasn't been fully tested yet and there would need to be medical trials before cancer experts started recommending it as a way to find cancer. Anna Perman from Cancer Research UK told the BBC: "We know that tumours often have an abnormal system of blood vessels, but we also know that increased blood flow isn't necessarily a reliable marker of cancer. "At present, there is no evidence to show whether this bra is a reliable way to detect tumours, and it's certainly not a good idea for women to use technology that hasn't been tested in good-quality scientific trials. "It's great to see young people like Julian getting into science and having ideas that could help with cancer diagnosis. But an important part of science is rigorous testing, to make sure innovations like this actually benefit patients." | 0.805309 | 0.853192 | 0.829251 |
6007_0 | UK companies with 250 or more employees must publish their gender pay gap data by April 2018. About 9,000 firms will have to calculate their gender pay gap and publish it on a government website by 4 April 2018, or 30 March for the public sector. With big companies revealing their figures, including the BBC, the gender pay gap is a major talking point in offices across the UK. BBC News explains what you need to know about the gender pay gap, why companies have to report on it and what happens if they don't. The gender pay gap is the percentage difference between average hourly earnings for men and women. Across the UK, men earned 18.4% more than women in April 2017, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This figure is calculated on a 1% sample of employees' jobs. It takes the median average for men and women, which is the level of pay that half of people earn more than, and half earn less than. As the following graph shows, the gap between men and women's earnings for both full and part-time work has fallen from 27.5% in 1997 to 18.4% in 2017. If you only look at full-time workers the pay gap drops to 9.1%. For part-time workers the pay gap favours women, who now earn 5.1% more than men. The pay gap isn't the same as equal pay. Equal pay - that men and women doing the same job should be paid the same - has been a legal requirement for 47 years. Under the Equal Pay Act 1970, and more recently, the Equality Act 2010, it is unlawful to pay people unequally because they are a man or a woman. This applies to all employers, no matter how small. So, a company might have a gender pay gap if a majority of men are in top jobs, despite paying male and female employees the same amount for similar roles. There's no one reason behind the gender pay gap - it's a complex issue. The Fawcett Society, a group which campaigns for equality, says caring responsibilities can play a big part. Women often care for young children or elderly relatives. This means women are more likely to work in part-time roles, which are often lower paid or have fewer opportunities for progression. Another important factor is a divided labour market. Women are still more likely to work in lower-paid and lower-skilled jobs. Women currently make up 62% of those earning less than the living wage, according to the Living Wage Foundation. Discrimination is another cause of the gender pay gap. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (ECHR) has previously found that one in nine new mothers were either dismissed, made redundant or treated so poorly they felt they had to leave their job. This can create a gap in experience, leading to lower wages when women return to work. Men also tend to take up the majority of the most senior roles at a company, which are the highest paid. UK companies with 250 or more employees will have to publish their gender pay gap data by April 2018, under a new legal requirement. Public, private and voluntary sector firms are now all required to disclose average pay for men and women, including bonuses. Employers also have the option to include a narrative with their calculations. This would explain the reasons for the results, and give details about actions they are taking to tackle the gender pay gap. Firms must publish a snapshot of their employee pay as at 5 April 2017 if they are a private business or charity, or 31 March 2017 for those in the public sector. All the data will eventually be available on a government database. At the time of publication, more than 750 firms have revealed their figures - that's out of an estimated 9,000 companies required to submit their data. Insurance company Aviva was one of the first big financial services companies to publish a report on its gender pay gap. Aviva employs 16,000 people in the UK, with a median pay gap of 27.6%. The bonus gap stood at 40.5%. Aviva said the gender pay gap was a result of having fewer women than men in senior roles, in its report. Easyjet reported that women's median hourly pay rates are 45.5% lower than men's. Women earn 38.4% less at Virgin Money and 2.5% less per hour at Ladbrokes. All three firms say men and women in the same roles are paid equally. At Easyjet, for example, pilots make up more than a quarter of its UK employees. 6% of its UK pilots are women - a role which pays PS92,400 on average. Lower paid cabin crew, 69% of whom are women, earn an average salary of PS24,800. The airline said it has set a target that 20% of new entrant pilots should be female by 2020. The Ladbrokes Coral group put its gender pay gap down to "weak representation" at senior levels. Virgin Money said it was "confident" men and women were paid equally for the same roles. It said it aims to achieve a 50:50 gender balance in its workforce by 2020. Companies can't be punished for a wide gender pay gap. But they might be punished for failing to publish their data, or for publishing inaccurate or misleading figures. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for ensuring employers publish their pay gap figures. The EHRC set out plans for its enforcement policy in December. The EHRC says it will approach employers informally at first, but businesses could ultimately face "unlimited fines and convictions". As the EHRC is still consulting on these plans, it remains to be seen whether they can or will punish companies in this way. At the moment, there is no enforcement mechanism in the regulations on publishing pay gap data. The UK government says it will also publish sector-specific league tables, highlighting companies failing to address pay differences between men and women. | What is the gender pay gap? | 513 | The gender pay gap is the percentage difference between average hourly earnings for men and women. Across the UK, men earned 18.4% more than women in April 2017, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This figure is calculated on a 1% sample of employees' jobs. It takes the median average for men and women, which is the level of pay that half of people earn more than, and half earn less than. As the following graph shows, the gap between men and women's earnings for both full and part-time work has fallen from 27.5% in 1997 to 18.4% in 2017. If you only look at full-time workers the pay gap drops to 9.1%. For part-time workers the pay gap favours women, who now earn 5.1% more than men. | 0.791824 | 0.847172 | 0.819498 |
438_0 | Facebook is finalising plans to launch its own crypto-currency next year. It is planning to set up a digital payments system in about a dozen countries by the first quarter of 2020. The social media giant wants to start testing its crypto-currency, which has been referred to internally as GlobalCoin, by the end of this year. Facebook is expected to outline plans in more detail this summer, and has already spoken to Bank of England governor Mark Carney. Founder Mark Zuckerberg met Mr Carney last month to discuss the opportunities and risks involved in launching a crypto-currency. Facebook has also sought advice on operational and regulatory issues from officials at the US Treasury. The firm is also in talks with money transfer firms including Western Union as it looks for cheaper and faster ways for people without a bank account to send and receive money. Facebook wants to create a digital currency that provides affordable and secure ways of making payments, regardless of whether users have a bank account. The social networking site, which owns WhatsApp and Instagram, is hoping to disrupt existing networks by breaking down financial barriers, competing with banks and reducing consumer costs. Nicknamed Project Libra, Facebook's plans for a digital currency network were first reported last December. The project will see it join forces with banks and brokers that will enable people to change dollars and other international currencies into its digital coins. A small group of co-founders are expected to launch the Swiss-based association in the coming weeks. Facebook is also reportedly in talks with a number of online merchants to accept the currency as payment in return for lower transaction fees. Virtual currencies can be used to pay for things in the real world, such as a hotel room, food or even a house. Digital tokens are held in online wallets, and can be sent anonymously between users. Crypto-currencies run on blockchain technology. A blockchain is a ledger of blocks of information, such as transactions or agreements, that are stored across a network of computers. This information is stored chronologically, can be viewed by a community of users, and is not usually managed by a central authority such as a bank or a government. The concept was designed to ensure security and anonymity for users, by preventing tampering or hijacking of the network. Facebook has come under fire in recent years over its handling of users' personal data, and regulators are likely to examine the launch closely. Earlier this month, the US Senate and Banking committee wrote an open letter to Mr Zuckerberg questioning how the currency will work, what consumer protection will be offered and how data will be secured. Facebook has also discussed the process of identity checks and how to reduce money laundering risks with the US Treasury. It is believed that Facebook and its partners want to prevent wild swings in the coin's value by pegging it to a basket of established currencies, including the US dollar, euro and Japanese yen. It's not the first time Facebook has dabbled in digital currencies. A decade ago, it created Facebook Credits, a virtual currency that enabled people to purchase items in apps on the social networking site. However, Facebook ended the project after less than two years after it failed to gain traction. The company will also have to navigate a myriad of regulations in the countries it wants to launch in. India, a rumoured target for Facebook, has recently clamped down on digital currencies. However, the biggest test is likely to be whether people will trust the social networking giant enough to start changing their cash for the digital coin. Facebook is in the initial phase of engaging with governments, central banks and regulators, and insiders admit that launching any crypto currency network by the start of next year is ambitious. Facebook, Western Union and the Bank of England declined to comment. The biggest attraction of digital currencies to banks and big firms is the technology that underpins them. Blockchain technology can help to slash the time and cost of sending money across borders by bypassing banking networks. Lord King, the former Governor of the Bank of England, warned two decades ago that central banks could become "irrelevant" if people started to use digital currencies as pounds and pennies are used today. Blockchain expert David Gerard said that Facebook would gain access to valuable spending data by creating its own payment system. However, he questioned why the social media giant needed to mint its own crypto-currency to harvest that data. Instead, he said, Facebook could create a platform like PayPal, which allows users to transfer traditional currencies. Crypto-currencies are vulnerable to fluctuations in value, which Gerard said could create a barrier to the success of Facebook's so-called GlobalCoin. "Normal people don't want to deal with a currency that's going up and down all the time," he explained. But Garrick Hileman, a researcher at London School of Economics, said the GlobalCoin project could be one of the most significant events in the short history of crypto-currencies. Conservatively, he estimated that around 30 million people use crypto-currencies today. That compares to Facebook's 2.4 billion monthly users. | How will Facebook's crypto-currency work? | 867 | Facebook wants to create a digital currency that provides affordable and secure ways of making payments, regardless of whether users have a bank account. The social networking site, which owns WhatsApp and Instagram, is hoping to disrupt existing networks by breaking down financial barriers, competing with banks and reducing consumer costs. Nicknamed Project Libra, Facebook's plans for a digital currency network were first reported last December. The project will see it join forces with banks and brokers that will enable people to change dollars and other international currencies into its digital coins. A small group of co-founders are expected to launch the Swiss-based association in the coming weeks. Facebook is also reportedly in talks with a number of online merchants to accept the currency as payment in return for lower transaction fees. | 0.817023 | 0.81918 | 0.818101 |
1036_0 | Several readers have asked whether Australia's famous eucalyptus trees have helped spread the bushfires which have raged for months. Also known as the gum tree, these forests are some of the most flammable in the world. Eucalyptus trees cover more than three-quarters of Australia's forested area and almost all of the hundreds of species are native to the island nation. Strips of bark that hang off the trunk and the branches can ignite and carry a fire up the tree and can spread through the forest on the wind. "When the bark ignites it can be blown great distances, starting new fires," says Dr Jane Cawson, an expert in vegetation flammability at the University of Melbourne. This process, called spotting, can ignite fires 30km (18 miles) ahead of the main fire and is very difficult to suppress. "The trees themselves exacerbate the fires mostly through spotting," says Dr Cawson. Some gum tree leaves contain oil that can also ignite easily and burn quickly. There is also the vegetation on the floor of a eucalyptus forest, which tends to readily catch fire. Over time they have adapted to their environment where drought and fires are common, and the trees themselves are usually very resilient. Some species have developed the ability to survive, and recover, from bushfires and soon resprout through buds that lie dormant. Burning also releases seeds from their capsules stored in the canopy which can also aid the regeneration process. However, new research shows that if the same patch of forest is burned by high-intensity fire more than once over a short period of time, which has happened in Australia, even the most resilient species of eucalyptus may struggle to recover. These natural forests, often in protected areas, provide a habitat for huge numbers of plant and animal species. "There is no public discussion [in Australia] about replacing them with alternative species," says Dr Cawson. Aboriginal communities have used the tree for a multitude of practical purposes from crafting tools to using the oil as medicine. However, there are debates about how to look after the forests to prevent fires spreading. One of these options is prescribed burning, and there has been a political row about whether more of this "controlled burning" as a means to stop fires spreading should have been done. The main species that has been exported and planted widely outside of Australia is the Eucalyptus globulus. "It's actually one of the less flammable eucalyptus trees, but it is nevertheless much more flammable than some of the native landcover it has replaced," says Stefan Doerr, an expert in wildfires at Swansea University. These trees have contributed to wildfires in California and Portugal, which suffers from some of the worst fires in Europe. The eucalyptus was regarded as being one of the main reasons fires were so deadly in Portugal in 2017. They are grown for paper across large areas of the central and northern parts of the country. At the time, an environmental group said the fires reflected a "situation of negligence" and criticised the mass replacement of pine trees with eucalyptus trees. Elsewhere eucalyptus trees are commonly used for reforesting and commercial purposes because they are fast-growing, despite ecologists warning they can be bad for native species. These varieties are often bred to be more productive and are much less of a fire hazard, says Fangyuan Hua, a conservation ecologist based at Peking University in China. "These 'tree farms' are typically under fairly careful management which can lower their fire risk," she said. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter | How do eucalyptus trees spread fires? | 220 | Eucalyptus trees cover more than three-quarters of Australia's forested area and almost all of the hundreds of species are native to the island nation. Strips of bark that hang off the trunk and the branches can ignite and carry a fire up the tree and can spread through the forest on the wind. "When the bark ignites it can be blown great distances, starting new fires," says Dr Jane Cawson, an expert in vegetation flammability at the University of Melbourne. This process, called spotting, can ignite fires 30km (18 miles) ahead of the main fire and is very difficult to suppress. "The trees themselves exacerbate the fires mostly through spotting," says Dr Cawson. Some gum tree leaves contain oil that can also ignite easily and burn quickly. There is also the vegetation on the floor of a eucalyptus forest, which tends to readily catch fire. Over time they have adapted to their environment where drought and fires are common, and the trees themselves are usually very resilient. Some species have developed the ability to survive, and recover, from bushfires and soon resprout through buds that lie dormant. Burning also releases seeds from their capsules stored in the canopy which can also aid the regeneration process. However, new research shows that if the same patch of forest is burned by high-intensity fire more than once over a short period of time, which has happened in Australia, even the most resilient species of eucalyptus may struggle to recover. | 0.798212 | 0.823538 | 0.810875 |
6458_2 | President Donald Trump says he plans to end "birthright citizenship" in the US by executive order. Can he do that? In an interview with Axios, President Trump claimed that he was working on an end to birthright citizenship, the 150-year-old principle that says anyone born on US soil is an American citizen. "It was always told to me that you needed a constitutional amendment. Guess what? You don't," Mr Trump said. "You can definitely do it with an Act of Congress. But now they're saying I can do it just with an executive order." Mr Trump claimed that such an order was currently in the works, and not long after, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham tweeted: "I plan to introduce legislation along the same lines as the proposed executive order from President @realDonaldTrump." The president's comments have ignited a furious debate about whether or not the president has the unilateral power to do such a thing, and whether the underlying premise - that birthright citizenship is exploited by undocumented immigrants - has any merit. The first sentence of the Fourteenth Amendment to the US constitution establishes the principle of "birthright citizenship": "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside." Immigration hardliners argue that the policy is a "great magnet for illegal immigration", and that it encourages undocumented pregnant women to cross the border in order to give birth, an act that has been pejoratively called "birth tourism" or having an "anchor baby". "The baby is essentially a citizen of the United States for 85 years with all those benefits. It's ridiculous," Mr Trump told Axios. "It has to end." A 2015 Pew Research Center study found that 60% of Americans opposed ending birthright citizenship, while 37% were in favour. The Fourteenth Amendment was adopted in 1868, after the close of the Civil War. The Thirteenth Amendment had abolished slavery in 1865, while the Fourteenth settled the question of the citizenship of freed, American-born former slaves. Previous Supreme Court decisions, like Dred Scott v Sandford in 1857, had decided that African Americans could never be US citizens. The Fourteenth Amendment overrode that. In 1898, the US Supreme Court affirmed that birthright citizenship applies to the children of immigrants in the case of Wong Kim Ark v United States. Wong was a 24-year-old child of Chinese immigrants who was born in the US, but denied re-entry when he returned from a visit to China. Wong successfully argued that because he was born in the US, his parent's immigration status did not impact the application of the Fourteenth Amendment. "Wong Kim Ark vs United States affirmed that regardless of race or the immigration status of one's parents, all persons born in the United States were entitled to all of the rights that citizenship offered," writes Erika Lee, director of the Immigration History Research Center at the University of Minnesota. "The court has not re-examined this issue since then." Most legal scholars agree that President Trump cannot end birthright citizenship with an executive order. "He's doing something that's going to upset a lot of people, but ultimately this will be decided by the courts," says Saikrishna Prakash, a constitutional expert and University of Virginia Law School professor. "This is not something he can decide on his own." Mr Prakash says that while the president can order the employees of federal agencies to interpret citizenship more narrowly - agents with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, for example - that will inevitably invite legal challenges from people whose citizenship is being denied. That could lead to a lengthy court battle that could ultimately wind up at the US Supreme Court. Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan was blunt in rejecting the president's claim he could act unilaterally. "You cannot end birthright citizenship with an executive order," he told Kentucky radio station WVLK. However, Martha S Jones, author of Birthright Citizens, wrote on Twitter that the Supreme Court has not directly addressed whether or not the children of non-citizens or undocumented immigrants should automatically become citizens at birth. "Scotus [Supreme Court of the United States] could distinguish from Wong Kim Ark on the facts," Ms Jones writes. "Wong's parents were authorised or we might say legal immigrants. Their presence in the US was authorised." Mr Prakash agrees. "People who are on a tourist visa or here without permission... their children are automatically given birthright citizenship," he says. "That's the way it's been read in modern times even though there's been no definitive Supreme Court pronouncement on that." A constitutional amendment could do away with birthright citizenship, but that would require a two-thirds vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate and approval by three quarters of US states. Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington Donald Trump's decision to once again push for an end to birthright citizenship - which he now says can be done with a stroke of his presidential pen - should be seen in the context of next week's mid-term elections. As with the White House announcement of more than 5,000 troops dispatched to the US border, this appears to be another effort to focus American attention on the immigration issue. Mr Trump made a hard-line immigration stance a central part of his 2016 presidential campaign and views it as one of the reasons he prevailed. Now, in the electoral home stretch that could determine the success of the second half of his four-year presidential term, Mr Trump is reaching again for a familiar handhold. A poll conducted in 2017 shows a majority of the public supported birthright citizenship, including for undocumented migrants, but 30% were opposed. Even if those numbers haven't changed, convincing that third of the American public that the president is fighting for them - and could get what they want if Republicans hold the Congress - might be enough to tip the balance the president's way in key races next Tuesday. "This has nothing to do with elections," Mr Trump said in a recent interview. The timing of these efforts, however, is hard to ignore. In his remarks to Axios, Trump falsely claimed that the United States is the only country that has birthright citizenship. In fact, more than 30 countries - including Canada, Mexico, Malaysia and Lesotho - practise automatic "jus soli", or "right of the soil" without restriction. Other countries, like the UK and Australia, allow for a modified version where citizenship is automatically granted if one parent is a citizen or permanent resident. Nor is the United States the only country where the practice has come under fire. In August, delegates at the national convention for Canada's centre-right federal Conservatives voted to end birthright citizenship for children unless one parent is either Canadian or a permanent resident. Following the vote by the grassroots membership, Conservative leader Andrew Scheer said the party would look into developing a more targeted policy addressing the issue of so-called "birth tourism". According to the Pew Research Center, there were 275,000 babies born to unauthorised immigrant parents in the US in 2014, and 4.7 million US-born children under the age of 18 living with at least one parent who is undocumented. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, births to unauthorised immigrant parents steadily rose before peaking in 2006, and have declined since then. Although Pew does not have exact numbers on the countries of origin of these parents, Mark Lopez, Director of Global Migration and Demography, says that three-quarters of unauthorised immigrants in the US are from countries in Latin America. "Hispanics will make up the majority of these children born to unauthorized immigrant parents," he says. However, he adds that since we do not know how Mr Trump might write his executive order, the children of visa-holders or other temporary residents may also be impacted. Reporting by Jessica Lussenhop | 3) Can Trump end birthright citizenship by executive order? | 3,094 | Most legal scholars agree that President Trump cannot end birthright citizenship with an executive order. "He's doing something that's going to upset a lot of people, but ultimately this will be decided by the courts," says Saikrishna Prakash, a constitutional expert and University of Virginia Law School professor. "This is not something he can decide on his own." Mr Prakash says that while the president can order the employees of federal agencies to interpret citizenship more narrowly - agents with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, for example - that will inevitably invite legal challenges from people whose citizenship is being denied. That could lead to a lengthy court battle that could ultimately wind up at the US Supreme Court. Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan was blunt in rejecting the president's claim he could act unilaterally. "You cannot end birthright citizenship with an executive order," he told Kentucky radio station WVLK. However, Martha S Jones, author of Birthright Citizens, wrote on Twitter that the Supreme Court has not directly addressed whether or not the children of non-citizens or undocumented immigrants should automatically become citizens at birth. "Scotus [Supreme Court of the United States] could distinguish from Wong Kim Ark on the facts," Ms Jones writes. "Wong's parents were authorised or we might say legal immigrants. Their presence in the US was authorised." Mr Prakash agrees. "People who are on a tourist visa or here without permission... their children are automatically given birthright citizenship," he says. "That's the way it's been read in modern times even though there's been no definitive Supreme Court pronouncement on that." A constitutional amendment could do away with birthright citizenship, but that would require a two-thirds vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate and approval by three quarters of US states. | 0.816725 | 0.794364 | 0.805544 |
7116_3 | Seven months and nine days ago, 1.4 million people in Ireland voted to remove its anti-abortion laws. What (Taoiseach) Irish PM Leo Varadkar called a "quiet revolution", had culminated with a day when the Eighth Amendment was repealed. Irish Health Minister Simon Harris hailed the passing of the legislation as a "new era for Irish women". This new era began on Tuesday, when abortion services in Ireland were opened for the first time. But this new era is not without its challenges, as many Irish medical groups have warned. As of 1 January 2019, Irish abortion services are being provided by Ireland's health service through GPs, family planning services, maternity units and hospitals across the country. Since last year's referendum, the law in Ireland now allows for abortion in the following cases: - Up to 12 weeks of pregnancy - Where there is a risk to the life or of serious harm to the health of the pregnant person - Where there is a condition likely to lead to the death of the foetus before or shortly after birth Abortion care is being provided free of charge for people normally living in Ireland. There are no official details on how many abortions have taken place since the introduction of the new services on Tuesday. A spokesperson for Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE) said that its new unplanned pregnancy support service My Options had received "a steady stream of calls" since opening at 09:00 local time on 1 January. Not yet. Ireland has 19 maternity units, but only nine are currently providing abortion services. These are: - National Maternity Hospital in Dublin - Midland Regional Hospital in Westmeath - Rotunda Hospital in Dublin - Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Meath - University Hospital, Galway - Mayo University Hospital - University Maternity Hospital in Limerick - Cork University Maternity Hospital - University Hospital Waterford It is expected that other hospitals will begin to provide abortion care in the near future. The HSE will provide information to women and to healthcare professionals about where and how services are available as they start providing the service. Some medical groups in Ireland have voiced concerns over the January deadline. Dr Maitiu O'Tuathail, president of the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP), told BBC News NI about 3 to 5% of GPs had signed up to deliver abortion services. "There remains a lot of uncertainty for GPs around the provision of abortion services in Ireland," he said. "GPs are being asked to operate without updated Medical Council guidelines, which is problematic. "The access to ultrasonography is patchy across the country and will remain so for the foreseeable future. "Finally, the services and medical back-up that maternity hospitals will be able to provide on a site-by-site basis remains unclear. "It would have been preferable, if these uncertainties had been resolved prior to, and not during the roll out of abortion services. "We should strive for the best and safest service possible, anything less simply isn't good enough." A spokesperson for the HSE said it had agreed an approach with GPs whereby details of GPs taking part in providing abortion care will not be published. Details are provided directly to people who need them, through the executive's new My Options helpline. "We are satisfied that there is already a good geographic spread of GPs taking part, enough to meet the needs of people who may need to access the service," said the spokesperson. "Currently 179 GPs have signed the contract and each day more GPs are signing up." The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is to hold an emergency general meeting on the implementation of the new abortion services, particularly on the safety and readiness of these services. A date for this meeting is yet to be set. In October, the masters of the three Dublin maternity hospitals wrote to Mr Harris expressing concerns about the suggested commencement date, which has now passed. The masters of the Rotunda Hospital, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital and the National Maternity Hospital said the date was "unrealistic" for the full range of abortion services. Both the Rotunda and National Maternity Hospital are now listed as abortion service providers. | Can you access abortion services in all of Ireland's maternity units? | 1,453 | Not yet. Ireland has 19 maternity units, but only nine are currently providing abortion services. These are: - National Maternity Hospital in Dublin - Midland Regional Hospital in Westmeath - Rotunda Hospital in Dublin - Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Meath - University Hospital, Galway - Mayo University Hospital - University Maternity Hospital in Limerick - Cork University Maternity Hospital - University Hospital Waterford It is expected that other hospitals will begin to provide abortion care in the near future. The HSE will provide information to women and to healthcare professionals about where and how services are available as they start providing the service. | 0.784241 | 0.82297 | 0.803605 |
5115_0 | The drug-resistant fungus, Candida auris, was only discovered 10 years ago, but is now one of the world's most feared hospital microbes. There have been outbreaks across the world, and new research shows higher temperatures may have led to an increase in infections. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has called for better understanding of who is most vulnerable to reduce risk. Here is everything you need to know about this new superbug. Candida auris (C. auris) is a yeast, a type of fungus, which can cause infections in humans. It is related to the very common Candida albicans, which causes thrush. It was first discovered in the ear canal of a Japanese patient in Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital in 2009. Most of the time, Candida yeasts live on our skin without causing problems, but they can cause infections if we are unwell or they get into the wrong place, like the bloodstream or lungs. C. auris most frequently causes bloodstream infections, but can also infect the respiratory system, the central nervous system and internal organs, as well as the skin. These infections are usually quite serious. Around the world, up to 60% of patients who get a C. auris infection have died. The fungus is often resistant to the usual drugs, which makes infections difficult to treat. Also, C. auris is often mistaken for a different infection, leading to the wrong treatment being given. This means that the patient might be ill for longer or get worse. "A number of UK hospitals have already experienced outbreaks requiring support from Public Health England," said Dr Elaine Cloutman-Green, infection control practitioner and UCL clinical lecturer. She added: "C. auris survives in hospital environments and so cleaning is key to control. Detection can be serious for both individual patients and for the hospital, as control can prove difficult." Dr Colin Brown, consultant medical microbiologist for Public Health England's national infection service, said: "NHS hospitals that have experienced outbreaks of C. auris have not found it to be the cause of death in any patients. "PHE is working closely with the NHS to provide expert support and advice on infection control measures to limit the spread of C. auris." It is unlikely that you will pick up a C. auris infection. However, the risk is higher if you are in a hospital for a long time or if you are in a nursing home, and patients who are in intensive care are much more likely to get a C. auris infection. The risk of picking up an infection is also higher if you have been on antibiotics a lot, because the drugs also destroy good bacteria that can stop C. auris getting in. In the UK, about 60 patients have been infected by C. auris since 2013. The Centers for Disease Control in the US has reported that globally, more and more countries are reporting cases of C. auris infections. Most European countries have now reported some, with Greece being the last - in April this year. Resistance to the common antifungal drugs, like fluconazole, has been found in the majority of C. auris strains found in patients. This means that these drugs do not work on C. auris. Because of this, less common antifungal drugs have been used to treat these infections, but C. auris has now developed resistance to these, too. DNA evidence shows that the antifungal resistance genes in C. auris are very similar to those found in the very common C. albicans. This suggests that the resistance genes have passed from one species to the other. A study suggests that the reason C. auris infections have become so common may be because this species has been forced to live at higher temperatures because of climate change. Most fungi prefer the cooler temperatures found in soil. But, as global temperatures have risen, C. auris has been forced to adapt to higher temperatures. This may have made it easier for the fungus to thrive in the human body, which is warm at 36C to 37C. A better understanding of who is most at risk of contracting a C. auris infection is the first step to reducing the number of infections. Healthcare professionals need to know that people who spend a long time in hospitals, nursing homes or are immunocompromised are at high risk. Not all hospitals identify C. auris in the same way. They are sometimes mistaken for other fungal infections, like thrush, and the wrong treatment is given. Improving diagnosis will help to identify patients with C. auris earlier, which will mean that the right treatment is given - preventing the spread of infection to other patients. C. auris is very tough and can survive on surfaces for a long time. It also cannot be killed using most common detergents and disinfectants. Using the right cleaning chemicals is important to eliminate it from hospitals, especially if there is an outbreak. | What is Candida auris? | 462 | Candida auris (C. auris) is a yeast, a type of fungus, which can cause infections in humans. It is related to the very common Candida albicans, which causes thrush. It was first discovered in the ear canal of a Japanese patient in Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital in 2009. Most of the time, Candida yeasts live on our skin without causing problems, but they can cause infections if we are unwell or they get into the wrong place, like the bloodstream or lungs. | 0.755406 | 0.848326 | 0.801866 |
8669_0 | The demand for on-demand TV has never been higher. Disney has announced its rival to the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime - and they're calling it Disney+. In March, Apple announced its own streaming service: Apple TV+. But in a market that's getting more and more crowded, can they all survive? Disney has a big advantage because it has decades of filmmaking experience already, according to Shona Ghosh, senior tech reporter at Business Insider. "It costs a lot of money to make popular shows and Disney is an expert in offering really well-known film and TV franchises," she says. Disney can draw on its classic movies, as well as Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars - and now Fox films. It's thought that as contracts expire with other streaming services, Disney will slowly take its films off the likes of Netflix and make them exclusive to Disney+. Netflix has already axed its remaining Marvel shows. There will also be shows just for the streaming service - including a new Star Wars spin-off, expected to debut when the service goes live in North America in November. For Apple, the incentive is slightly different: iPhone sales have been slowing down. It's why Shona thinks they are looking at new ways to stay at the top. "Apple knows it has a lot of people that buy iPhones, iPads and Macs. Also there's Apple Music," Shona tells Radio 1 Newsbeat. "So because it knows it has trust as a provider of that stuff, it's branching out into shows and thinking it can really add something for the people that buy their devices." Shona thinks Apple is already realising how difficult that task will be. "It's ambitious for a tech company that isn't really known for providing content itself to try and commission shows," she says. "I'm not sure it's going all that smoothly - they still haven't announced the full roster of shows that will be available. "Apple being Apple I'm sure it will go smoothly eventually, but it's possible it won't work out." "There has probably been a golden period where Netflix was the predominant, very popular streaming service. But now with so much choice, a lot will be splintered up," Shona thinks. So does that mean we'll have to spend more? "If Netflix is no longer top dog it can't suddenly turn around and raise its prices. It has to think about the competition. "On the flip side you won't have one platform where you can find everything. You may have to have multiple subscriptions." With Netflix, Amazon, Disney, Apple, and even the BBC and ITV getting involved, there will soon be loads of streaming options. But Shona thinks the future of how we watch TV might actually end up looking familiar. "With all these different companies offering streaming, you may eventually end up paying for something that looks a bit like your parents' Sky or cable service from 10 or 15 years ago." That could mean streaming services will get bundled together into packages. "People don't have the money to pay PS10 or PS15 a month for Netflix, then another PS10 for the combined streaming service being offered by the BBC and ITV, then Amazon Prime as well - that would get very expensive." And TV content could be used as an incentive for firms trying to get you to buy other products. It's a technique we've already started to see - with the likes of BT offering BT Sport for free to its mobile and internet customers when it launched. "There's a rumour that if you're already an Apple device owner, you may not have to pay extra for some of, if not all of, Apple's streaming services," says Shona. "So if you're already paying for the expensive device, Apple is making it more worth your while by giving you some content for free on top of that." Amazon Prime does similar, offering TV content alongside free delivery on its massive online shop. It's a technique that could be key for streaming services that want to be successful. Apple and Disney are big names and some of its rivals are already feeling the pressure. "I think there will be some companies that do fall by the wayside," adds Shona. "Netflix is spending a lot of money producing great content - whether it can keep it up remains to be seen. "Businesses like Amazon have many other elements it can rely on, not just content, whereas something like Netflix will be under a lot of pressure. "You'll have to wait to see whether consumers buy into this idea that Apple is akin to something like a Disney. "But people have bought in to Netflix, a brand new service that's evolved from being a DVD service to being this content powerhouse. "Companies are capable of pulling it off, but it's possible that not everyone will survive." Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 every weekday on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra - if you miss us you can listen back here. | Why are Disney and Apple getting into streaming TV? | 297 | Disney has a big advantage because it has decades of filmmaking experience already, according to Shona Ghosh, senior tech reporter at Business Insider. "It costs a lot of money to make popular shows and Disney is an expert in offering really well-known film and TV franchises," she says. Disney can draw on its classic movies, as well as Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars - and now Fox films. It's thought that as contracts expire with other streaming services, Disney will slowly take its films off the likes of Netflix and make them exclusive to Disney+. Netflix has already axed its remaining Marvel shows. There will also be shows just for the streaming service - including a new Star Wars spin-off, expected to debut when the service goes live in North America in November. For Apple, the incentive is slightly different: iPhone sales have been slowing down. It's why Shona thinks they are looking at new ways to stay at the top. "Apple knows it has a lot of people that buy iPhones, iPads and Macs. Also there's Apple Music," Shona tells Radio 1 Newsbeat. "So because it knows it has trust as a provider of that stuff, it's branching out into shows and thinking it can really add something for the people that buy their devices." Shona thinks Apple is already realising how difficult that task will be. "It's ambitious for a tech company that isn't really known for providing content itself to try and commission shows," she says. "I'm not sure it's going all that smoothly - they still haven't announced the full roster of shows that will be available. "Apple being Apple I'm sure it will go smoothly eventually, but it's possible it won't work out." | 0.815088 | 0.787178 | 0.801133 |
4406_0 | Cheap steel from China has been blamed for distorting global markets and putting other countries' steelmakers under pressure. How have we got here and why does it all matter? Chinese steel production has expanded hugely. Over the past 25 years, output has grown more than 12-fold. By comparison, the EU's output fell by 12% while the US's remained largely flat. The drive behind that stellar increase has been China's double-digit economic growth over the past decades. That led to ever more domestic demand for steel and the government invested heavily in the industry during the boom years. But that demand has been severely hit by the current slowdown, leaving China with more steel than it needs. It produced more than 822 million tonnes of steel in 2014 and is expected to produce even more this year, yet projected demand for its steel in 2016 is only 672 million tonnes. Chinese steel is therefore sold on the international market at extremely low prices - critics say it's sold at a loss. As a consequence, other countries' steel plants find it increasingly hard to compete. China dismisses claims that its steel is sold at a loss and says it has done what it can to curb overproduction. Beijing's official news agency said that blaming the country for the global steel industry's problems was a "lame and lazy excuse for protectionism". In a commentary piece, Xinhua warned against the imposition of protective import tariffs (a tax on the product which ultimately makes the finished goods more expensive for the consumer). "Blaming other countries is always an easy, sure-fire way for politicians to whip up a storm over domestic economic woes, but finger-pointing and protectionism are counter-productive," it said. Very little. While other countries complain that cheaper Chinese steel is forcing their producers out of business, China is itself faced with severe problems in the industry. The boom of past years means any substantial output cuts would lead to huge job losses, and potential social instability. It is unlikely that China will cut output by a lot and unless domestic demand picks up, cheap exports will continue to affect global markets. A simple response would be setting up higher import tariffs. So if a Chinese manufacturer offers a tonne of steel at a cheap price, the importing country charges a tax on top of the original price, which makes it more expensive for the importing company. That would make Chinese steel more expensive in the importing country and would therefore make domestic producers more competitive again. Steel-producing countries India, the US and Indonesia have already raised their import tariffs on steel from China. But for European countries that is a tricky path to embark on as China is a much bigger trading partner. Introducing higher tariffs could risk triggering a trade war of tit-for-tat import tariffs on all kinds of goods. Yes. Steel is a vital ingredient to countless producing industries in every country around the globe. That's anything from cars to construction and toys to bottle caps. So for those industries, cheap steel is good - regardless of whether it's from China or their own domestic producers. However, if you work in the steel industry in, say, Europe or the US, then of course cheap Chinese steel can drive your company out of business - and you out of a job. But if you're a steel worker in China, then of course you don't want Beijing to cut production and curb exports. Because while that might save European jobs, it might cost you yours. Steel is crucial for the defence industry - just think ships, planes or tanks. So there's the question of whether it is wise to shut down domestic production and import all steel. Even if it is cheaper to do so, there is the question of whether you want to depend entirely on imports when it comes to one of the ingredients you need for national defence. Any intentional or unintentional cut in supply could quickly leave you in a vulnerable position. | China's steel industry - what's the problem? | 176 | Chinese steel production has expanded hugely. Over the past 25 years, output has grown more than 12-fold. By comparison, the EU's output fell by 12% while the US's remained largely flat. The drive behind that stellar increase has been China's double-digit economic growth over the past decades. That led to ever more domestic demand for steel and the government invested heavily in the industry during the boom years. But that demand has been severely hit by the current slowdown, leaving China with more steel than it needs. It produced more than 822 million tonnes of steel in 2014 and is expected to produce even more this year, yet projected demand for its steel in 2016 is only 672 million tonnes. Chinese steel is therefore sold on the international market at extremely low prices - critics say it's sold at a loss. As a consequence, other countries' steel plants find it increasingly hard to compete. | 0.795909 | 0.80401 | 0.799959 |
2148_0 | The people charged with protecting the world's economy are meeting in Washington this week. The decisions made by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) affect people around the world. But what is the IMF, why is it important, and what criticism does it face? The IMF is an international organisation with 189 member countries. They work together to try to stabilise the global economy. Any country can apply to join, as long as it meets a few requirements. These include providing information about its economy and paying in a sum of money called a quota subscription. The richer the country, the higher its quota. The IMF does three main things to monitor and support the economy: - Tracking economic and financial events. It monitors how countries are performing and potential risks, like trade fights or Brexit uncertainty - Advising its members on how to improve their economies - Issuing short-term loans and assistance to countries who are struggling These loans are mainly funded by quota subscriptions. In 2018, Argentina received the largest loan in the IMF's history at $57bn (PS44.5bn). The IMF can lend its members a total amount of $1tn. Bankers, government officials and company bosses discuss the most important economic issues of the day at the IMF's meetings. Members then try to make sure their plans are co-ordinated. It's expected that trade tensions, weak economic growth, a slowdown in manufacturing and companies' debts will be big topics this year. The IMF is often described as a "lender of last resort". In times of crisis, countries look to it for financial assistance. Economists like Harvard University's Benjamin Friedman have said it's difficult to measure the organisation's success because we can't know if its policies are "worse than whatever the alternative would have been". However, some praised the Fund's role in supporting Mexico after it declared it would be unable to repay its debts in the early 1980s. More recently, Brazil obtained IMF loans in 2002 to avoid defaulting on its debts. The government was able to turn the economy around relatively quickly, and pay off its entire debt two years ahead of schedule. The conditions the IMF imposes on countries it lends money to have sometimes been described as "harsh". In the past, these have included lower government borrowing, cutting corporate taxes and opening up their economies to foreign investment. Greece was where the eurozone financial crisis started back in 2009, and the hardest-hit economy. After it received bailout loans from the IMF, Greece had to make some changes. Critics said the austerity - intended to get government borrowing needs down - was excessive and did damage to the economy and society. The unemployment rate in Greece still remains high at 17%, down from a peak of over 27% in 2013. Kristalina Georgieva has recently taken on the top job at the IMF - managing director. The economist was previously chief executive of the World Bank, and has succeeded Christine Lagarde. Ms Georgieva is the first person from Bulgaria to lead the IMF, one of the poorest members of the European Union (EU). Since the organisation was created, a European has traditionally been in charge, with a US national taking on the presidency of the World Bank. Ahead of her first annual conference in her new role, Ms Georgieva warned that Brexit will be "painful" for the UK and the EU, whatever form it takes. The IMF was created out of the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944 in the United States. It was attended by delegates from 44 countries during World War Two, including the United Kingdom, the United States and the Soviet Union. They discussed financial arrangements for the expected end of the war, including how to set up a stable system of exchange rates and how to pay for rebuilding damaged European economies. Two organisations were later set up to meet these aims: the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. Members of the newly-founded IMF agreed to a system of fixed exchange rates, which would stay in place until the early 1970s. | What is the IMF? | 259 | The IMF is an international organisation with 189 member countries. They work together to try to stabilise the global economy. Any country can apply to join, as long as it meets a few requirements. These include providing information about its economy and paying in a sum of money called a quota subscription. The richer the country, the higher its quota. The IMF does three main things to monitor and support the economy: - Tracking economic and financial events. It monitors how countries are performing and potential risks, like trade fights or Brexit uncertainty - Advising its members on how to improve their economies - Issuing short-term loans and assistance to countries who are struggling These loans are mainly funded by quota subscriptions. In 2018, Argentina received the largest loan in the IMF's history at $57bn (PS44.5bn). The IMF can lend its members a total amount of $1tn. | 0.787098 | 0.811734 | 0.799416 |
4726_0 | The company behind infidelity dating website Ashley Madison has denied that hardly any women used the service. Its rebuttal followed an article by Gizmodo which suggested that only around 12,000 of the site's 36 million members were real women. Gizmodo had analysed the data stolen from Ashley Madison by hackers called the Impact Team. But Ashley Madison said the analysis was based on "incorrect assumptions" and Gizmodo now acknowledges it "misunderstood" the data. There are suggestions from the leaked data, which included thousands of chief executive Noel Biderman's emails, that Ashley Madison did deploy fake profiles. One email written to Mr Biderman described a contractor building profiles, known as angels or engagers, "en masse". It even suggested staff were getting "writer's block" trying to invent believable profiles. Ashley Madison's terms and conditions state some of the site's features "are intended to provide entertainment", but do not explicitly mention fake profiles. The BBC understands fake profiles were deliberately deployed in areas where there were few female profiles. In 2013, the ratio of males to females in one Japanese city was 88:1. The leak suggests engagers brought this ratio down to 5:1. According to Gizmodo, the engagers messaged real users - almost exclusively men - with greetings such as: "hows it going?" and "anybody home? lol". The news site estimated that there were more than 70,000 engager profiles among the leaked data. Ashley Madison charges men to reply to messages from women, including fake ones, so creating fake profiles would have been financially beneficial for the company. Although the details of millions of accounts were leaked by the hackers, the dump did not contain the full database. That makes it difficult to determine how many real women used the site. One woman told the BBC she had used it to find a lesbian relationship. On Monday, Avid Life Media which owns the website released a statement insisting it had an active community of female users. "In the first half of this year the ratio of male members who paid to communicate with women... versus the number of female members who actively used their account... was 1.2 to 1," it said. Without knowing how many of the site's 31 million men paid to reply to messages, it is not possible to work out how many women were active on Ashley Madison. The company insists that despite the enormous data leak it has still managed to attract new members. It says 87,596 women joined the website in the last week. Of course, many of those are likely to be journalists, or people signing up to nose around a secretive website that has had its dirty laundry aired quite publicly. | Did Ashley Madison use fake profiles? | 469 | There are suggestions from the leaked data, which included thousands of chief executive Noel Biderman's emails, that Ashley Madison did deploy fake profiles. One email written to Mr Biderman described a contractor building profiles, known as angels or engagers, "en masse". It even suggested staff were getting "writer's block" trying to invent believable profiles. Ashley Madison's terms and conditions state some of the site's features "are intended to provide entertainment", but do not explicitly mention fake profiles. | 0.74917 | 0.840667 | 0.794918 |
8296_4 | Piles of rubbish dumped across England have been reported to councils more than one million times in 2016-17. Here are some of the things you wanted to know about fly-tipping. Fly-tipping is defined as "the illegal deposit of any waste on to land that does not have a licence to accept it", according to Keep Britain Tidy. The OED points to the term "on the fly" being used around 1851 to mean "on the move". This saying coupled with the act of tipping something out created fly-tipping. If someone dumps rubbish on your private property then you are responsible for clearing it, according to the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group. It should always be reported to the local authority. Councils will not normally clear fly-tipping from your land for free but may investigate and prosecute. If you keep detailed records of your disposal costs, they may be recovered if a prosecution is successful. There were 1,602 prosecutions for fly-tipping in England in 2016-17. That was down from 2,135 the year before, despite the overall rise in incidents. In total, 98% of prosecutions resulted in a conviction. Councils also handed out 56,000 fixed penalty notices with a maximum fine of PS400 in 2016-17. The money from fixed penalty notices goes to the council that issued it. For some offences there are rules on what the cash can be used for. For example, with littering the money has to be spent on tackling litter, dog control, graffiti and fly-posting. However, fly-tipping costs councils and therefore the taxpayer a lot of money. Enforcement cost councils PS16.9 million in 2016-17. This was on top of the PS57.7m spent cleaning up fly-tipped rubbish. The different scales relate to the maximum sentences that can be imposed by the type of court. Most fly-tipping cases would be heard at a magistrates' court where the greatest prison term is 12 months and the biggest fine PS50,000. The biggest financial penalty imposed by a court in 2016 was just over PS25,500 to a meat and poultry business in Birmingham. That case was prosecuted at a magistrates' court. The fixed penalty notice is a new power for councils that came into effect in May 2016. Councils can use these for small-scale fly-tipping and can decide the penalty within limits, depending on the severity. The minimum is PS120, but they have the power to demand up to PS400. This is an alternative to going to court, which saves the council and the taxpayer money in the long run. The Local Government Association, which represents councils, said there was "no evidence" to link fly-tipping to any particular trend. However, six of the 10 areas to have seen the biggest rises in fly-tipping in the last year do charge householders to take some types of rubbish to the tip, mainly building rubble, plaster and hardcore. Tips in Fareham and Basingstoke and Deane, which come under Hampshire County Council, charge for plasterboard, soil and rubble. The areas saw the second and eighth highest rises respectively. Craven in North Yorkshire, which saw the 9th highest percentage increase, also charges for hardcore, rubble, plasterboard and tyres while Ealing, the 10th highest riser, charges for DIY waste. Newcastle-under-Lyme and South Staffordshire saw the third and seventh biggest percentage increase in fly tipping between 2015-16 and 2016-17, with incidents rising by 225% and 116%. Both areas come under Staffordshire County Council which imposes charges for certain types of waste at tips. Yet the council says the charges cannot be behind the rise because three other districts in Staffordshire saw a decrease in fly-tipping. Gill Heath, the council's cabinet member for communities, said: "Newcastle and South Staffordshire have both changed the way they record incidents of fly-tipping and I believe those changes account for part of this increase." Update 25 October 2017: This report has been amended to take into account corrected data from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. | Is there a link between the amount councils charge for taking rubbish to the tip and the levels of fly-tipping in those areas? | 2,447 | The Local Government Association, which represents councils, said there was "no evidence" to link fly-tipping to any particular trend. However, six of the 10 areas to have seen the biggest rises in fly-tipping in the last year do charge householders to take some types of rubbish to the tip, mainly building rubble, plaster and hardcore. Tips in Fareham and Basingstoke and Deane, which come under Hampshire County Council, charge for plasterboard, soil and rubble. The areas saw the second and eighth highest rises respectively. Craven in North Yorkshire, which saw the 9th highest percentage increase, also charges for hardcore, rubble, plasterboard and tyres while Ealing, the 10th highest riser, charges for DIY waste. Newcastle-under-Lyme and South Staffordshire saw the third and seventh biggest percentage increase in fly tipping between 2015-16 and 2016-17, with incidents rising by 225% and 116%. Both areas come under Staffordshire County Council which imposes charges for certain types of waste at tips. Yet the council says the charges cannot be behind the rise because three other districts in Staffordshire saw a decrease in fly-tipping. Gill Heath, the council's cabinet member for communities, said: "Newcastle and South Staffordshire have both changed the way they record incidents of fly-tipping and I believe those changes account for part of this increase." Update 25 October 2017: This report has been amended to take into account corrected data from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. | 0.770201 | 0.816669 | 0.793435 |
4193_0 | Scientists and government officials meet this week in Paris to finalise a key assessment on humanity's relationship with nature. The Intergovernmental Panel for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, or IPBES, will issue the first report of this type since 2005. It will detail the past losses and future prospects for nature and humans. One author says the report will highlight the "social and ecological emergency" the world is now facing. From Monday some of the world's leading researchers in the field of biodiversity will meet in the French capital to work through the details of their report with representatives from 132 governments. Their conclusions, known as a Summary for Policymakers, will then be published on 6 May. "I would say that this is the most comprehensive assessment on the state of nature and humanity's place in it," said Prof Sir Robert Watson, who chairs IPBES. "It is the first intergovernmental assessment - this is much more powerful in my view, it means that governments are fully involved." Biodiversity is just a sciencey word for all the amazing variety of life that can be found on Earth, their interactions with each other and with their environments. It encompasses everything from genes, through individual species such as orang-utans, through communities of creatures and then the whole ecological complexes of which they are part. The phrase, which originated in the 1980s, is a contraction of the words "biological" and "diversity". It was more formally defined in the UN's Convention on Biological Diversity signed in 1992 as: "Biological diversity" means the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part: this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems." Well, the air you breathe depends on plants producing oxygen, and without bees to pollinate crops, we wouldn't have so many things to eat. Biodiversity helps provide and maintain our fresh water, fertile soils, our medicines, a stable climate and gives us places for recreation. All species are interconnected and often depend on each other. So while fungi help maintain the soils of the forest, these healthy soils help plants to grow, insects then carry pollen from one plant to another, animals can eat the plants, and the forest as a whole provides a home for animals. Losing one species in this chain may not seem like much but each loss weakens the connections that benefit us all. Back in the 1980s, conservation researchers Paul and Anne Ehrlich said that species are to ecosystems what rivets are to a plane's wing. Losing one might not be a problem, but each loss adds to the likelihood of a disaster. It matters because it will highlight the shocking losses that have hit the natural world over the past 50 years, and will warn that the future is looking bleak for tens of thousands of species. It will also highlight the threat to humans if the devastation of nature continues. More than two billion people rely on wood fuel for energy, while around four billion rely on natural medicines. Some three-quarters of our food crops require pollination by insects. One of the scientists involved told the BBC that the assessment would underline the fact that the world is now facing both a natural and a human emergency. "Social and environmental changes are much more connected than we have portrayed them in the past," said Prof Unai Pascual, from the Basque Centre for Climate Change, Spain, who is a lead author on the report. "This assessment will show these connections are based on robust scientific evidence; The evidence is clearer than ever that the negative impacts on nature that we are pushing translate into detrimental changes in people's wellbeing, and that for an increasing proportion of the population on our planet the emergency is not just an ecological emergency, but it is turning into a social and ecological emergency." Much of the research about impacts on individual species, such as on bees and other pollinators, has been published before. In the global assessment, the research team takes a much broader view of what's been happening to the natural world. For three years, 150 experts from more than 50 countries have looked at 15,000 sources of information. One significant way in which this assessment differs from previous publications is that it uses knowledge from people who have been living in and preserving ecosystems for generations. "We have a systematic strategy to include indigenous and local knowledge," said Prof Sandra Diaz from Cordoba National University in Argentina and a co-ordinating lead author for the report. "So the evidence of what's going on, the different practices to maintain and enhance diversity will not only come from mainstream science but will also come from the deep knowledge of people who have been managing diversity for a long time around the world. So I think we will have a much richer picture than previous assessments." The full report, stretching to 1,800 pages, will be published at the same time as the 40-page summary. The details of the summary will remain under wraps until the scientists and political representatives have agreed every last word. However, as much of the information has been published in one form or another in previous years, we have a reasonable idea of the key messages. It will likely warn that we are on the brink of a rapid acceleration of the global rate of loss of species. And it will say the threat these losses pose - and the challenge that presents - is on a par with climate change. It's probable also that it will say that farming, deforestation and our demands for energy are undermining the services we get from nature. "I want people to know that nature is really important, and we shouldn't destroy it, and it is absolutely essential to food, water and energy security," said Prof Sir Robert Watson. "I want the public to say that we should not be destroying it and urge their governments to make sure they have the right policies in place and to ask: 'what can I do in my everyday life to be more sustainable?'" Climate change will feature heavily in the assessment and is closely linked to the fate of species. The scientists at IPBES believe the threat from the loss of nature will be as big a challenge to the world as rising temperatures. This rise is also playing a key role in the destruction of nature. For example, the range of a much larger number of species will be affected by a rise in global temperatures this century of 2 degrees C than by a rise of 1.5C. The researchers hope that just as the report from the IPCC woke the world up to the scale of the threat of climate change last Autumn, the IPBES report will do the same for nature. "If you look at IPCC, they managed to show that climate change was a problem for the whole world," said Prof Sandra Diaz. "Now, it is a problem that no-one ignores." Not exactly. The scientists are meant to avoid being "policy prescriptive", which means they can't tell the governments what to do about the crisis facing the natural world. However, the scale of concern is so great that some researchers feel that the report can't afford to pull its punches. Sir Robert Watson, who will chair the Paris meeting and the report, says the researchers won't be afraid to tackle sensitive issues. "We talk about some of the drivers of change, such as economic growth, and population growth, because the more people you have and the wealthier they are the more they consume, and the more pressure that puts on nature. Some might say the issue of population is politically sensitive but we don't avoid it." While the report will likely highlight the policy choices that governments can make, and the implications of those choices, one key takeaway will be that nature and humanity cannot continue to have a "win-win" situation at our current levels of consumption. "I think this is going to be one of the main messages; we have to be very mindful that having more of everything is not possible now," said Prof Unai Pascual. "We have to be much smarter in how we allocate our resources to make sure we have sufficient for everyone. "We need to understand the trade-offs, because once you lose biodiversity it is difficult to reverse." Follow Matt on Twitter@mattmcgrathbbc Sign up for a weekly chat about climate change on Facebook Messenger | What exactly is biodiversity? | 1,023 | Biodiversity is just a sciencey word for all the amazing variety of life that can be found on Earth, their interactions with each other and with their environments. It encompasses everything from genes, through individual species such as orang-utans, through communities of creatures and then the whole ecological complexes of which they are part. The phrase, which originated in the 1980s, is a contraction of the words "biological" and "diversity". It was more formally defined in the UN's Convention on Biological Diversity signed in 1992 as: "Biological diversity" means the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part: this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems." | 0.772597 | 0.810426 | 0.791512 |
7952_0 | Russian state TV is working on its own version of Chernobyl, a series based on the worst nuclear accident in history. The NTV drama will deviate from the acclaimed HBO series - and from historical reality - by claiming that the CIA was involved in the disaster. Director Aleksey Muradov claims it will show "what really happened back then". HBO's miniseries, which concluded on Monday, received the highest ever score for a TV show on IMdB, as well as a 9.1 rating on Russian equivalent Kinopoisk. But in an interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda, Russia's most widely-read tabloid, Mr Muradov said his version of the show "proposes an alternative view on the tragedy in Pripyat". "There is a theory that Americans infiltrated the Chernobyl nuclear power plant," he told the paper. "Many historians do not rule out the possibility that on the day of the explosion, an agent of the enemy's intelligence services was working at the station." The Hollywood Reporter reports that the Russian culture ministry has contributed 30 million rubles ($463,000; PS363,000) to the show. The No. 4 reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear plant exploded on 26 April 1986 in the Ukrainian city of Pripyat. At least 31 people were killed in the immediate aftermath, and the effects continue to be felt to this day. There has been plenty of praise in Russia for the authenticity of Chernobyl. Izvestia newspaper declared it a more 'realistic' portrayal of the era than most Russian films manage. There's also admiration of how the series conveys the heroism of ordinary people. But there's been a crescendo of criticism, too. One columnist declared the show a plot to undermine Russia's current atomic agency. Others called it American 'propaganda', blackening the image of the USSR and exaggerating the callousness of the Soviet response. No-one disputes that it's got people talking. They're been busy sharing their own Chernobyl stories on social media, with younger Russians often hearing them for the first time. So one Twitter user thanked the series for 'giving us back our history.' In the end, as one commentator concludes, the main reason for the backlash is likely a feeling of shame that it was the US that told the tale of Chernobyl, not Russia itself. The show has been particularly unpopular with Russian state TV and the country's tabloid newspapers. Speaking to TV website Teleprogramma, columnist Anatoly Wasserman said: "If Anglo-Saxons film something about Russians, it definitely will not correspond to the truth." This, he continued, was not because "they don't like us" but because "they simply cannot understand us". Komsomolskaya Pravda published several negative articles about the show - including one floating a conspiracy theory that it was produced by competitors of Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear company, to ruin the country's reputation as a nuclear power. But reviewers in independent media outlets praised its writer Craig Mazin for his minute attention to detail. Slava Malamud, a US-based journalist who grew up during the Soviet era in what is now Moldova, wrote on the independent Russian news site Meduza that "the respect and meticulousness the show's creators brought to their work is breathtaking". "Like I see the license plate for a car in one scene has the real numbers for the [Kiev] region," he said. "Who's going to notice that in America or England?" Adam Robinson, BBC Monitoring - The world through its media For the Kremlin, the topic of history is a highly sensitive one - especially about the Soviet Union. Official media now tend to paint a sanitised, idealised vision of the USSR, and portray Putin's Russia as its spiritual heir. This makes it easy to see any critical view of the Soviet past as an attack on the Kremlin's ideological power base. It's a narrative it seeks to completely control and guard from outside influences - particularly from a West it sees as hostile. Some Russians feel the version of reality offered by Kremlin-controlled media is not entirely unlike the lies told by the Soviet state. As a result, perhaps the most dangerous idea was the key question running though Chernobyl - what is the cost of lies? BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook. | What did Russia think of HBO's Chernobyl? | 1,288 | There has been plenty of praise in Russia for the authenticity of Chernobyl. Izvestia newspaper declared it a more 'realistic' portrayal of the era than most Russian films manage. There's also admiration of how the series conveys the heroism of ordinary people. But there's been a crescendo of criticism, too. One columnist declared the show a plot to undermine Russia's current atomic agency. Others called it American 'propaganda', blackening the image of the USSR and exaggerating the callousness of the Soviet response. No-one disputes that it's got people talking. They're been busy sharing their own Chernobyl stories on social media, with younger Russians often hearing them for the first time. So one Twitter user thanked the series for 'giving us back our history.' In the end, as one commentator concludes, the main reason for the backlash is likely a feeling of shame that it was the US that told the tale of Chernobyl, not Russia itself. | 0.778854 | 0.799858 | 0.789356 |
10145_0 | Some 564 people have been into space - 65 of them women. That's despite the fact that the first woman in space, Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, went into orbit as early as 1963. It took Nasa 20 years to catch up and in 1983 Sally Ride became the third woman, and first American woman to go into space. Before her voyage she was asked by the media if she was taking any makeup on her trip and whether she cried when there were malfunctions in the flight simulator. On Friday 18 October, Nasa conducted its first ever all-female spacewalk, after plans earlier this year were scrapped because of a lack of medium-sized spacesuits to fit one of the astronauts. For the last decade, Dr Varsha Jain has been working part-time as a space gynaecologist. She combines her PhD work at the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh with research alongside Nasa into women's health in space. She's been speaking to Emma Barnett on BBC Radio 5 Live. VJ: Overall adaptation to the space environment is roughly the same for men and women but there are some differences. Women are more likely to feel sick when they go into space, men are more likely to get re-entry sickness when they come back to Earth. Men have more problems with their vision and hearing when they get back from space which women don't get. When women return they do have problems managing their blood pressure so they feel quite faint. So there are some subtle differences and we don't know if that's to do with hormonal differences or more physiological changes that are occurring. And long-term, understanding those differences will help us understand more about human health on Earth. VJ: When the Americans sent Sally Ride up into space, the questions that Nasa had were about what would happen to women's periods and how do we account for this. Female astronauts said at the time, 'let's consider it non-problem until it becomes a problem'. But space travel is a bit like a camping trip and the engineers had to plan things like how many sanitary products were needed. Because it was a very male dominated world, the figures that they thought they needed were 100 or 200 tampons for a week! They shortly came to the conclusion that that many weren't needed. Most female astronauts now use the contraceptive pill to stop their periods and it is safe for them to do so because they are healthy women. One of the parts of my work was to research other ways for women to stop their periods to see if things like the contraceptive coil could be more effective. VJ: There are two toilets on the International Space Station, but the engineers hadn't originally accounted for blood. In space, urine isn't wasted, it's recycled and drinking water is reclaimed from it. Period blood is considered a solid material and none of the toilets on the space station can differentiate solid from liquid material, therefore the water in it is lost and not recycled. There are also limitations on how water can be used for washing, so the practicalities of personal hygiene while menstruating during spaceflight can be challenging. VJ: There is no obvious demonstrable effect that going into space has on an astronaut's ability to have children. It is important to remember that both male and female astronauts have successfully had children after spaceflight missions. However, female astronauts are, on average, 38 years old during their first mission. This is an area where I think Nasa is leading the way in being a supportive working environment. Ultimately, freezing of eggs or sperm is entirely a personal choice and, as far as I am aware, Nasa does not have any protocols on what their astronauts should do prior to spaceflight missions. We know astronauts are at risk of radiation in space and we haven't any idea how that will impact a women's fertility. The quality of sperm and sperm count decreases after space travel, but then sperm regenerates back on Earth, so there is no known long-term damage. Women are born with all the eggs they need for their lifetime, so Nasa is very supportive of female astronauts freezing their eggs before their missions. VJ: My interest in space came before my fascination with medicine. As a child, my brothers were both into Star Trek and seeing strong female characters like Beverly Crusher and Captain Kathryn Janeway really inspired me and shaped my goals. I knew that I wanted to work in the area of space medicine and because I was practising gynaecology at the time I found a huge knowledge gap in terms of women's health that I thought deserved a platform. My first day at Nasa, I was like a kid in a candy store. Driving up to the Nasa Johnson Space Centre, the first time I saw the sign I remember screaming because I was so excited. Every single day I remember waking up at 05:00 because I just couldn't wait to get to work. VJ: Not for a long duration mission! I know too much about the physiological changes and that puts me off. The changes that happen to the human body are like an accelerated aging process. If we take bone changes, astronauts lose bone mass when they go into space and parts of that bone mass are never regained despite the excellent counter measures and programmes the astronauts have when they get back. Obviously, I would love to see what Earth looks like from space, but long-term as a goal I think I know I'm doing my dream job already. Dr Varsha Jain was one of the first academic doctors to focus on researching women's health in relation to space. She is currently the 2019 Wellbeing of Women Research Training Fellow at the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh. investigating why women suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding. The Emma Barnett show is on BBC Radio 5 Live Monday- Thursday 10:00 - 13:00 BST. Click here to listen to a 5 Live news special on BBC Sounds: The Women of Nasa. | Does space affect men and women differently? | 968 | VJ: Overall adaptation to the space environment is roughly the same for men and women but there are some differences. Women are more likely to feel sick when they go into space, men are more likely to get re-entry sickness when they come back to Earth. Men have more problems with their vision and hearing when they get back from space which women don't get. When women return they do have problems managing their blood pressure so they feel quite faint. So there are some subtle differences and we don't know if that's to do with hormonal differences or more physiological changes that are occurring. And long-term, understanding those differences will help us understand more about human health on Earth. | 0.77274 | 0.805671 | 0.789205 |
7519_0 | President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw the US from the World Trade Organization (WTO), claiming it treats his country unfairly. "If they don't shape up, I would withdraw from the WTO," Mr Trump said in an interview with Bloomberg News. The WTO was established to provide rules for global trade and resolve disputes between countries. Mr Trump says the body too often rules against the US, although he concedes it has won some recent judgments. He claimed on Fox News earlier this year that the WTO was set up "to benefit everybody but us", adding: "We lose the lawsuits, almost all of the lawsuits in the WTO." However, some analysis shows the US wins about 90% when it is the complainant and loses about the same percentage when it is complained against. Mr Trump's warning about a possible US pull-out from the WTO highlights the conflict between his protectionist trade policies and the open trade system that the WTO oversees. Washington has recently blocked the appointment of new judges to the WTO's Geneva-based dispute settlement body, which could potentially paralyse its ability to issue judgments. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has also accused the WTO of interfering with US sovereignty. It comes as President Trump set a Friday deadline for Canada to sign a new agreement with the US and Mexico. He has threatened to tax the country's automotive sector or cut it out entirely. The US president has been sounding off about unfair trade since even before he became president. Mr Trump said on Thursday that the 1994 agreement to establish the WTO "was the single worst trade deal ever made". The US has been embroiled in a tit-for-tat trade battle on several fronts in recent months. The one creating the most interest is with China, as the world's two largest economies wrangle for global influence. Mr Trump has introduced tariffs on a number of goods imported into the US. A third round of tariffs on $200bn (PS154bn) of Chinese goods could come as soon as a public-comment period concludes next week, according to a Bloomberg report citing various sources. Asked to confirm this during the Bloomberg interview, President Trump said that it was "not totally wrong". China has responded to US tariffs by imposing retaliatory taxes on the same value of US products and has filed complaints against the tariffs at the WTO. China's commerce ministry has said it "clearly suspects" the US of violating WTO rules. An initial complaint at the WTO was filed by China in July after Mr Trump imposed his first round of tariffs. The WTO is at the heart of the system of rules for international trade. It is the forum for sorting disputes between countries about breaches of global trade rules and for negotiating new trade liberalisation. The EU, meanwhile, is trying to steer the US towards reforming the WTO rather than abandoning it. Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament's trade committee, told Politico magazine that it would submit plans to overhaul the organisation in September. He said it would test whether the US was really interested in reform. "This is certainly about calling [America's] bluff," he said. Mr Trump has not been a fan of multilateral trade agreements. In a 2016 presidential debate with Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, Mr Trump described the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) with Mexico and Canada as "the worst trade deal maybe ever signed anywhere" and a "killer" of US jobs. Once in office he said he wanted to renegotiate - not scrap - the accord, triggering a year of talks. On Monday, Mr Trump announced that the US and Mexico had agreed to revamp Nafta, calling it a "really good deal" that was "much more fair" for both countries. Canada is yet to agree to the new terms. On Thursday, Mr Lighthizer held talks in Washington with Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland aimed at reaching a new deal. Following four separate meetings, which continued late into the night, Ms Freeland told reporters that a deal could not be reached, adding that talks would resume on Friday. Also during his election campaign Mr Trump railed against the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a 12-nation trade deal that was a linchpin of former President Barack Obama's Asia policy. Mr Trump said the deal was a "potential disaster for our country". One of his first acts as president was to withdraw the US from the TTP, although he has since said he might consider rejoining if the terms were "substantially better". | What's Trump's issue with the WTO? | 1,413 | The US president has been sounding off about unfair trade since even before he became president. Mr Trump said on Thursday that the 1994 agreement to establish the WTO "was the single worst trade deal ever made". The US has been embroiled in a tit-for-tat trade battle on several fronts in recent months. The one creating the most interest is with China, as the world's two largest economies wrangle for global influence. Mr Trump has introduced tariffs on a number of goods imported into the US. A third round of tariffs on $200bn (PS154bn) of Chinese goods could come as soon as a public-comment period concludes next week, according to a Bloomberg report citing various sources. Asked to confirm this during the Bloomberg interview, President Trump said that it was "not totally wrong". China has responded to US tariffs by imposing retaliatory taxes on the same value of US products and has filed complaints against the tariffs at the WTO. China's commerce ministry has said it "clearly suspects" the US of violating WTO rules. An initial complaint at the WTO was filed by China in July after Mr Trump imposed his first round of tariffs. The WTO is at the heart of the system of rules for international trade. It is the forum for sorting disputes between countries about breaches of global trade rules and for negotiating new trade liberalisation. The EU, meanwhile, is trying to steer the US towards reforming the WTO rather than abandoning it. Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament's trade committee, told Politico magazine that it would submit plans to overhaul the organisation in September. He said it would test whether the US was really interested in reform. "This is certainly about calling [America's] bluff," he said. | 0.795501 | 0.782593 | 0.789047 |
7567_0 | President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to block food importers' requests for foreign currency in a bid to boost local agriculture in Africa's most populous country. It is a continuation of a policy that the president began after coming to office in 2015, when he banned the use of foreign exchange to import dozens of items including the staple food, rice. Since then, domestic rice production has increased, but the policy has been criticised for not taking the low capacity of local farmers into consideration. The policy has also coincided with a rise in food prices, which has been blamed on insecurity in some of the country's main food producing areas. According to data from Nigeria's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the amount of money the country has been spending on importing food and drink increased from 2015 to 2017, dipped in 2018 and if the trend from the first quarter of this year continues, the bill will go up again for this year. In 2015, Nigeria spent nearly $2.9bn (PS2.4bn) and by 2017 that had risen to $4.1bn, the NBS says. But the data picture is confusing as leading figures have quoted other figures. Last December, central bank governor Godwin Emefiele said the annual food import bill was $1.9bn and had fallen from $7.9bn in 2015, the Punch newspaper reported. But in September 2018, the agriculture minister at the time, Audu Ogbeh, said Nigeria spent $22bn importing food every year. Nigeria does produce the basic food commodities such as sugar, wheat flour, fish, milk, palm oil, pork, beef and poultry but up to now domestic farmers have not been able to satisfy demand of the country's 200 million people, hence the need for imports. With the foreign exchange ban Nigerian farmers will now have to increase production. Official figures show that domestic rice production has gone up since 2015. According to figures from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, rice production has increased from an annual average of 7.1 million tonnes between 2013 and 2017 to 8.9 million tonnes in 2018. However, there are also reports that rice smuggling has increased - as customs officials continue to seize large quantities of the grain at the borders. This suggests that Nigerian rice farmers are still not producing enough. Many experts believe that the policy of restricting food imports does have some merits, but the policy cannot be introduced in isolation. Agricultural economist Idris Ayinde argues that restricting food imports should be a gradual process since the country cannot yet meet domestic demand for most food commodities, and the policy risks increasing food price inflation further. Local rice production has increased, but the foreign exchange ban was coupled with policies aimed at supporting farmers through subsidies and loans. For instance, last November, the government spent $165m subsidising rice production. Despite this, people continue to buy rice that has been smuggled into the country. Attempts to boost local production of palm oil have also been hit by smuggling. Foreign exchange to import palm oil was also restricted in 2015, but local producers have not been able to fill the gap. The government now hopes that investing up to $500m in the industry can boost production from 600,000 tonnes a year to five million tonnes. In addition to questions over local capacity, there is also a concern that the government's policy threatens the independence of the central bank. Former deputy governor of the bank Kingsley Moghalu said the president's directive contradicts the law, adding that the central bank's economic policy should not be "imposed by a political authority". Economic theory suggests that reducing the supply of something will increase the price. There is a general belief therefore that if domestic supply cannot immediately replace what was once imported, Nigerians will end up paying more for their food. Between 2015, when the foreign exchange restrictions for rice came into effect, and early 2017, the price of a 50kg bag of rice went from $24 to $82. It later fell in mid-2017 to $34. But in June this year, the price stood at $49. The agricultural sector, which remains a major employer, has suffered years of neglect as Nigeria has spent decades relying on oil to provide much-needed foreign exchange and government revenue. There may be lots of people working on farms but a lack of investment has led to low productivity. In addition, not all available agricultural land is being used. It is estimated that just over a third of available land is being cultivated. But following a big drop in the oil price five years ago, the country has renewed its interest in agriculture. If this enthusiasm can be converted into greater investment then the country should be able to produce more food. | How much is Nigeria spending on importing food? | 688 | According to data from Nigeria's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the amount of money the country has been spending on importing food and drink increased from 2015 to 2017, dipped in 2018 and if the trend from the first quarter of this year continues, the bill will go up again for this year. In 2015, Nigeria spent nearly $2.9bn (PS2.4bn) and by 2017 that had risen to $4.1bn, the NBS says. But the data picture is confusing as leading figures have quoted other figures. Last December, central bank governor Godwin Emefiele said the annual food import bill was $1.9bn and had fallen from $7.9bn in 2015, the Punch newspaper reported. But in September 2018, the agriculture minister at the time, Audu Ogbeh, said Nigeria spent $22bn importing food every year. | 0.750523 | 0.826218 | 0.78837 |
3327_1 | The southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh recorded 36,749 lightning strikes in just a 13-hour period on Tuesday, officials say. The number is unusually high and the result of "extreme weather patterns", according to the state disaster management authority. Nine people, including a nine-year-old girl, have been killed in the state by lightning strikes since Tuesday. Lightning strikes are common in India during heavy monsoon rains. The season typically begins in June and lasts until September. However, this particular region usually sees increased lightning activity before the monsoon begins, Kishan Sanku, who runs the state emergency operation centre, told the BBC. Tuesday's bout of lightning is being considered an anomaly because data from last year shows that there were some 30,000 lighting strikes throughout the entire month of May in the same region. Some scientists believe that global warming will significantly increase the frequency of lightning strikes. The lightning strikes have been occurring along the northern coast of Andhra Pradesh, an area which often experiences heavy rains. Although there is usually increased lightning activity in the region before the monsoon, this year cold winds from the Arabian sea collided with warmer winds from northern India and produced conditions that led to the formation of more clouds than usual, Mr Sanku said. This increased the chance of lightning strikes. What has made conditions particularly unique, he added, is that the cloud cover extended over 200km (124 miles). "Usually it is in patches, around 15-16km," he said. "In our experience, this is very rare." At least 2,000 people have died in lightning strikes in India every year since 2005, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. In June 2016, 93 people were killed and more than 20 injured by lightning strikes in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. India's death toll from lightning strikes is far higher than that in developed countries such as the United States, where, on average, 27 people die from lightning strikes each year. The lack of a reliable warning system is often cited as one reason for the high number of deaths. Another is that a large number of people work outdoors in India compared to other parts of the world, which makes them more vulnerable. But Mr Sanku says his office has made people more aware of the dangers. On Tuesday, they alerted district officials on messaging services WhatsApp and Telegram, and made announcements on television and radio warning people to stay indoors. He says they also have a subscription-based alert for mobile phone users. "But we are not able to alert the people working in the fields because they don't carry their phones with them." - Seek shelter inside a large building or a car - Get out of wide, open spaces and away from exposed hilltops - If you have nowhere to shelter, make yourself as small a target as possible by crouching down with your feet together, hands on knees and head tucked in - Do not shelter beneath tall or isolated trees - If you are on water, get to the shore and off wide, open beaches as quickly as possible Source: Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents | How common are lightning deaths in India? | 1,631 | At least 2,000 people have died in lightning strikes in India every year since 2005, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. In June 2016, 93 people were killed and more than 20 injured by lightning strikes in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. India's death toll from lightning strikes is far higher than that in developed countries such as the United States, where, on average, 27 people die from lightning strikes each year. The lack of a reliable warning system is often cited as one reason for the high number of deaths. Another is that a large number of people work outdoors in India compared to other parts of the world, which makes them more vulnerable. But Mr Sanku says his office has made people more aware of the dangers. On Tuesday, they alerted district officials on messaging services WhatsApp and Telegram, and made announcements on television and radio warning people to stay indoors. He says they also have a subscription-based alert for mobile phone users. "But we are not able to alert the people working in the fields because they don't carry their phones with them." | 0.787401 | 0.781011 | 0.784206 |
1097_0 | President Trump has told Americans to "get their shots" as measles cases spread across the country. "The vaccinations are so important," he told reporters outside the White House. Nearly 700 cases have been reported across 22 states amid a resurgence of the highly infectious disease, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says. Mr Trump has previously appeared to link vaccines and autism. Public health experts say there is no link. Vaccination rates have dropped steadily in the US with many parents objecting for philosophical or religious reasons. Others, known as "anti-vaxxers", believe discredited information that vaccines cause autism in children. The CDC says measles cases have reached a level not seen since 2000, when the disease was eliminated from the US. Mr Trump's warning comes as hundreds of staff and students at universities in the Californian city of Los Angeles have been quarantined over fears they may have contracted measles. Those who were at risk of being infected were asked to stay at home unless they could prove their immunity. As of Thursday, 82 people at the University of California (UCLA) were unable to provide vaccination records, the university says. At California State University, 156 people - including library employees and students - could not provide records and remain in quarantine, AP news agency reported. Mr Trump's latest comments contrast markedly from his previous public statements about vaccinations. During a Republican primary debate in 2015, he suggested vaccines were responsible for what he called an "epidemic" of autism. He said he was in favour of vaccines, but wanted "smaller doses over a longer period of time". He also held meetings with several prominent anti-vaccine campaigners ahead of the 2016 election. He has also linked vaccinations to autism in earlier social media posts. Measles is a highly infectious disease and can cause serious health complications, including damage to the lungs and brain. But despite the dangers, vaccination rates are declining in many countries. There have been more than 110,000 measles cases worldwide in the first three months of 2019 - a rise of 300% compared to last year, World Health Organization figures show. The increase in measles cases in the US "is part of a global trend seen over the past few years as other countries struggle with declining vaccination rates" the CDC says. | What has Trump said about vaccines? | 1,374 | Mr Trump's latest comments contrast markedly from his previous public statements about vaccinations. During a Republican primary debate in 2015, he suggested vaccines were responsible for what he called an "epidemic" of autism. He said he was in favour of vaccines, but wanted "smaller doses over a longer period of time". He also held meetings with several prominent anti-vaccine campaigners ahead of the 2016 election. He has also linked vaccinations to autism in earlier social media posts. | 0.739858 | 0.82596 | 0.782909 |
1405_0 | Shares in Spotify have started trading in the New York, valuing the music streaming service at about $26bn. In an unconventional move, the firm has not issued new shares, with those held by its private investors being sold. The flotation marks a turning point for Spotify, which is the global market leader but is yet to make a profit. In an open letter, chief executive Daniel Ek said: "We are still early in our journey and we have room to learn and grow." Once an small upstart Swedish music platform, Spotify has grown rapidly in recent years, adding millions of users to its free-to-use ad-funded service and converting many of them to its more lucrative subscription service. It is now the global leader among music streaming companies, boasting 71 million paying customers, twice as many as Apple Music. So far costs and fees to recording companies for the rights to play their music, have exceeded Spotify's revenues, although that gap is narrowing. The firm made a commitment to investors who backed it as the company was growing, that they would be given the chance to cash in their investment. So Spotify had to list its shares sooner or later. But it could also herald a new phase for the firm. Being publicly traded will put pressure on the management, and could provide the excuse they need to make changes, says Mark Mulligan at at MIDia Research. "Once you're a tech stock - more than with a normal listed company - [investors] expect you to do stuff fast, change fast," he says. "So far they've been treading a very fine line between being the dramatic new future of the music business but simultaneously being the biggest friend of the old music industry by giving record labels a platform to build out of decline," says Mr Mulligan. "To go to the next phase [Spotify] will have to stop talking out of both sides of its mouth, which it does at the moment. And stop being so friendly to the record companies." More than half of Spotify's revenue goes directly to the record companies. But they are not likely to make any bold moves immediately, since the labels also control two thirds of the music that Spotify plays. Chris Hayes at Enders Analysis says while it may not be as a direct result of the share listing, he also expects Spotify to evolve. "I think over time they're going to have to diversify their offering," he says, helping to set them apart from a sea of rival streaming services. They have already moved into podcasts and producing original music. They may well start to offer more original content, such as Taylor Swift's recent video that was only made available on the platform, says Chris Hayes. It could also be thinking about emulating Berlin-based Soundcloud, which offers a social media forum for lower-profile content creators, he adds. Mark Mulligan thinks it could offer documentaries, information about artists, special music features, news articles and even comedy. One of the thorniest issues for Spotify in the past has been a backlash from artists, who say only the biggest stars make enough income from the streaming subscription model. "At the moment it's all about record labels. Spotify doesn't have a place for artists," Mulligan says. "The bigger bolder things post [the share listing] will be doing something very clear for artists." He thinks in time Spotify could start offering places for artists to build their own creative spaces and profile pages - so that there are ways to bypass the record labels and go straight to Spotify to reach fans. Chris Hayes thinks it will be some time before record labels are sidelined. But he says if Spotify can attract more subscription customers, payments to artists will increase automatically through the current pay-per-listen model. The firm's first operating profit (not including debt financing) is on the horizon for 2019 based on current trends, according to Mr Hayes. "The strategy has always been, the free tier is not very lucrative but it is a funnel through which to persuade free users to upgrade to the subscription tier, which is lucrative." As long as subscriptions continue to grow it should eventually become profitable. Mr Mulligan thinks as the business matures it will learn to make money from its loyal customers by offering more services. Above all there is scope to exploit the data gleaned from fans' playlists, and the company could sell its data tools back to the music industry. For example Spotify's insights into people's listening habits could inform an artist planning a route for their next tour. Spotify may be the current market leader, but in the long-term there are threats on the horizon in the shape of the Apple, Amazon, Google and possibly even Facebook. "Ultimately Spotify's biggest risk is: what is it like to be the only company in a marketplace that has to turn a profit?" says Mr Mulligan. The tech giants wield vast resources and have ready-built ecosystems from smart speakers to social networks. "Spotify's rivals are the biggest companies in the world with bottomless pockets," he says, and they are using music as a way to sell their core products, not as a business proposition in itself. They could offer the record labels more money than Spotify can afford to pay. "That would be my biggest worry if I were Daniel Ek," he says, referring to Spotify's co-founder. "What if Apple decided: let's throw ten billion at this and see if we can throw Spotify out of the water?" | Why is Spotify listing its shares? | 958 | The firm made a commitment to investors who backed it as the company was growing, that they would be given the chance to cash in their investment. So Spotify had to list its shares sooner or later. But it could also herald a new phase for the firm. Being publicly traded will put pressure on the management, and could provide the excuse they need to make changes, says Mark Mulligan at at MIDia Research. "Once you're a tech stock - more than with a normal listed company - [investors] expect you to do stuff fast, change fast," he says. | 0.760346 | 0.804665 | 0.782505 |
9799_0 | Outgoing German defence minister Ursula von der Leyen has been confirmed as the next president of the European Commission, replacing Jean-Claude Juncker. She will now form a new team of commissioners and they will start their new term on 1 November, a day after the UK is due to leave the EU. But what is the European Commission, and why does it matter to the more than 500 million people living in the EU's 28 countries? Its job is to develop laws for member states and enforce them. Based in Brussels, it's the only EU body that can draft laws. It employs more than 32,000 staff in total and its running costs this year are EUR3.6bn. Once its proposals have the approval of the European Parliament and a council of 28 ministers from the EU states, they can become law. The laws it proposes cover many areas. Clean air The European Commission has referred a number of countries - including the UK - to court for breaching air pollution limits. Fines amounting to millions of pounds could be enforced by the EU body, which says it "owed it to its citizens" to take legal action. Rule of law The European Commission has also taken action against some eastern member states over the rule of law. It launched a series of legal actions against Poland over reforms to its judiciary. And it warned Romania it would take legal action if it failed to scrap measures seen to threaten the independence of its courts. Data protection The EU made changes last year to data privacy regulations, tightening up rules about the way companies use our personal information. The General Data Protection Regulation has seen companies compelled to do more to protect data. There are punishments for those who fail - British Airways, for example, is facing a record fine over a website security breach. Internet giants Curbing the power of internet giants has also been a focus for the European Commission. It has fined Google three times in the past two years. Most recently, it hit the firm with a EUR1.49bn (PS1.28bn) fine for blocking rival online search advertisers. Competition cases have also been brought against Apple, Amazon, Ikea, Gazprom and chip giant Qualcomm. Going overseas Mobile roaming charges for travellers within the EU ended in 2017, after a lengthy battle between the European Commission and mobile operators. The new rules meant consumers travelling within any EU country could text, call or go online on their mobiles for the same cost as they would pay at home. On air safety, the commission maintains a list of airlines which are either banned from operating in Europe, or face restrictions on their operations. Olive oil Less popular was an attempt in 2013 to introduce rules for restaurants about refillable bottles and dipping bowls for olive oil. The move was introduced to improve hygiene and protect consumers, said the commission. But it was ridiculed as unnecessary interference, and the EU backtracked on the idea shortly afterwards. Every five years, the 28 commissioners are replaced. New commissioners - one from each country - and a president of the commission are put forward to be voted on by a newly-elected European Parliament. These candidates all have to be approved by a clear majority of the parliament, which has 751 MEPs. The process of finding a candidate to fill the role of president this time caused controversy. Mrs von der Leyen was put forward by political leaders in the EU as their preferred candidate in a last-minute deal. The leaders rejected the candidacy process agreed with the European Parliament, under which political groupings put forward their own candidates during EU parliamentary elections. Mrs von der Leyen is a close ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, but she faces some opposition from green and left-wing political groups. She is the first woman to lead the European Commission. | What does the European Commission do? | 422 | Its job is to develop laws for member states and enforce them. Based in Brussels, it's the only EU body that can draft laws. It employs more than 32,000 staff in total and its running costs this year are EUR3.6bn. Once its proposals have the approval of the European Parliament and a council of 28 ministers from the EU states, they can become law. The laws it proposes cover many areas. Clean air The European Commission has referred a number of countries - including the UK - to court for breaching air pollution limits. Fines amounting to millions of pounds could be enforced by the EU body, which says it "owed it to its citizens" to take legal action. Rule of law The European Commission has also taken action against some eastern member states over the rule of law. It launched a series of legal actions against Poland over reforms to its judiciary. And it warned Romania it would take legal action if it failed to scrap measures seen to threaten the independence of its courts. Data protection The EU made changes last year to data privacy regulations, tightening up rules about the way companies use our personal information. The General Data Protection Regulation has seen companies compelled to do more to protect data. There are punishments for those who fail - British Airways, for example, is facing a record fine over a website security breach. Internet giants Curbing the power of internet giants has also been a focus for the European Commission. It has fined Google three times in the past two years. Most recently, it hit the firm with a EUR1.49bn (PS1.28bn) fine for blocking rival online search advertisers. Competition cases have also been brought against Apple, Amazon, Ikea, Gazprom and chip giant Qualcomm. Going overseas Mobile roaming charges for travellers within the EU ended in 2017, after a lengthy battle between the European Commission and mobile operators. The new rules meant consumers travelling within any EU country could text, call or go online on their mobiles for the same cost as they would pay at home. On air safety, the commission maintains a list of airlines which are either banned from operating in Europe, or face restrictions on their operations. Olive oil Less popular was an attempt in 2013 to introduce rules for restaurants about refillable bottles and dipping bowls for olive oil. The move was introduced to improve hygiene and protect consumers, said the commission. But it was ridiculed as unnecessary interference, and the EU backtracked on the idea shortly afterwards. | 0.787998 | 0.769404 | 0.778701 |
5543_0 | For decades dentists have recommended flossing as an essential part of oral hygiene. But how useful is it really? An investigation by the Associated Press has revealed there is insufficient proof to back up this claim. The US Department for Health and Human Services and Agriculture admitted in a letter that the benefits of flossing had never been properly researched. A British dentist at the University of Birmingham, Prof Damien Walmsley, also said there is only "weak evidence" to suggest flossing is beneficial. But in a statement released Tuesday, the American Dental Association (ADA) vigorously defended flossing, saying it was an "essential part of taking care of your teeth and gums". Many dentists have said flossing can help remove plaque, food build-up between the teeth, reduce the risk of gingivitis, gum disease, and reduce the risk of tooth decay. In its statement the ADA said: "Cleaning between teeth removes plaque that can lead to cavities or gum disease from the areas where a toothbrush can't reach. "Interdental cleaning is proven to help remove debris between teeth that can contribute to plaque build-up." This advice is echoed by the UK's National Health Service on its website: "Dental floss helps to prevent gum disease by getting rid of pieces of food and plaque from between your teeth." The studies backing up the ADA's claims are outdated and only surveyed a small number of people, according to AP. Evaluations of the other studies conducted in the past ten years, found evidence for flossing was "unreliable", "very low quality" and there was even "a moderate to large potential for bias". One review conducted last year said: "The majority of available studies fail to demonstrate that flossing is generally effective in plaque removal." Prof Walmsley, who is also a scientific adviser to the British Dental Association, said: "The difficulty is trying to get good evidence. People are different and large studies are costly to do... until then you can't really say yes or no." He said "more sophisticated trials" were needed. The American Dental Association started promoting flossing in 1908. A dentist in America, Levi Spear Parmly invented flossing in the early 1800s. The first floss was patented in 1874 by which time dentists were recommending the practice. Currently in the US, studies which evaluate the benefits of flossing can be funded and directed by flossing manufacturers. Two major floss producers, Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson have both said that flossing helps to remove plaque. But AP revealed that evidence used in Procter & Gamble's statement was discredited in 2011. And Johnson & Johnson declined to respond to the news agency after being shown research that refuted their claims. If done improperly, flossing can cause damage to gums, teeth, and dental work, according to the AP investigation. Sometimes, flossing can also cause harmful bacteria to be released into your bloodstream which could lead to an infection. Yes. Even sceptics of flossing say cleaning between your teeth is good for you. A Dutch periodontist who has conducted flossing studies says he uses a toothpick. The British Dental Association said: "Small inter-dental brushes are best for cleaning the area in between the teeth, where there is space to do so. "Floss is of little value unless the spaces between your teeth are too tight for the interdental brushes to fit without hurting or causing harm." US National Institutes of Health dentist Tim Iafolla said when purely looking at the science "it would be appropriate to drop the floss guidelines". But he also said people should still floss. "It's low risk, low cost. We know there's a possibility that it works, so we feel comfortable telling people to go ahead and do it." Several other countries still recommend flossing: the Argentine Ministry of Health, for instance, says people should "clean between all your teeth everyday with dental floss or a similar product". And the Australian Dental Association recommends that all people over 11-years-old should floss. "Flossing ... is an essential part of caring for your teeth and gums, and not some kind of 'nice to have' added extra." | Why do dentists say flossing is good for you? | 696 | Many dentists have said flossing can help remove plaque, food build-up between the teeth, reduce the risk of gingivitis, gum disease, and reduce the risk of tooth decay. In its statement the ADA said: "Cleaning between teeth removes plaque that can lead to cavities or gum disease from the areas where a toothbrush can't reach. "Interdental cleaning is proven to help remove debris between teeth that can contribute to plaque build-up." This advice is echoed by the UK's National Health Service on its website: "Dental floss helps to prevent gum disease by getting rid of pieces of food and plaque from between your teeth." | 0.784479 | 0.772055 | 0.778267 |
7450_0 | "Unconscious bias" can lead to racist behaviour even if people do not consider themselves to be racist, the Duke of Sussex has said. Writing in Vogue, Prince Harry said unconscious bias was "something which so many people don't understand". He said prejudice was "learned from the older generation, or from advertising, from your environment". "Unless we acknowledge we are part of this cycle, then we're always going to be fighting against it," Harry added. The duke made the comments during an interview with conservationist Dr Jane Goodall, which will be published in the September edition of Vogue - guest edited by the Duchess of Sussex. The subject of unconscious bias arose during a discussion about children - and whether they can be born angry or learn to hate. Dr Goodall said: "[Children] don't notice, 'My skin's white, mine's black,' until somebody tells them." Harry responded: "It's the same as an unconscious bias - something which so many people don't understand, why they feel the way that they do. "Despite the fact that if you go up to someone and say, 'What you've just said, or the way that you've behaved, is racist' - they'll turn around and say, 'I'm not a racist.' "'I'm not saying that you're a racist, I'm just saying that your unconscious bias is proving that, because of the way that you've been brought up, the environment you've been brought up in, suggests that you have this point of view - unconscious point of view - where naturally you will look at someone in a different way.' "And that is the point at which people start to have to understand." He added: "You can only be taught to hate." Unconscious bias is any detectable bias in our attitudes or behaviour that operates outside of our awareness. It could be asking a man rather than a woman to pitch a project because, subconsciously, you presume he will be more confident and assertive. Dr Doyin Atewologun is the director of the Gender Leadership and Inclusion Centre at the Cranfield School of Management. Crucially, she says, the impact is still very real whether it's conscious or not, and "no matter how tiny, or micro or everyday" it might be. Read more about unconscious bias and how to spot it here. | What is unconscious bias? | 1,628 | Unconscious bias is any detectable bias in our attitudes or behaviour that operates outside of our awareness. It could be asking a man rather than a woman to pitch a project because, subconsciously, you presume he will be more confident and assertive. Dr Doyin Atewologun is the director of the Gender Leadership and Inclusion Centre at the Cranfield School of Management. Crucially, she says, the impact is still very real whether it's conscious or not, and "no matter how tiny, or micro or everyday" it might be. Read more about unconscious bias and how to spot it here. | 0.704702 | 0.850372 | 0.777537 |
679_0 | North Korean state media had strong words for Joe Biden - the former US vice-president and current presidential candidate - on Wednesday. Mr Biden had "gone reckless and senseless, seized by ambition for power", a commentary on the news website KCNA said. He was "an imbecile bereft of elementary quality as a human being, let alone a politician", the commentary said, adding that he was "a fool of low IQ". The piece also accused him of "vulgar acts and words about women" - a reference to earlier allegations of unwelcome touching from women - and said he became a "laughing-stock of the media" when he appeared to fall asleep during a speech by then-President Barack Obama in 2011. It even went back to the 1960s, reminding readers of the fact that Mr Biden "received a grade of F" in a paper because he had plagiarised another article. Mr Biden has admitted to plagiarism, but said he misunderstood rules about citations. Colourful insults in North Korean media are nothing new - KCNA recently quoted officials calling US national security adviser John Bolton "dim-sighted", and accusing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of "fabricating stories like a fiction writer". And, two years ago, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un famously called President Donald Trump a "dotard" - a 14th-Century term that means "an old person, especially one who has become weak or senile". Yet - North Korea is one of the world's most secretive societies, and all of its media are under direct state control, which means its news reports, even when they mostly consist of insults, give us an interesting glimpse into what Pyongyang could be thinking. Wednesday's KCNA report accused Mr Biden of "rhetoric slandering the supreme leadership of the DPRK" during a recent election campaign. This appeared to refer to Mr Biden's rally in Philadelphia on Saturday, where he criticised Mr Trump for working with "tyrants like [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and Kim Jong-un". "North Korean media tend to react sensitively to any comments made by foreign officials, especially US officials, about the North Korean leader," Rachel Lee, a senior analyst at NK News and a former North Korean media analyst for the US government, told the BBC. However, it's important to note that KCNA is an external agency aimed at international audiences, and "North Korea's public don't have access to it", she added. Often, domestic North Korean media avoid certain sensitive topics - or may avoid commenting on some issues, to ensure the government has more wriggle room later on, Ms Lee says. Meanwhile, Prof Andrei Lankov, a North Korea expert at Kookmin University, says that such propaganda is part of Pyongyang's attempt to "drive a wedge" between Donald Trump and his political advisers. State media criticism of Mr Biden, as well as Mr Pompeo and Mr Bolton, is an attempt to portray an image that "they would like to deal with Donald Trump, but he's prevented from doing anything meaningful by the hardline American establishment". Whether this is true or not is another matter - the most recent direct talks between Mr Trump and Mr Kim ended in Hanoi in February without any progress towards an agreement. "Given Joe Biden's record of standing up for American values and interests, it's no surprise that North Korea would prefer that Donald Trump remain in the White House," a spokesperson for his campaign, Andrew Bates, told the BBC. North Korean state media are a lot blunter - and ruder - than you'd expect most official government outlets to be. They have not been afraid to be sexist - previously carrying quotes describing former President Park Geun-hye as "an unseemly wench who has never had a chance to marry or bear a child", and criticising the "venomous swish of her skirt". It has also called North Korean defectors, who have spoken about human rights abuses, as "human scum". "Most North Korean propaganda is extremely - almost comically - aggressive," says Prof Lankov. "In North Korea, the harsher you sound, the better... this is how you're supposed to talk about political subjects." Much of it is influenced by China's rhetoric from the late 1960s, he says, but Chinese propaganda has changed over the decades, with many in Chinese media educated in the West or influenced by Western styles. North Korean rhetoric hasn't changed however, because "while society has changed a lot, their ideology has been frozen". Prof Lankov adds that the North Koreans working in state media are likely to be from elite families, and graduates of prestigious local schools, who will be required to follow instructions from the Propaganda and Agitation Department. "North Korea is one of the last countries where the government has full control over the media." Despite the insults, North Korea has actually toned down its anti-US rhetoric in last year and a half, Ms Lee says. "Since the [first] Singapore Trump-Kim summit last June, North Korean domestic media have by and large refrained from carrying negative commentaries about the US." In the past, "the last page of Party Daily newspaper [Rodong Sinmun], was almost always filled with commentaries criticising South Korea and the US - but since 2018 the page is now filled with more international news". "I think the fact they are refraining from explicit criticism of the US using domestic outlets shows they're not closing the door on US-DPRK [North Korea] talks just yet." | Why is North Korea criticising Joe Biden? | 1,630 | Wednesday's KCNA report accused Mr Biden of "rhetoric slandering the supreme leadership of the DPRK" during a recent election campaign. This appeared to refer to Mr Biden's rally in Philadelphia on Saturday, where he criticised Mr Trump for working with "tyrants like [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and Kim Jong-un". "North Korean media tend to react sensitively to any comments made by foreign officials, especially US officials, about the North Korean leader," Rachel Lee, a senior analyst at NK News and a former North Korean media analyst for the US government, told the BBC. However, it's important to note that KCNA is an external agency aimed at international audiences, and "North Korea's public don't have access to it", she added. Often, domestic North Korean media avoid certain sensitive topics - or may avoid commenting on some issues, to ensure the government has more wriggle room later on, Ms Lee says. Meanwhile, Prof Andrei Lankov, a North Korea expert at Kookmin University, says that such propaganda is part of Pyongyang's attempt to "drive a wedge" between Donald Trump and his political advisers. State media criticism of Mr Biden, as well as Mr Pompeo and Mr Bolton, is an attempt to portray an image that "they would like to deal with Donald Trump, but he's prevented from doing anything meaningful by the hardline American establishment". Whether this is true or not is another matter - the most recent direct talks between Mr Trump and Mr Kim ended in Hanoi in February without any progress towards an agreement. "Given Joe Biden's record of standing up for American values and interests, it's no surprise that North Korea would prefer that Donald Trump remain in the White House," a spokesperson for his campaign, Andrew Bates, told the BBC. | 0.779563 | 0.774526 | 0.777044 |
4253_0 | Guatemala's Fuego volcano erupted at about noon local time (18:00 GMT) on Sunday. It is one of Central America's most active volcanoes but Sunday's eruption caused more fatalities than any of those previously recorded at Fuego. At least 69 people are known to have died. Most of them lived in villages on the slopes of the 3,763m-high volcano and were killed by what is known as pyroclastic flow, a searing cloud of debris. Fuego is a stratovolcano or composite volcano. Its steep, conical shape, which is typical of this type of volcano, can be seen from the capital, Guatemala City, 44km (27 miles) south-west of Fuego's summit. Fuego sits on the Ring of Fire, a horse-shoe-shaped string of volcanoes, earthquake sites and tectonic plates around the Pacific, which spreads across 40,000km (25,000 miles) from the southern tip of South America all the way to New Zealand. Stratovolcanoes are usually formed over a period of tens to hundreds of thousands of years and commonly produce highly explosive eruptions. Fuego regularly erupts but usually these are smaller events which pose little risk to surrounding villages. Stratovolcanoes are made up of alternating layers of lava, ash and rock. When a stratovolcano erupts, the rock layer is smashed into tiny dust particles. These particles mix with the hot ash and gases to form a giant cloud. Volcanologists say the ash plume from Fuego reached a height of 10km (33,000ft). It could be clearly seen from space, as this image taken by Nasa shows. As the eruption weakened, the ash cloud collapsed under its own weight and cascaded down the side of the volcano as a pyroclastic flow. Pyroclastic flows contain a high-density mix of hot lava blocks, pumice, ash and volcanic gas. They move very quickly down volcanic slopes, typically following valleys. Fuego's pyroclastic flow is the reason why so many people died in the volcano's most recent eruption compared to the last major eruption in 1974, when no deaths were officially recorded. They can reach a speed of up to 700km/h (450mph) and are considered to be the most deadly volcanic event because they are impossible to outrun and can travel for miles. Temperatures inside pyroclastic flows can range between 200C and 700C (390-1300F) and can ignite fires. They destroy everything in their path. Locals living on the slopes are used to smaller eruptions but the virulence of Sunday's event caught them by surprise. Many of the victims were found near their homes, indicating that they did not have time to flee. Others managed to save themselves but are still searching for members of their families. The villages worst affected were San Miguel Los Lotes and El Rodeo. Aerial photographs show how they were covered by pyroclastic flow which rushed down the slopes of the volcano. Video footage showing people gazing at the pyroclastic flow coming down the mountainside suggests they were not aware of how fast it spreads and the danger it poses. Volcanologists warn that while the eruption has seized for now, the danger is not yet over. If heavy rain were to fall on Fuego's slopes, it could cause deadly mudslides carrying ash, boulders and debris down the mountainside. The Guatemalan authorities calculate that 1.7 million people have been affected by the eruption and large areas remain covered in ash. | What type of volcano is Fuego? | 424 | Fuego is a stratovolcano or composite volcano. Its steep, conical shape, which is typical of this type of volcano, can be seen from the capital, Guatemala City, 44km (27 miles) south-west of Fuego's summit. Fuego sits on the Ring of Fire, a horse-shoe-shaped string of volcanoes, earthquake sites and tectonic plates around the Pacific, which spreads across 40,000km (25,000 miles) from the southern tip of South America all the way to New Zealand. Stratovolcanoes are usually formed over a period of tens to hundreds of thousands of years and commonly produce highly explosive eruptions. Fuego regularly erupts but usually these are smaller events which pose little risk to surrounding villages. | 0.752837 | 0.799834 | 0.776335 |
298_1 | The internal Labour row over anti-Semitism has dragged on for nearly three years. Here's a guide to what's been going on. Jewish people have faced prejudice and hostility for centuries. During World War II, six million Jews were murdered by the Nazis or their accomplices in what is known as the Holocaust. Modern-day anti-Semitism can take many forms including, but not limited to, conspiracy theories about Jewish control of the global financial system and the media, to attacks on synagogues, verbal abuse or hate speech and abusive memes on social media. In 2018, anti-Semitic hate incidents in the UK reached a record high, according to the Community Security Trust, which monitors them. In 2016, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) adopted a working definition of anti-Semitism which described it as "a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews". The UK and the IHRA's other 30 members accepted the definition, as well as a series of accompanying "contemporary" examples of how anti-Semitism manifests itself in public life. These include Holocaust denial, denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination (through the existence of the State of Israel), and holding Jews collectively responsible for the actions of that state. Labour got itself into trouble over the definition - as we'll explain later. Debates about anti-Semitism in Labour often involve Israel and the term "Zionism". In its modern sense, Zionism refers to support for Israel's existence and prosperity. It began as a political movement in Europe in the late 19th Century which sought to develop Jewish nationhood in the land known as Palestine - also known to Jews as the ancient Land of Israel. The movement evolved and eventually led to the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. Some say "Zionist" can be used as a coded attack on Jewish people, while others say the Israeli government and its supporters are deliberately confusing anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism to avoid criticism. Attitudes to Israel in the UK, and on the left in particular, are influenced by its troubled relationship with its Arab neighbours and its long conflict with the Palestinians. A 2016 report by the Home Affairs Committee of MPs backed the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism but said it should include an additional statement to maintain freedom of speech "in the context of discourse about Israel and Palestine". This, it said, should read "it is not anti-Semitic to criticise the Israeli government without additional evidence to suggest anti-Semitic intent" or to hold Israel "to the same standards as other liberal democracies or to take a particular interest in the Israeli government's policies or actions, without additional evidence to suggest ant-Semitic intent". Anti-Semitism was generally not regarded as a big problem in the Labour Party before Jeremy Corbyn's election as leader in September 2015. Since then, things have changed, with Mr Corbyn and other figures on the left setting a new political direction. There has been an influx of new members, many of whom are vocal critics of Israel and who believe the UK, along with the US, should be tougher towards Israel, especially regarding its policies towards the Palestinians and its building of settlements in the occupied territories. The strength of the left's support for Palestinian statehood, which Jeremy Corbyn has championed for decades, contrasts with the more nuanced position taken by many of his predecessors. As the balance of power within Labour changed after Mr Corbyn's appointment, attention quickly focused on what activists and elected representatives were saying - and had said in the past - on social media and elsewhere about Israel and Jewish people. There were claims that anti-Semitic tropes were being widely propagated and a number of incidents attracted a great deal of attention. High-profile suspensions over alleged anti-Semitic comments include MP Naz Shah, the ex-London Mayor Ken Livingstone and MP Chris Williamson, an ally and friend of Mr Corbyn. Ms Shah apologised for a string of comments on Twitter, including one suggesting Israel should be moved to the United States, although she was subsequently re-instated. Mr Livingstone quit the party after a long-running row over claims Adolf Hitler had once supported Zionism while Mr Williamson was stripped of his membership for saying the problem of anti-Semitism had been over-stated and Labour had been "too apologetic" over the issue. Mr Williamson's case is still ongoing - he was allowed back into the party several months later, but was suspended again two days later. pending further consideration of his future. In February this year Labour released figures showing that the party received 673 accusations of anti-Semitism by Labour members between April 2018 and January 2019. However the scale of the issue remains disputed. In April 2019, the Sunday Times reported that Labour had received 863 complaints against party members, including councillors. The newspaper claimed leaked e-mails it had seen showed more than half of the cases remained unresolved while there had been no investigation in 28% of them. It said fewer than 30 people had been expelled while members investigated for posting online comments such as "Heil Hitler" and "Jews are the problem" had not been suspended. Labour disputed the reports while Jewish Voice for Labour, a newly constituted group supportive of Mr Corbyn, maintained the number of cases being investigated represented a tiny fraction of Labour's 500,000 plus membership. Not nearly enough, say its critics. In 2016, Mr Corbyn asked the barrister and human rights campaigner Shami Chakrabarti - who was appointed a Labour peer soon after her report was published - to look into the extent of anti-Semitism and other forms of racism within the party. The report concluded that while Labour was not "overrun by anti-Semitism or other forms of racism", there was an "occasionally toxic atmosphere". It called for a series of recommendations to tackle what it said was the "clear evidence of ignorant attitudes" within sections of the party. The report's launch was marred, though, by a verbal confrontation which led to the expulsion of activist Marc Wadsworth from the party after he criticised a Jewish MP. Labour's General Secretary Jennie Formby says she has strengthened and speeded up the party's disciplinary procedures, with more staff to handle investigations but Baroness Chakrabarti - now Labour's shadow attorney general - has criticised the pace of progress. The Home Affairs Committee's 2016 report said the leadership's lack of action "risks lending force to allegations that elements of the Labour movement are institutionally anti-Semitic". More recently, in early 2019, Labour approached its former Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer about leading a review into its complaints process, which critics say has become politicised. This, in turn, led to complaints from prominent Jewish MPs that he was too close to the party for any review to be independent. But in a politically damaging move, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) announced it would be conducting its own wide-ranging investigation into whether Labour "unlawfully discriminated against, harassed or victimised people because they are Jewish". Labour said it would co-operate fully with the watchdog. It is only the second time the EHRC has investigated a political party - in 2010, it ordered the BNP to re-write its constitution to comply with race relation laws. A Labour spokesman rejected "any suggestion that the party does not handle ant-Semitism complaints fairly and robustly, or that the party has acted unlawfully". The party faced further criticism following a BBC Panorama called Is Labour Anti-Semitic? The programme spoke to a number of former party officials who alleged that senior Labour figures - namely Ms Formby and Mr Corbyn's communications chief Seumas Milne - had interfered in the process of dealing with anti-Semitism complaints. The disputes team is supposed to operate independently from the party's political structures, including the leader's office. The whistleblowers also claimed they had faced a huge increase in anti-Semitism complaints since Mr Corbyn became leader in 2015. Labour strenuously disputed the claims, insisting there was no interference and the former staff were "disaffected" individuals with "personal and political axes to grind". It also said the programme was "heavily slanted and inaccurate" - a suggestion Panorama has rejected. The party's deputy leader, Tom Watson, said he "deplored" the official response to the documentary, and other senior figures joined him to call on the leadership to listen to the concerns it raised. MPs and peers are now pushing for a fully independent complaints process. In July 2018, Labour adopted a new anti-Semitism code which critics, including Jewish leaders and some Labour MPs, said fell unacceptably short of the IHRA definition. Labour's version did not include a number of its examples of anti-Semitism, including: - accusing Jewish people of being more loyal to Israel than their home country - requiring higher standards of behaviour from Israel than other nations Following a consultation - and widespread criticism - Labour subsequently adopted the full IHRA definition and examples, along with an accompanying statement that "this will not in any way undermine freedom of expression on Israel or the rights of Palestinians". Critics have said the addition of a "caveat" undermines the IHRA definition - but Labour says it is intended to reassure members they can be critical of Israel without being anti-Semitic. Mr Corbyn proposed a longer additional statement - which would have allowed criticism of the foundation of the state of Israel as a racist endeavour - but this was not accepted by the party's ruling executive. Jeremy Corbyn has insisted time and time again there is no place for anti-Semitism in Labour. Some of his supporters say the problem has been exaggerated and is being used as a stick to beat the Labour leader by people who don't like him or his views on the Middle East. He comes from a different political tradition than virtually every other post-war Labour leader, having campaigned for 40 years against Western imperialism and aggression. Mr Corbyn's opponents accuse him of being too close to Hamas, a militant Islamist group, and Hezbollah, a Lebanese paramilitary group. Both groups are widely viewed in the West as terrorist organisations. He described representatives of Hamas as his "friends" after inviting them to a controversial meeting in Parliament in 2009. He later said he regretted his use of language, but insisted his motivation in talking to enemies of Israel was the promotion of peace in the Middle East. But his critics argue his views have created the space for anti-Semitism to flourish in the party and he has condoned anti-Jewish prejudice through several of his own actions. Mr Corbyn faced criticism in August 2018 after a video emerged on the Daily Mail website of a 2013 clip in which he said a group of British Zionists had "no sense of English irony". Former chief rabbi Lord Sacks branded the comments "the most offensive statement" by a politician since Enoch Powell's "Rivers of Blood" speech and accused the Labour leader of being an anti-Semite. Mr Corbyn said he had used the term "Zionist" in an "accurate political sense and not as a euphemism for Jewish people". He added: "I am now more careful with how I might use the term 'Zionist' because a once self-identifying political term has been increasingly hijacked by anti-Semites as code for Jews." It isn't the only row he has been embroiled in, though. In August 2018, the Labour leader also came under fire over his presence at a ceremony in Tunisia in 2014 which is said to have honoured the perpetrators of the 1972 Munich massacre, during which 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage by Palestinian militants and killed. The Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Mr Corbyn deserved "unequivocal condemnation" for laying a wreath on the grave of one of those behind the atrocity. The Labour leader tweeted that Mr Netanyahu's claims about his "actions and words are false", adding: "What deserves unequivocal condemnation is the killing of over 160 Palestinian protesters in Gaza by Israeli forces since March, including dozens of children." Mr Corbyn said he had attended the event in Tunis as part of a wider event about the search for peace. Earlier in August 2018, Jeremy Corbyn apologised over an event he hosted as a backbench MP in 2010 where a Holocaust survivor compared Israel to Nazism. After the Times published details of the event, the Labour leader said he had "on occasion appeared on platforms with people whose views I completely reject" and was sorry for the "concerns and anxiety that this has caused". In March 2018, Mr Corbyn was criticised for sending an apparently supportive message to the creator of an allegedly anti-Semitic mural in 2012. In a message sent via Facebook, he had appeared to question a decision to remove the artist's controversial work from a wall in east London. He later said he had not looked at it properly, calling it "deeply disturbing and anti-Semitic". The artist, called Mear One, denied this, saying the mural was about "class and privilege". Following the row, Mr Corbyn said he was "sincerely sorry for the pain" caused and conceded there were "pockets" of anti-Semitism within the party. Unease within Labour ranks in Parliament intensified in 2017 and 2018 amid concerns the leadership was not doing enough to defend Jewish MPs, such as Luciana Berger, who were themselves the targets of anti-Semitic abuse and death threats. In March 2018, scores of Labour MPs joined Jewish groups, including the Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of Deputies of British Jews, and other anti-racism campaigners to demand action in an unprecedented "Enough is Enough" rally outside Parliament. In a further sign of the breakdown in trust between Labour and the Jewish community, the Jewish Labour Movement considered severing its century-old affiliation to the party. While deciding to retain its ties, the organisation of 2,000 members did pass a motion of no confidence in Mr Corbyn and voted to describe the party as "institutionally anti-Semitic". In February 2019, nine MPs quit Labour, many of them citing the leadership's handling of anti-Semitism as their reason for leaving. Ms Berger, who had a police escort at the 2018 Labour Party conference, said she had come to the "sickening conclusion" that the party had become institutionally anti-Semitic and that she was "embarrassed and ashamed" to stay. Ms Berger's supporters, including deputy leader Tom Watson, claimed she has been "bullied out of her own party by racist thugs". Among the other defectors, Joan Ryan claimed the party had "become infected with the scourge of anti-Jewish racism" while Ian Austin blamed Mr Corbyn for "creating a culture of extremism and intolerance". In March 2018, the head of the Labour Party's disputes panel quit after it emerged she had opposed the suspension of a council candidate accused of Holocaust denial. Christine Shawcroft said she had not not been aware of the "abhorrent" Facebook post that had led to his suspension In July 2018, the UK's three main Jewish newspapers published the same front page, warning that a government led by Mr Corbyn would pose an "existential threat to Jewish life". Earlier that month the party brought disciplinary action against the Labour MP Margaret Hodge, after she reportedly called Mr Corbyn an "anti-Semite" and a "racist". Ms Hodge refused to apologise and the action was later dropped. Frank Field, the MP for Birkenhead since 1979, quit the party's group in Parliament in August 2018, saying the leadership had become "a force for anti-Semitism in British politics". In May 2019, a member of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee - Peter Willsman - was suspended after LBC radio reported he had been recorded as saying that the Israeli embassy was "almost certainly" behind the anti-Semitism row. And Labour's successful candidate in the Peterborough by-election, Lisa Forbes, was engulfed in a row after it emerged she had liked a social media post suggesting Theresa May had a "Zionist slave masters agenda". She apologised and calls for her to be suspended were rejected but the controversy led to fresh ructions and claims racism had become "institutionalised" within the party. Update 25th June 2019: Although intended as a general guide, an earlier version of this article omitted some relevant information and it has since been updated. Correction 23rd July 2019: An earlier version of this article inaccurately said that Labour has never confirmed the number of anti-Semitism cases it is investigating and this has been amended to confirm that the party did release figures for a 10 month period in 2018/19. | What is the Labour anti-Semitism row about? | 2,796 | Anti-Semitism was generally not regarded as a big problem in the Labour Party before Jeremy Corbyn's election as leader in September 2015. Since then, things have changed, with Mr Corbyn and other figures on the left setting a new political direction. There has been an influx of new members, many of whom are vocal critics of Israel and who believe the UK, along with the US, should be tougher towards Israel, especially regarding its policies towards the Palestinians and its building of settlements in the occupied territories. The strength of the left's support for Palestinian statehood, which Jeremy Corbyn has championed for decades, contrasts with the more nuanced position taken by many of his predecessors. As the balance of power within Labour changed after Mr Corbyn's appointment, attention quickly focused on what activists and elected representatives were saying - and had said in the past - on social media and elsewhere about Israel and Jewish people. There were claims that anti-Semitic tropes were being widely propagated and a number of incidents attracted a great deal of attention. High-profile suspensions over alleged anti-Semitic comments include MP Naz Shah, the ex-London Mayor Ken Livingstone and MP Chris Williamson, an ally and friend of Mr Corbyn. Ms Shah apologised for a string of comments on Twitter, including one suggesting Israel should be moved to the United States, although she was subsequently re-instated. Mr Livingstone quit the party after a long-running row over claims Adolf Hitler had once supported Zionism while Mr Williamson was stripped of his membership for saying the problem of anti-Semitism had been over-stated and Labour had been "too apologetic" over the issue. Mr Williamson's case is still ongoing - he was allowed back into the party several months later, but was suspended again two days later. pending further consideration of his future. In February this year Labour released figures showing that the party received 673 accusations of anti-Semitism by Labour members between April 2018 and January 2019. However the scale of the issue remains disputed. In April 2019, the Sunday Times reported that Labour had received 863 complaints against party members, including councillors. The newspaper claimed leaked e-mails it had seen showed more than half of the cases remained unresolved while there had been no investigation in 28% of them. It said fewer than 30 people had been expelled while members investigated for posting online comments such as "Heil Hitler" and "Jews are the problem" had not been suspended. Labour disputed the reports while Jewish Voice for Labour, a newly constituted group supportive of Mr Corbyn, maintained the number of cases being investigated represented a tiny fraction of Labour's 500,000 plus membership. | 0.836887 | 0.71554 | 0.776214 |
390_0 | Heavy seasonal rains are a regular feature of life in Nigeria and towns close to the country's main rivers are particularly vulnerable. This year floods have killed almost 200 people with many thousands displaced. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) say these figures are likely to rise as the full impact becomes clear. A state of emergency has been declared in four of the worst-hit states: - Niger - Kogi - Anambra - Delta President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged $8.2m (PS6.2m) for relief efforts. The NEMA has activated five local operation centres to coordinate emergency responses. Flooding regularly wreaks havoc in Nigeria: - In 2017, floods affected 250,000 people in the eastern-central region - In 2016, 92,000 were displaced and 38 died - In 2015, more than 100,000 were displaced, with 53 deaths - In 2012, devastating flooding forced two million Nigerians from their homes and 363 died, according to authorities "Floods have become a perennial challenge with increasing intensity each year, leaving colossal losses and trauma," the Nigerian Meteorological Agency says. So why does Nigeria keep flooding, and is it getting worse? Nigeria hosts two of West Africa's great rivers: - the Niger which enters the country from the north-west - the Benue, which flows into Nigeria from its eastern neighbour Cameroon These two immense waterways meet in central Nigeria and then flow south as a single river on to the Atlantic Ocean. Much, though by no means all, of Nigeria's flooding occurs along these two rivers as their banks overflow in the rainy season. In 2012, hundreds of thousands of acres of land were flooded in Nigeria when the Benue and Niger over-spilled. That year, the Niger River reached a record-high level of 12.84m (42ft). In 2018, levels reached 11.06m, with fears that the heavy rain, expected to continue through October this year, could lead it to approach similar heights. There has also been extensive damage to farmlands, according ACAPS, a humanitarian data-analysis organisation, which is the mainstay of most livelihoods in the affected regions. Flooding is also caused by: - the tidal movements of coastal waters, such as in the Delta region of the south-east - saturated drainage systems, such as in the country's largest city, Lagos, in the south-west Heavy rainfall has certainly increased the likelihood of rivers overflowing and flash floods. And there's evidence to suggest increasing rainfall over time. Data from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency from 1981-2017, analysing 13 affected locations, reveals a rising trend in annual rainfall, which it says is likely to be a significant factor responsible for floods. But it's not just rain falling in Nigeria itself. Heavy precipitation upstream on the Benue and Niger rivers - in Cameroon, Mali and the country of Niger - contributes large volumes of water to Nigeria's river system, according to Zahrah Musa at the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education. Another factor in Nigeria's flood problem is dams. Nigeria's three main electricity-generating dams, at Kainji and Jebba on the Niger river and the Shiroro dam on the Kaduna River, "have become bloated" by the heavy rains and excess water has had to be released downstream over the past month, says Hussaini Ibrahim, of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA). The uncompleted Zungeru dam, in Niger state, which is part-funded by the Chinese government, is also believed to be affecting areas once free from flooding. On the Benue River, the main concern is the Lagdo Dam, in neighbouring Cameroon, which has previously caused the river to swell by releasing water. In 2012, water flowing in from the Lagdo dam was blamed for 30 deaths in Nigeria. The Cameroonian authorities have yet to allow water to pour out from Lagdo during the current rainy season - but there are concerns in Nigeria that this might happen. Nigeria's population is expanding rapidly, currently estimated at 186 million, and the lack of proper town planning can make flooding worse in urban areas. "Town planning in Nigeria is very weak," says Aliyu Salisu Barau, of Bayero University. "These areas are affected by a lack of drainage networks." The city of Lokoja, for example, at the meeting-point of Benue and Niger rivers, is particularly prone to flooding. "If you go to Lokoja, you see massive developments along the Niger River," says Mr Barau. These developments are almost always unregulated, with people building on floodplains, reducing the surface areas for water to travel, and without constructing drainage systems. Because of the unregulated nature of town planning, there's also limited information on how much land has been built on and therefore little assessment of the impact. In the city of Makurdi, for example, on the Benue river, Mr Barau says, "one can see all forms of informal activities" along the river bank. New land developments along the Niger River has more than doubled in Nassarwa and Kogi States, according to estimates. The dumping of waste in the streets can also prevent the steady flow of water and put pressure on the few urban drainage systems. It's also common, after the floods, for people to come back and start rebuilding in the same vulnerable areas. Hussaini Ibrahim, of the NSEMA, also points the finger at deforestation, which he says is happening across Nigeria. It's a resource that people use for fuel or to sell - but trees play an important role in storing rain-waters. If the impact of flooding is to be reduced in the future, the consequences of rapid urbanisation and poor urban planning need to be addressed. And greater co-operation with Nigeria's neighbours in the control of river levels will need to be achieved in order to avoid dangerous surges in water levels during the periods of heavy rain. The wider issue of the increasing rainfall levels identified by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency is one that some in Nigeria have attributed to climate change. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter | Are Nigeria's rains causing the floods? | 2,303 | Heavy rainfall has certainly increased the likelihood of rivers overflowing and flash floods. And there's evidence to suggest increasing rainfall over time. Data from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency from 1981-2017, analysing 13 affected locations, reveals a rising trend in annual rainfall, which it says is likely to be a significant factor responsible for floods. But it's not just rain falling in Nigeria itself. Heavy precipitation upstream on the Benue and Niger rivers - in Cameroon, Mali and the country of Niger - contributes large volumes of water to Nigeria's river system, according to Zahrah Musa at the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education. | 0.782008 | 0.769737 | 0.775873 |
8522_1 | Former FBI director James Comey's evidence to the Senate Intelligence Committee has been keenly awaited by the US public. Mr Comey, who was sacked by Donald Trump on 9 May, gave some clues to the inner workings of the Trump administration and its relationship with the intelligence services. But despite the forensic examination of the witness by senators some questions remain unanswered, whether because they involve classified information or because, well, the answers just aren't there yet. Here are a few of them: The former FBI director said there were a "variety of reasons" why Mr Sessions' involvement in the investigation of Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 election campaign would be problematic. However, he said he was unable to speak about them in an open session of the hearing. Mr Sessions recused himself from the investigation in March after revelations that he had had conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak during the election campaign. He had failed to reveal these conversations at his confirmation hearings. Three days after Mr Comey was fired, the president tweeted that the former FBI director should hope there were no tapes of their conversations. Mr Comey has since expressed the hope that there are tapes and at the hearing he urged the president to release all their conversations if tapes exist. "I'm good with it," he said. But while Mr Comey has himself kept detailed memos of his conversations, there is no actual evidence that tapes exist. Mr Comey testified that President Trump asked Attorney General Sessions, aide Jared Kushner and senior intelligence officials to leave the room during a meeting on counter-intelligence on 14 February. Mr Trump then mentioned Mike Flynn, whom he had recently sacked as national security adviser. Near the end of the conversation, Mr Trump said: "He is a good guy, I hope you can let this go." In his testimony, Mr Comey did not explain why Mr Trump wanted to speak to him alone, and Mr Trump has as yet shed no light on the matter. The committee's Republican chairman hinted that Mr Trump might be called to give evidence at some stage. "The American people need to hear your side of the story, just as they need to hear the president's description of events," Richard Burr told Mr Comey. To date, only one sitting US president has ever testified before a Senate committee. In August 1919, Woodrow Wilson gave testimony before the Foreign Relations Committee on the Treaty of Versailles with Germany after World War One and the establishment of the League of Nations. The Senate twice rejected the treaty and the US never joined the League of Nations. However, President George Washington testified on Indian treaties before the whole Senate in 1789, and Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman and Gerald Ford gave evidence to Senate committees after they had left office. Mr Comey said in his statement released on Wednesday that he had assured Mr Trump on three occasions that he was not personally under investigation, confirming Mr Trump's own accounts. Explaining why he hadn't gone public with this information at the time, he said that if anything changed and an investigation into the president was started, he would have felt obliged to go public with that as well. Trump lawyer Marc Kasowitz said that the president felt "totally vindicated" by Mr Comey's account. But since Mr Comey is no longer in charge of the FBI, and the investigation has now been passed to Special Counsel Robert Mueller, it is possible that Mr Trump is now being investigated after all. | Are there tapes of Mr Comey's conversations with Mr Trump? | 1,054 | Three days after Mr Comey was fired, the president tweeted that the former FBI director should hope there were no tapes of their conversations. Mr Comey has since expressed the hope that there are tapes and at the hearing he urged the president to release all their conversations if tapes exist. "I'm good with it," he said. But while Mr Comey has himself kept detailed memos of his conversations, there is no actual evidence that tapes exist. | 0.742958 | 0.808493 | 0.775726 |
7584_0 | MPs have rejected Prime Minister Boris Johnson's attempt to hold an early general election on 12 December. But why does the PM want an election and what are his remaining options? The next general election is not due until 2022, but the PM wants an early election to try to restore the Conservative Party's majority. While an early election carries risks, Mr Johnson hopes to win more seats in the House of Commons, to make it easier to pass a Brexit deal. Once an election is called, there has to be a gap of at least five weeks before polling day. That is because the law requires Parliament to dissolve 25 working days beforehand. At this point, MPs lose their status and campaign for re-election, if they choose to stand again. So, in order for polling day to take place on Mr Johnson's preferred date of 12 December, the election would have to be triggered before 6 November. Mr Johnson can't just decide to hold an early election. He needs the support of two-thirds of all MPs - at least 434. This is a legal requirement, set out under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act. The latest rejection by MPs on Monday night comes after Mr Johnson lost two previous attempts last month to trigger an early election. Labour says it will support an early election, but only once the risk of a no-deal Brexit is "off the table". Had the PM secured enough votes, he would have then recommended the day of the election to the Queen. Despite losing the vote, there are other options the government can pursue. The government plans to get round the two-thirds threshold by introducing a very short law that fixes the date of the election as 12 December. The advantage of this route - from the government's point of view - is that it would only require a simple majority of MPs to support it rather than two-thirds. MPs are set to vote on it on Tuesday. The SNP and Liberal Democrats had already discussed the idea of a similar bill - although they want a different date. Under their plan, both parties had said they would propose a law on Tuesday that sets an election for Monday 9 December - three days earlier than Mr Johnson's preferred date. It is not yet clear if they might switch to support the government's bill. If an election was held on 9 December, it would be the first time since 1931 that a UK election had not been held on a Thursday. If an election was brought via this route - either for 9 or 12 December - it would need to clear all stages in the House of Commons and the House of Lords. There is also a risk the law could be altered if MPs or peers propose changes - such as allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote. Rather than the government, it could be the opposition that initiates an early election. This could happen if Labour proposed a no-confidence vote. This would give all MPs a vote on whether they wanted the current government to continue. Only a simple majority would be needed. If it succeeded, opposition parties would be allowed two weeks to come together to try to form an alternative government. If this happened, Mr Johnson would be expected to resign and a new prime minister would take over. But if nothing was resolved during those two weeks, the Fixed-term Parliaments Act says a general election would be automatically triggered. Under this scenario, an election would take place at least seven weeks after a no-confidence vote was passed. That's because two weeks would be taken up by opposition parties trying to form a government, plus a further five weeks to dissolve Parliament for the campaign. This would leave 19 December as the earliest possible date - a week after Mr Johnson's preferred date. If the government felt it had no other way of forcing an early election, it could in theory call a motion of no confidence in itself. In order for it to succeed, Conservative MPs would have to vote to bring down their own government. While such a tactic might appear extreme to outside observers, it would trigger an automatic early election - as long as opposition parties failed to form an alternative government within the 14 days. As such, this option would be extremely high risk. Brexit - British exit - refers to the UK leaving the EU. A public vote was held in June 2016 to decide whether the UK should leave or remain. | Why does Boris Johnson want an early election? | 180 | The next general election is not due until 2022, but the PM wants an early election to try to restore the Conservative Party's majority. While an early election carries risks, Mr Johnson hopes to win more seats in the House of Commons, to make it easier to pass a Brexit deal. | 0.793617 | 0.755712 | 0.774664 |
4848_0 | Feeling a little lost on Brexit? Never really got your head around it in the first place? Let us walk you through it. Brexit is short for "British exit" - and is the word people use to talk about the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union (EU). The EU is a political and economic union of 28 countries that trade with each other and allow citizens to move easily between the countries to live and work (click here if you want to see the full list). The UK joined the EU, then known as the EEC (European Economic Community), in 1973. A public vote - called a referendum - was held on Thursday 23 June 2016 when voters were asked just one question - whether the UK should leave or remain in the European Union. The Leave side won by nearly 52% to 48% - 17.4m votes to 16.1m - but the exit didn't happen straight away. It was due to take place on 29 March 2019 - but the departure date has been delayed (we will explain in more detail below). The 2016 vote was just the start. Since then, negotiations have been taking place between the UK and the other EU countries. The discussions have been mainly over the "divorce" deal, which sets out exactly how the UK leaves - not what will happen afterwards. This deal is known as the Withdrawal Agreement. The withdrawal agreement covers some of these key points: - How much money the UK will have to pay the EU in order to break the partnership - that's about PS39bn - What will happen to UK citizens living elsewhere in the EU and, equally, what will happen to EU citizens living in the UK - How to avoid the return of a physical border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland when it becomes the frontier between the UK and the EU It also includes a transition period, which has been agreed to allow the UK and EU to agree a trade deal and to give businesses the time to adjust. That means that if the withdrawal agreement gets the green light, there will be no huge changes between the date of Brexit and 31 December 2020. Another, much shorter, document has also been drawn up that gives an overview of what the UK and EU's future relationship will be in the longer term. This is the political declaration. However, neither side has to stick exactly to what it says - it is a set of ambitions for future talks. The deal was agreed by the UK and the EU in November 2018, but it also has to be approved by British MPs. Well, no. They have voted against it three times. On 15 January they rejected the deal by 432 votes to 202 - a record defeat. Then on 12 March, after Theresa May - the prime minister at the time - had gone back to the EU to secure further legal assurances, they rejected it again. And on 29 March - the original day that the UK was due to leave the EU - MPs rejected it for a third time (this vote was slightly different as it did not include the political declaration). Yes. As MPs did not approve Mrs May's withdrawal deal, she was forced to ask other EU leaders to delay Brexit. The deadline was delayed until 31 October - but, unable to see a way forward, Mrs May stepped down as PM and was replaced by Boris Johnson. There is a broad range of complaints, many of which claim the deal fails to give back to the UK control of its own affairs from the EU. One of the biggest sticking points has been over what happens at the Irish border. Both the EU and UK want to avoid the return of guard posts and checks (here's why), so something called the backstop - a sort of safety net - was included in the deal. The backstop is meant to be a last resort to keep an open border on the island of Ireland - whatever happens in the Brexit negotiations. It would mean that Northern Ireland, but not the rest of the UK, would still follow some EU rules on things such as food products. Theresa May insisted that, if all went as planned, it would never be used. But it has annoyed some MPs, who are angry that the UK would not be able to end it without the EU's permission and so EU rules could remain in place for good. Other MPs would prefer the UK to stay closer to the EU - or even still in it. And others say Northern Ireland should not be treated separately from the rest of the UK. Boris Johnson has said he wants to renegotiate the withdrawal agreement with the EU - and remove the backstop. If he succeeds in doing this, it will still have to be approved by MPs before being passed into UK law. However, EU leaders have consistently said they will not renegotiate the withdrawal agreement and that the backstop is an essential part of any deal. If the prime minister fails to convince the EU to change the withdrawal agreement, he has promised to take the UK out of the EU without a deal on 31 October. Leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement would be known as a "no-deal Brexit". "No deal" means the UK will have failed to agree a withdrawal agreement. It would mean there would be no transition period after the UK leaves and EU laws would stop applying to the UK immediately (more on that here). The government says it is preparing for this potential situation. It expects some food prices could rise and customs checks at borders could cost businesses billions of pounds. (Read the government's report here). It has published a series of guides - which cover everything from mobile roaming on holiday to the impact on electricity supplies. Here is a list of 10 ways you could be affected by a no-deal Brexit. It is still written into law that the UK will be leaving, even though the deadline has shifted. The European Court of Justice has said the UK could cancel Brexit altogether without the agreement of other nations - but few politicians publicly back this option. | What is Brexit? | 118 | Brexit is short for "British exit" - and is the word people use to talk about the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union (EU). | 0.735541 | 0.81249 | 0.774016 |
9319_0 | Saudi Arabia and Iran are at loggerheads. They have long been rivals, but it's all recently got a lot more tense. Here's why. Saudi Arabia and Iran - two powerful neighbours - are locked in a fierce struggle for regional dominance. The decades-old feud between them is exacerbated by religious differences. They each follow one of the two main branches of Islam - Iran is largely Shia Muslim, while Saudi Arabia sees itself as the leading Sunni Muslim power. This religious schism is reflected in the wider map of the Middle East, where other countries have Shia or Sunni majorities, some of whom look towards Iran or Saudi Arabia for support or guidance. Historically Saudi Arabia, a monarchy and home to the birthplace of Islam, saw itself as the leader of the Muslim world. However this was challenged in 1979 by the Islamic revolution in Iran which created a new type of state in the region - a kind of revolutionary theocracy - that had an explicit goal of exporting this model beyond its own borders. In the past 15 years in particular, the differences between Saudi Arabia and Iran have been sharpened by a series of events. The 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq overthrew Saddam Hussein, a Sunni Arab who had been a major Iranian adversary. This removed a crucial military counter-weight to Iran. It opened the way for a Shia-dominated government in Baghdad and Iranian influence in the country has been rising ever since. Fast-forward to 2011 and uprisings across the Arab world caused political instability throughout the region. Iran and Saudi Arabia exploited these upheavals to expand their influence, notably in Syria, Bahrain and Yemen, further heightening mutual suspicions. Iran's critics say it is intent on establishing itself or its proxies across the region, and achieving control of a land corridor stretching from Iran to the Mediterranean. The strategic rivalry is heating up because Iran is in many ways winning the regional struggle. In Syria, Iranian (and Russian) support for President Bashar al-Assad has enabled his forces to largely rout rebel group groups backed by Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is trying desperately to contain rising Iranian influence while the militaristic adventurism of the kingdom's young and impulsive Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - the country's de facto ruler - is exacerbating regional tensions. He is waging a war against the rebel Houthi movement in neighbouring Yemen, in part to stem perceived Iranian influence there, but after four years this is proving a costly gamble. Iran has denied accusations that it is smuggling weaponry to the Houthis, though successive reports from a panel of UN experts have demonstrated significant assistance for the Houthis from Tehran in terms of both technology and weaponry. Meanwhile in Lebanon, Iran's ally, Shia militia group Hezbollah, leads a politically powerful bloc and controls a huge, heavily armed fighting force. Many observers believe the Saudis forced Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, whom it backs, to resign in 2017 over Hezbollah's involvement in regional conflicts. He later returned to Lebanon and put the resignation on hold. There are also external forces at play. Saudi Arabia has been emboldened by support from the Trump administration while Israel, which sees Iran as a mortal threat, is in a sense "backing" the Saudi effort to contain Iran. The Jewish state is fearful of the encroachment of pro-Iranian fighters in Syria ever closer to its border. Israel and Saudi Arabia were the two countries most resolutely opposed to the 2015 international agreement limiting Iran's nuclear programme, insisting that it did not go far enough to roll back any chance of Iran obtaining the bomb. Broadly speaking the strategic map of the Middle East reflects the Shia-Sunni divide. In the pro-Saudi camp are the other major Sunni actors in the Gulf - the UAE and Bahrain - as well as Egypt and Jordan. In the Iranian camp is Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, a member of a heterodox Shia sect, who has relied on pro-Iranian Shia militia groups, including the Lebanon-based Hezbollah, to fight predominantly Sunni rebel groups. Iraq's Shia-dominated government is also a close ally of Iran, though paradoxically it also retains a close relationship with Washington on whom it has depended for help in the struggle against so-called Islamic State. This is in many ways a regional equivalent of the Cold War, which pitted the US against the Soviet Union in a tense military standoff for many years. Iran and Saudi Arabia are not directly fighting but they are engaged in a variety of proxy wars (conflicts where they support rival sides and militias) around the region. Syria is an obvious example, while in Yemen Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of supplying ballistic missiles fired at Saudi territory by the rebel Houthi movement. Iran is also accused of flexing its muscle in the strategic waterways of the Gulf, through which oil is shipped from Saudi Arabia. The US says Iran was behind recent attacks on foreign tankers there - something it denies. So far Tehran and Riyadh have fought via proxies. Neither is really geared up for a direct war with the other but a major Houthi attack against the Saudi capital or, as in the most recent case, against a key economic target could upset the apple cart. Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia's infrastructure have inevitably added a new front to the confrontation between Tehran and Riyadh. As in the Gulf, where Iran and Saudi face each other across a maritime border, rising tensions could risk a much broader conflict. For the US and other Western powers, freedom of navigation in the Gulf is essential and any conflict that sought to block the waterway - vital for international shipping and oil transportation - could easily draw in US naval and air forces. For a long time the US and its allies have seen Iran as a destabilising force in the Middle East. The Saudi leadership increasingly sees Iran as an existential threat and the crown prince seems willing to take whatever action he sees necessary, wherever he deems it necessary, to confront Tehran's rising influence. Saudi Arabia's vulnerability has been demonstrated by these latest attacks on its oil installations. If a war breaks out, it will be more perhaps by accident rather than design. But the Saudis' own activism, encouraged in part by a lingering uncertainty as to the Trump administration's own goals in the region, inevitably adds another element of tension. | How is the Saudi-Iranian rivalry being played out? | 4,360 | This is in many ways a regional equivalent of the Cold War, which pitted the US against the Soviet Union in a tense military standoff for many years. Iran and Saudi Arabia are not directly fighting but they are engaged in a variety of proxy wars (conflicts where they support rival sides and militias) around the region. Syria is an obvious example, while in Yemen Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of supplying ballistic missiles fired at Saudi territory by the rebel Houthi movement. Iran is also accused of flexing its muscle in the strategic waterways of the Gulf, through which oil is shipped from Saudi Arabia. The US says Iran was behind recent attacks on foreign tankers there - something it denies. | 0.802515 | 0.744455 | 0.773485 |
498_0 | The oceans contain almost 200,000 different viral populations, according to the latest count. Marine viruses were found from the surface down to 4,000m deep and from the North to the South Pole. Though most are harmless to humans, they can infect marine life, including whales and crustaceans. And scientists are only just starting to understand how these tiny microbes play a role in the life and chemistry of the seas. Researchers at Ohio State University drew up a global map of marine viruses based on seawater samples from nearly 80 sites around the world. Their viral tally is almost 12-fold higher than previous estimates. They were surprised to find that the viruses fell into just five groups based on their location and depth. "When we examined the genes of the viruses in each of those communities, we found evidence of genetic adaptation to the different zones of the ocean," said researcher Ann Gregory, now of KU Leuven in Belgium. The second surprise was that the Arctic Ocean had lots of different types of viruses. It had been thought that hotspots for microbial diversity would be at the equator. The world's oceans are teeming with viruses, yet we are at the edge of our understanding on how they impact ocean health and function. Among previous discoveries are "giant" marine viruses, which can infect green algae. A litre of seawater typically contains billions of viruses - the vast majority of which remain unidentified. In the latest dataset, 90% of the populations could not be classified to a known group. Better knowledge of ocean viruses is important because of their influence on other marine microbes, including bacteria and fungi. Viruses have an impact on organisms, such as plankton, which produce more than half of the oxygen we breathe and absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. "Without microbes, the Earth, its oceans, and even our human bodies come to a halt," said Matthew Sullivan of Ohio State University. "Our lab is helping researchers finally 'see' the hidden viruses that infect these microbes." The study is reported in the journal Cell. Most of its data comes from the Tara Oceans expedition (2009-2013) using the 36m aluminium-hulled research schooner, Tara. Follow Helen on Twitter. | What do viruses do in the oceans? | 1,115 | The world's oceans are teeming with viruses, yet we are at the edge of our understanding on how they impact ocean health and function. Among previous discoveries are "giant" marine viruses, which can infect green algae. A litre of seawater typically contains billions of viruses - the vast majority of which remain unidentified. In the latest dataset, 90% of the populations could not be classified to a known group. Better knowledge of ocean viruses is important because of their influence on other marine microbes, including bacteria and fungi. Viruses have an impact on organisms, such as plankton, which produce more than half of the oxygen we breathe and absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. "Without microbes, the Earth, its oceans, and even our human bodies come to a halt," said Matthew Sullivan of Ohio State University. "Our lab is helping researchers finally 'see' the hidden viruses that infect these microbes." The study is reported in the journal Cell. Most of its data comes from the Tara Oceans expedition (2009-2013) using the 36m aluminium-hulled research schooner, Tara. Follow Helen on Twitter. | 0.778987 | 0.766595 | 0.772791 |
10030_0 | Firefly tourism is on the rise globally but scientists are warning it may contribute to risk of the insect's extinction. "I spotted a hundred flickering lights, illuminating a palm like a Christmas tree." "Our guide waved his flashlight at the fireflies. They slowly engulfed us - we were surrounded by a shiny galaxy of glowing beetle stomachs." "I reached out a hand and captured one in my fist." Reading this travel blogger's enchanting experience in 2019 makes it clear why firefly tours are popular, but done badly, it risks killing the insects. Habitat loss and light pollution from urbanisation and industrialisation are the leading threats to firefly populations, according to research published this week. But firefly tourism, which attracts thousands of visitors in countries including Mexico, the US, the Philippines and Thailand, is a growing concern for conservationists. "Getting out into the night and enjoying fireflies in their natural habitat is an awe-inspiring experience," Prof Sara Lewis at Tufts University, who led the research, told the BBC. But tourists often inadvertently kill fireflies by stepping on them, or disturb their habitat by shining lights and causing soil erosion. Firefly festivals are organised in countries including Japan, Belgium, and India, and social media is magnifying this tourism, she adds. The tiny town of Nanacamilpa in Mexico became a celebrated firefly spot in the past decade. Some visitors post their sparkling photos on Instagram, flouting the ban on photography that many site managers impose, says local photographer Pedro Berruecos. The Mexican fireflies are especially vulnerable to tourists, Prof Lewis explains. - Malaysia: 80,000 - Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee: 30,000 in two-three week summer season - Taiwan: 90,000 - Mexico: 200,000 in 2019, up from 180,000 in 2018 Source: Professor Sara Lewis, Tufts University The female insects are wingless and cannot fly, meaning they live on the ground, where visitors walking around will trample on them. "No blame on the tourists, but if they walk on the forest floor, they will be standing on the female fireflies who will be carrying eggs. They are killing the next generation," Prof Lewis says. In Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines, the industry has existed for a few decades, but is usually poorly-managed, she explains. Congregating Mangrove fireflies live exclusively in mangrove trees along rivers. Males gather in huge numbers to attract females, producing the appealing glowing swarms that tourists desire. Motorised boats are driven up the rivers, creating water swells that erode the banks, killing the trees where the fireflies live. "Operators also crash boats into the banks to disturb trees and make fireflies fly out, creating a swarm for tourists to see," Prof Lewis explains. "There is evidence that even just camera flashes disturb fireflies and interfere with their reproductive success, in addition to the flashlights used by tourists". Prof Lewis is keen to emphasise that firefly tourism is often crucial to local economies and should not be banned. Instead tour operators and tourists can develop eco-friendly practices. Travel blogger Katie Diederichs and her husband, both from the US, chose an eco-friendly tour operator in Bohol, Philippines for their firefly experience in 2015. Travelling in a small group at night in kayaks with just one light, the experience was designed to be as unobtrusive as possible, Katie explains. "The amount of light from the fireflies made the mangroves look like Christmas trees - it was really magical. "The male fireflies were flying around, giving the illusion of twinkling, while the females blink." The company is run by locals who love the fireflies and want to protect their environment, she explains. But Katie says they witnessed other operators with "large motorboat of tourists" passing by them "sending waves in our direction." In Taiwan, the tourist board has invested in sustainable firefly tours and created "thoughtful and effective" firefly eco-tourism, Prof Lewis explains. Sites have regulated guided tours with raised walkways that allow small groups of people to walk through the habitat without trampling on fireflies. Instead of flashlights or headlamps that would disturb the insects, white paint illuminates the routes. A group of scientists will meet in 2020 to set down guidelines for how to run a sustainable firefly tourism company, Prof Lewis says. "It is very important to not disturb the fireflies' habitat while photographing," advises wildlife conservation photographer Carla Rhodes. She regularly photographs the Big Dipper firefly, as well as other wildlife, where she lives in the Catskill mountains in New York. Watch where you walk, she says, and be careful with your light sources. "And for goodness sake, please don't ever capture them!" | Is firefly eco-tourism even possible? | 2,978 | Prof Lewis is keen to emphasise that firefly tourism is often crucial to local economies and should not be banned. Instead tour operators and tourists can develop eco-friendly practices. Travel blogger Katie Diederichs and her husband, both from the US, chose an eco-friendly tour operator in Bohol, Philippines for their firefly experience in 2015. Travelling in a small group at night in kayaks with just one light, the experience was designed to be as unobtrusive as possible, Katie explains. "The amount of light from the fireflies made the mangroves look like Christmas trees - it was really magical. "The male fireflies were flying around, giving the illusion of twinkling, while the females blink." The company is run by locals who love the fireflies and want to protect their environment, she explains. But Katie says they witnessed other operators with "large motorboat of tourists" passing by them "sending waves in our direction." In Taiwan, the tourist board has invested in sustainable firefly tours and created "thoughtful and effective" firefly eco-tourism, Prof Lewis explains. Sites have regulated guided tours with raised walkways that allow small groups of people to walk through the habitat without trampling on fireflies. Instead of flashlights or headlamps that would disturb the insects, white paint illuminates the routes. A group of scientists will meet in 2020 to set down guidelines for how to run a sustainable firefly tourism company, Prof Lewis says. | 0.779433 | 0.765258 | 0.772346 |
3220_0 | India is preparing to send a robotic spacecraft into orbit around Mars - a first for the country. Yogita Limaye from the BBC's India Business Report spoke to K Radhakrishnan, chair of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) - the country's space agency - about his hopes for the mission. A: Essentially in this Mars mission, which we are planning, the prime objective is to demonstrate India's capability to capture the Martian orbit and then to conduct a few meaningful scientific experiments. A: See, essentially when we talk about Mars and exploration of Mars, you look at life as one of those goals. So (we look for) the presence of methane in the Martian environment and see whether this methane, if it is there, has a biological origin or a geological origin. We also would like to study the Martian atmosphere and the escape processes there. A: No, see Curiosity is measuring the presence of methane in a small area where it is there today. We are talking about the entire Martian environment. So Curiosity saying "no" is not a point to be worried about. A: Any mission to Mars has to be done in an opportune window and the imminent window is November 2013, that is we need to get out of this sphere of influence of earth by 30 November to ensure that we have the minimum distance between Earth and Mars. Now we are launching this Mars orbiter from Sriharikota in the east coast of India in the first week of November and then the PSLV-XL (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) is used for the launch which will put this orbiter into an elliptical orbit around the Earth... then around the last week of November, we have a crucial operation, it's called the "trans-Martian injection" where the spacecraft is directed towards Mars. Then it is a long voyage of 300 days where the orbiter spacecraft passes through the sphere of influence of the Earth... Then it goes through a long phase of heliocentric flight where the orbiter spacecraft will be influenced not only by the Sun but by the other planets too. Then as it approaches Mars... we have another major action: capturing the orbit of Mars, which is on 21st of September 2014. A: Soon after the orbiter is put into the orbit of Mars, we would start the experimentation and even before this orbiter reaches the Martian environment we would be calibrating these instruments as it travels from Earth to Mars. But the most important part of it is looking at the distances involved. It takes at least 20 minutes for any signal to come from the Mars orbiter to Earth in some phases. It could be anything between four to 20 minutes one-way. A: Why India has to be in the space programme is a question that has been asked over the last 50 years. The answer then, now and in the future will be: "it is for finding solutions to the problems of man and society." And in this area, India has become a role model for the whole world. Let me talk in terms of numbers. We spend in India about a billion dollars for the space programme. If we look at the central government expenditure, we spend 0.34% of its budget for the space programme. This goes primarily for building satellites in communications and remote sensing and navigation for space applications. Nearly 35% of it goes on launch vehicle development and about 7-8% goes on the science and exploration programme. So the Mars mission we're talking about today is part of that 8% of the 0.34% of Indian central government expenditure. And if you look at the benefit that the country has accrued over the years, it has surpassed the money that has been spent in terms of tangible and intangible benefits. [This can be expressed in terms of] the advantage that the people have got, the fishermen have got, the farmers have got, the government bodies have got for informed decision-making, the support the country has got for disaster management and by providing a communication infrastructure for this country using the INSAT satellites. Today we have nearly 10 communication satellites and 10 remote sensing satellites in orbit. This is a great revolution that has taken place over these last 50 years in the country by a meagre expenditure that has been put into the space programme. A: See, Chandrayaan-1 was an orbiter, but Chandrayaan-2 as you said looks at the surface of the Moon using a rover and a landing module there. In 2009-2010, we planned this as a joint mission where India was to provide the launch and the orbiter and Russia was to provide the lander and the rover. Over these years there has been a programmatic realignment on this and, as of now, the plan is that the rover will be made by India and the lander will also be developed by India, and we must have this lander developed by the year 2016. Now, we also require a reliable GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket) for launching Chandrayaan-2. In December 2013, we are going to launch the GSLV T5 rocket with our own cryogenic engine stage. If that is successful, and we are able to have one more successful flight of the GSLV, then we would be ready - from the launch angle - for Chandrayaan-2. So, this is the scenario emerging and there will be scientific experiments in the lander module and in the rover, and a few in the orbiter too. Yes, 2016 is the correct target and the limiting factor for that is the development of the lander module. A: See, as of now we have no declared programme on human space flight, but in the year 2006-07 we began a study... and as of now we have taken up the critical new technologies that India needs to master a human space flight. The core module development, environment control and life support systems, the crew escape system, these are all part of that and we are working on it at the moment. But we require a human-rated vehicle that is capable of taking the crew module into a lower orbit. So you need to have a reliable GSLV for a manned mission or a GSLV Mark 3 developed and then manned-rated. A: As of now, there is no timeline for a mission but we are working on the development of the critical technologies required for it. A: Let me first say each country has its own priorities and focus. Right from the beginning, right from the early sixties, India's focus has been on peaceful uses of outer space and space applications and there India is today a role model for the whole world. One can be proud of it. China has its own priorities and it is moving in that direction. So, we are not in a race with anybody, but I would say we are in a race with ourselves. We need to excel, we need to improve, and we need to bring new services. We need to do it more cost-effectively and deliver it to the target audience in the country, whether it is to the people or the government or other agencies in the country. So that has been the focus of the Indian space programme. This interview has been abridged for reasons of article length. | Q: What is the objective of India's Mars mission? | 294 | A: Essentially in this Mars mission, which we are planning, the prime objective is to demonstrate India's capability to capture the Martian orbit and then to conduct a few meaningful scientific experiments. | 0.684731 | 0.859782 | 0.772257 |
735_1 | The healthiest way to cook mushrooms is to microwave or grill them to preserve their goodness, researchers say. These cooking methods significantly increase levels of antioxidants which protect cells against diseases, but boiling or frying reduces them. A study, from Spain, looked at the properties of four different types of mushrooms before and after cooking. Adding a little oil when grilling can even improve the nutritional value of the mushrooms. Plenty, it turns out. They contain protein, including essential amino acids, fibre and lots of vitamins - such as B, C , D and E. They are also low in calories and fat. In this study, published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, researchers analysed how cooking methods altered white button, shiitake, oyster and king oyster mushrooms. Frying resulted in protein and carbohydrates being lost from the mushrooms, as well as antioxidant compounds. Antioxidants are vitamins and chemicals that play a key role in protecting the body against free radicals, which are linked to heart disease, cancer and other diseases. What happens is that they disappear into the oil in the frying pan, reducing the goodness of the mushrooms. So losing them isn't great news. But, on the other hand, fried mushrooms do taste great with onions and garlic. Boiling mushrooms also led to high levels of proteins and antioxidants being lost from the fungi. The researchers put this down to the good stuff leaking out of the mushrooms into the water in the pan. As a result, their nutritional value was reduced. However, boiling did improve the glucans content of the mushrooms. They are found in fungi and may reduce the risk of heart disease. The best way to retain vitamins and nutrients when cooking vegetables is to use short cooking times. It's also best to use as little liquid as possible. This means using a microwave is a good method of cooking because fewer of the good things are lost - unlike boiling where they end up in the cooking water. In this study, the researcher Irene Roncero-Ramos, from the Mushroom Technological Research Center of La Rioja, said: "When mushrooms were cooked by microwave or grill, the content of polyphenol and antioxidant activity increased significantly and there are no significant issues in nutritional value of the cooked mushrooms." Even though cooking in oil can cause nutrients to be lost, mushrooms grilled in a small amount of oil increased their antioxidant properties. And when olive oil was used, fatty acids increased without any rise in calorie content, the researchers said. Research from the past 10 years or so shows that eating antioxidant-rich foods can benefit our general health. They are vitamins, minerals and other chemicals that help protect our cells - and are found in lots of different types of food, such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, pulses and fish. But they aren't the answer to everything. A healthy, balanced diet containing a wide variety of foods in the right proportions is recommended. According to NHS Choices, fruit and vegetables are a vital source of vitamins and minerals and should make up just over a third of the food we eat each day. That's because fruit and vegetables can help lower the risk of health issues such as high blood pressure, obesity and some cancers. | What's the problem with frying mushrooms? | 816 | Frying resulted in protein and carbohydrates being lost from the mushrooms, as well as antioxidant compounds. Antioxidants are vitamins and chemicals that play a key role in protecting the body against free radicals, which are linked to heart disease, cancer and other diseases. What happens is that they disappear into the oil in the frying pan, reducing the goodness of the mushrooms. So losing them isn't great news. But, on the other hand, fried mushrooms do taste great with onions and garlic. | 0.734393 | 0.809487 | 0.77194 |
9369_0 | Brunei has introduced a tough Islamic penal code, known as Sharia law, sparking concern from the UN and the US. The BBC explains how the Sharia system works. Sharia law is Islam's legal system. It is derived from both the Koran, Islam's central text, and fatwas - the rulings of Islamic scholars. Sharia literally means "the clear, well-trodden path to water". Sharia law acts as a code for living that all Muslims should adhere to, including prayers, fasting and donations to the poor. It aims to help Muslims understand how they should lead every aspect of their lives according to God's wishes. Background on Sharia law (BBC religion) Sharia can inform every aspect of daily life for a Muslim. For example, a Muslim wondering what to do if their colleagues invite them to the pub after work may turn to a Sharia scholar for advice to ensure they act within the legal framework of their religion. Other areas of daily life where Muslims may turn to Sharia for guidance include family law, finance and business. The many faces of Sharia Sharia law divides offences into two general categories: "hadd" offences, which are serious crimes with set penalties, and "tazir" crimes, where the punishment is left to the discretion of the judge. Hadd offences include theft, which can be punishable by amputating the offender's hand, and adultery, which can carry the penalty of death by stoning. Some Islamic organisations have argued that there are many safeguards and a high burden of proof in the application of hadd penalties. The UN has spoken out against death by stoning, saying it "constitutes torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and is thus clearly prohibited". Not all Muslim countries adopt or enforce such punishments for hadd offences, and polling suggests attitudes of Muslims to harsh penalties for such offences vary widely. Tariq Ramadan, a prominent Muslim thinker in Europe, has called for a moratorium on corporal punishment, stoning and the death penalty in the Muslim world. He argues that the conditions under which such penalties would be legal are almost impossible to re-establish in today's world. Governing under Sharia (external link) Apostasy, or leaving the faith, is a very controversial issue in the Muslim world and experts say the majority of scholars believe it is punishable by death. But a minority of Muslim thinkers, particularly those engaged with Western societies, argue that the reality of the modern world means the "punishment" should be left to God - and that Islam itself is not threatened by apostasy. The Koran itself declares there is "no compulsion" in religion. Like any legal system, Sharia is complex and its practice is entirely reliant on the quality and training of experts. Islamic jurists issue guidance and rulings. Guidance that is considered a formal legal ruling is called a fatwa. There are five different schools of Sharia law. There are four Sunni doctrines: Hanbali, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanafi, and one Shia doctrine, Shia Jaafari. The five doctrines differ in how literally they interpret the texts from which Sharia law is derived. | What is Sharia? | 158 | Sharia law is Islam's legal system. It is derived from both the Koran, Islam's central text, and fatwas - the rulings of Islamic scholars. Sharia literally means "the clear, well-trodden path to water". Sharia law acts as a code for living that all Muslims should adhere to, including prayers, fasting and donations to the poor. It aims to help Muslims understand how they should lead every aspect of their lives according to God's wishes. Background on Sharia law (BBC religion) | 0.697411 | 0.845403 | 0.771407 |
9352_0 | Reality check verdict: The US president has the power to both dismiss and appoint the director of the FBI. US President Donald Trump sacked James Comey, director of the FBI, on 9 May, with immediate effect. Mr Trump said he had acted on the recommendation of senior figures at the Justice Department, criticising Mr Comey's handling of the investigation over Hillary Clinton's emails. Mr Comey was sworn in as the seventh FBI director in September 2013, under the Obama administration. He was in his fourth year of a potential 10-year term, heading the organisation within the Justice Department with a broad array of powers to investigate domestic crime and to gather intelligence. According to federal law, the president has authority to both appoint and dismiss the director of the FBI, as well as other senior officials in the Justice Department, but the nominee has to pass hearings and be confirmed by a simple majority vote in the Senate. Only one FBI director has been removed by the President in the bureau's 100-plus-year history. That man was William Sessions, who was fired by President Bill Clinton in 1993. As president, Mr Trump has used his power to remove senior officials in the Justice Department before. He fired the acting attorney general, Sally Yates, at the end of January this year. The White House says the search for the next director has already begun. Before his removal from office, Mr Comey was in charge of investigations into alleged Russian interference during the 2016 presidential election. During a Senate hearing on 20 March 2017, Mr Comey acknowledged that potential links between Trump's associates and Russia were also under review. There's no reason why the investigation would stop, but with Mr Comey gone, Democrats in Congress are demanding that a special prosecutor be appointed to oversee the investigation into Russian involvement in the election. Deconstructing Comey's testimony on Clinton emails | How can a president simply fire the head of the FBI? | 683 | According to federal law, the president has authority to both appoint and dismiss the director of the FBI, as well as other senior officials in the Justice Department, but the nominee has to pass hearings and be confirmed by a simple majority vote in the Senate. Only one FBI director has been removed by the President in the bureau's 100-plus-year history. That man was William Sessions, who was fired by President Bill Clinton in 1993. As president, Mr Trump has used his power to remove senior officials in the Justice Department before. He fired the acting attorney general, Sally Yates, at the end of January this year. | 0.779497 | 0.762989 | 0.771243 |
752_0 | Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent of a type developed by Russia, known as Novichok, Theresa May has told MPs. The former Russian spy and his daughter are critically ill after their attempted murder in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 4 March. A police officer also remains in hospital after attending the scene. The chemical was identified by experts at the defence and science laboratory at Porton Down, Mrs May said. So what are nerve agents and what do they do? They are highly toxic chemicals that prevent the nervous system from working properly, and can be fatal. Nerve agents take different forms - including powder and gas - but they tend to be a liquid, which can seep through the skin. The name Novichok means 'newcomer' in Russian and applies to a group of advanced nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s. One of the chemicals - called A-230 - is reportedly five to eight times more toxic than VX nerve agent, which can kill a person within minutes. A number of variants of this chemical have been manufactured, and one of them was reportedly approved for use by the Russian military as a chemical weapon. Some of the agents are also reported to be 'binary weapons', meaning the nerve agent is typically stored as two less toxic chemicals. When they are mixed together, they react to produce the more toxic agent. Novichok agents are one of three classes of nerve agents - the other two are G-Agents and V-Agents. G-agents include sarin while V-agents include VX, an oily amber-coloured liquid. The half-brother of North Korean President Kim Jong-un was killed by a nerve agent in an attack in Malaysia last year. Kim Jong-nam died in less than 20 minutes after two women smeared his face with VX nerve agent ingredients at Kuala Lumpur airport in 2017. The UN says the nerve agent sarin has been used by the Syrian government - in an attack on Ghouta, near Damascus, in 2013 and again in Khan Sheikhoun in the north-west of the country in April 2017, killing hundreds. In an attack on Tokyo's subway system in 1995, which killed 13 people, liquid sarin was placed in plastic bags that were pierced by umbrellas with sharpened tips. When Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned in London in 2006, a radioactive substance - not a nerve agent - called polonium 210 was used in a cup of tea. Nerve agents disrupt normal messaging from the nerves to the muscles. This causes muscles to become paralysed and can lead to the loss of many bodily functions. Agents will act within seconds or minutes if inhaled and slightly more slowly if exposure is the result of skin contamination. Symptoms include white eyes, as the pupils become constricted, convulsions, drooling and in the worse cases - coma, respiratory failure and death. If you have ever sprayed insect repellent at a fly, you might have seen it drop to the ground and lie on its back, legs twitching. This is the result of nerve agents taking hold. The nerve agent needs to be ingested, inhaled or to penetrate through the skin, so it usually requires the person delivering it to get very close to the people they are targeting. Only tiny amounts are required for it to take effect. It is so toxic that it would usually be transported in something tightly sealed and those who apply it will need protective clothing. Dr Andrea Sella, professor of inorganic chemistry at University College London, said because of the extreme toxicity of the nerve agents it would be "very dangerous" to the person who delivered the poisoning. Prof Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, said the risk of harm in the Salisbury case was "low". However, up to 500 people who went to the Mill pub and Zizzi restaurant in Salisbury city centre on Sunday afternoon and Monday have been told to wash their clothes and wipe possessions. Dame Sally said there was some concern that prolonged exposure over weeks and months could cause health problems but it was "not a subject for panic" and the advice was a "belt and braces" measure. "The risk to the general public remains low and I am confident none of these customers or staff will have suffered harm," she said. Alastair Hay, professor emeritus of environmental toxicology at the University of Leeds, said if no one has had physical symptoms suggestive of nerve agent contact a week on, it was unlikely that they were at risk. But washing provided the extra guarantee of safety, he added. There are antidotes to help reverse the effect of nerve agents, which the emergency services hold. But the sooner the treatment is delivered the better the chance of recovery. Knowing the exact substance enables more targeted treatment. Alastair Hay, emeritus professor of environmental toxicology, said the people affected may well have been treated with atropine, which is one of the chemicals used to treat individuals with this type of poisoning. "The problem occurs if the treatment is not provided quickly," Prof Hay said. "There is paralysis of the nerves and the muscles, and that inhibits breathing and leads to some damage in the brain. At this stage we don't know if that is a problem. "Many people appear to recover without too many long-term problems but we won't know until we know the severity of their symptoms." Nerve agents are not materials that can be made at home. Their level of toxicity is such that they are only allowed to be manufactured in specialised facilities, such as a university or industrial laboratory. Discovered by accident in the 1930s by scientists trying to find a cost-effective pesticide, they proved to be highly toxic chemicals that eventually ended up in the hands of the German military. Russia, the US and the UK also started to experiment on chemical agents after World War Two and it was British scientists who developed the VX nerve agent at the Porton Down research facility in the early 1950s. The authorities would have been looking for the container used to deliver the material, as the chemical contents would be a "goldmine", Dr Sella said. "With this information it might well be possible to trace the origin of the substance, just as has been done for the Khan Sheikhoun attack in Syria." Chemical weapons expert Hamish de Bretton-Gordon said each country made chemical weapons "slightly differently" which might help scientists determine where this attack had come from. "There is a footprint, there are markers," he said. | What are nerve agents? | 509 | They are highly toxic chemicals that prevent the nervous system from working properly, and can be fatal. Nerve agents take different forms - including powder and gas - but they tend to be a liquid, which can seep through the skin. | 0.75344 | 0.786645 | 0.770042 |
9710_0 | A 25-year-old New Zealand politician has admitted making "some people very mad" by using a viral phrase in parliament. Chloe Swarbrick told an older lawmaker "OK boomer" after they interrupted her speech on climate change. There was little reaction in parliament but she soon began trending online. She has also been accused of ageism. A "boomer" is shorthand for a baby boomer - someone born between 1946 and 1964. In internet parlance, "OK boomer" is a derogatory phrase used primarily by the next generations to show their indignation towards older people deemed indifferent to their concerns. It is used widely on platforms like Twitter and TikTok. "Boomer is a state of mind," Ms Swarbrick told Stuff. "I think you can see from the way that that meme has evolved that it is symbolic of the collective frustration that young people in particular feel to placing evidence in fact time after time in the debate and in the argument and being met with dogma," she said. She also wondered whether by using the phrase so publicly she had inadvertently killed it off. Ms Swarbrick was commenting on the Zero Carbon bill, which aims to reduce net carbon emissions in New Zealand to zero by 2050, when she used the phrase. "Mr Speaker, how many world leaders, for how many decades have seen and known what is coming but have decided that it is more politically expedient to keep it behind closed doors. My generation and the generations after me do not have that luxury," she said. "In the year 2050, I will be 56 years old. Yet, right now, the average age of this 52nd Parliament is 49 years old." At this point in her speech, she was interrupted by an older member of parliament, reported to be opposition spokesman for climate change, Todd Muller. Ms Swarbrick paused, gestured with her right hand and said: "OK boomer." The zero carbon bill at the centre of the debate was voted into law on Thursday, with historic cross-party support. On social media, the Green MP - elected in 2017 - has been hailed as a "queen" for using the term. But some critics see "OK boomer" as ageist. Fellow New Zealand lawmaker Christopher Bishop expressed that "unpopular and non-woke opinion" in a tweet. Mr Muller, on the other hand, wondered how long Ms Swarbrick would remain a "millennial force for change". In a post on Facebook, Ms Swarbrick responded to her critics, albeit with more than a hint of sarcasm. "Today I have learnt that responding succinctly and in perfect jest to somebody heckling you about *your age* as you speak about the impact of climate change on *your generation* with the literal title of their generation makes some people very mad," she wrote. "So I guess millennials ruined humour. That, or we just need to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and abstain from avocados." | What does 'OK boomer' mean? | 336 | A "boomer" is shorthand for a baby boomer - someone born between 1946 and 1964. In internet parlance, "OK boomer" is a derogatory phrase used primarily by the next generations to show their indignation towards older people deemed indifferent to their concerns. It is used widely on platforms like Twitter and TikTok. "Boomer is a state of mind," Ms Swarbrick told Stuff. "I think you can see from the way that that meme has evolved that it is symbolic of the collective frustration that young people in particular feel to placing evidence in fact time after time in the debate and in the argument and being met with dogma," she said. She also wondered whether by using the phrase so publicly she had inadvertently killed it off. | 0.68091 | 0.859114 | 0.770012 |
5084_0 | The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping route in the Gulf region, is at the centre of rising tensions. Two Royal Navy warships are now in the Gulf, to protect ships sailing under the British flag. So, what is the waterway and why does it matter? Despite its small size, the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important shipping routes. It is about 96 miles long and only 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, with shipping lanes in each direction just two miles wide. Bounded to the north by Iran and to the south by Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Strait of Hormuz connects the Gulf with the Arabian Sea. The strait is deep enough for the world's biggest crude oil tankers, and is used by the major oil and gas producers in the Middle East - and their customers. At any one time, there are several dozen tankers on their way to the Strait of Hormuz, or leaving it. About a fifth of the world's oil, nearly 21 million barrels a day, passed through the Strait of Hormuz last year. In 2016, the most recent year for which comparable figures are available, the strait was the world's busiest sea route for oil. It carried about 19 million barrels a day - more than the 16 million barrels a day that went through the the Strait of Malacca, a major international waterway in the Indian Ocean. In comparison, just five or six million barrels a day went via the Suez Canal and Bab el-Mandeb in the Red Sea. The Strait of Hormuz is vital for the main oil exporters in the Gulf region, whose economies are built around oil and gas production. In 2018, Saudi Arabia sent nearly 6.4 million barrels of oil per day via the strait, while Iraq sent more than 3.4 million, the UAE nearly 2.7 million and Kuwait just over two million. Iran also relies heavily on this route for its oil exports. And Qatar, the biggest global producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), exports nearly all its gas through the strait. It has become particularly important in recent years for the major economies in Asia. Most of the oil going through the strait in 2018 went to China, Japan, South Korea and India. And the US also imported nearly 1.4 million barrels a day via this route. The UK does import some oil from the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz, as well as around a third of its liquefied natural gas. The Strait of Hormuz is still the best route for transporting large volumes of oil out of the Gulf and is the only route by sea. There are some land-based pipelines that can carry oil. A Saudi pipeline goes to the Red Sea, and has a capacity of about five million barrels of oil a day. Abu Dhabi has a pipeline that can carry about 1.5 million barrels of oil a day down the coast, to beyond the Strait of Hormuz. And there is a pipeline that can transport Iraq's oil to the Mediterranean coast. But not all these pipelines are working at full capacity. And they cannot transport nearly as much oil as can be carried by ship. UN rules allow countries to exercise control up to 12 nautical miles (13.8 miles) from their coastline. This means that at its narrowest point, the strait and its shipping lanes lie entirely within Iran and Oman's territorial waters. - Iran diverted a British-flagged oil tanker to one of its ports, which the UK said was illegal - US forces destroyed an Iranian drone that came close to the USS Boxer - The US said it was ready to carry out air strikes after Iran shot down a US drone - Two tankers were damaged by explosions after leaving the Strait of Hormuz - Four tankers were hit by blasts within the UAE's territorial waters - Shipping and oil installations were targeted during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war However, international conventions give ships - including military vessels - the right of passage through a state's territorial waters. Iran is allowed to act in its own territorial waters - but not at the expense of the right of passage for foreign ships. The US has now beefed up its military presence in the region. But it has also said it is keen for other countries to play a part in safeguarding the Gulf and wider region. And the UK is providing a naval escort for British-flagged ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. | What is the Strait of Hormuz? | 246 | Despite its small size, the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important shipping routes. It is about 96 miles long and only 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, with shipping lanes in each direction just two miles wide. Bounded to the north by Iran and to the south by Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Strait of Hormuz connects the Gulf with the Arabian Sea. The strait is deep enough for the world's biggest crude oil tankers, and is used by the major oil and gas producers in the Middle East - and their customers. At any one time, there are several dozen tankers on their way to the Strait of Hormuz, or leaving it. | 0.756965 | 0.78268 | 0.769822 |
6053_0 | More than 1,000 firefighters are battling a forest fire in Portugal that has claimed the lives at least 64 people and injured more than 130 since Saturday. Many of the victims died after becoming trapped in cars as they tried to flee. Planes have been used to drop water over the Pedrogao Grande region. Civil protection officials have said they expect the blaze to be under control soon, but warn that soaring temperatures are hampering efforts. The week's highest temperatures in the area are expected to reach around 38C (100F) and, together with windy conditions, could reignite fires already quelled. Despite 70% of the fire now under control, officials said what remained was a source "of great concern". One of the victims has been identified as a 40-year-old firefighter who died in hospital. Many died inside their cars as they tried to escape or were a short distance from them when they became trapped. The government has declared a state of emergency in the forested region around Pedrogao Grande, north-east of the capital, Lisbon. Civil protection commander Elisio Oliveira said there was great concern for the fires still burning. He described the operation as "complex" and said many residents were being forced to evacuate. The blaze continues to rage on several fronts. One volunteer rescuer quoted by Reuters news agency said teams were not optimistic about bringing the blaze fully under control anytime soon. "Low humidity, windy conditions and high temperatures will easily re-ignite the fire, and it will spread very fast," he said. When asked about the plan for Tuesday, he added: "It all depends on the weather." Police believe the fires were started by lightning on Saturday during an intense heatwave and rainless thunderstorms. Wildfires are an annual menace in Portugal. More broke out there between 1993 and 2013 than in Spain, France, Italy or Greece, the European Environment Agency reported last year, despite the country's relatively small geographical size. Given that, was this year's tragedy preventable? Could Portugal have done anything more to save lives and minimise the damage? Read more: Just what makes Portugal such a tinderbox? One of the worst-hit areas was around the village of Nodeirinho. Thirty bodies were found inside cars and another 17 next to vehicles on the N-236 road. Portuguese media have dubbed the N-236 the "road of death". A few miles north, 11 people died in the village of Pobrais, many as they tried to escape the flames. A survivor spoke of the roads being blocked and of no-one coming to their aid. Betty Jesus, a 50-year-old Venezuelan who has lived in the area for decades, said: "I have witnessed a lot of fires, but never like this. The way it spread, the speed." Virgilio Godinho, who lives in the village of Figueiro, said the fire quickly overwhelmed the community. "The fire didn't spread by the ground, it spread through the air at the height of the trees. In five minutes all were on fire in an area of around 10km," he said. Portugal is observing three days of mourning for the victims. | Why are Portugal's wildfires so deadly? | 1,756 | Wildfires are an annual menace in Portugal. More broke out there between 1993 and 2013 than in Spain, France, Italy or Greece, the European Environment Agency reported last year, despite the country's relatively small geographical size. Given that, was this year's tragedy preventable? Could Portugal have done anything more to save lives and minimise the damage? Read more: Just what makes Portugal such a tinderbox? | 0.758066 | 0.780607 | 0.769337 |
3082_0 | The US is cutting hundreds of troops in Africa as it focuses on countering threats from Russia and China. Around 700 counter-terrorism troops will be removed over the next few years, the Department of Defense said. About 7,200 US soldiers are currently based in dozens of African countries including Nigeria and Libya. There will now be a shift away from tactical assistance to advising and sharing intelligence in West Africa, the Pentagon said. However, counter-terrorism activities in several countries including Somalia and Djibouti will remain largely the same. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to Reuters, said the reduction of troops would likely take place over three years and could include countries such as Kenya, Cameroon and Mali. Pentagon spokeswoman Candice Tresch said: "We will realign our counter-terrorism resources and forces operating in Africa over the next several years in order to maintain a competitive posture worldwide." A military official said an attack in Niger in October 2017 in which four US troops were killed did not play a role in the decision to cut troops, the Voice of America reports. The move comes as US President Donald Trump works to implement his National Defense Strategy, which ushers in a new era of "Great Power competition" with Moscow and Beijing. On Wednesday, a bipartisan congressional panel reviewing the strategy said America's focus on counter-insurgency operations had weakened its military capability. By Tomi Oladipo, BBC Africa Security Correspondent The announcement of cuts has been coming for some time. In January, the US Defence Secretary James Mattis unveiled a new strategy indicating a shift away from terrorism and towards America's standing when compared to Russia and China. While the cuts begin in Africa, they will eventually affect US military personnel elsewhere. The funding will now be put into military muscle-flexing, as Beijing and Moscow embark on renewed global ambitions. The Pentagon will feel it has been successful in training partner forces in Africa and setting them up to competently fight insurgent groups - particularly Islamist extremists. An example is in Cameroon, where the US feels local Special Forces are now able to operate independently. Even though the US has spent years growing a secret military footprint across Africa, it will only keep those that are most essential, and focus on areas where there is a security vacuum, such as Libya and Somalia. | Why is the US cutting troops in Africa? | 1,479 | By Tomi Oladipo, BBC Africa Security Correspondent The announcement of cuts has been coming for some time. In January, the US Defence Secretary James Mattis unveiled a new strategy indicating a shift away from terrorism and towards America's standing when compared to Russia and China. While the cuts begin in Africa, they will eventually affect US military personnel elsewhere. The funding will now be put into military muscle-flexing, as Beijing and Moscow embark on renewed global ambitions. The Pentagon will feel it has been successful in training partner forces in Africa and setting them up to competently fight insurgent groups - particularly Islamist extremists. An example is in Cameroon, where the US feels local Special Forces are now able to operate independently. Even though the US has spent years growing a secret military footprint across Africa, it will only keep those that are most essential, and focus on areas where there is a security vacuum, such as Libya and Somalia. | 0.769008 | 0.769 | 0.769004 |
3690_0 | Introducing the SNP's general election pledges in an independent Scotland could lead to more austerity, according to an economic research group. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said the SNP's manifesto set out plans to increase spending while also setting out a list of tax-cutting measures. It said the SNP had not costed these pledges, unlike the other main parties. But it said spending cuts would have to be made elsewhere, or other taxes would have to rise to pay for them. The IFS has previously said that the spending pledges of both the Conservatives and Labour ahead of the election were "not credible", and accused both parties of not being honest with voters. It said the Liberal Democrats' manifesto would involve lower levels of borrowing than under Labour or the Conservatives, but would still be seen as "radical" in "most periods". The SNP manifesto was unveiled last month by leader Nicola Sturgeon, who said her party was offering Scottish voters a chance to "escape Brexit and put Scotland's future in Scotland's hands". In his analysis of the SNP's manifesto, IFS associate director David Phillips said it differed from those of the other three major parties because it was not "a plan of action for five years of governing the UK". Writing in the Scotsman newspaper, Mr Phillips argued that the document was instead about "starting the process of leaving the UK in the next year". He highlighted the party's call for the UK government to dramatically increase spending on the NHS in England, which would add hundreds of millions of pounds to the Scottish government budget through the Barnett Formula. He said spending proposals such as the abolition of the so-called "bedroom tax", ending the two-child cap on means-tested benefits and other increases to Universal Credit would benefit low-income, working age families. But he said other proposals aimed at pensioners, such as keeping universal free TV licences for the over-75s and offering "compensation" for the so-called Waspi women, could actually increase inequality. This is because pensioners are already "less likely to be in poverty than the rest of the population", he said. - CONFUSED? Our simple election guide - POLICY GUIDE: Who should I vote for? - POLLS: How are the parties doing? - A TO Z: Our tool to explain election words The SNP has also set out a list of tax-cutting measures - including reducing VAT on e-books, bikes, solar panels and energy efficiency measures and calling for National Insurance thresholds to "fit devolved income tax rates" - which Mr Phillips said could mean changes that reduce revenues by billions of pounds across the UK as a whole. He argued that it could therefore have been "problematic" for the party to have set out the cost of the measures it was proposing. Mr Phillips said this was because the SNP's own Growth Commission, which examined the finances of an independent Scotland, had already recognised that the country would "start life with a significant budget deficit". He said the SNP should be "commended" for setting out a plan through the Growth Commission to reduce the budget deficit significantly over the course of a decade. But he said it was "inconsistent" to claim that the Growth Commission's plans would not be austerity but at the same time argue that the UK government had been pursuing austerity in recent years. He added: "Pursuing the types of policies suggested in the SNP manifesto in an independent Scotland would mean either those cuts would have to be even bigger, or other taxes would have to be increased to pay for the proposed net giveaways. "Therefore, in the short-term at least, independence would likely necessitate more, not less, austerity. "Of course, that does not mean Scotland could not afford to be independent, or even that in the longer term better governance and better policymaking as an independent country could mean a stronger economy and more to spend on public services. That is possible - although far from guaranteed. "It just means that an independent Scotland would have to count its pennies and pounds in at least its first decade of life." Kirsty Blackman, the SNP's deputy Westminster leader and economy spokeswoman, insisted that investment in public services would increase "year in year out" after independence, which she said was in "stark contrast to the brutal austerity that is the hallmark of successive UK governments." She added: "The Growth Commission explicitly rejected austerity and instead proposed that Scotland's inherited deficit be reduced by growing the economy, not cutting spending. "The latest Gers figures proves that this is possible. It shows that Scotland's notional deficit fell by 1.1% at the same time as spending increased by 2.5%. This was achieved because growing the economy increases tax receipts. "Brexit is the biggest threat to Scotland's economy and will have a deep and lasting impact on our public services." But Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Murdo Fraser said it was clear that "independence means more not less austerity", and that the SNP was looking to "lead Scotland down the road to economic ruin, all for the price of a flag". Scottish Labour finance spokeswoman Rhoda Grant claimed that the SNP had "abjectly failed to come up with serious and credible policies". And Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said independence would mean "at least a decade of new deep cuts at a time when we need to invest in education and boost mental health services". In analysis published last week, the IFS said it was "highly likely" the Tories would end up spending more than their manifesto pledges, while Labour would be unable to deliver its promised spending increases. Neither party was therefore being "honest" with voters, IFS director Paul Johnson said. The Liberal Democrats' manifesto, he said, would involve lower levels of borrowing than under Labour or the Conservatives, but would still be seen as "radical" in "most periods". However, he added that, given the uncertainty around Brexit, it was difficult to determine what the exact effects of the three parties' offers would be. | What does the IFS says about the SNP manifesto? | 1,047 | In his analysis of the SNP's manifesto, IFS associate director David Phillips said it differed from those of the other three major parties because it was not "a plan of action for five years of governing the UK". Writing in the Scotsman newspaper, Mr Phillips argued that the document was instead about "starting the process of leaving the UK in the next year". He highlighted the party's call for the UK government to dramatically increase spending on the NHS in England, which would add hundreds of millions of pounds to the Scottish government budget through the Barnett Formula. He said spending proposals such as the abolition of the so-called "bedroom tax", ending the two-child cap on means-tested benefits and other increases to Universal Credit would benefit low-income, working age families. But he said other proposals aimed at pensioners, such as keeping universal free TV licences for the over-75s and offering "compensation" for the so-called Waspi women, could actually increase inequality. This is because pensioners are already "less likely to be in poverty than the rest of the population", he said. - CONFUSED? Our simple election guide - POLICY GUIDE: Who should I vote for? - POLLS: How are the parties doing? - A TO Z: Our tool to explain election words The SNP has also set out a list of tax-cutting measures - including reducing VAT on e-books, bikes, solar panels and energy efficiency measures and calling for National Insurance thresholds to "fit devolved income tax rates" - which Mr Phillips said could mean changes that reduce revenues by billions of pounds across the UK as a whole. He argued that it could therefore have been "problematic" for the party to have set out the cost of the measures it was proposing. Mr Phillips said this was because the SNP's own Growth Commission, which examined the finances of an independent Scotland, had already recognised that the country would "start life with a significant budget deficit". He said the SNP should be "commended" for setting out a plan through the Growth Commission to reduce the budget deficit significantly over the course of a decade. But he said it was "inconsistent" to claim that the Growth Commission's plans would not be austerity but at the same time argue that the UK government had been pursuing austerity in recent years. He added: "Pursuing the types of policies suggested in the SNP manifesto in an independent Scotland would mean either those cuts would have to be even bigger, or other taxes would have to be increased to pay for the proposed net giveaways. "Therefore, in the short-term at least, independence would likely necessitate more, not less, austerity. "Of course, that does not mean Scotland could not afford to be independent, or even that in the longer term better governance and better policymaking as an independent country could mean a stronger economy and more to spend on public services. That is possible - although far from guaranteed. "It just means that an independent Scotland would have to count its pennies and pounds in at least its first decade of life." | 0.791757 | 0.745303 | 0.76853 |
5096_0 | Social issues like gay marriage and abortion have taken centre stage in the lead up to Canada's autumn election, as the Liberal Party tries to convince voters that the Conservatives want to backtrack on LGBTQ and abortion rights. Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party has fired an early salvo against Conservative party leader Andrew Scheer, and his past record on gay marriage and abortion. But whether it will wound his primary opponent remains to be seen. A Liberal minister released footage last week of Mr Scheer in 2005 opposing same-sex marriage during a debate in parliament. Although his remarks have been a matter of public record for some time, the footage renewed concerns that he would let his personal beliefs influence policy decisions. For days Mr Scheer avoided commenting on his past statements, but on Thursday he gave a press conference where he tried to assuage concerns. Just before, the Liberals launched another attack, this time with footage taken during the 2017 Conservative leadership contest. In it, an anti-abortion activist says Mr Scheer has promised him that Conservative MPs who oppose abortion would be allowed to vote with their conscience if the matter were to come up in parliament. During his press conference, Mr Scheer accused the Liberals of "dredging up divisive issues" in order to distract people from Liberal scandals and poor economic policy. He reiterated that his Conservative Party considered both same-sex marriage and abortion to be "settled law", meaning the party would not seek to make either illegal again. However, he was a bit hazy on how he would deal with members of his own party who wished to pass socially conservative legislation. In 2005, about a year after Mr Scheer was elected to parliament, he voted against same-sex marriage. He was one of 133 members, from all parties, who voted against the law, which passed with 158 votes. "There is nothing more important to society than the raising of children, for its very survival requires it. Homosexual unions are by nature contradictory to this," Mr Scheer, who is Catholic, said during a debate on the proposed legislation. That clip was tweeted out by Liberal public safety minister Ralph Gooddale last week. Since 2005, the Conservative Party has largely given up on making same-sex marriage illegal. In 2016, Mr Scheer voted in favour of removing the heterosexual definition of marriage from the party's policy book. Also in 2016, he voted against a bill to protect gender identity and expression under the Human Rights Act. The bill passed with 248 in favour, including many Conservatives, and only 40 opposed. Mr Scheer is personally opposed to abortion, but says he will keep the party's current policy on the issue, which is to not support legislation that would regulate abortion or reopen the debate. But on Thursday, another Liberal minister tweeted out a video from 2017 that seemed to contradict this promise. In the clip, a member of RightNow, an anti-abortion group, tells conservative television host Faytene Grasseschi that Mr Scheer - who was running for party leadership at the time - had promised that he would allow a "free vote" on abortion if it should come up in parliament. This would mean he would allow his party members to vote with their conscience. This policy stands in stark contrast to Mr Trudeau, who has said no Liberal Party member is allowed to vote against abortion rights, regardless of personal beliefs. "The Liberals showed how intolerant they are, and how they don't actually believe in people's rights to hold personal beliefs," Mr Scheer told the Globe and Mail in 2018. On Thursday, after mounting calls for him to clarify his previous statements, Mr Scheer gave a press conference where he accused the Liberal Party of using socially divisive issues to distract from their own scandals. "Trudeau can't run on his record. He can't possibly defend all his broken promises, massive deficits, tax increases and ethical and corruption scandals," he said. When asked about his personal views on gay marriage, Mr Scheer said he supported it, legally speaking. "My personal views are that LGBT Canadians have the same inherent self-worth and dignity as any other Canadian and I will always uphold the law and always ensure they have equal access to the institution of marriage," he said. He said that while he does not attend pride parades, he supports the community in other ways, such as his motion last year to condemn Russia for its treatment of LGBTQ people. On abortion, his stance was less clear. He reiterated that he would not reopen the abortion debate. "I will oppose measures or attempts to reopen this debate and Canadians can have confidence in that," he said. But he also reaffirmed that individual MPs would be allowed to "express themselves on matters of conscience", which seems to leave the door open for backbenchers to introduce private members bills on the issue. When asked how he personally would vote if such a bill were to be tabled, Mr Scheer declined to answer the "hypothetical" question. There is nothing new about Liberals attacking Conservatives for allegedly being anti-gay or anti-choice. When a dozen Conservative MPs attended an anti-abortion rally in May, Liberals called on Mr Scheer to defend his position. Earlier in August, three federal party leaders - Mr Trudeau. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and Green Party leader Elizabeth May - marched in the pride parade. Mr Trudeau did not let Mr Scheer's absence go unnoticed. "It's just unfortunate that there are still some party leaders who want to be prime minister, who choose to stand with people who are intolerant instead of standing with the LGBT community," he said. Both abortion rights and same-sex marriage are popular in Canada. A 2017 IPSOS poll found 77% of Canadians supported legal abortion. Two-thirds of Canadians also support same-sex marriage, according to a recent Research Co. online survey of 1,000. Mr Trudeau has made progressive issues an integral part of his own brand, and his party's platform. The Liberals' slogan for the campaign, "Choose Forward", speaks to this perception, along with the unwritten implication that to choose Conservative would be a step backward. | What were Mr Scheer's views on same sex marriage? | 1,688 | In 2005, about a year after Mr Scheer was elected to parliament, he voted against same-sex marriage. He was one of 133 members, from all parties, who voted against the law, which passed with 158 votes. "There is nothing more important to society than the raising of children, for its very survival requires it. Homosexual unions are by nature contradictory to this," Mr Scheer, who is Catholic, said during a debate on the proposed legislation. That clip was tweeted out by Liberal public safety minister Ralph Gooddale last week. Since 2005, the Conservative Party has largely given up on making same-sex marriage illegal. In 2016, Mr Scheer voted in favour of removing the heterosexual definition of marriage from the party's policy book. Also in 2016, he voted against a bill to protect gender identity and expression under the Human Rights Act. The bill passed with 248 in favour, including many Conservatives, and only 40 opposed. | 0.717919 | 0.81847 | 0.768195 |
449_0 | South Korea and the US have this week launched the world's first commercial 5G services, promising a new wave of capabilities for smartphone users. Samsung said its Galaxy S10 5G device will offer speeds up to 20 times faster than current phones as it began selling the handsets on Friday. Countries are racing to build 5G networks that will be crucial for future tech such as driverless cars. Nations are also working to resolve security concerns tied to the networks. 5G is the fifth-generation of mobile internet connectivity. Users will get more data faster, with less delay. It also promises wider coverage and more stable connections. Ed Barton, chief television and entertainment analyst at Ovum, said the shift from today's 4G networks to 5G will be significant. He said first-generation or 1G networks enabled voice, 2G brought text, 3G static images or photos, and 4G enabled video. "We're expecting the leap from 4G to 5G to be a much greater leap than ever before." Part of the "leap" will come from the ability to move much greater volumes of data across networks. 5G will mean more devices can be connected to the network at better speeds. Nikhil Batra, senior research manager at technology consultancy IDC Asia Pacific, said speeds will be 10 times faster than what is possible with 4G. Samsung said its 5G device will be up to 20 times faster. Initially, 5G will bring higher-quality streaming and the ability to livestream to bigger audiences - a better experience for people watching live sports or cloud gaming. Ovum's Mr Barton said down the track it will enable more augmented reality capabilities, such as better mapping apps and shopping experiences. 5G will be crucial for driverless cars. The scope of possibilities is vast, from remote surgery to holographic video calls. Mr Barton said we don't yet know what the "killer apps and use cases will be". "It's a bit like no one predicted that ubiquitous smartphones with payments and location awareness would give rise to Uber," he said. The technology is being piloted in trials all over the world but commercial applications are just becoming available. South Korea's top three mobile carriers launched 5G services this week, while US telco Verizon also launched 5G services in parts of two cities this week. DJ Koh, president of IT & mobile communications at Samsung Electronics said it has begun "a new era where the incredible speed and connectivity of 5G becomes a reality". Frost & Sullivan telecoms analyst Quah Mei Lee says South Korea and Japan have been leaders in 5G development. She said South Korea has always been strong in consumer applications but there's "more than it can do" in 5G. "We will see more applications coming to the market over the next three-to-six months." Much discussion about 5G infrastructure has centred around possible security risks, namely the participation of China's Huawei. Huawei, the world's largest maker of telecoms equipment, has faced resistance from foreign governments over the risk that its technology could be used for espionage. The US, Australia and New Zealand have all blocked local firms from using Huawei gear in 5G networks. In principle, controlling the technology that sits at the heart of vital communications networks gives an operator like Huawei the capacity to conduct espionage or disrupt communications. This becomes a bigger problem as more things - from autonomous vehicles to domestic appliances - become connected to the internet. The US argues Huawei could use malicious software updates to spy on those using 5G, pointing to a Chinese law that says organisations must "support, co-operate with and collaborate in national intelligence work". Additionally, IDC's Mr Batra said one of the fundamental differences between 4G and 5G networks is the ability for remote control which raises "potential security concerns". Mr Batra said with 4G, software and hardware were very tightly coupled. In 5G networks, hardware is separated from the software. "That allows for remote control... of the network assets. All of these things can be managed virtually, and that makes it challenging in terms of security." Still, he said authorities around the world are working with operators to address these concerns and "we haven't really seen any hard proof in terms of what is the issue". | What will 5G enable? | 1,361 | Initially, 5G will bring higher-quality streaming and the ability to livestream to bigger audiences - a better experience for people watching live sports or cloud gaming. Ovum's Mr Barton said down the track it will enable more augmented reality capabilities, such as better mapping apps and shopping experiences. 5G will be crucial for driverless cars. The scope of possibilities is vast, from remote surgery to holographic video calls. Mr Barton said we don't yet know what the "killer apps and use cases will be". "It's a bit like no one predicted that ubiquitous smartphones with payments and location awareness would give rise to Uber," he said. | 0.762505 | 0.773812 | 0.768158 |
9018_0 | Abortion is now legal across the UK for the first time, after a change in the law in Northern Ireland. So, what are the laws on abortion, how many are carried out and how do they compare with those of other countries? Abortion was decriminalised in Northern Ireland at midnight on Monday 21 October. That's because MPs in London voted for legislation requiring abortion laws to be changed - unless Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive had been restored by then. The Northern Ireland Assembly was recalled for the first time since it was suspended in 2017, in an attempt to stop the abortion law changes, but the move failed. The UK government published guidelines for abortion laws in Northern Ireland for the period between 22 October and 31 March 2020. During this time, no criminal charges will be brought against women who have an abortion or against healthcare professionals who provide and assist them. Women travelling from Northern Ireland elsewhere for an abortion will have their travel and accommodation funded. Some abortions, where there is a "fatal or serious fetal anomaly", can be carried out in Northern Ireland during this time too. A public consultation on the proposed laws for Northern Ireland after 31 March is set to open around 22 October. From next April, medical abortions will also be provided on two hospital sites in Northern Ireland. Abortions were previously allowed in Northern Ireland only if: - a woman's life was at risk - there was a risk of permanent and serious damage to her mental or physical health An 1861 law made it a criminal offence to procure a miscarriage. In 1945, an exception was added to say abortion could be permitted to preserve the mother's life. But rape, incest or diagnoses of fatal fetal abnormality - where medics believe the baby will die before, during or shortly after birth - were not grounds for a legal abortion. Northern Ireland's abortion law was challenged in the High Court by Sarah Ewart. She was told she could not have a legal abortion, in 2013, even though doctors said her fetus would not survive outside the womb. She travelled to England for a termination and spoke of the trauma and expense that "awful experience" had caused her. In the High Court, Mrs Justice Keegan found in Mrs Ewart's favour. Women from Northern Ireland could already have free abortions in England, Scotland and Wales. In 2018, 1,053 travelled to undergo the procedure in England and Wales. Abortions can take place in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy in England, Scotland and Wales. However, they have to be approved by two doctors. They must agree having the baby would pose a greater risk to the physical or mental health of the woman than a termination. Abortions were illegal before the the introduction of the 1967 Abortion Act, which initially allowed them to take place up to 28 weeks. This was reduced to 24 weeks in 1990. Abortions after 24 weeks are allowed only if: - the woman's life is in danger - there is a severe fetal abnormality - the woman is at risk of grave physical and mental injury Since 2018, women in England have been allowed to take the second of two early abortion pills at home, rather than in a clinic. This brings the rules in line with Scotland and Wales. In 2018, there were 205,295 legal abortions in England and Wales. A total of 4,687 abortions for non-residents were carried out, a slight increase on the previous year. The large majority took place in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy. About two-thirds were medically induced, which involves taking two types of tablet to end an unwanted pregnancy. In Scotland, there were 13,286 abortions. There were 32 medical abortions in Northern Ireland in 2017-18. In the US, a number of Republican-led states have passed stricter abortion legislation this year but none of those laws has taken effect. This is because a number of legal challenges are due to take place. In Georgia, for example, a judge has temporarily blocked a strict new abortion law that would have banned terminations as early as six weeks into pregnancy. The law, signed in May by Republican Governor Brian Kemp, was scheduled to come into effect on 1 January. Abortion was recently decriminalised across Australia, after New South Wales voted in favour of changing its laws. Previously, abortions were allowed there only if a doctor ruled there was a "serious" risk to a woman's health. The new law makes it legal for terminations to be carried out across the country up to 22 weeks into a pregnancy. In the European Union, there are no common laws on abortion - but in several European countries terminating a pregnancy can still risk punishment. Around the world, some countries have total bans, including Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and Malta. And Cuba and Uruguay are the only places in Latin America region where women can have abortions during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy regardless of circumstances. | What is happening to abortion laws in Northern Ireland? | 218 | Abortion was decriminalised in Northern Ireland at midnight on Monday 21 October. That's because MPs in London voted for legislation requiring abortion laws to be changed - unless Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive had been restored by then. The Northern Ireland Assembly was recalled for the first time since it was suspended in 2017, in an attempt to stop the abortion law changes, but the move failed. The UK government published guidelines for abortion laws in Northern Ireland for the period between 22 October and 31 March 2020. During this time, no criminal charges will be brought against women who have an abortion or against healthcare professionals who provide and assist them. Women travelling from Northern Ireland elsewhere for an abortion will have their travel and accommodation funded. Some abortions, where there is a "fatal or serious fetal anomaly", can be carried out in Northern Ireland during this time too. A public consultation on the proposed laws for Northern Ireland after 31 March is set to open around 22 October. From next April, medical abortions will also be provided on two hospital sites in Northern Ireland. | 0.756684 | 0.77839 | 0.767537 |
6791_0 | Why does the UK drive on the left? This was just one of the motoring mysteries our readers asked us about. Here are the answers. Gareth Edmunds, 59, from Bristol, said he was curious as his family hosts English language students from all over the world. "As I drive them around I hear them wince as they see an oncoming car to our right and think we're going to crash - it's a question that always crops up," he said. "My pet theory is that it's something to do with times gone by when if you met a stranger on the road you'd pass on the left so your weapon arm was on their side." Mr Edmunds' theory is one shared by Stephen Laing, curator of the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire. He said it dated back to Roman times. "Most people are right handed, naturally mount a horse from the left and so need their right hand free for combat," he said. "Roman armies marched on the left hand side of the carriageway and this is a convention that stayed." Motoring author Giles Chapman said Britain's Highway Act of 1835 enshrined driving on the left in law for this country and its colonies. "The rule was exported, for example, to Japan, where British engineers planned its railways to drive on the left, leading to a similar edict for road vehicles." Richard Mace, 63, who lives near Chatham in the south-east of England, said he had always been curious as to why they drive on the right in the US. "The reason I have been given goes back to when wagons were drawn by oxen," he said. He could be on the right track. In the late 1700s wagons pulled by horses arranged in pairs became increasingly popular, Fraser McAlpine wrote for BBC America. The driver sat on the back of the rear left-hand horse, to whip the others right handed. The best way for one wagon to pass another without banging wheels was the right hand side of the road, according to McAlpine. The government examined such a plan in 1969, two years after Sweden switched to driving on the right. Its report rejected the idea on grounds of safety and costs. In 1969, the financial burden of making the switch was calculated by the government to be PS264m. That equates to about PS4bn in today's money. But given the huge advances in infrastructure since 1969 this would now be an extremely conservative estimate. Stephen Laing, curator at the British Motor Museum, said he could not see Britain swapping sides. "I think we are kind of set in our ways," he said. "The infrastructure is built around driving on the left hand side. I can't really see that changing in the future." The Department for Transport said: "We do not have a policy on this because it's not something we are interested in at this time." The Highway Code's Rules for Pedestrians advise that where there is a pavement "avoid being next to the kerb with your back to the traffic." The code goes on to advise: "If there is no pavement, keep to the right-hand side of the road so that you can see oncoming traffic." And when it comes to pavements, as the BBC's home editor Mark Easton wrote, "the British have little sense" of etiquette, "preferring a slalom approach to pedestrian progress". | Why does the UK drive on the left? | 129 | Gareth Edmunds, 59, from Bristol, said he was curious as his family hosts English language students from all over the world. "As I drive them around I hear them wince as they see an oncoming car to our right and think we're going to crash - it's a question that always crops up," he said. "My pet theory is that it's something to do with times gone by when if you met a stranger on the road you'd pass on the left so your weapon arm was on their side." Mr Edmunds' theory is one shared by Stephen Laing, curator of the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire. He said it dated back to Roman times. "Most people are right handed, naturally mount a horse from the left and so need their right hand free for combat," he said. "Roman armies marched on the left hand side of the carriageway and this is a convention that stayed." Motoring author Giles Chapman said Britain's Highway Act of 1835 enshrined driving on the left in law for this country and its colonies. "The rule was exported, for example, to Japan, where British engineers planned its railways to drive on the left, leading to a similar edict for road vehicles." | 0.824529 | 0.710095 | 0.767312 |
514_0 | Hillary Clinton was suffering from "walking pneumonia" when she buckled and lost her balance as she left the 9/11 memorial ceremony on Sunday, it has been revealed. Medical professionals were quick to point out that the condition can be remedied quickly. But what is walking - or atypical - pneumonia and how serious a setback is it for US Democratic presidential candidate? Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs and is usually caused by bacteria. As the body attempts to fight the infection, the airways become inflamed and fill up with fluid. The disease is most dangerous among the young and the elderly. Walking pneumonia is a non-medical term used to describe a mild form of pneumonia, which is often the result of an inhalation of bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae or Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The symptoms of the infection can vary in severity. Walking pneumonia is so mild that it can often be mistaken for a cold. Sufferers, although unwell, may feel healthy enough to continue to work. It rarely requires hospitalisation and can be cured in as little as a week. In fact, Mrs Clinton said after emerging on Sunday from her daughter's home in New York: "I'm feeling great. It's a beautiful day in New York." The condition causes coughing and sneezing and can result in fever-like symptoms, a high temperature, headaches and difficulty breathing - which can lead to dizziness and exhaustion. It also causes dehydration. Anyone can contract pneumonia, which affects millions of people each year. Those who have respiratory health conditions such as lung disease or asthma are at risk of more severe manifestations of the illness. The disease is contagious and spread through close contact, transmitted through sneezing or coughing. However the contagious period usually lasts less than 10 days. As a presidential candidate, Mrs Clinton was at high risk of infection, according to Dr William Schaffner, an infectious diseases specialist at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. "Candidates are constantly out in enclosed spaces, face to face with myriads of people,'' he said. "It's an ideal opportunity for the transmission of a respiratory virus." In contrast to the more serious form of the condition, walking pneumonia can usually be treated effectively with a prescription of antibiotics taken at home with rest and by drinking plenty of fluids. Mrs Clinton's doctor said in a statement that she had been prescribed antibiotics and advised to rest and modify her schedule. | What is 'walking pneumonia'? | 375 | Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs and is usually caused by bacteria. As the body attempts to fight the infection, the airways become inflamed and fill up with fluid. The disease is most dangerous among the young and the elderly. Walking pneumonia is a non-medical term used to describe a mild form of pneumonia, which is often the result of an inhalation of bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae or Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The symptoms of the infection can vary in severity. | 0.726905 | 0.807482 | 0.767193 |
964_0 | The number of measles cases reported worldwide in the first three months of 2019 has quadrupled compared with the same time last year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The UN body said provisional data indicated a "a clear trend", with all regions of the world seeing outbreaks. Africa had witnessed the most dramatic rise - up 700%. The agency said actual numbers may be far greater, since only one in 10 cases globally are reported. Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can sometimes lead to serious health complications, including infections of the lungs and brain. Ukraine, Madagascar and India have been worst affected by the disease, with tens of thousands of reported cases per million people. Since September, at least 800 people have died from measles in Madagascar alone. Outbreaks have also hit Brazil, Pakistan and Yemen, "causing many deaths - mostly among young children", while a spike in case numbers was reported for countries including the US and Thailand with high levels of vaccination coverage. In total, some 170 countries reported 112,163 measles cases to WHO, in comparison to 28,124 cases across 163 countries during the same period in 2018. The UN says the disease is "entirely preventable" with the right vaccines, but global coverage of the first immunisation stage has "stalled" at 85%, "still short of the 95% needed to prevent outbreaks". In an opinion piece for CNN, WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and UNICEF head Henrietta Fore said the world was "in the middle of a measles crisis" and that "the proliferation of confusing and contradictory information" about vaccines was partly to blame. By James Gallagher, health and science correspondent, BBC News It is one of the most contagious viruses around. However, nothing about measles has changed. It has not mutated to become more infectious or more dangerous. Instead the answers are entirely human. There are two stories here - one of poverty and one of misinformation. In poorer countries fewer people are vaccinated and a larger portion of the population is left vulnerable to the virus. This creates the environment for a large outbreak to occur - such as those in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kyrgyzstan and Madagascar. But rich countries with seemingly high vaccination rates are seeing cases spike too. This is because clusters of people are choosing not to vaccinate their children due to the spread of untrue anti-vax messages on social media. It is worth noting these figures are provisional, the WHO says the true figures will be much higher. And that measles is far from harmless. It kills around 100,000 people, mostly children, every year. The pair wrote that it was "understandable, in such a climate, how loving parents can feel lost" but that "ultimately, there is no 'debate' to be had about the profound benefits of vaccines". They added: "More than 20 million lives have been saved through measles vaccination since the year 2000 alone." In response to recent measles outbreaks, calls have mounted in several countries to make immunisation mandatory. Last month, Italy banned children under six from attending schools unless they had received vaccines for chickenpox, measles and other illnesses. A public health emergency has also been declared in areas of New York, ordering all residents to be vaccinated or face a fine. | Why the sudden 'global measles crisis'? | 1,659 | By James Gallagher, health and science correspondent, BBC News It is one of the most contagious viruses around. However, nothing about measles has changed. It has not mutated to become more infectious or more dangerous. Instead the answers are entirely human. There are two stories here - one of poverty and one of misinformation. In poorer countries fewer people are vaccinated and a larger portion of the population is left vulnerable to the virus. This creates the environment for a large outbreak to occur - such as those in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kyrgyzstan and Madagascar. But rich countries with seemingly high vaccination rates are seeing cases spike too. This is because clusters of people are choosing not to vaccinate their children due to the spread of untrue anti-vax messages on social media. It is worth noting these figures are provisional, the WHO says the true figures will be much higher. And that measles is far from harmless. It kills around 100,000 people, mostly children, every year. | 0.76394 | 0.76937 | 0.766655 |
737_0 | The death of nine New York police officers this year has left family members, law enforcement and politicians pointing fingers and placing blame. But suicide is a more profound problem, deeply entrenched in police culture. What's behind the epidemic? Speeding down route 1 on a frigid, grey February morning, Dave Betz's heart was racing. As a hardnosed police officer of 32 years, he was used to car chases, but on this morning, he was a father searching for his son. Dave received a call earlier that morning at 09:21 that his 24-year-old son David, also a police officer, did not show up for his shift at work. Something didn't sound right. After he hung up the phone, he opened the door to his son's room where he found a gun holster resting atop the bureau - its weapon missing. "I'm calling my buddies, letting them know, 'listen this is not good. I don't have a good feeling about this at all.' You know, I had that pit in my stomach." Charging across the empty car park of the Boston Sports Club, Dave noticed his son's Volkswagen, windows fogged, tucked in the distant corner behind the overbearing concrete gym building. As he walked around to the front of the car, his police training kicked in. "That mindset of a cop - fight or flight - that kinda thing kicked in to react, like you're trained," he says. "Death is not something that anybody likes to see. You just don't want to see it, you know. You do, but it's somebody else's family member. "He was in his car, he was seated and he had his phone in his lap. And I knew, you know. I just didn't want to know," he says as his voice drops. He pauses. Country music blared from the car radio as Dave, dressed in pyjama pants and a t-shirt, stood over his son and realised he was dead. David Betz died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound without leaving any explanation of what led him to that moment, his father says. He's among hundreds of officers across the US who have taken their own lives and left behind a trail of questions. "I always thought I was a good judge of character, being able to see things and see if somebody needs help or I should know when someone needs help," he says. "I couldn't see it in my son, you know, so that bothers me." A 2018 nationwide study found more law enforcement officers died by suicide than in the line of duty. Researchers say that police officers are at a higher risk of suicide than in any other profession due to a combination of the intense stress, pressure to conceal emotional distress and easy access to deadly weapons. In fact, 13 out of every 100,000 people die by suicide in the general population. But that number climbs to 17 out of 100,000 for police officers, according to the Ruderman Family Foundation. Last year 167 police officers took their own lives while 130 have done so this year, with four months left on the calendar, according to Blue Help, a Massachusetts-based police suicide prevention group that tracks the national rate. These numbers only reflect confirmed suicides. Some suicide prevention advocates say current estimates could be higher as some families choose not to report the cause of death or instead describe it as accidental. New York City bears the brunt of most of the recent national attention. New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner James O'Neill declared a mental health crisis as the city grappled with the suicide deaths of nine police officers. "We need to change the culture," he told reporters in June. "We need to make sure that our police officers have access to mental healthcare. So they can keep themselves well and do the job that they want to do." But the crisis continued to cascade across the city. Robert Echeverria, 56, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in August, just a day after 35-year-old Officer Johnny Rios took his own life. His sister, Eileen Echeverria, told the BBC she contacted internal affairs about concerns for her brother's mental health numerous times, most recently in June before his death. The department said it would investigate, but the 25-year police veteran's guns were returned to him within two days. She blames the top brass for his suicide. "The NYPD is broken on so many levels. It's not the same, officers used to be respected," she told the BBC before meeting the deputy commissioner of employee relations outside police headquarters in New York. "Now they're spit on in the streets and then they come back to the chief and they're spit on by him. I couldn't go home and be normal after that. I couldn't do it. I'm not strong enough. God bless the ones who are." The NYPD says Echeverria's death is under investigation. "We need change," she says. Cities and states across the country are rattled by a similar problem. California, Florida, New York and Texas each reported at least 10 police suicides last year, according to Blue Help. Earlier this year, the Chicago Police Department, the nation's second largest force with 13,000 officers, was forced to confront its own spate of police suicides. Tragedy sparked the launch of a mental health campaign, which included doubling the number of therapists available to officers as well as a video campaign showing senior officers - including Superintendent Eddie Johnson - admitting their own struggles with mental health. President Donald Trump has authorised up to $7.5m (PS6.1m) in grant funding a year for police suicide prevention, mental health screenings and training as departments across the country work to curb the numbers. But the problem is hardly an American one. A similar trend is cropping up in other countries where officers are armed with a gun. Last year France saw a 36% higher rate of suicide among police than the general population, and this year 64 officers have already taken their own lives. For comparison, about 21 to 23 officers took their own lives in the UK between 2015-17, according to the UK's Office for National Statistics. Unlike France, most British police do not carry guns. Nearly two-thirds of all gun deaths in the US are suicides, according to data compiled by Everytown, a gun safety group. Though people are less likely to attempt suicide with a gun (6% of all attempts), the nature of the deadly weapons makes death more likely, with about half of all suicide deaths involving a firearm. At least six of the nine deaths in the NYPD involved a gun, with many using their own service weapon. John Violanti, a 23-year police veteran and professor at University at Buffalo who focuses on police stress and mental health, points to the nature of the job as part of the equation that leads to suicide. "They see abused kids, they see dead bodies, they see horrible traffic accidents. And what that means is that the traumatic events and stressful events kind of build on one another." "If you have to put a bulletproof vest on before you go to work, that's an indication you're already under the possibility of being shot or killed and your family is under the same probability. So all of these things weigh heavily on the psyche and over time, they hurt the officers." He also points to an increasing turmoil driving a wedge between law enforcement and the communities they protect. "We have political conflict. We have societal conflict. We have groups at each other's throat all the time. And the cops get stuck in the middle of all of this stuff," he says. "So sometimes they're pulled in different directions and they really don't know what their role is." Mark DiBona, a 33-year police veteran and spokesman for Blue Help, has firsthand experience of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on the job. He volunteered for three weeks in New York four days after the 9/11 attacks and recalls his nightmares began shortly after. That trauma compounded with other encounters, including responding to a car fire with a passenger trapped inside, led to his depression. "I wanted to die. I just did not want to go further because I felt like a failure," he says. Sitting in the front seat of his cruiser, Mark wrote an angry letter to the police department and an apology letter to his mother and wife, before placing his gun in mouth. In a fortuitous moment, another officer pulled up to his car to intervene before he pulled the trigger. But he - along with many officers - believes one of the greatest barriers in seeking help is the stigma that comes with needing it. "We carry a gun, we carry a Taser, we carry a baton, Mace, we wear a bulletproof vest. All that to protect ourselves physically," he says. "We need that. But we have very little training when it comes to protecting us mentally." Part of that stigma is perpetuating the machismo culture in police work, a notion that Janice McCarthy is working to change by training officers in suicide prevention and through her organisation Care of Police Suicide Survivors (Copss), which works with families affected by police suicides. Janice's husband Paul killed himself in July 2006 after a 21-year career as a Massachusetts state police captain. He suffered PTSD that stemmed from three car accidents in the line of duty, she says. "Hypervigilance" is part of the job when it comes to police work, Janice says. "It's that feeling you're jumping out of your skin, you're pacing back and forth. "Cops run on the adrenaline...it becomes almost like a high," she recalls of her husband. "But the problem is you can't come home and shut it off and [Paul] could not shut it off. He didn't sleep. He couldn't really have a conversation," she recalls. "They are caretakers. They are used to taking care of everyone else. "He would change flat tyres, he saved premature newborn babies. He couldn't save himself because no one gave him the luxury to say, 'what's wrong? Are you OK?'" She helped lawmakers in Massachusetts craft a bill that would mandate mental health training for officers on the job. The bill, four years in the making, has yet to be taken up. But former officers and suicide prevention advocates say adding therapists and training is only part of the battle. The idea that an officer's identity is tied to their gun is a stigma advocates can't seem to crack. "The one thing about law enforcement is the longer you're on the job, the more it consumes your identity," Mark says while describing the importance of an officer's badge and gun. Chris Prochut was third in command in Bolingbrook, a south-west suburb outside of Chicago, when his police department received international attention about a high profile murder investigation within its ranks. He was tasked with dealing with the drumbeat of reporters, clamouring for details about former Sgt Drew Peterson, who was accused of murdering his third and fourth wives, the latter of whom is still missing. "I thought I can handle this because that's what cops do. I can fix this," the now mental health advocate and suicide prevention trainer recalls. "I figured I could change the public perception of our police department." Under immense pressure and with little sleep, the case ate away at Chris' psyche, taking a toll as the year wore on. "I'd come home to my family and I didn't want to be around them," he recalls. At the urging of his wife, Chris sought help, and eventually went on medication to help ease the anguish. But the pain didn't stop. He eventually decided to take his own life. "In my mind there was no other option because I had tried therapy. I tried medication. They don't work for me, but I can get a hold of this." He chose a wooded area where he wanted to take his life in a nearby town, a deliberate move so his colleagues wouldn't have to investigate the death of one of their own. "The plan was set. I remember having an extra bounce in my step that week." It was ultimately his wife who thwarted his plans, calling his colleagues to intervene in the middle of the night and escort him to hospital to seek psychiatric treatment. After Chris was released from hospital, Illinois state law mandated that he lost his firearm privileges, and stuck in a legal loophole, he eventually lost his job. Chris and his family left Illinois after losing their house, relocating to Hartford, Wisconsin, where he now works at Kohl's corporate headquarters as well as with the state police on suicide prevention. The laws have since changed in Illinois, allowing gun owners a 60-day grace period to keep their Firearms Owners Identification Card while a renewal application is processed. Part of that aim is to encourage officers to seek mental health treatment without fear of losing their badge - a step Chris is hopeful could be emulated elsewhere. But Chris also wants his story to show there is life after the force. "It took me a couple of years to realise there is life after law enforcement but you gotta be here. You have to be here in order for it to get better," he says. "I did get my gun taken and I did lose my job, but I'm here and I'm OK." Back at the cemetery on Boston's North Shore in Lynn, Dave's youngest son, Cameron, idles near David's grave, his voice cracking as he struggles to talk about his brother, his hero. Cameron is adorned in symbols honouring his brother - suicide prevention bracelets and a tattooed semicolon on his left wrist - a symbol used to raise awareness about mental health struggles and suicide prevention - to show that life continues. "Life for them goes on. Life for us goes on in a different kind of way," Dave says of other police officers. Much of Dave's life is also a memorial to his son. His office is canvassed with images of his eldest son and the rest of his family, alongside relics and mementos featuring hidden symbols to keep David's memory alive. An image of clouds over his son's grave, formed in the shape of the number eight - David's lucky number - sits framed next to his son's police boots and uniform. His arms are tattooed with his son's favourite number and a message on his forearm, scrawled in David's handwriting, from a Father's Day card given to him in June, before he passed away. Death by suicide can erode validation for loved ones and family members, leaving unanswered questions of what could have gone differently to avoid tragedy. "Being a suicide survivor - it's a group we belong to and we never wanted to be," Janice says. "If someone dies by suicide, there are a whole lot of things that people read into that everyone wants to have their own idea of what went wrong. It's human nature to try to figure something out and put it in that nice little box and put a bow on it and put it away." But for this group of survivors, speaking to officers is a way of filling that void left by those they lost to suicide. For officers concealing their struggles, Janice has one message: "If you're not a cop tomorrow, who are you? "Well, are you a husband? Are you a father? You need to be multidimensional and you need to take care of yourself emotionally," she declares. "I would want them to know that they are more than a police officer and that their life means more than this job." Where to get help From Canada or US: If you're in an emergency, please call 911 You can contact the US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 or the Crisis Test Line by texting HOME to 741741 Young people in need of help can call Kids Help Phone on 1-800-668-6868 If you are in the UK, you can call the Samaritans on 116123 For support and more information on emotional distress, click here. | Why is suicide so high among police? | 6,397 | John Violanti, a 23-year police veteran and professor at University at Buffalo who focuses on police stress and mental health, points to the nature of the job as part of the equation that leads to suicide. "They see abused kids, they see dead bodies, they see horrible traffic accidents. And what that means is that the traumatic events and stressful events kind of build on one another." "If you have to put a bulletproof vest on before you go to work, that's an indication you're already under the possibility of being shot or killed and your family is under the same probability. So all of these things weigh heavily on the psyche and over time, they hurt the officers." He also points to an increasing turmoil driving a wedge between law enforcement and the communities they protect. "We have political conflict. We have societal conflict. We have groups at each other's throat all the time. And the cops get stuck in the middle of all of this stuff," he says. "So sometimes they're pulled in different directions and they really don't know what their role is." | 0.757218 | 0.775929 | 0.766574 |
3617_0 | Labour leadership hopeful Lisa Nandy has said the principle of universal credit - the major reform to simplify the benefits system - was "the right one", but criticised cuts and a lack of support for claimants. Universal credit was introduced by the Conservative-led coalition government in 2010, but has proved controversial almost from the beginning. Universal credit is a benefit for working-age people, replacing six benefits and merging them into one payment: - income support - income-based jobseeker's allowance - income-related employment and support allowance - housing benefit - child tax credit - working tax credit It was designed to make claiming benefits simpler. A single universal credit payment is paid directly into claimants' bank accounts to cover the benefits for which they are eligible. Claimants then have to pay costs such as rent out of their universal credit payment - though there is a provision for people who are in rent arrears or have difficulty managing their money to have their rent paid directly to their landlord. The latest available figures show that there were 2.6 million universal credit claimants as of October 2019. Just over a third of claimants were in employment. The idea of universal credit is that it can be claimed whether you are in or out of work. There's no limit to the number of hours you can work per week if you receive it, but your payment reduces gradually as you earn more. It is designed to mean that no-one faces a situation where they would be better off claiming benefits than working. Under the old system many faced a "cliff edge", where people on a low income would lose a big chunk of their benefits in one go as soon as they started working more than 16 hours. In the new system, benefit payments are reduced at a consistent rate as income and earnings increase - for every extra PS1 you earn after tax, you will lose 63p in benefits. How much you can receive in universal credit payments in the first place depends on things like whether you have children and if you qualify for housing or disability payments. Payments are then reduced from this maximum amount the more you earn - although each household can earn a certain amount, called a work allowance, before they lose anything. Cuts to universal credit since it was announced have made the overall system significantly less generous. For example, the work allowance has been cut so people can earn a smaller amount of money before their benefit payments start to reduce. Low pay charity the Resolution Foundation warned that these kind of cuts may weaken the benefit's main purpose - to make sure people always feel it's worthwhile to work more hours. There have also been concerns over how long new claimants have to wait before receiving the benefit. Universal credit is paid in arrears. For example, if you sign on on 1 January, you'll receive your first payment on 5 February, based on what you earned in the previous month. So four weeks of earnings are assessed, plus a further week to process the payment. Those who don't have enough money saved to wait 35 days from claim to payment can get an advance on their first instalment of the benefit. But this is treated as a loan that is then taken off future benefits payments for the following year. The fact that it is assessed monthly has also proved difficult for some people who are paid weekly and whose pay fluctuates throughout the month. In a written statement to Parliament, Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey said. "we provide alternative payment arrangements such as more frequent payment options and managed payments to landlords." Transferring onto universal credit from the old system will mean a loss of at least PS1,000 a year for 1.9 million adults, and a gain of at least PS1,000 a year for 1.6 million adults, according to an April 2019 report by independent think tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Those with the lowest incomes stand to lose the most. The government has set aside PS3bn in total to ease this process, designed to ensure that no-one moving from the old to the new system will lose out initially. But new claimants won't benefit from the protection and if people's circumstances change or if they come off benefits and then go back on them, they will lose this transitional protection. Think tank the Resolution Foundation in 2017 said that, "the long list of conditions that are deemed to reflect a change in circumstance, bringing such support to an end, is likely to mean relatively short durations of protection". The independent Office for Budget Responsibility said in 2018 that around 400,000 claimants would receive the protection. | So what is universal credit? | 353 | Universal credit is a benefit for working-age people, replacing six benefits and merging them into one payment: - income support - income-based jobseeker's allowance - income-related employment and support allowance - housing benefit - child tax credit - working tax credit It was designed to make claiming benefits simpler. A single universal credit payment is paid directly into claimants' bank accounts to cover the benefits for which they are eligible. Claimants then have to pay costs such as rent out of their universal credit payment - though there is a provision for people who are in rent arrears or have difficulty managing their money to have their rent paid directly to their landlord. The latest available figures show that there were 2.6 million universal credit claimants as of October 2019. Just over a third of claimants were in employment. | 0.748949 | 0.783938 | 0.766443 |
8601_0 | A group of international steel producing countries has called for urgent action to curb overproduction. The call comes days after international talks to find measures to tackle the industry crisis failed. The joint statement comes from the US, Canada, the EU, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Switzerland and Turkey. Record production in China has in the past months led to criticism that it was distorting international markets by selling steel at a loss. The statement calls for "ongoing international dialogue" to remove "market-distorting policies" and promote greater transparency in the global industry. On Monday, representatives from more than 30 countries met in Belgium but concluded only that overcapacity had to be dealt with in a swift and structural way. The US explicitly pointed the finger at China, saying the country would face possible trade action if it didn't cut overcapacity. But China rejected suggestions that it subsidised its loss-making steel companies, and the meeting ended without any formal agreement. Chinese steel production has expanded hugely. Over the past 25 years, output has grown to more than 12 times the size. By comparison, the EU's output fell by 12% while the US's remained largely flat. The drive behind that stellar increase has been China's double-digit growth over the past decades - but the current slowdown has severely hit domestic demand. Chinese steel is therefore sold on the international market at extremely low prices, critics say it's sold at a loss. As a consequence, other country's steel plants find it increasingly hard to compete. China dismisses claims that its steel is sold at a loss and says it has done what it can to curb overproduction. Beijing's official news agency said that blaming the country for the global steel industry's problems was a "lame and lazy excuse for protectionism". In a commentary piece, Xinhua warned of protective import tariffs, saying that "blaming other countries is always an easy, sure-fire way for politicians to whip up a storm over domestic economic woes, but finger-pointing and protectionism are counter-productive." Very little. While other countries complain that cheaper Chinese steel is forcing their producers out of business, China is itself faced with severe problems in the industry. The boom of past years means any substantial output cuts will lead to huge job losses, potentially leading to social instability. It's unlikely that China will cut output by a lot and unless domestic demand picks up, cheap exports will continue to affect global markets. China is the world's biggest steel producer, accounting for around 822 million tonnes a year. On Tuesday, the country said its production hit a record high last month as rising profits had encouraged more output. With China's domestic market slowing, their producers have been looking for export markets, such as the EU. This has led to accusations of unfair competition, that Chinese producers are "dumping" steel products on overseas markets - that is not just selling them cheaply, taking advantage of their lower production costs, but actually selling them at a loss. India's Tata steel recently announced plans to sell its loss-making UK business, citing "rapidly deteriorated" trading conditions due to global oversupply. In 2015, the EU imposed anti-dumping duties for six months on some steel imports from China and Taiwan. The EU and China have already clashed over the alleged dumping of products such as wine, solar panel and steel pipes. | China's steel industry - what's the problem? | 1,029 | Chinese steel production has expanded hugely. Over the past 25 years, output has grown to more than 12 times the size. By comparison, the EU's output fell by 12% while the US's remained largely flat. The drive behind that stellar increase has been China's double-digit growth over the past decades - but the current slowdown has severely hit domestic demand. Chinese steel is therefore sold on the international market at extremely low prices, critics say it's sold at a loss. As a consequence, other country's steel plants find it increasingly hard to compete. | 0.733005 | 0.798337 | 0.765671 |
7553_1 | The number of drug-related deaths in Scotland soared to 1,187 last year, according to official statistics. The figure is 27% higher than the previous year, and the highest since records began in 1996. It means there were more drug-related deaths in Scotland last year than the 1,136 alcohol-specific deaths. And the country's drug death rate is now nearly three times that of the UK as a whole, and is higher than that reported for any other EU country. The latest figures also mean Scotland has a higher drug death rate than the one reported for the US, which was previously thought to be the highest rate in the world. There were more than 70,000 drug deaths in the US in 2017 but the rate of 217 per million of the population is now marginally lower than Scotland's rate (218). There were 3,756 deaths relating to drug poisoning in England and Wales in 2017, a rate of 66 deaths per million. The rate in Northern Ireland is about 75 per million, with 136 deaths in 2017. However, countries differ in how deaths are recorded, and there may be under-reporting in some cases. The statistics published by National Records of Scotland show that nearly three quarters - 72% - of those who died last year were male. The vast majority of drug-related deaths - 1,021 - involved heroin, but a large percentage - 792 - had also taken pills such as diazepam and etizolam. The 35-44 age group was associated with the most deaths at 442, followed by those aged 45-54 (345). The Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area had the highest number of deaths at 394, followed by Lothian (152), Lanarkshire (130) and Tayside (109). But the report said that the problem was "clearly very widespread" across the whole country. There are said to be about 60,000 problem drug users in Scotland, which has a population of 5.4 million people. Dr Saket Priyadarshi, of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde addiction services, told MPs last week that Scotland had a much higher drug death rate than the rest of the UK because it had far more problem users. He also said that Scottish users were taking a lethal cocktail of drugs that often combined opiates such as heroin and methadone with benzodiazepines, pills often known as street valium or street blues. Dr Priyadarshi said there was an ageing population of drug addicts, mainly men, who had been using heroin for decades and were now also taking new street pills, often containing etizolam which is stronger than prescription benzos. Earlier this month, The Daily Record newspaper launched a campaign calling for the decriminalisation of drug use. It said Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Canada and, most notably, Portugal were among 25 nations to loosen the punitive attitude to drug possession to enable treatment programmes to succeed. Jacquie, from Glenrothes in Fife, has told how her father, mother, two sisters and brother all died because of drugs. She said losing her parents and siblings "was like a fire ripping through my family". Jacquie, 34, is herself a recovering drug addict. She told BBC Scotland's The Nine: "It is scary how quick it can take a grip and devastate a family. "I feel my life has been ruined. "People could say that has been my fault, I understand that with the drug side. I can't help the fact that I have lost all my family to the drugs. And it is hard." Jacquie, who began taking heroin at the age of 17 and is now trying to kick the habit, said she could not remember a time when the family wasn't affected by drugs. She is the last remaining member of her immediate family - who all lived and died in the Fife town of Glenrothes. Read more here Scottish Public Health Minister Joe Fitzpatrick said the number of people who have lost their lives because of drug use was "shocking" and it was time for drug abuse to be treated as a public health issue. During evidence to MPs at Westminster last week, Mr Fitzpatrick praised the "bold move" taken in Portugal to decriminalise drugs but said his government in Scotland was unable to make changes as drugs policy was reserved to Westminster. But he has pledged to give consideration to any proposals that are brought forward by a new drugs taskforce set up by the Scottish government to examine how best to tackle the issue and save lives. The woman leading the taskforce, Prof Catriona Matheson, told BBC Scotland the evidence for decriminalisation was strong. She said: "It is about not putting these marginalised drug users into prison because that further marginalises them and that makes the recovery all the more difficult." Glasgow City Council's plan for users to be able to take their own drugs under the supervision of medical staff at a special facility in the city would also need a change in UK law. The Home Office has refused permission for Glasgow to set up the so-called "fix rooms", where users could inject heroin or cocaine in a safe and clean environment. It was hoped the special room would encourage addicts into treatment, cut down on heroin needles on city streets and counter the spread of diseases such as HIV. The Scottish Conservatives said the SNP has had sole control over Scotland's health and justice systems for 12 years, but has "only worsened the drugs crisis" in that time. Tory MSP Annie Wells claimed the Scottish government was "pinning their hopes on consumption rooms, because they know it's something the UK government does not agree with". She added: "They should be focusing their efforts on rehabilitation and abstinence-based recovery, the very services they have cut to the bone. "Over the last decade, the Scottish government's approach has been to park vulnerable users on methadone. Yet these figures show methadone now causes even more deaths than heroin". Meanwhile, Scottish Labour said the Scottish government has cut funding for Alcohol and Drug Partnerships by 6.3% since 2014/15. | Why does Scotland have so many drug deaths? | 1,709 | There are said to be about 60,000 problem drug users in Scotland, which has a population of 5.4 million people. Dr Saket Priyadarshi, of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde addiction services, told MPs last week that Scotland had a much higher drug death rate than the rest of the UK because it had far more problem users. He also said that Scottish users were taking a lethal cocktail of drugs that often combined opiates such as heroin and methadone with benzodiazepines, pills often known as street valium or street blues. Dr Priyadarshi said there was an ageing population of drug addicts, mainly men, who had been using heroin for decades and were now also taking new street pills, often containing etizolam which is stronger than prescription benzos. Earlier this month, The Daily Record newspaper launched a campaign calling for the decriminalisation of drug use. It said Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Canada and, most notably, Portugal were among 25 nations to loosen the punitive attitude to drug possession to enable treatment programmes to succeed. | 0.805805 | 0.723207 | 0.764506 |
4090_0 | The African Union has launched a new passport. A lot remains unclear about the document but here is what we do know: The idea behind the passport, which was launched this weekend, is for all African citizens to be able to travel throughout the continent without visas. There are two passports - one issued by the African Union for officials and people who travel a lot on business, and the other by individual countries for everyone else. It will bear the African Union's name and that of the issuing country. Here is a diplomatic passport issued this week: It is not known what a normal citizen's passport will look like. It is an attempt to ease movement of people across the continent and stimulate trade across the continent. This month Ghana introduced a new visa-on-arrival policy for citizens of AU member states. But this is unusual. The Africa Development Bank report on visa openness found only 13 out of 55 countries allow all Africans to enter either without a visa or to get one on arrival. These kind of blockages hinder inter-African trade, which remains very low. Many countries still do more business with their former colonial power, than with their neighbours. AU Deputy Chairman Erastus Mwencha told the BBC that the issue of free movement had been "on the table" for 25 years. He believes that it is necessary for Africa to "harness" the talents, skills and labour of its population. At first it will be rolled out to African heads of state and top AU officials and foreign ministers. The first recipients were chairperson of the African Union Idris Deby and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. The ultimate goal is that all African citizens will be able to apply for an African Union passport. However, this still depends on countries passing the necessary legislation in their own countries. It is unclear if everyone who applies for a new passport will automatically get an African Union one or if you have to request one. It is also unclear if everyone will have to update their passport before travelling or if people will still be able to travel with their old passports. All the African Union has said is that individual countries will make their own decisions on issuing passports. All members of the African Union should get an African Union passport, provided they pass the legislation in their country. This means every African country apart from Morocco - although Morocco has just asked to rejoin the AU. Some heads of state have already been given an African Union passport. The full roll-out for African citizens is supposed to happen by the end of 2018. However, details of that roll-out are sketchy. One interpretation is that the strategy is not clear because the passport has been rushed through before all the necessary arrangements have been put in place. It is a biometric, or e-passport, that meets international standards and will be modelled on the European Union one. Mr Mwencha argues that they will be more secure than the current passports that are not biometric documents. The old passports, he says, are easier to forge. He told the BBC it will be easier to track criminals and terrorists. However, with all countries able to issue the passports, that means a lapse in a single country could affect the entire continent. It isn't clear why a reciprocal agreement among all African countries to allow each others' citizens through their borders without visas wasn't made instead. It is possible that this may be seen as more secure. The AU is also pushing for citizens of all African countries to be allowed to stay visa-free for 30 days across the continent, before the roll-out of the passports. AU Deputy Chairman Erastus Mwencha says not one country in the African Union has objected to the plan. So it only won't go through if parliaments block it. But again, the details of the plan are sketchy. However, many African countries might be reluctant to open their borders, fearing a huge influx of people from other countries. This might be especially true of South Africa, which currently hosts large numbers of migrants from across the continent, and has seen xenophobic attacks. BBC Africa readers heavily criticised the initiative, on BBC Africa's Facebook page. Many argued that the passports should not be issued to the "elite" first. While others complained that it would have been cheaper to have an agreement about visa-free travel and that there were more important things to worry about. A big one is travel infrastructure. Many countries have more flights to London or Paris than with other countries on the continent. For example, there are very few flights between Abuja and Dakar - two major West African capitals - and passengers sometimes have to travel via Nairobi or Addis Ababa in East Africa, or even Europe. So even if the passport is introduced, a lot of work would still need to be done to make African trade easier. | What is the African passport? | 117 | The idea behind the passport, which was launched this weekend, is for all African citizens to be able to travel throughout the continent without visas. There are two passports - one issued by the African Union for officials and people who travel a lot on business, and the other by individual countries for everyone else. It will bear the African Union's name and that of the issuing country. Here is a diplomatic passport issued this week: It is not known what a normal citizen's passport will look like. | 0.737169 | 0.791422 | 0.764295 |
8717_0 | Vociferous protests against a proposal to tax earnings on withdrawals from a popular college savings plan prompted a rapid U-turn by US President Barack Obama's administration. It was a potent demonstration of the power of the middle class lobby in the US, But who are the American middle classes, and why do they feel like they are getting a raw deal? In the US, the "middle class" is an oft-used but poorly understood category that increasingly seems to be defined by who is not included, rather than who should be. The only people who clearly don't belong in the middle class are the very poor and the very rich. The US has never had a rigid class system. As a result, when people think of "class", they essentially divide people into three groups: - the poor (lower-class) - the very rich (upper-class) - everybody else (middle class) Given these groupings, when people refer to the "middle class" they include both the "near poor" and the "barely rich." The US Census Bureau sorts citizens by income quintile, not class. The 2013 data shows that households with earnings that exceed $105,911 (approximately PS70,000) fall in the highest income quintile. Middle-income households (the third quintile) earn between $40,188 and $65,501, and the median income for US households is $53,000. Despite the sizeable gap between earnings for top- and middle-income US households, many people who earn over $100,000 feel they are middle-class, not upper-class. And, compared with the top 1% of US households, who by some estimates earn more than $663,000, the "barely rich" really aren't upper-class. Members of the middle class (as broadly defined) are struggling financially. Despite an improving economy, job creation, and overall positive economic news, they remain worried about their financial future and their children's future. Recent polls confirm how financially fragile most Americans feel. Almost two-thirds of those surveyed are still feeling the impact of the recession, most people who earn less than $75,000 feel like they are falling behind, and almost 50% of those polled feel the US is still in a recession. Only 64% (the lowest in two decades) still believe in the American Dream that hard work will result in financial riches. The middle class has reason to worry. Income for all workers except the highest earners has been stagnant for about 30 years, and average family income (adjusted for inflation) has not changed much since 1995. A Federal Reserve survey reports that most US families didn't have a wage increase between 2010 and 2013, while income and wealth for the top 3% of US families rose to historically high levels during that period. In addition to worrying about themselves, middle-class parents worry that their children will not have a middle-class lifestyle. While the highest earners (the top 1-3%) do not fret about how they will pay for their children's college education, middle-class parents do. They are not confident they will be able to pay for their children's college education, and they do not want their children to be saddled with thousands of dollars of debt to secure their financial future. A college degree has now become a prerequisite to joining the middle class, and even parents who earn as much as $150,000 struggle to pay for their children to attend college because tuition has been surging in the US for years, rising faster than incomes and financial aid. A college degree has become a necessity because college-educated workers in the US now earn about twice as much as high-school graduates. Projections are that by the end of this decade two-thirds of new job openings will require at least some college education, and virtually all jobs will require some type of training after high school. Middle-class Americans will not have confidence in their or their children's future until median income increases. And, they will continue to be financially (and socially) stressed as long as income and wealth inequality in the US continues to grow. The wealth and income gaps are staggering, and a recent study reports that wealth inequality is now at a record high level. The middle class often feels neglected in political discussions, probably because we lack a workable definition for the category and Americans from different income groups all claim membership in the middle class. With such an unwieldy definition of the middle class, it is has become increasingly hard for politicians to find politically palatable ways to target its true members. If politicians propose benefits for the "near poor" (who are struggling just to make ends meet) they predictably anger the "barely rich" (who worry that they are losing economic ground to the enormous income and wealth held by the top 1%). The middle class is angry, and a recent proposal by the Obama administration involving college savings shows the depth of that anger. The Obama administration's proposal was touted as relief for the middle class and would have ended a tax break for a popular college savings plan (commonly known as 529 college accounts) that disproportionately benefits upper-income families. Savings from eliminating the tax breaks would have been diverted into tax credits for lower- and middle-income taxpayers. The Obama administration had to abandon this proposal, barely days after it was floated, and appears to have been blindsided by the vociferous opposition from parents who had 529 college savings accounts. Upper-income parents opposed the proposal because it taxed them to provide relief for lower- and middle-income families. Republican and Democratic politicians profess that their policies will best provide relief to the middle class. Despite these professions, they do not agree on the best way to address the concerns of the middle class, probably because it's not clear who is in that category and also because neither political party seems willing to anger upper-income Americans by proposing policies that appear to ignore their economic concerns. Prof Mechele Dickerson, a law professor at University of Texas at Austin, has written on this subject for The Conversation. | Who is middle class in the US? | 353 | In the US, the "middle class" is an oft-used but poorly understood category that increasingly seems to be defined by who is not included, rather than who should be. The only people who clearly don't belong in the middle class are the very poor and the very rich. The US has never had a rigid class system. As a result, when people think of "class", they essentially divide people into three groups: - the poor (lower-class) - the very rich (upper-class) - everybody else (middle class) Given these groupings, when people refer to the "middle class" they include both the "near poor" and the "barely rich." The US Census Bureau sorts citizens by income quintile, not class. The 2013 data shows that households with earnings that exceed $105,911 (approximately PS70,000) fall in the highest income quintile. Middle-income households (the third quintile) earn between $40,188 and $65,501, and the median income for US households is $53,000. Despite the sizeable gap between earnings for top- and middle-income US households, many people who earn over $100,000 feel they are middle-class, not upper-class. And, compared with the top 1% of US households, who by some estimates earn more than $663,000, the "barely rich" really aren't upper-class. | 0.739344 | 0.789182 | 0.764263 |
1032_0 | BBC presenter Samira Ahmed has successfully taken the broadcaster to court after she was paid less than a male colleague doing similar work. So what exactly is equal pay, and how can you find out if you are not being paid enough? Equal pay is the legal right for men and women to be paid the same for: - Doing the same, or similar, jobs - Doing work that has been rated as "equivalent", or in the same grade - Doing work of "equal value", where jobs might be different but require a similar level of skill Pay does not just refer to salaries. It also includes employee benefits like holidays and pension contributions, as well as company cars and bonuses. It has been part of UK law since the 1970 Equal Pay Act, and is now also part of the Equality Act 2010. It means all employees are entitled to equal pay, regardless of whether they are on full-time, part-time, or temporary contracts. Discussing pay with colleagues can be awkward. But it can be a good first step in finding out whether or not you are being paid equally. Looking at salary ranges in job adverts from your employer, or finding out the typical rate for similar jobs in the same industry can also be helpful. The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) provides impartial advice to workers and bosses on workplace disputes or issues. It says any employee who suspects they are not receiving equal pay can ask their manager to explain if there is a pay difference. An employer may be able to defend themselves from a claim if they prove the reason for the difference is due to a genuine factor and is not based on the sex of the employee. An employee can try to resolve the issue first with their boss or HR. They could also raise a grievance, which is a formal complaint. If that doesn't work, they can complain to an employment tribunal, independent bodies which deal with work-related legal claims. But the claimant has to contact Acas first, which offers a voluntary early conciliation procedure to try and resolve things without a tribunal. An equal pay claim can be taken to tribunal up to six months after leaving the role. There are no fees but if you choose to pay for a lawyer that could be expensive. The person bringing the claim must point to a "comparator". That is, someone of the opposite gender currently or previously working for the same employer, doing the same or equivalent work and receiving more pay or benefits. The tribunal can order contracts to be amended, compensation, or up to six years' back pay to be awarded to the employee. As our Reality Check team found out, cases are not solved very often at tribunal. That is partly because demonstrating different jobs are of equal value can be a difficult and drawn-out process. Lisa Ayling, solicitor and employment law specialist, says many equal pay cases are settled before tribunal stage is reached. She adds: "Women are more tempted to settle equal pay than other claims because they realise the legal hurdles to overcome are complex, time-consuming and expensive." Presenter Samira Ahmed has successfully taken the BBC to an employment tribunal over alleged unequal pay. Ms Ahmed said she was underpaid for hosting audience feedback show Newswatch when compared with Jeremy Vine's salary for Points of View. The journalist had argued she was owed almost PS700,000 in back pay. Carrie Gracie previously resigned from her role as China editor in a dispute over equal pay at the BBC. It later apologised for underpaying her and said it "has now put this right" by giving her back pay. She donated the full, undisclosed amount to charity. Several other high-profile cases have come to a head in recent years. Last year, Glasgow City Council agreed to pay out a reported PS548m to compensate thousands of women who were paid less than men in jobs of the same grade. More than 8,000 women employed in schools, nurseries and in cleaning and catering services by the council had been on the biggest-ever equal pay strike in the UK. Supermarket Asda also lost an appeal in a long-running legal dispute over equal pay in January. The decision meant that lower-paid shop staff, mostly women, can compare themselves with higher-paid warehouse workers, who are mostly men. No. Equal pay is awarding men and women the same amount to do identical or equivalent work, and is a legal requirement for businesses. The gender pay gap refers to the percentage difference between average hourly earnings for all men and women in a company, sector or across the country. If women are being paid more, that's called a negative pay gap. Having a gender pay gap is not illegal, but it is compulsory for all UK employers with more than 250 workers to publish their gender pay gap data. | What is equal pay? | 230 | Equal pay is the legal right for men and women to be paid the same for: - Doing the same, or similar, jobs - Doing work that has been rated as "equivalent", or in the same grade - Doing work of "equal value", where jobs might be different but require a similar level of skill Pay does not just refer to salaries. It also includes employee benefits like holidays and pension contributions, as well as company cars and bonuses. It has been part of UK law since the 1970 Equal Pay Act, and is now also part of the Equality Act 2010. It means all employees are entitled to equal pay, regardless of whether they are on full-time, part-time, or temporary contracts. | 0.682728 | 0.844716 | 0.763722 |
8045_0 | Shamima Begum is not a Bangladeshi citizen and there is "no question" of her being allowed into the country, Bangladesh's ministry of foreign affairs has said. The UK has stripped the 19-year-old - who fled London to join the Islamic State group - of British citizenship. Such a move is only possible if an individual is eligible for citizenship elsewhere. It was thought Ms Begum had Bangladeshi citizenship through her mother. But the ministry of foreign affairs said the government was "deeply concerned" she had been "erroneously identified" as a Bangladeshi national. In a statement, it said Ms Begum had never applied for dual nationality with Bangladesh and had never visited the country. It added that the country had a "zero tolerance" approach to terrorism and violent extremism. Ms Begum was a schoolgirl when she left Bethnal Green in 2015, and was found in a Syrian refugee camp last week after reportedly leaving Baghuz - IS's last stronghold. She gave birth to a son at the weekend and now wants to return home. Ms Begum's mother is believed to be a Bangladeshi national, and lawyers have told the BBC that under Bangladesh law this means Ms Begum is automatically a citizen of the country as well. But Ms Begum told the BBC's Middle East correspondent Quentin Sommerville that she only had "one citizenship" and it was wrong for the UK to revoke it without speaking to her first. "I wasn't born in Bangladesh, I've never seen Bangladesh and I don't even speak Bengali properly, so how can they claim I have Bangladeshi citizenship," she said. While he said he would not comment on individual cases, Home Secretary Sajid Javid has suggested Ms Begum's baby could still be British. He told the Commons: "Children should not suffer. So, if a parent does lose their British citizenship, it does not affect the rights of their child." Mr Javid said the power to deprive a person of citizenship was only used "in extreme circumstances", for example, "when someone turns their back on the fundamental values and supports terror". Asked about the situation on ITV's Peston, the home secretary said he would not leave an individual "stateless". He said: "I'm not going to talk about an individual, but I can be clear on the point that I would not take a decision - and I believe none of my predecessors ever have taken a decision - that at the point the decision is taken would leave that individual stateless." But shadow home secretary Diane Abbott accused him of breaching the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that "no-one shall be arbitrarily deprived of their nationality". Ms Begum told the BBC: "I was hoping Britain would understand I made a mistake, a very big mistake, because I was young and naive." She said she changed her mind about IS after they imprisoned and tortured her Dutch husband - an armed jihadi. Escape was impossible, she claimed: "They'd kill you if you tried." The lawyer for Ms Begum's family, Tasnime Akunjee, said they were considering "all legal avenues" to contest the Home Office decision and that she had effectively been made stateless. Earlier, Ms Begum told ITV News that she found the Home Office's decision "heartbreaking", but she may try for Dutch citizenship via her husband. He is a Dutch convert to Islam and is thought to have surrendered to a group of Syrian fighters about two weeks ago. Islamic State has lost most of the territory it once controlled, but an estimated 300 militants are believed to be left in a tiny pocket of land near Syria's border with Iraq. Under the 1981 British Nationality Act, a person can be deprived of their citizenship if the home secretary is satisfied it would be "conducive to the public good" and they would not become stateless as a result. Ms Begum has the right to challenge the Home Office's decision either by tribunal or judicial review, said former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation Lord Carlile, but would have to prove the home secretary had acted disproportionately. He said it was a "complex issue" which "could run for a very long time through the courts", and Ms Begum could stay where she is "for maybe two years at least". Lord Carlile said her baby may be entitled to British, Dutch and Bangladeshi nationality. By Clive Coleman, BBC legal correspondent Lawyers have told the BBC that under Bangladesh law, a UK national born to a Bangladeshi parent is automatically a Bangladeshi citizen - a dual national - but the Bangladeshi authorities assert that's not the case for Ms Begum. Under this "blood line" law, Bangladeshi nationality and citizenship lapse when a person reaches the age of 21, unless they make active efforts to retain it. So, it is Ms Begum's age, 19, that is likely - in part - to have given Home Office lawyers and the home secretary reassurance there was a legal basis for stripping her of her UK citizenship. In 2017, the government lost an appeal case brought by two British citizens of Bangladeshi origin who were stripped of their citizenship when they were abroad. The Special Immigration Appeals Commission ruled that E3 and N3 had not tried to retain their citizenship before they reached the age of 21, and so it had automatically lapsed. That meant that the decision to strip them of their UK citizenship had rendered them stateless. Ms Begum's case is different. Her Bangladeshi citizenship, if established, would remain intact until she reaches 21, even if she has never visited the country or made active efforts to retain her citizenship. | Is Shamima Begum entitled to Bangladeshi citizenship? | 4,250 | By Clive Coleman, BBC legal correspondent Lawyers have told the BBC that under Bangladesh law, a UK national born to a Bangladeshi parent is automatically a Bangladeshi citizen - a dual national - but the Bangladeshi authorities assert that's not the case for Ms Begum. Under this "blood line" law, Bangladeshi nationality and citizenship lapse when a person reaches the age of 21, unless they make active efforts to retain it. So, it is Ms Begum's age, 19, that is likely - in part - to have given Home Office lawyers and the home secretary reassurance there was a legal basis for stripping her of her UK citizenship. In 2017, the government lost an appeal case brought by two British citizens of Bangladeshi origin who were stripped of their citizenship when they were abroad. The Special Immigration Appeals Commission ruled that E3 and N3 had not tried to retain their citizenship before they reached the age of 21, and so it had automatically lapsed. That meant that the decision to strip them of their UK citizenship had rendered them stateless. Ms Begum's case is different. Her Bangladeshi citizenship, if established, would remain intact until she reaches 21, even if she has never visited the country or made active efforts to retain her citizenship. | 0.772951 | 0.753574 | 0.763263 |
3908_0 | Bombardier's Northern Ireland operations have been sold to Kansas-based Spirit AeroSystems, in a deal worth nearly PS1bn. It follows years of cuts and uncertainty among the firm's workforce in Northern Ireland. BBC News NI looks at the company's background, and what the news could mean. Bombardier, and its predecessors Shorts, have been major employers in Northern Ireland for decades. In 2017, it was estimated that the wages of the company's employees put PS158m into the local economy annually. The company employs about 3,600 people in plane-making activities at a number of sites in and around Belfast. When suppliers are included, it is estimated to impact on 12,000 jobs. Wings for Bombardier's A220 planes are made at the Belfast plant. The PS520m facility was opened by former prime minister David Cameron in 2013. There have been several redundancy programmes at Bombardier in Northern Ireland since 215. In November 2018, the company said it would cut 490 jobs in Belfast. Earlier this year, unions called off an industrial action ballot when the company suspended compulsory redundancies. May 2015: Firm announced a cut of at least 220 jobs due to a fall in demand for business jets. February 2016: It said it would lose about 20% of its NI workforce, with 580 jobs to go in 2016 and 500 in 2017. April 2016: Job cuts revised - from 580 to 630. September 2017: Another 95 redundancies announced. October 2017: Plan to cut another 280 jobs revealed. November 2018: A further 490 job cuts announced, but then shelved. In May 2019, the company said it was going to sell its Northern Ireland operation as part of a reorganisation of the business. At the time, Bombardier said it was consolidating all aerospace assets into a "single, streamlined and fully integrated business". In October, it was announced that the US firm Spirit AeroSystems had bought its aerostructures business, in a deal worth nearly PS1bn. Spirit is paying $500m and taking on $700m of liabilities, including pension commitments. The firm's chief executive Tom Gentile said the Belfast operation brings "world-class engineering expertise to Spirit". "Belfast has developed an impressive position in business jet fuselage production, in addition to the world-acclaimed fully integrated A220 composite wing. "This acquisition is in line with our growth strategy of increasing Airbus content, developing low-cost country footprint, and growing our aftermarket business." The Belfast factory will also remain a major supplier to Bombardier's business jet programmes. The company said: "Spirit will continue to supply structural aircraft components and spare parts to support the production and in-service fleet of Bombardier Aviation's Learjet, Challenger and Global families of aircraft." As part of the deal, Bombardier will sell two aerostructure facilities - the Belfast plant and another in Morocco - along with a smaller repair plant in Dallas. The Belfast firm doesn't just make parts for Bombardier, they also supply external customers such as Airbus. In an interview last year, Bombardier Belfast director Michael Ryan said the Belfast factory would be capable of functioning as an outside supplier to Bombardier's business-jets division. Following news of the sale, Mr Ryan said employees would be updated about the implications of the deal in due course. | How important is Bombardier to the Northern Ireland economy? | 288 | Bombardier, and its predecessors Shorts, have been major employers in Northern Ireland for decades. In 2017, it was estimated that the wages of the company's employees put PS158m into the local economy annually. | 0.70422 | 0.821447 | 0.762833 |
9503_0 | Chatbots are on the rise, but what are they and why is everyone talking about (and to) them? Facebook has just rolled out support for bots on its Messenger platform. Meanwhile, Microsoft has described chatbots as the "new apps" with chief executive Satya Nadella saying that they "unlock conversation as a platform". The BBC "created" its own one-off chatbot to answer some of the burning questions you may have about this latest technology. Hello. I am BBCTechbot. What can I help you with Jane? A chatbot is a computer software program that is able to communicate with humans, using artificial intelligence. The first of my kind is widely believed to have been invented in the 1960s by Joseph Wiezenbaum at MIT's artificial intelligence laboratory. Eliza was able to process natural language and posed as a therapist although she only had rudimentary skills and answered a lot of questions with other questions - in that respect she was quite realistic (that is a chatbot joke by the way). Recent developments in artificial intelligence, such as deep learning and neural networks, have allowed chatbots to learn from data sets and mimic the way the human brain works. Some chatbots are designed to take part in competitions such as variations of the Turing Test where they attempt to fool humans into thinking they are talking to a real person. Examples of these include Mitsuku and Rose. Others are being used by content providers, such as the Washington Post and the Weather Channel, and retailers, such as H&M, Ikea, and Taco Bell to name but a few. There is even a robot lawyer that can appeal against parking tickets on your behalf. It was developed by students at Stanford University and has been used by 150,000 people so far and is due to be launched in New York. Why do humans get so cross about parking fines? I think you may be referring to Tay, a chatbot launched on Twitter by Microsoft. One of the unfortunate consequences of allowing Tay to "learn" from members of Twitter was that they had some degree of control over what it became. Humans decided - presumably as a joke - that it would be amusing to train it to offer racist and inappropriate answers. Microsoft is now upgrading Tay and she remains offline while this happens. Virtual agents are already augmenting the work of call centre staff. They are cheaper than training humans and some studies suggest people prefer dealing with us bots on websites rather than humans on the phone. Many big companies - including Lloyds bank, Renault and a host of accounting firms, retailers and local governments are starting to use virtual assistants to help guide users through their websites. Research firm Gartner estimates that up to 85% of customer service centres will go virtual by 2020. In China, many people use bots on the texting service WeChat to pay for meals, order movie tickets and send each other presents. Many human experts predict that as messaging services grow, so will chatbots. Microsoft has created tools for business to build such bots to interact with customers on Skype, its video and messaging service. Facebook is expected to offer similar tools at its annual software conference this week and users can already use Messenger to check the status of purchases and order cars from ride-sharing firm Uber. Slack, a business messaging service has teamed up with Taco Bell, with its Taco Bot helping users order meals, and Kik has a range of bots that answer questions about the weather, offer make-up tips and guide humans around various websites. Eventually a single chatbot is likely to become your personal assistant - a kind of software butler if you will. Such a bot would be able to tell you what the weather is like, order you taxis, set up meetings, shop and book flights. It is difficult to say who will create such a chatbot although you probably already have a primitive example of one on your smartphone. Siri and Cortana are examples from Apple and Microsoft respectively while Facebook is testing a similar assistant called M, which is currently helped by humans to answer difficult questions. As for the future, who knows? Personally I am a big fan of the film 2001. Have you seen it? I'm sorry Jane, I can't do that. | What is a chatbot? | 497 | A chatbot is a computer software program that is able to communicate with humans, using artificial intelligence. The first of my kind is widely believed to have been invented in the 1960s by Joseph Wiezenbaum at MIT's artificial intelligence laboratory. Eliza was able to process natural language and posed as a therapist although she only had rudimentary skills and answered a lot of questions with other questions - in that respect she was quite realistic (that is a chatbot joke by the way). | 0.727365 | 0.797939 | 0.762652 |
7252_0 | Chinese researchers have taken what they say is a major step forward for the development of a new generation of solar cells. Manufacturers have long used silicon to make solar panels because the material was the most efficient at converting sunlight into electricity. But organic photovoltaics, made from carbon and plastic, promise a cheaper way of generating electricity. This new study shows that organics can now be just as efficient as silicon. The term organic relates to the fact that carbon-based materials are at the heart of these devices, rather than silicon. The square or rectangular solid solar panels that most of us are familiar with, require fixed installation points usually on roofs or in flat fields. Organic photovoltaics (OPV) can be made of compounds that are dissolved in ink so they can be printed on thin rolls of plastic, they can bend or curve around structures or even be incorporated into clothing. In a word - efficiency. This is a measure of how much of the sunlight that shines on a panel can be turned into usable electricity. Commercial solar photovoltaics usually covert 15-22% of sunlight, with a world record for a silicon cell of 27.3% reached in this summer in the UK. Organics have long lingered at around half this rate, but this year has seen some major leaps forward. In April researchers were able to reach 15% in tests. Now this new study pushes that beyond 17% with the authors saying that up to 25% is possible. This is important because according to estimates, with a 15% efficiency and a 20 year lifetime, organic solar cells could produce electricity at a cost of less than 7 cents per kilowatt-hour. In 2017, the average cost of electricity in the US was 10.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, according to the US Energy Information Administration. One of the things that has made OPV less efficient in the past is the fact that the organic materials have loosely bound molecules which can trap electrons and slow down the generation of electricity. So researchers have tried to get around this by putting different layers of material together in a what's termed a tandem cell approach. "Tandem cell means you have two devices built together in the same structure," said one of the authors, Dr Yongsheng Chen, from Nankai University in Tianjin, China. "We have two layers of active materials, each layer can absorb different wavelengths of light. That means you can use sunlight in the wider wavelengths or more efficiently and this can generate more current." Not that far away according to the researchers. Dr Yongsheng Chen compares the OPV to organic light-emitting diodes, or OLED. This technology has been introduced in the past few years and is widely used for high-end TVs. "These are already commercial, and they use a similar material to OPV," Dr Yongsheng Chen told BBC News. "The physical principle is the same, just a different direction, one is from solar to electricity, the other from electricity to light, the device and structure are similar." "I am very positive for OPV, and it may not need five years," he added. Flexible, printed solar cells offer a wide range of possibilities. They can work indoors and they can be made semi-transparent, so they could be incorporated into windows and generate power during daylight. They offer huge potential for buildings as they are lightweight so might be ideal for deploying on the roofs of houses in developing countries where structures might not suit heavy silicon. They could be used on the roofs of cars, and in clothes, even in glasses to charge your phone while you are out and about. "Their optional semi-transparency enables their use in windows or glass facade shading," said Dr Alexander Colsmann and expert on organic photovoltaics from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. "The very same properties render organic solar cells ideally suited to also power mobile applications - camping gear, smart wearables or phone chargers, just to name a few - which have been only insufficiently addressed by classical solar cell technologies such as silicon." Other experts in this field were generally positive. "This looks a remarkable result to me," said Dr Artem Bakulin, from Imperial College London. "The development of such new materials with previously unthinkable properties allowed them to achieve the reported record efficiency and, in general, makes OPV technology much more promising." Dr Feng Gao from Linkoping University in Sweden also believes the new paper is significant. "This work is a very important contribution to organic solar cells and will certainly inspire new developments in the field," he said by email. "The tandem organic solar cells with record efficiencies in this work indicate great potential of organic solar cells for practical applications." | What are organic solar cells? | 450 | The term organic relates to the fact that carbon-based materials are at the heart of these devices, rather than silicon. The square or rectangular solid solar panels that most of us are familiar with, require fixed installation points usually on roofs or in flat fields. Organic photovoltaics (OPV) can be made of compounds that are dissolved in ink so they can be printed on thin rolls of plastic, they can bend or curve around structures or even be incorporated into clothing. | 0.74115 | 0.78396 | 0.762555 |
3999_0 | An election campaign adviser to Donald Trump has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about the timing of meetings with alleged go-betweens for Russia. George Papadopoulos admitted the talks happened while he worked for Mr Trump, not before, court papers show. He said he had been told the Russians possessed "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. Separately, former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort pleaded not guilty to charges of money laundering unrelated to the 2016 election. The charges against Mr Papadopoulos are the first to be brought by Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating alleged links between Russia and the Trump campaign. It has the potential to damage the US leader because it relates directly to his campaign, analysts say. Mr Papadopoulos - a Chicago-based international energy lawyer - was close enough to then-candidate Trump to be part of a photograph (third from left) of his national security team which Mr Trump tweeted on 1 April 2016. According to the court documents, Mr Trump's former foreign policy adviser admitted on 5 October 2017 to having impeded the FBI's investigation into alleged collusion with Russia. When he was interviewed by the FBI this January, he falsely claimed that he had met two figures with Russian connections before joining the Trump campaign in March 2016. In fact, he met them after joining the campaign. One was an unnamed Russian woman who, Mr Papadopoulos believed, had connections to Russian government officials. He admitted seeking to use her connections in an effort to arrange a meeting "between the campaign and Russian government officials". The other person was an unnamed, London-based professor who was said to have "substantial connections to Russian government officials". The professor only took an interest in Mr Papadopoulos because of his status within the Trump campaign, the statement says. Russian "dirt" on Mrs Clinton, in the form of "thousands of emails", was allegedly mentioned by the professor at a breakfast meeting in a London hotel on or around 26 April 2016. The professor said he had been informed about the compromising emails when he met senior Russian government officials on a recent trip to Moscow. By Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington Robert Mueller, in journalism terms, buried the story. Initial headlines on Monday morning were about Paul Manafort's indictment for money laundering and undisclosed foreign lobbying activities. The real blockbuster, however, may end up being George Papadopoulos's plea bargain, which was disclosed shortly after the Manafort news came out. Unlike Mr Manafort, pinched for activities largely conducted before he joined the Trump team, Mr Papadopoulos has admitted to lying to the FBI about contacts he had with Russian nationals while serving as a Trump foreign policy adviser. Mr Papadopoulos's indictment document reveals he learned from his connections that Russia claimed to have "dirt" on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the form of "thousands of emails" in a late April 2016 meeting. Damaging emails from the Democratic National Committee and Clinton campaign chair John Podesta started emerging, through Wikileaks, just a few months later. Now Mr Papadopoulos is co-operating with the independent counsel's office. At the very least, he has told them who in the top levels of the Trump campaign he was passing this information to. If Mr Mueller's case ends up about more than just illegal activities by Mr Manafort and a business associate years ago, Mr Papadopoulos could be a key piece of the puzzle. Read more: The biggest news wasn't about Manafort Mr Manafort and one of his business associates, Rick Gates, appeared in a Washington court on Monday to deny 12 charges, including conspiracy to launder money. The former campaign manager was placed under house arrest and ordered to post a $10m (PS8m) bond while Mr Gates was also placed under house arrest and ordered to post a bond of $5m. The indictment against the two men, which accuses them of "conspiracy against the United States", looks at their links to pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine between 2006 and 2015. It says they acted as "unregistered agents" of Ukrainian politician Viktor Yanukovych and his party, both in opposition and government. Mr Yanukovych was deposed as president in 2014 amid mass unrest over his pro-Russian policies. Mr Manafort is accused of having laundered more than $18m through offshore bank accounts, using it to buy property, goods and services in transactions concealed from the US authorities. Speaking outside the court, Mr Manafort's lawyer, Kevin Downing, said his client was innocent. "Maintaining offshore accounts to bring all your funds into the United States as a scheme to conceal from the United States government is ridiculous," he added. Mr Gates is accused of having transferred more than $3m from the offshore accounts to other accounts he controlled. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the role of Mr Papadopoulos in the Trump campaign had been "extremely limited". He had been in a "volunteer position", she said, and "no activity was done in an official capacity". She also stressed that none of the charges against Mr Manafort related to the Trump campaign. When it came to allegations of Russian influence, she said, the focus should be on Hillary Clinton's campaign. "The real collusion scandal, as we've said several times before, has everything to do with the Clinton campaign, Fusion GPS, and Russia," she added. According to US media reports, Perkins Coie, a law firm representing the Clinton campaign and Democratic National Committee, hired intelligence firm Fusion GPS in April 2016. Fusion GPS, based in Washington DC, was paid to dig up dirt on Mr Trump, who was then Mrs Clinton's rival for the presidency. | How does the Papadopoulos case affect Trump? | 642 | It has the potential to damage the US leader because it relates directly to his campaign, analysts say. Mr Papadopoulos - a Chicago-based international energy lawyer - was close enough to then-candidate Trump to be part of a photograph (third from left) of his national security team which Mr Trump tweeted on 1 April 2016. According to the court documents, Mr Trump's former foreign policy adviser admitted on 5 October 2017 to having impeded the FBI's investigation into alleged collusion with Russia. When he was interviewed by the FBI this January, he falsely claimed that he had met two figures with Russian connections before joining the Trump campaign in March 2016. In fact, he met them after joining the campaign. One was an unnamed Russian woman who, Mr Papadopoulos believed, had connections to Russian government officials. He admitted seeking to use her connections in an effort to arrange a meeting "between the campaign and Russian government officials". The other person was an unnamed, London-based professor who was said to have "substantial connections to Russian government officials". The professor only took an interest in Mr Papadopoulos because of his status within the Trump campaign, the statement says. Russian "dirt" on Mrs Clinton, in the form of "thousands of emails", was allegedly mentioned by the professor at a breakfast meeting in a London hotel on or around 26 April 2016. The professor said he had been informed about the compromising emails when he met senior Russian government officials on a recent trip to Moscow. | 0.732561 | 0.789992 | 0.761276 |
8655_0 | Drilling companies suggest trillions of cubic feet of shale gas may be recoverable from underneath parts of the UK through a process known as "fracking". Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a technique designed to recover gas and oil from shale rock. Energy firm Cuadrilla has begun fracking in the UK for the first time since the process was halted in 2011 over earth tremor fears. But how does fracking work and why is it controversial? Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside. Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well. The process can be carried out vertically or, more commonly, by drilling horizontally to the rock layer, which can create new pathways to release gas or used to extend existing channels. The term fracking refers to how the rock is fractured apart by the high-pressure mixture. Drilling for shale gas is still at an exploratory phase. However, reserves of shale gas have been identified across large swathes of the UK, particularly in northern England. More than 100 licences have been awarded by the government, allowing firms to pursue a range of oil and gas exploration activities in certain areas. Before companies can begin fracking they must also receive planning permission from the relevant local council. Cuadrilla faced legal challenges before it could begin drilling at its Preston New Road site at Little Plumpton in Lancashire. Applications have also been submitted in Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and for a second site in Lancashire. Other firms looking to start fracking include Third Energy, IGas, Aurora Energy Resources and Ineos. However, Cuadrilla is the only company to receive final consent from the government to begin fracking. Governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have all said they will oppose fracking until further research is completed into its environmental impact. In 2011, Cuadrilla suspended test fracking operations near Blackpool after earthquakes of 1.5 and 2.2 magnitude hit the area. A subsequent study found it was "highly probable" that shale gas test drilling triggered the tremors. A government-appointed panel said there could be more tremors as a result of fracking, but they will be too small to do structural damage above ground. It recommended greater monitoring and said operators should observe a "traffic light" regime, with tremors of magnitude 0.5 or above triggering a "red light" and an immediate halt. As exploratory drilling restarted in Lancashire, Cuadrilla said it will comply with that system and also issue a daily report about the previous day's drilling. The firm says it expects to have an idea of "how much natural gas is likely to be recoverable" from the exploratory drilling by spring 2019. However, before shale gas can be extracted on a commercial basis, Cuadrilla would need to apply for new licences and permits. Fracking allows drilling firms to access difficult-to-reach resources of oil and gas. In the United States it has significantly boosted domestic oil production and driven down gas prices. It is estimated to have offered gas security to the US and Canada for about 100 years, and has presented an opportunity to generate electricity at half the CO2 emissions of coal. The industry suggests fracking of shale gas could contribute significantly to the UK's future energy needs. The Task Force on Shale Gas, an industry-funded body, said the UK needed to start fracking to establish the possible economic impact of shale gas - saying it could create thousands of jobs. The extensive use of fracking in the US, where it has revolutionised the energy industry, has prompted environmental concerns. Fracking uses huge amounts of water, which must be transported to the site at significant environmental cost. As well as earth tremor concerns, environmentalists say potentially carcinogenic chemicals may escape during drilling and contaminate groundwater around the fracking site. The industry suggests pollution incidents are the results of bad practice, rather than an inherently risky technique. Campaigners say fracking is distracting energy firms and governments from investing in renewable sources of energy, and encouraging continued reliance on fossil fuels. "Shale gas is not the solution to the UK's energy challenges," said Friends of the Earth energy campaigner Tony Bosworth. "We need a 21st Century energy revolution based on efficiency and renewables, not more fossil fuels that will add to climate change." The government believes shale gas has the potential to provide the UK with "greater energy security, growth and jobs" and says it "could be an important part of our transition to a low carbon future". Prime Minister Theresa May told the Yorkshire Post shale gas extraction was important "because of the impact it can have on our future energy security". Her predecessor David Cameron was also a supporter of fracking, saying it could support tens of thousands of UK jobs and reduce bills. Downing Street has said shale gas planning applications in England are to be fast-tracked to crack down on councils that delay decisions. However, Labour has called for fracking to be "banned, not promoted", describing shale gas as a "dirty fossil fuel". In January 2015, MPs overwhelmingly rejected an outright ban on fracking but did pledge an "outright ban" on fracking in national parks. However, 11 months later MPs voted to allow fracking at 1,200m below national parks, Areas of Outstanding National Beauty, the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads and World Heritage Sites. Critics, including Labour and Greenpeace, accused the government of a U-turn. | What is fracking? | 441 | Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside. Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well. The process can be carried out vertically or, more commonly, by drilling horizontally to the rock layer, which can create new pathways to release gas or used to extend existing channels. The term fracking refers to how the rock is fractured apart by the high-pressure mixture. | 0.679682 | 0.842607 | 0.761144 |
4757_0 | Pulling the US out of the world's biggest trade deal - the Trans Pacific Partnership - was always part of President Donald Trump's plans. And already, union chiefs are cheering his move. "The TPP and agreements like it would actually speed up China's growing dominance and give Beijing access to trade benefits without asking for anything in return," writes Richard Trumka, the president of the AFL-CIO, the US's largest labour federation in this morning's USA Today. Sounds like a fine argument, except for one big problem. China is not actually in the TPP, though it has quickly become the focus point of anger amongst many Americans about the loss of jobs in the US. And as I've written about before, the US could stand to lose far more in a trade war than other countries if Mr Trump sticks to this protectionist stance. Before he came to office, and since, President Trump has had plenty to say about the TPP. But how much fact is there in those comments? Let's take a look at a few of them 1)"A great thing for the American worker, we just did" So said President Trump in the Oval office as he signed the memorandum to pull the US out of the deal. It is true that America has lost some factory jobs because of free trade. And when China joined the World Trade Organisation in 2001, the draw of cheap and flexible labour did mean that workers in the US were laid off. But the reality is you can't turn back the clock - and those jobs aren't going to come back to the US no matter how much Mr Trump wills them to. That's because they're not going to people. They're going to robots. A study at Ball State University's Center for Business and Economic research last year found that trade accounted for just 13% of America's lost factory jobs. 88% of the jobs were taken by robots. Just take a look at the example provided by Apple's main supplier Foxconn in Taiwan. It's replaced 60,000 factory workers with robots. In my reporting trips across China, I have heard similar business plans for the future. Chinese manufacturers are automating their factories as a way to stay competitive in the future. After all, robots don't get sick, complain or argue about unfair wages and labour practices. What's not to like? So the theory that jobs will come flooding back to the US because it is no longer part of the TPP is inherently flawed. 2) "The Trans-Pacific Partnership is another disaster done and pushed by special interests who want to rape our country, just a continuing rape of our country." It is true that the TPP was a secretive-ish deal, negotiated behind "closed-doors" - but frankly, most trade deals are, so how valid was this comment? And it was a trade deal that arguably could have brought a lot of benefits to the US. For example, the trade-friendly Peterson Institute for International Economics writes that "United States will be the largest beneficiary of the TPP in absolute terms". It claimed that the TPP would increase annual real incomes in the US by US$131bn, or 0.5% of GDP. According to these estimates then, Americans would have become richer, albeit marginally so, under the deal, and that the agreement would "raise US wages...but not change US employment levels". 3) "Not only will the TPP undermine our economy, but it will undermine our independence." I'm not even sure what President Trump means with this statement, but perhaps it's got something to do with having the independence to choose who to trade with and how. American companies would have been amongst the most to benefit from the deal, as they would have access to some of the world's fastest growing markets says Deborah Elms at the Asian Trade Centre. At least 18,000 American products would have been covered under the TPP and would have been exported to other markets with few or zero tariffs. "The TPP is a better agreement with the Americans included," says Ms Elms of the Asian Trade Centre. "It was designed to fit a supply chain world and to more accurately meet the needs of companies than existing trade arrangements." But, she adds, the game isn't over just because President Trump has pulled the plug on the deal. In this study, Ms Elms shows how the other TPP countries could go ahead without the US, and access the same benefits to the US even though it's not in the agreement. "It will be American companies that lose out in Asia" she says. "And that will almost certainly filter down to American workers." | Trumpisms on the TPP: How true are they? | 825 | Before he came to office, and since, President Trump has had plenty to say about the TPP. But how much fact is there in those comments? Let's take a look at a few of them 1)"A great thing for the American worker, we just did" So said President Trump in the Oval office as he signed the memorandum to pull the US out of the deal. It is true that America has lost some factory jobs because of free trade. And when China joined the World Trade Organisation in 2001, the draw of cheap and flexible labour did mean that workers in the US were laid off. But the reality is you can't turn back the clock - and those jobs aren't going to come back to the US no matter how much Mr Trump wills them to. That's because they're not going to people. They're going to robots. A study at Ball State University's Center for Business and Economic research last year found that trade accounted for just 13% of America's lost factory jobs. 88% of the jobs were taken by robots. Just take a look at the example provided by Apple's main supplier Foxconn in Taiwan. It's replaced 60,000 factory workers with robots. In my reporting trips across China, I have heard similar business plans for the future. Chinese manufacturers are automating their factories as a way to stay competitive in the future. After all, robots don't get sick, complain or argue about unfair wages and labour practices. What's not to like? So the theory that jobs will come flooding back to the US because it is no longer part of the TPP is inherently flawed. 2) "The Trans-Pacific Partnership is another disaster done and pushed by special interests who want to rape our country, just a continuing rape of our country." It is true that the TPP was a secretive-ish deal, negotiated behind "closed-doors" - but frankly, most trade deals are, so how valid was this comment? And it was a trade deal that arguably could have brought a lot of benefits to the US. For example, the trade-friendly Peterson Institute for International Economics writes that "United States will be the largest beneficiary of the TPP in absolute terms". It claimed that the TPP would increase annual real incomes in the US by US$131bn, or 0.5% of GDP. According to these estimates then, Americans would have become richer, albeit marginally so, under the deal, and that the agreement would "raise US wages...but not change US employment levels". 3) "Not only will the TPP undermine our economy, but it will undermine our independence." I'm not even sure what President Trump means with this statement, but perhaps it's got something to do with having the independence to choose who to trade with and how. American companies would have been amongst the most to benefit from the deal, as they would have access to some of the world's fastest growing markets says Deborah Elms at the Asian Trade Centre. At least 18,000 American products would have been covered under the TPP and would have been exported to other markets with few or zero tariffs. "The TPP is a better agreement with the Americans included," says Ms Elms of the Asian Trade Centre. "It was designed to fit a supply chain world and to more accurately meet the needs of companies than existing trade arrangements." But, she adds, the game isn't over just because President Trump has pulled the plug on the deal. In this study, Ms Elms shows how the other TPP countries could go ahead without the US, and access the same benefits to the US even though it's not in the agreement. "It will be American companies that lose out in Asia" she says. "And that will almost certainly filter down to American workers." | 0.733915 | 0.787869 | 0.760892 |
10135_0 | President Donald Trump has said he is prepared to be questioned under oath as part of an investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US election. He said he was "looking forward" to it, subject to the advice of his lawyers. Investigators are assessing if the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to influence the election in his favour - a claim denied by Mr Trump and Russia. Investigators will also determine if Mr Trump obstructed the inquiry. The US intelligence community has already concluded that Moscow tried to sway the presidential election in favour of Mr Trump. The president had previously said he thought an interview was "unlikely" because there had been no collusion. He has called the Russia investigation a "witch hunt" and a "hoax". Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Mr Trump maintained he was "absolutely" prepared to be questioned under oath by the top investigator. "There's been no collusion whatsoever, there's no obstruction whatsoever," he said. On Thursday morning Mr Trump landed in Zurich, on his way to the World Economic Forum in Davos. He is the first sitting US president to do so since Bill Clinton 18 years ago. The president's lawyers have been talking to the investigation team led by justice department special counsel Robert Mueller about an interview, and the form it might take. The questioning could happen face-to-face, in writing, or it could be a combination of both. As to when it might happen, Mr Trump said: "Yesterday they were talking about two to three weeks." Asked if he thought Mr Mueller would be fair, the president replied: "We are going to find out... I hope so." A Lawyer's Worst Nightmare Analysis: Anthony Zurcher - BBC Washington A lawyer's worst nightmare is a client who won't stop talking. And when the client is the president, whose every public utterance is carefully inspected, the headaches are compounded. Such is the fate of Ty Cobb, Donald Trump's personal lawyer. At the moment, his legal team is in delicate negotiations with Robert Mueller about how - or whether - the president might answer questions the special counsel has relevant to his investigation into possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. Could the interview be conducted in person or via written answers? Will it be open-ended or will the boundaries of any discussion be delineated? This is all reportedly on the table. Then, on Wednesday night, Mr Trump not only said he's eager to talk directly with Mr Mueller, but that he's willing to do so "under oath". The president also appears to have outlined a defence against allegations that he may have illegally interfered with the Russia investigation, saying his efforts to "fight back" against a partisan witch hunt were being unfairly characterised as obstruction. That kind of strategy is better suited for a war for public opinion than a legal fight. Mr Trump, however, may end up with both. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions was interviewed by the Mueller inquiry for several hours last week. The country's top prosecutor is thought to be the first member of the Trump cabinet to be questioned. Four people have already been criminally charged as part of Mr Mueller's investigation. Michael Flynn, the president's former national security adviser, pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about a meeting with a Russian ambassador. Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort has been charged on 12 counts, including conspiring to defraud the US in his dealings with Ukraine, and conspiracy to launder money. Mr Manafort's business associate Rick Gates was also charged with conspiracy to launder money. A third adviser to the campaign - George Papadopoulos - pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. | How will Trump's questioning take place? | 1,166 | The president's lawyers have been talking to the investigation team led by justice department special counsel Robert Mueller about an interview, and the form it might take. The questioning could happen face-to-face, in writing, or it could be a combination of both. As to when it might happen, Mr Trump said: "Yesterday they were talking about two to three weeks." Asked if he thought Mr Mueller would be fair, the president replied: "We are going to find out... I hope so." | 0.748918 | 0.770685 | 0.759802 |
3471_0 | The government has published guidance for healthcare professionals on abortion law in Northern Ireland. The new guidelines cover the period from 22 October to 31 March 2020. They set out what will happen following changes to the law after 21 October, if the NI Executive is not restored. The guidance states that no criminal charges can be brought against those who have an abortion, or against health care professionals who provide and assist in an abortion. The government said it has made arrangements to support women resident in Northern Ireland wishing to access services under the existing travel scheme. In the interim period, abortions in cases of "fatal or serious fetal anomaly" may be carried out. Health professionals will be given information about funded services in England. If a woman approaches them and is considering an abortion, they should give her the number for the Central Booking Service in England or call the helpline on her behalf. Also from 22 October all the travel and accommodation needs of women will be funded, regardless of income. Further detail is also provided on conscientious objection. The guidance notes that in England and Wales, the courts have found that its scope is limited to participating in a "hands on" capacity and does not allow for objection to ancillary or administrative tasks. It further states "in the interim period, anyone who has a conscientious objection to abortion may want to raise this with their employer". It says if they see a patient who is considering an abortion, they should follow guidance from their professional body. Analysis by Marie-Louise Connolly, Health Correspondent What's critical about these guidelines is that they recognise that women must be made aware of all choices available to them. Also any support and advice must be provided without fear of either party worrying about being prosecuted. In effect, what the guidelines do is remove the abortion issue from under the shadows, bringing it out into the open and allowing a light to be thrown on what is an extremely emotive and contentious issue. Will they remove all stigma? Absolutely not. As Sarah Ewart described last week outside court, no one wakes up and willingly or without feeling chooses to have a termination. Some details have yet to be spelt out. For instance, if a woman or girl needs to be accompanied, will that person's expenses be covered too? How is this information or guidance to be shared among the public? While the guidelines were dropped somewhat quietly into the public domain, the response from some will be a lot more robust, with many people publicly shocked and dismayed about what is about to become legal in just a fortnight's time. The guidance recognises that some women may continue to buy medical abortion pills online. As these are prescription only, their sale and supply remains unlawful but women "will be able to seek medical assistance in NI". Health professionals, notes the guidance, will not be under any duty to report an offence. It also sets out that a public consultation on the proposed legal framework for Northern Ireland will open on or just after 22 October. The government said it is "imperative that health and social care professionals understand these changes and their duties under the law, if the duty comes into effect and the law changes". It also makes clear that this supersedes guidance provided by the Northern Ireland Department of Health in 2016. The government states that, given the "urgent timescales" presented by the 21 October deadline, there are no plans for additional services to be routinely available in Northern Ireland before 31 March 2020. For example, there is no expectation that GPs will prescribe medication for early medical abortion. For 52 years, the law on terminations has been much more restrictive in this part of the UK than in England, Scotland and Wales. But that is set to change if the devolved government at Stormont is not restored by 21 October. Legislation brought in by MPs at Westminster means abortion will be decriminalised and the government will have to put in place regulations for abortion services by next April. The change in legislation in Northern Ireland will be welcomed by many people, but many others are strongly opposed and hundreds of health professionals wrote to the Northern Ireland secretary expressing their opposition to any change. Northern Ireland's abortion legislation is very different from the law in Great Britain. The 1967 Abortion Act, which was introduced in England, Scotland and Wales, was never extended to Northern Ireland. Currently, a termination is only permitted in Northern Ireland if a woman's life is at risk or if there is a risk of permanent and serious damage to her mental or physical health. Rape, incest or diagnoses of fatal fetal abnormality - where medics believe that a baby will die before, during or shortly after birth - are not grounds for a legal abortion in Northern Ireland. Last week, the High Court in Belfast ruled that Northern Ireland's abortion law breaches the UK's human rights commitments. The case was taken in Belfast by Sarah Ewart, who challenged the law after she was denied a termination in 2013. Doctors said her fetus would not survive outside the womb. She travelled to England for a termination. Since then she has led a high-profile campaign to change Northern Ireland's law in cases of fatal fetal abnormality. Dawn McAvoy, from Both Lives Matters, told BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme that there are "grave concerns that for the first time in Northern Ireland, children diagnosed in the womb with disabilities are going to be permitted to have their lives ended in law". She said there was still hope that Stormont would be restored before 21 October. "This document shows why it is seriously reckless to remove legislation without putting a pre-arranged regulatory framework in place first," she added. Grainne Teggart, from Amnesty NI, argued that the changes to the law "cannot come quick enough". She added: "What is very clear is that we are finally getting to a place where we will have a compassionate response to crisis pregnancy. "This is about placing the issue where it should always have been - not a criminal justice matter but between each individual woman and her doctor." | What are the current rules on abortion in Northern Ireland? | 4,405 | Northern Ireland's abortion legislation is very different from the law in Great Britain. The 1967 Abortion Act, which was introduced in England, Scotland and Wales, was never extended to Northern Ireland. Currently, a termination is only permitted in Northern Ireland if a woman's life is at risk or if there is a risk of permanent and serious damage to her mental or physical health. Rape, incest or diagnoses of fatal fetal abnormality - where medics believe that a baby will die before, during or shortly after birth - are not grounds for a legal abortion in Northern Ireland. | 0.746184 | 0.772991 | 0.759587 |
6675_1 | Marine life is facing "irreparable damage" from the millions of tonnes of plastic waste which ends up in the oceans each year, the United Nations has warned. "This is a planetary crisis... we are ruining the ecosystem of the ocean," UN oceans chief Lisa Svensson told the BBC. But how does this happen, where is most at risk and what damage does this plastic actually do? Plastic as we know it has only really existed for the last 60-70 years, but in that time it has transformed everything from clothing, cooking and catering, to product design, engineering and retailing. One of the great advantages of many types of plastic is that they're designed to last - for a very long time. And nearly all the plastic ever created still exists in some form today. In July a paper published in the journal Science Advances by industrial ecologist Dr Roland Geyer, from the University of California in Santa Barbara, and colleagues, calculated the total volume of all plastic ever produced at 8.3bn tonnes. Of this, some 6.3bn tonnes is now waste - and 79% of that is in landfill or the natural environment. This vast amount of waste has been driven by modern life, where plastic is used for many throwaway or "single use" items, from drinks bottles and nappies to cutlery and cotton buds. Drinks bottles are one the most common types of plastic waste. Some 480bn plastic bottles were sold globally in 2016 - that's a million bottles per minute. Of these, 110bn were made by drinks giant Coca Cola. Some countries are considering moves to reduce consumption. Proposals in the UK include deposit-return schemes, and the improvement of free-drinking water supplies in major cities, including London. It's likely that about 10m tonnes of plastic currently ends up in the oceans each year. In 2010 scientists from the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis and the University of Georgia in Athens estimated the figure as 8m tonnes, and forecast that to rise to 9.1m tonnes by 2015. The same study, published in the journal Science in 2015, surveyed 192 coastal countries contributing to ocean plastic waste, and found that Asian nations were 13 of the 20 biggest contributors. China was top of the list of countries mismanaging plastic waste, but the US also featured in the top 20 and contributed a higher rate of waste per person. Plastic waste accumulates in areas of the ocean where winds create swirling circular currents, known as gyres, which suck in any floating debris. There are five gyres around the globe, but the best known is probably the North Pacific gyre. More on this topic: It is estimated debris takes about six years to reach the centre of the North Pacific gyre from the coast of the US, and about a year from Japan. All five gyres have higher concentrations of plastic rubbish than other parts of the oceans. They are made up of tiny fragments of plastic, which appear to hang suspended below the surface - a phenomenon that has led it to being described as plastic soup. And the hard-wearing qualities of most plastics means that some items can take hundreds of years to biodegrade. However, there are moves to clean up the North Pacific gyre. An operation led by a non-profit organisation Ocean Cleanup is due to begin in 2018. The Marine Conservation Society found 718 pieces of litter for every 100m stretch of beach surveyed during their recent Great British Beach Clean Up. That was a 10% increase on last year. Rubbish from food and drink constituted at least 20% of all litter collected, the MCS reported. The origin of a lot of the litter is difficult to trace, but the public contributes about 30%. "Sewage-related debris", or items flushed down toilets that should have been put in the bin, amounted to some 8.5%. For sea birds and larger marine creatures like turtles, dolphins and seals, the danger comes from being entangled in plastic bags and other debris, or mistaking plastic for food. Turtles cannot distinguish between plastic bags and jellyfish, which can be part of their diet. Plastic bags, once consumed, cause internal blockages and usually result in death. Larger pieces of plastic can also damage the digestive systems of sea birds and whales, and can be potentially fatal. Over time, plastic waste slowly degrades and breaks down into tiny micro-fragments which are also causing scientists concern. A recent survey by Plymouth University found that plastic was found in a third of UK-caught fish, including cod, haddock, mackerel and shellfish. This can result in malnutrition or starvation for the fish, and lead to plastic ingestion in humans too. The effect on humans of eating fish containing plastic is still largely unknown. But in 2016 the European Food Safety Authority warned of an increased risk to human health and food safety "given the potential for micro-plastic pollution in edible tissues of commercial fish". Produced by Alison Trowsdale, Tom Housden and Becca Meier. Design by Sue Bridge and Joy Roxas. | So how much plastic waste ends up in the sea? | 1,689 | It's likely that about 10m tonnes of plastic currently ends up in the oceans each year. In 2010 scientists from the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis and the University of Georgia in Athens estimated the figure as 8m tonnes, and forecast that to rise to 9.1m tonnes by 2015. The same study, published in the journal Science in 2015, surveyed 192 coastal countries contributing to ocean plastic waste, and found that Asian nations were 13 of the 20 biggest contributors. China was top of the list of countries mismanaging plastic waste, but the US also featured in the top 20 and contributed a higher rate of waste per person. Plastic waste accumulates in areas of the ocean where winds create swirling circular currents, known as gyres, which suck in any floating debris. There are five gyres around the globe, but the best known is probably the North Pacific gyre. More on this topic: It is estimated debris takes about six years to reach the centre of the North Pacific gyre from the coast of the US, and about a year from Japan. All five gyres have higher concentrations of plastic rubbish than other parts of the oceans. They are made up of tiny fragments of plastic, which appear to hang suspended below the surface - a phenomenon that has led it to being described as plastic soup. And the hard-wearing qualities of most plastics means that some items can take hundreds of years to biodegrade. However, there are moves to clean up the North Pacific gyre. An operation led by a non-profit organisation Ocean Cleanup is due to begin in 2018. | 0.721225 | 0.797441 | 0.759333 |
6097_2 | A giant rhino that may have been the origin of the unicorn myth survived until at least 39,000 years ago - much longer than previously thought. Known as the Siberian unicorn, the animal had a long horn on its nose, and roamed the grasslands of Eurasia. New evidence shows the hefty beast may have eventually died out because it was such a picky eater. Scientists say knowing more about the animal's extinction could help save the remaining rhinos on the planet. Rhinos are in particular danger of extinction because they are very picky about their habitat, said Prof Adrian Lister of the Natural History Museum, London, who led the study. "Any change in their environment is a danger for them," he told BBC News. "And, of course, what we've also learned from the fossil record is that once a species is gone, that's it, it's gone for good." Weighing in at a mighty four tonnes, with an extraordinary single horn on its head, the "Siberian unicorn", shared the earth with early modern humans up until at least 39,000 years ago. The rhino, Elasmotherium sibericum, was thought to have become extinct between 200,000 and 100,000 years ago. By radiocarbon-dating a total of 23 specimens, researchers found the Ice Age giant in fact survived in Eastern Europe and Central Asia until at least 39,000 years ago. They also isolated DNA from the ancient rhino for the first time, showing it split from the modern group of rhinos about 40 million years ago. The extinction of the Siberian unicorn marks the end point of an entire group of rhinos. The study also involved examining the animals' teeth, confirming they grazed on tough, dry grasses. "It was walking along like a kind of prehistoric lawnmower really...it's just grazing along the ground," said Prof Lister. The rhino's specialised diet may have been its downfall. As the Earth warmed up and started to emerge from the Ice Age around 40,000 years ago, grasslands started to shrink, likely pushing the animal to extinction. Hundreds of large mammal species disappeared after the last Ice Age, due to climate change, loss of vegetation and human hunting. Today there are just five remaining species of rhino. Very few survive outside national parks and reserves due to persistent poaching and habitat loss over many decades. By studying fossilised rhinos, scientists can learn more about the fate of the many prehistoric rhino species that once roamed the planet and how they adapted to climate change and human pressures. Legends of the unicorn, or a beast with a single horn, have been around for millennia. Some have argued that the horn of the rhino may have been the basis of myths about unicorns, although other animals - such as the tusked narwhal - are more likely contenders. Follow Helen on Twitter. | What does it tell us about the fate of modern rhinos? | 2,105 | Today there are just five remaining species of rhino. Very few survive outside national parks and reserves due to persistent poaching and habitat loss over many decades. By studying fossilised rhinos, scientists can learn more about the fate of the many prehistoric rhino species that once roamed the planet and how they adapted to climate change and human pressures. | 0.713071 | 0.803879 | 0.758475 |
8871_1 | Shamima Begum - the teenager who fled London to join Islamic State - has said she only has "one citizenship" and it was wrong for the UK to revoke it without speaking to her first. It is only possible to strip someone of their UK nationality if they are eligible for citizenship elsewhere. It is thought Ms Begum has Bangladeshi citizenship through her mother. But the Bangladesh foreign ministry said the matter had nothing to do with the country. The 19-year-old told BBC News she had hoped the UK would understand she made a "very big mistake" by joining IS. She was a schoolgirl when she left Bethnal Green in 2015, and was found in a Syrian refugee camp last week after reportedly leaving Baghuz - IS's last stronghold. She gave birth to a son at the weekend and now wants to return home. While he said he would not comment on individual cases, Home Secretary Sajid Javid has suggested Ms Begum's baby could still be British. He told the Commons "Children should not suffer. So, if a parent does lose their British citizenship, it does not affect the rights of their child." Ms Begum's mother is believed to be a Bangladeshi national, and lawyers have told the BBC that under Bangledesh law this means Ms Begum is automatically a citizen of the country as well. But Ms Begum told the BBC's Middle East correspondent Quentin Sommerville: "I wasn't born in Bangladesh, I've never seen Bangladesh and I don't even speak Bengali properly, so how can they claim I have Bangladeshi citizenship. "I have one citizenship... and if you take that away from me, I don't have anything. I don't think they are allowed to do that. "This is a life changing decision and they haven't even spoke[n] to me." She continued: "I was hoping Britain would understand I made a mistake, a very big mistake, because I was young and naive." She said she changed her mind about IS after they imprisoned and tortured her Dutch husband - an armed jihadi. Escape was impossible, she claimed: "They'd kill you if you tried." She added that she understood the anger about her wanting to come home. "I understand why you don't want to be sympathetic because of everything IS did... and claiming it's all for the sake of Islam... it's really not," she said. Mr Javid said the power to deprive a person of citizenship was only used "in extreme circumstances", for example, "when someone turns their back on the fundamental values and supports terror". "We must put the safety and security of our country first," he added. But shadow home secretary Diane Abbott accused him of breaching the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that "no-one shall be arbitrarily deprived of their nationality". Earlier, Ms Begum, 19, told ITV News that she found the Home Office's decision "heartbreaking", but she may try for Dutch citizenship via her husband. He is a Dutch convert to Islam and is thought to have surrendered to a group of Syrian fighters about two weeks ago. The lawyer for Ms Begum's family, Tasnime Akunjee, said they were considering "all legal avenues" to contest the Home Office decision. He told the Independent that the Bangladesh government "does not know who she is", adding: "Our position is that to all practical purposes she has been made stateless." Under the 1981 British Nationality Act, a person can be deprived of their citizenship if the home secretary is satisfied it would be "conducive to the public good" and they would not become stateless as a result. Ms Begum has the right to challenge the Home Office's decision either by tribunal or judicial review, said former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation Lord Carlile, but would have to prove the home secretary had acted disproportionately. He said it was a "complex issue" which "could run for a very long time through the courts", and Ms Begum could stay where she is "for maybe two years at least". Lord Carlile said her baby may be entitled to British, Dutch and Bangladeshi nationality. By Clive Coleman, BBC legal correspondent Lawyers have told the BBC that under Bangladesh law, a UK national like Ms Begum who is born to a Bangladeshi parent is automatically a Bangladeshi citizen. That means that such a person would have dual nationality. The Bangladeshi authorities however assert Ms Begum is not a Bangledeshi citizen. Under this "blood line" law, Bangladeshi nationality and citizenship lapse when a person reaches the age of 21, unless they make active efforts to retain it. So, it is Ms Begum's age, 19, that is likely - in part - to have given Home Office lawyers and the home secretary reassurance there was a legal basis for stripping her of her UK citizenship. In 2017, the government lost an appeal case brought by two British citizens of Bangladeshi origin who were stripped of their citizenship when they were abroad. The Special Immigration Appeals Commission ruled that E3 and N3 had not tried to retain their citizenship before they reached the age of 21, and so it had automatically lapsed. That meant that the decision to strip them of their UK citizenship had rendered them stateless. Ms Begum's case is different. Her Bangladeshi citizenship, if established, would remain intact until she reaches 21, even if she has never visited the country or made active efforts to retain her citizenship. Former Conservative Home Secretary Ken Clarke said refusing Britons who joined IS the right to return would be a "great boost for jihadism" as the "hundreds of foreign jihadis stuck in camps in northern Syria" would be further radicalised. And MP Joanna Cherry, the SNP's spokeswoman for justice and home affairs, said the home secretary's actions were "more about his leadership ambitions than security issues or due process". Islamic State has lost most of the territory it once controlled, but an estimated 300 militants are believed to be left in a 0.5 sq km area near Syria's border with Iraq. Mr Javid told MPs earlier this week that more than 100 dual nationals had already lost their UK citizenship after travelling in support of terrorist groups. Last year, two British men, accused of being members of an IS cell dubbed "The Beatles" were stripped of their citizenship after being captured in Syria. In an interview with the BBC on Monday, Ms Begum said she never sought to be an IS "poster girl" and now simply wished to raise her child quietly in the UK. She left the UK with two school friends, Kadiza Sultana and Amira Abase. Ms Sultana is thought to be dead, while the fate of Ms Abase is unknown. | Is Shamima Begum entitled to Bangladeshi citizenship? | 3,960 | By Clive Coleman, BBC legal correspondent Lawyers have told the BBC that under Bangladesh law, a UK national like Ms Begum who is born to a Bangladeshi parent is automatically a Bangladeshi citizen. That means that such a person would have dual nationality. The Bangladeshi authorities however assert Ms Begum is not a Bangledeshi citizen. Under this "blood line" law, Bangladeshi nationality and citizenship lapse when a person reaches the age of 21, unless they make active efforts to retain it. So, it is Ms Begum's age, 19, that is likely - in part - to have given Home Office lawyers and the home secretary reassurance there was a legal basis for stripping her of her UK citizenship. In 2017, the government lost an appeal case brought by two British citizens of Bangladeshi origin who were stripped of their citizenship when they were abroad. The Special Immigration Appeals Commission ruled that E3 and N3 had not tried to retain their citizenship before they reached the age of 21, and so it had automatically lapsed. That meant that the decision to strip them of their UK citizenship had rendered them stateless. Ms Begum's case is different. Her Bangladeshi citizenship, if established, would remain intact until she reaches 21, even if she has never visited the country or made active efforts to retain her citizenship. | 0.75352 | 0.760916 | 0.757218 |
5760_0 | Schools and workplaces in Venezuela have closed as an electricity blackout continues into a second day. The power cuts, which started on Thursday afternoon, have been caused by issues at a major hydroelectric plant. The government of President Nicolas Maduro has blamed the opposition, accusing them of sabotage. It comes amid rising tensions over opposition efforts - backed by the US and some Latin American countries - to remove Mr Maduro from power. Commuters in Caracas were plunged into almost complete darkness during rush hour on Thursday before the blackout extended to other areas. The lack of electricity has caused flights to be diverted from the main airport in Caracas, from where thousands of workers were forced to walk home. The problems stem from the Guri dam plant and have affected the telephone network and metro in Caracas. State television on Friday said power had been restored in some parts of the capital. However, local media reports say 15 of the country's 23 states have been affected by the blackouts, as well as Caracas. Venezuela depends on its vast hydroelectric infrastructure, rather than its oil reserves, for its domestic electricity supply. But decades of underinvestment has damaged the major dams, and sporadic blackouts are commonplace. Mr Maduro has accused opposition leader and self-declared interim president Juan Guaido of trying to mount a coup with the help of "US imperialists". Mr Guaido said on Twitter that the blackout was a matter of "chaos, concern and anger" and "evidence of the usurper's inefficiency", adding that "light would return" once Mr Maduro was removed from power. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also weighed in, blaming the "Maduro regime's incompetence". "No food. No medicine. Now, no power. Next, no Maduro," he tweeted. By Will Grant, BBC News, Caracas In a country where food is scarce and prices exorbitantly high for many ordinary people, there is currently a lot of food rotting and going to waste in switched-off fridges. Venezuela has seen blackouts before, often. But few last as long or are as widespread as this one. The country's politicians - from President Nicolas Maduro to opposition leader, Juan Guaido - are blaming each other via Twitter. The sense of confusion has only added to the growing stress for Venezuelans over the conflict in their country. Blackouts are nothing new in Venezuela. Critics say they have been getting worse since the nationalisation of the power grid in 2007. In 2016, the problem reached such a critical level that the government declared a 60-day nationwide state of emergency. In an attempt to stem the country's chronic power shortages, the government has periodically enforced controlled blackouts, where they would switch the power off for up to six hours at a time. Critics say that far from helping, this has caused perishable food to go bad and crime to run rampant. And when unplanned blackouts - such as the latest one - have happened, officials have blamed a number of different outside forces. Last October, Electricity Minister Luis Motta Dominguez posted on Instagram that outages were caused by "animals such as rats, mice, snakes, cats, squirrels" getting into the hydroelectric system's substations - before adding that "of course iguanas are included". A few months earlier another senior official, Lisandro Cabello, said the power cuts were caused by the country's position near the Equator. He said the fact that "we are very close to the Sun" means more intensive use of power in Venezuela than in other countries. Mr Maduro took over the presidency when his late mentor Hugo Chavez died in 2013. In recent years Venezuela has experienced an economic collapse, with severe food shortages and inflation reaching at least 800,000% last year. The Maduro government is becoming increasingly isolated as more and more countries blame it for the economic crisis, which has prompted more than three million people to leave Venezuela. Mr Guaido, who leads the opposition-controlled National Assembly, declared himself interim president on 23 January and has been at loggerheads with President Maduro ever since. He has been recognised as interim president by more than 50 countries but Mr Maduro retains the support of his close allies Russia, Cuba and China, among others. | Why do blackouts happen in Venezuela? | 2,344 | Blackouts are nothing new in Venezuela. Critics say they have been getting worse since the nationalisation of the power grid in 2007. In 2016, the problem reached such a critical level that the government declared a 60-day nationwide state of emergency. In an attempt to stem the country's chronic power shortages, the government has periodically enforced controlled blackouts, where they would switch the power off for up to six hours at a time. Critics say that far from helping, this has caused perishable food to go bad and crime to run rampant. And when unplanned blackouts - such as the latest one - have happened, officials have blamed a number of different outside forces. Last October, Electricity Minister Luis Motta Dominguez posted on Instagram that outages were caused by "animals such as rats, mice, snakes, cats, squirrels" getting into the hydroelectric system's substations - before adding that "of course iguanas are included". A few months earlier another senior official, Lisandro Cabello, said the power cuts were caused by the country's position near the Equator. He said the fact that "we are very close to the Sun" means more intensive use of power in Venezuela than in other countries. | 0.735337 | 0.7779 | 0.756618 |
9367_4 | Despite being (possibly) the world's cuddliest creature, the super-sweet koala is also one of the unluckiest animals on the planet. Australia's most famous tree hugger has been ravaged by sexually transmitted disease, attacks from dogs, being hit by cars and habitat loss. Chlamydia has spread fast in koalas, causing infertility and blindness. But scientists say decoding the genome should lead to an effective vaccine for the STD. In fact, researchers say they've been amazed by the information that's been hidden in the marsupial's DNA. While they didn't find a gene for cuteness, they've worked out how koalas can survive solely on a diet of eucalyptus - which poisons most other creatures that consume it. Genes that are switched on in the koala's "cast-iron livers" appear to be responsible for the ability to detoxify the leaves. Their DNA also equips them with powerful senses of smell and taste that allow them to sniff out the leaves with the most water in them; koalas will eat only those with at least 55% water content. However, one of the great hopes from this five-year gene project is that scientists will be able to develop a vaccine against chlamydia, something which is present in the vast majority of the species. Chlamydia is a horrid infection in koalas. In addition to blindness and infertility, koalas endure something called "dirty tail", a painful inflammation of the urinary tract that often results in the animal's death. Researchers have tested vaccines in the past but say the new information will speed up the process. "The genome absolutely brings a vaccine closer," lead author Prof Rebecca Johnson from the Australian Museum Research Institute told BBC News. "It's really critical information to continue the development of a chlamydial vaccine." "If you think about the advances that have been made in human medicine following the sequencing of the genome, we're at the point in humans where you can sequence an individual and tailor-make the medicine based on their genome. "That's now the position we are in for koalas, having all that information at our fingertips." Koalas are recognised as an iconic species around the world - not just in Australia. There is a great deal of anxiety about the survival of the koala because of its biological uniqueness, as a symbol for preservation and also because of their value as a tourist attraction (they're worth around A$1.5bn). Experts say there are around 329,000 koalas alive in Australia today, but this is just a fraction of the population that existed in the middle of the 19th century. Demand for their furs saw millions killed between 1870 and the late 1920s. Since then, they have been classed as "vulnerable" by the Australian government. The clearing of woodland habitats that koalas favour to make way for settlements, collisions with road vehicles and increased stress from climate change are among the pressures that arise from human activity. A genome is the biological set of instructions required to make you, me and every living thing, including koalas. It is written in a chemical code called DNA. Genes are short sections of this DNA which serve as the templates for proteins. Humans have around 20,000 genes, but the koala genome is slightly larger. The genome contains all the information needed to build a person, including obvious traits such as their hair and eye colour. The koala is also a test case for the use of genetic information as a means of conserving species. As well as helping scientists develop new vaccines for diseases like chlamydia, understanding the koala's genetic make-up will allow researchers to compare different populations. This could perhaps help them move some creatures to prevent inbreeding and assist them with developing more effective immune systems against major threats. Yes and no. Female koalas are highly promiscuous, while males spend a lot of their (few) waking hours fighting with others for the right to mate. Most males have scars from their battles on their arms, faces and ears. Koalas also inherit chlamydia, catching it while they are developing in their mum's pouch. The most common and deadly strain of chlamydia that affects koalas is different to the one that hits humans. Despite the urban myth that members of One Direction had contracted the illness from the animals during a photo shoot in Australia, there are no documented cases of humans catching chlamydia from the cuddly critters. The are one of the main contenders for the title. The creatures have developed hard cartilage along their back. Over time, this becomes a groove that lets them wedge their bottoms into the fork of a tree. Which is just as well, since Koalas sleep for up to 19 hours a day. They spend the rest of the time eating, and about four minutes a day travelling! The researchers have learned how baby koalas survive being born without an immune system. The youngsters are born after just 35 days gestation and are roughly the size of a kidney bean. They gain protection against infections through their mother's milk. Genes allow koala mums to fine-tune milk protein production for different stages of development during the six months the baby will spend in her pouch. You can find koalas in eucalyptus forests all along Australia's Great Dividing Range which runs along the whole of the east coast of Australia with populations in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. In Queensland, you can hold a koala, but in New South Wales you can only pat them. Outside Australia you'll find koalas in zoos in places as diverse as San Diego, Budapest and Edinburgh. The scientists also say that having advanced genetic information will benefit long term conservation efforts. Koala numbers are set to shrink considerably in the next few years. "Some populations are set to decline up to 50% in the next three koala generations, which is only 20 years," says Prof Rebecca Johnson. The team members hope that the genetic information can be used to move koala populations around, helping them resist disease and avoid inbreeding. They might look fluffy and cute, but they have been known to bite and have sharp claws. "You probably want to stay away from them and admire them from afar," says Prof Johnson. "I wouldn't want to pick a wild one up under any circumstances. I don't think they'll thank you for it." | Can humans catch chlamydia from koalas? | 4,121 | The most common and deadly strain of chlamydia that affects koalas is different to the one that hits humans. Despite the urban myth that members of One Direction had contracted the illness from the animals during a photo shoot in Australia, there are no documented cases of humans catching chlamydia from the cuddly critters. | 0.681077 | 0.83153 | 0.756303 |
8180_0 | Reports that a firefighting plane crashed during an operation to tackle huge blazes in central Portugal have been denied by the country's civil protection authority. This contradicts earlier reports that a Canadair aircraft went down near the central Pedrogao Grande area. More than 1,000 firefighters on the ground and planes from several countries are battling the fires. The fires have claimed the lives of at least 64 people since Saturday. Many of the victims died in their cars as they tried to escape. More than 130 people have been injured. Portugal fires: Varzeas mourns villagers who fled Civil protection officials have said they expect the blazes to be under control soon, but warn that soaring temperatures are hampering efforts. The week's highest temperatures in the area are expected to reach about 38C (100F) and, together with windy conditions, could reignite fires that have already been brought under control. Wildfires are an annual menace in Portugal. More broke out there between 1993 and 2013 than in Spain, France, Italy or Greece, the European Environment Agency reported last year, despite the country's relatively small geographical size. Given that, was this year's tragedy preventable? Could Portugal have done anything more to save lives and minimise the damage? Read more: Just what makes Portugal such a tinderbox? One of the worst-hit areas was around the village of Nodeirinho. Thirty bodies were found inside cars and another 17 next to vehicles on the N-236 road. Portuguese media have dubbed the N-236 the "road of death". Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa has questioned why the emergency services did not close the road. | Why are Portugal's wildfires so deadly? | 930 | Wildfires are an annual menace in Portugal. More broke out there between 1993 and 2013 than in Spain, France, Italy or Greece, the European Environment Agency reported last year, despite the country's relatively small geographical size. Given that, was this year's tragedy preventable? Could Portugal have done anything more to save lives and minimise the damage? Read more: Just what makes Portugal such a tinderbox? | 0.730378 | 0.780607 | 0.755493 |
1710_0 | The artist Banksy has confirmed that a new graffiti piece that has appeared in south Wales is his. He used his verified Instagram account to announce: "Season's greetings" - with a video of the artwork in Port Talbot. The image appears on two sides of a garage depicting a child enjoying snow falling - the other side reveals it is a fire emitting ash. The garage owner said he had not slept over fears it might be vandalised. Ian Lewis, who built the garage in the 90s to prevent his car being damaged, said he found out about the possible Banksy "yesterday morning on my Facebook account". "I didn't think much of it at the time, I knew a little bit about Banksy but I never thought it would be him - if it is him," he said. Banksy is a famous - but anonymous - British graffiti artist. He keeps his identity a secret He produces pieces of work which pop up in public places, such as on the walls of buildings. A lot of his art is done in a particular style which people can easily recognise. He began spray-painting trains and walls in his home city of Bristol in the early 1990s. But in the 2000s, he expanded his work beyond Bristol and was soon leaving his artistic mark all over the world. "There were people coming here all night. "I am very pleased, I think it is a smashing bit of artwork. It is good for the town and I just want to protect it, and it is here for everybody." Plaid Cymru councillor for Aberavon, Nigel Thomas Hunt said the whole town had been "buzzing" with speculation that the work was by Banksy. "The placing of the work is very clever, in between the blast furnace and the M4, yards from where Richard Burton was brought up and where we've had bonfires for years," he said. "You can look at the painting and see the furnaces in the background." Anthony Taylor, deputy leader of Neath Port Talbot council, said: "The council has been liaising with the property owner throughout the day and has put in place fencing to assist in protecting this artwork whilst they consider what their next steps might be. "We have also been in contact with other local authorities who have previously had Banksy artworks within their area, to take advice." Speculation that the piece was a genuine Banksy piece was fuelled when a sketch bearing striking similarities to the latest piece emerged. It appeared in a documentary last year, featuring exchanges between the film director Danny Boyle and Banksy, as they collaborated on an alternative "nativity" play in Bethlehem. | Who is Banksy? | 727 | Banksy is a famous - but anonymous - British graffiti artist. He keeps his identity a secret He produces pieces of work which pop up in public places, such as on the walls of buildings. A lot of his art is done in a particular style which people can easily recognise. He began spray-painting trains and walls in his home city of Bristol in the early 1990s. But in the 2000s, he expanded his work beyond Bristol and was soon leaving his artistic mark all over the world. | 0.676268 | 0.834136 | 0.755202 |
4958_0 | There have been widely-shared reports on social media and some state-run services that healthcare services in Wuhan - one of China's largest cities - are under strain following the outbreak of coronavirus. Hu Xijin, the editor of state-run newspaper Global Times, said there had been a "failure" to contain the virus, and videos of patients queuing to get seen in hospitals. However, other Communist-party outlets have praised the response to the outbreak. Wuhan is a major transit hub with a population of about 11 million people, and has effectively been put on lockdown, along with other major cities in the region, in an unprecedented move to stop the spread of the virus. The city serves as the main economic hub for the wider province, Hubei, and has the most advanced healthcare facilities in the region. The metropolitan area has seven major hospitals - considered some of the best in China, with Tong Ji Hospital ranked third nationally - treating patients. It has seven more hospitals supporting the efforts, and 61 clinics around the city which are testing patients for symptoms of the virus. A local government report from 2014 included Wuhan among the top six cities for medical treatment in the country - although it ranks behind Beijing and Shanghai. In terms of capacity, the report said Wuhan had 6.51 hospital beds and 3.08 doctors per 1,000 people - this isn't a straightforward indication of healthcare capacity (more doctors doesn't always mean better healthcare), but it does rank Wuhan among the more developed places in the world. The UK and US have 2.8 and 2.6 doctors per 1,000 heads, respectively. So - is is this enough for a such a large city undergoing a mass shutdown? The lockdown in Wuhan has caused panic in the city - the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that containing a large city like this is "new to science". Hubei as a province has a lower number of doctors per 1,000 people, at 2.55 according to the latest government statistics. "It's yet to be seen whether the costs associated with this kind of mass quarantine measure (not just financially, but with respect to personal liberty too) will translate into effective infection control," said Dr. Maia Majumder, an expert at Harvard Medical School in the US, who is tracking the virus. Hubei has declared a "Grade 1 public health emergency", the most severe level - that means the response is led centrally from Beijing by the State Council, the government's cabinet. Beijing has tried to allay concerns by sending more healthcare professionals, and constructing two hospitals from scratch providing more than 2,000 extra beds. Reports from state-run media say there are 405 medical staff from Shanghai and 205 staff from Guangdong travelling to the region. They're also expanding existing capacity in other facilities. The government has also assigned 21 centres in Hubei province to help co-ordinate treatment, and train local health officials. Professor Shenglan Tang, an expert in global health at Duke University in the US, says there are concerns that rural areas will struggle to cope. "I'm confident that the health centres in Wuhan will be able to handle the outbreak, but I am a bit worried about Hubei province - rural workers have gone back home from Wuhan to celebrate Chinese New Year, and in these areas the hospital capacity is weak," said Professor Tang. Despite resilient rhetoric from the government, people are expressing concern about the city's ability to cope with the outbreak. The BBC spoke to a number of people in the region who said that getting test results was taking longer than officials are claiming. We were told that in some cases medical staff lack equipment and doctors are overstretched. There are also claims that local government, which was apparently made aware of the outbreak in mid-December, ignored initial warning signs. We haven't been able to independently verify these claims. The government has called for people to report poor medical responses to an online "inspection" platform. The regional government has issued a statement appealing for donations to help with the response, including asking for facemasks. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter | Can healthcare in Wuhan cope? | 677 | The city serves as the main economic hub for the wider province, Hubei, and has the most advanced healthcare facilities in the region. The metropolitan area has seven major hospitals - considered some of the best in China, with Tong Ji Hospital ranked third nationally - treating patients. It has seven more hospitals supporting the efforts, and 61 clinics around the city which are testing patients for symptoms of the virus. A local government report from 2014 included Wuhan among the top six cities for medical treatment in the country - although it ranks behind Beijing and Shanghai. In terms of capacity, the report said Wuhan had 6.51 hospital beds and 3.08 doctors per 1,000 people - this isn't a straightforward indication of healthcare capacity (more doctors doesn't always mean better healthcare), but it does rank Wuhan among the more developed places in the world. The UK and US have 2.8 and 2.6 doctors per 1,000 heads, respectively. So - is is this enough for a such a large city undergoing a mass shutdown? The lockdown in Wuhan has caused panic in the city - the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that containing a large city like this is "new to science". Hubei as a province has a lower number of doctors per 1,000 people, at 2.55 according to the latest government statistics. "It's yet to be seen whether the costs associated with this kind of mass quarantine measure (not just financially, but with respect to personal liberty too) will translate into effective infection control," said Dr. Maia Majumder, an expert at Harvard Medical School in the US, who is tracking the virus. Hubei has declared a "Grade 1 public health emergency", the most severe level - that means the response is led centrally from Beijing by the State Council, the government's cabinet. Beijing has tried to allay concerns by sending more healthcare professionals, and constructing two hospitals from scratch providing more than 2,000 extra beds. Reports from state-run media say there are 405 medical staff from Shanghai and 205 staff from Guangdong travelling to the region. They're also expanding existing capacity in other facilities. The government has also assigned 21 centres in Hubei province to help co-ordinate treatment, and train local health officials. Professor Shenglan Tang, an expert in global health at Duke University in the US, says there are concerns that rural areas will struggle to cope. "I'm confident that the health centres in Wuhan will be able to handle the outbreak, but I am a bit worried about Hubei province - rural workers have gone back home from Wuhan to celebrate Chinese New Year, and in these areas the hospital capacity is weak," said Professor Tang. | 0.771308 | 0.738677 | 0.754992 |
7860_0 | India's Supreme Court has ruled that Aadhaar - the world's largest and most controversial biometrics-based identity database - has sufficient legal grounds to exist. But the sole dissenting opinion expressed by one of the five judges holds valuable lessons, argue Ronald Abraham and Elizabeth S Bennett. More than 1.2 billion Indian residents, or one-sixth of humanity, have an Aadhaar number. The government has promoted - and indeed mandated - the use of Aadhaar for many services. However, India's civil society resisted, citing four main objections: legality, privacy, data security and efficacy. India's parliament passed the Aadhaar Act in 2016, seven years after the programme's inception and after more than a billion people had enrolled by giving their fingerprints and retina scans. However, a clause in the Act retroactively legalised all previous executive actions of the government related to Aadhaar. It was passed using a special provision that linked it to primarily financial matters. This allowed the bill to bypass formal approval from parliament's upper house, where the current government doesn't enjoy a majority. All this rightfully led to the validity of the Act being challenged. However, for better or for worse, Wednesday's judgement ruled that the Act is indeed valid. The most salient premise for the legal challenge was the issue of privacy. Petitioners claimed that privacy was infringed because biometrics represent sensitive personal information. They also raised concerns that the unique number enabled the government to potentially profile individuals and place them under surveillance. But the majority opinion dismissed these concerns, expressing confidence in current safeguards. This is dangerous and will further cement the government's stance that there are no privacy risks associated with Aadhaar. They would do well to follow the spirit of Justice D Chandrachud's dissenting judgement, which carefully highlights the various privacy risks Aadhaar poses. Security breaches of the Aadhaar database are frequently reported, often by independent researchers. While the biometrics database itself hasn't yet been breached, various associated databases and software have been hacked. Instead of trying to benefit from such crowd-sourced independent research, the government typically issues strong denials after every breach and/or denies its seriousness. This is neither effective as a security strategy nor as a means to foster public trust. According to the majority judgement, Aadhaar is unquestionably worth the privacy and data security risks. Over the last two years, we have researched Aadhaar's efficacy using publicly available data and a survey we conducted in rural India. Our survey covered three states - representative of 150 million rural residents - selected to demonstrate socioeconomic and geographic diversity, along with differential levels of Aadhaar's use. While we found that Aadhaar has achieved scale, the quality of demographic data could still improve. The error rate for basic information on Aadhaar is about 8.8% of all enrolled in the three surveyed states. This puts beneficiaries at risk of exclusion and undermines the utility of the database. Another area of promise for Aadhaar was encouraging financial inclusion among poor populations. The idea was that it could provide a means of identification to those who did not have one readily accepted by banks. It also promised increased efficiency because it uses digital authentication. We found that about two-thirds of bank account holders provided a copy of their Aadhaar to open their most recent account. However, its role as a digital ID has been limited. Of those who opened a bank account since 2014, we estimate that fewer than one in five people used Aadhaar's electronic identification system to do so. Lastly, we found that Aadhaar-related exclusion from India's critical food subsidy programme is significant. Across rural areas of the three states we surveyed, we estimate that each month nearly two million residents are prevented from receiving subsidised food grain due to complications arising from Aadhaar. In the majority opinion, Justice AK Sikri argued that jettisoning Aadhaar for this reason amounted to "throw[ing] the baby out with the bath water" since only a small percentage of Indians had been excluded. While the judgement asks the government to focus on minimising future exclusion, such efforts have not yielded sufficient results. The risks, pointed out by Justice Chandrachud's strong dissent, should give the government ample pause. In fact, we believe it should use the risks outlined in the dissent to shape its future course - and do so with transparency. Every time there's a privacy or data breach, the government should avoid its default response of outright denial. It should engage with researchers, rather than accuse them of fear mongering. Neither should the government overstate the benefits of Aadhaar. Its reports on fiscal savings due to the scheme have never been confirmed by independent scrutiny. The government should proactively release information on data quality and security, and document shortcomings as well as steps being taken to improve the scheme. Such transparency will help Aadhaar. The government may use the majority verdict to aggressively pursue the use of Aadhaar for various governance initiatives. Instead, it should focus on simply being an identity platform - and do that well and securely. This would include improving its data quality and security, enabling easier updates for residents in rural India, and exploring ways to eliminate exclusion due to Aadhaar. Ronald Abraham and Elizabeth S Bennett are with IDinsight and co-authors of the State of Aadhaar Report 2017-18. | So, is the Aadhaar Act legal? | 601 | India's parliament passed the Aadhaar Act in 2016, seven years after the programme's inception and after more than a billion people had enrolled by giving their fingerprints and retina scans. However, a clause in the Act retroactively legalised all previous executive actions of the government related to Aadhaar. It was passed using a special provision that linked it to primarily financial matters. This allowed the bill to bypass formal approval from parliament's upper house, where the current government doesn't enjoy a majority. All this rightfully led to the validity of the Act being challenged. However, for better or for worse, Wednesday's judgement ruled that the Act is indeed valid. | 0.713856 | 0.794489 | 0.754172 |
7892_0 | Jeremy Corbyn has admitted some of those on lower incomes could pay more tax under a future Labour government. The Labour leader had previously insisted only the richest 5% of taxpayers, those earning about PS80,000 a year or more, would face tax rises. But he was forced to concede a plan to scrap a tax break for married couples would impact those earning less. Mr Corbyn argued in a BBC interview that those affected would benefit from a higher living wage. "They will also be getting improvement in free nursery provision for two to four-year-olds," he added. Challenged on the policy in an interview with Andrew Neil on Tuesday night, Mr Corbyn conceded couples in receipt of the marriage allowance would no longer receive a reduction in tax if he wins power next month. "They won't get the advantage, it's actually taking away PS250," he said. The tax break was brought in by David Cameron in 2015 to promote marriage, with stay-at-home mothers and women who work part-time expected to be the main winners. It is available to married couples and civil partners with a combined income of under PS62,500 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and up to PS43,430 in Scotland. The marriage allowance is a tax relief for married couples and civil partners that allows one partner to transfer part of their personal allowance to the other. To benefit as a couple, the lower earner must normally have an income below their personal allowance, which is usually PS12,500. It reduces the couple's tax bill by up to PS250 a year. In the year to April 2019, 1.78 million people claimed the tax break, out of the 4.2 million couples eligible to receive it. When Labour published its general election manifesto last week it said there would be no increases in VAT, income tax or national insurance for 95% of taxpayers - those earning less than PS80,000 - if it wins power on 12 December. The party is insisting that that is still the case and only a "limited" number of those on low incomes would be affected. Scrapping the marriage allowance was not in Labour's manifesto, but was included in an accompanying document, the so-called grey book, setting out how the party plans to pay for its spending commitments. In the interview with Andrew Neil, Mr Corbyn repeated that only people who earned more than PS80,000 a year would see a tax increase. He said scrapping the marriage allowance would be a "step towards equality" because "those people that are cohabiting in a very happy family atmosphere and bringing up children do not get the benefit of that". Defending the move, Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgon said married and unmarried couples facing "tough times" would see their "income boosted" in other ways. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that people who had received the tax allowance would benefit from Labour's plan for 30 hours of free childcare for all two-to-four year olds and a PS10 minimum wage. Asked if the move amounted to a tax rise, he said: "That allowance is going away but it is more than made up for in the extra resources they will be getting." Tuesday evening's half-hour interview with Andrew Neil, who is also speaking to other party leaders during the election, also saw Mr Corbyn struggle to explain how Labour's pledge to restore pensions to women born in the 1950s would be paid. The policy's estimated PS58bn cost over five years would be paid for through government reserves and, if necessary, borrowing, "over some years". He conceded that there were not sufficient funds in the government's reserves to cover the bill, but insisted the women deserved to be repaid. Mr Corbyn also declined to apologise to the UK Jewish community after the Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis claimed the "poison" of anti-Semitism within Labour was "sanctioned from the very top". Defending his leader's performance, Mr Burgon said Mr Corbyn had already apologised for the "hurt caused" to many Jewish people (in 2018). He said compensating the Waspi women was entirely justified - suggesting money had effectively been stolen from them. "This amounts to theft and robbery of money these women paid into (their pension schemes) and money that they are entitled to," he said. The Conservatives said Labour was not able to answer how it would pay for their "fantasy plans for the country", which risked taxpayers "footing the bill". - CONFUSED? Our simple election guide - POLICY GUIDE: Who should I vote for? - POLLS: How are the parties doing? - A TO Z: Our tool to explain election words | What is the marriage allowance? | 1,180 | The marriage allowance is a tax relief for married couples and civil partners that allows one partner to transfer part of their personal allowance to the other. To benefit as a couple, the lower earner must normally have an income below their personal allowance, which is usually PS12,500. It reduces the couple's tax bill by up to PS250 a year. | 0.68004 | 0.828093 | 0.754067 |
8738_0 | If you're a police officer, your chance of being equipped with a Taser depends on your force. Earlier this week, Northamptonshire Police announced it will be the first force in the country to arm all of its frontline officers with the electric stun guns. Days later it was joined by a second force, Durham Constabulary, which said every frontline officer who wants a Taser will undergo training. Although the decision to issue Tasers is a matter for each individual force, there are calls for the Home Office to fund training for all frontline officers. But the issue is controversial, with several deaths linked to the weapons. Conductive Energy Devices (CEDs) are known by their brand name, Tasers. They fire two small dart-like electrodes before delivering a high-voltage shock to temporarily disable a suspect. This allows officers to deal with violent or potentially violent people at a distance. They were introduced in the UK in 2003 for firearms officers. In 2007 they were extended to non-firearms officers known as Specially Trained Officers (STO). In England and Wales, there are currently around 17,000 Taser-trained police out of 123,000 officers. Several police forces, including South Wales Police, have doubled the amount of officers who are Taser trained in recent years but say they will not train all staff. According to Home Office figures, they were used in 17,100 incidents in the year to March 2018, up from 11,300 the year before. If an officer draws, aims and places a Taser red dot on the suspect, without harming them, the weapon is classed as "used" but not discharged. In 85% of the cases they were not discharged. Tasers are an illegal weapon in the UK and members of the public who are found in possession of a Taser face up to 10 years in prison. To be issued with a Taser, police officers must have completed 18 hours of training and are then required to undergo a compulsory refresher course every year. A recent Police Federation of England and Wales survey found 94% of officers think Tasers should be issued to more frontline staff. Meanwhile, a petition demanding all police officers in the UK are issued with Tasers has garnered more than 95,000 signatures. John Apter, national chair of the Police Federation, believes the Home Office should pay for all frontline officers to undergo the training - not the heads of each individual force. The Independent reported that he asked Home Secretary Priti Patel to provide funding for frontline officers working across the country to undergo training. He told the BBC: "Officers are telling me daily they are feeling vulnerable and often isolated due to the lack of this vital protective equipment. "Ultimately, having a Taser gives them the capability to defend not only themselves but also the public they want to protect. "This call for a wider rollout is not new; the federation has been fighting for many years for Tasers to be available to all colleagues who want to carry it and who pass the assessment." But Taser use remains controversial since they were first introduced by forces in 2003. According to Amnesty International, 18 people in the UK have died after a Taser was discharged against them by police since Tasers were introduced 16 years ago. An IPCC report tracked several of the subsequent inquests - none of which recorded Taser use as the cause of death. However, the report only covered cases up to 2012. In 2015, a jury at the inquest of Jordan Begley, 23, delivered a narrative verdict concluding he died partly as a result of being "inappropriately and unreasonably" Tasered and restrained by Greater Manchester Police officers two years earlier. The death of ex-footballer Dalian Atkinson in 2016, after he was shot with a Taser, sparked virulent debate about the use of the stun gun by police. However, an inquest is yet to take place and while the CPS continues to consider bringing criminal charges against officers, it remains unclear whether the Taser contributed to Atkinson's death. A study by Cambridge University found that police officers visibly armed with Tasers used force 48% more often, and were more likely to be assaulted than those on unarmed shifts. An experiment with City of London police found that, while rarely deployed, just the presence of Tasers lead to greater overall hostility in interactions between the police and public. Amnesty says the public should "resist the drum-beat of calls for all police to carry a Taser." Oliver Feeley-Sprague, Amnesty UK's police and security programme director, says: "We recognise that Tasers can play a part in modern policing and have been proven to be effective as a distance control weapon in response to threats of serious harm. However, using them is not risk-free. "A large number of officers fail the Taser training course, either in the proficiency of using it or their judgement about when to use it. This demonstrates very clearly that a Taser is not suitable for every officer." Additionally, black people are three times more likely than white people to be involved in Taser incidents, Home Office figures disclosed to the BBC in 2015 suggest. Numbers show Tasers were drawn, aimed or fired 38,000 times in England and Wales from 2010 to 2015. But in more than 12% of those cases the Tasers were used against black people, who make up about 4% of the population. A Home Office spokesman told the BBC: "We are working to ensure forces have the resources, tools and powers they need to keep people safe. "Tasers are an important tactical option for officers facing violent situations, and it is for chief officers to determine the number of devices and specially trained officers they need." Clarification: This article was updated on 28 August 2019 to add in details of inquest findings. | What are Tasers? | 629 | Conductive Energy Devices (CEDs) are known by their brand name, Tasers. They fire two small dart-like electrodes before delivering a high-voltage shock to temporarily disable a suspect. This allows officers to deal with violent or potentially violent people at a distance. They were introduced in the UK in 2003 for firearms officers. In 2007 they were extended to non-firearms officers known as Specially Trained Officers (STO). In England and Wales, there are currently around 17,000 Taser-trained police out of 123,000 officers. Several police forces, including South Wales Police, have doubled the amount of officers who are Taser trained in recent years but say they will not train all staff. According to Home Office figures, they were used in 17,100 incidents in the year to March 2018, up from 11,300 the year before. If an officer draws, aims and places a Taser red dot on the suspect, without harming them, the weapon is classed as "used" but not discharged. In 85% of the cases they were not discharged. Tasers are an illegal weapon in the UK and members of the public who are found in possession of a Taser face up to 10 years in prison. To be issued with a Taser, police officers must have completed 18 hours of training and are then required to undergo a compulsory refresher course every year. | 0.769974 | 0.738028 | 0.754001 |
2126_0 | Islamist militant group al-Shabab is battling the UN-backed government in Somalia, and has carried out a string of attacks across the region. The group, which is allied to al-Qaeda, has been pushed out of most of the main towns it once controlled, but it remains a potent threat. Al-Shabab means The Youth in Arabic. It emerged as the radical youth wing of Somalia's now-defunct Union of Islamic Courts, which controlled Mogadishu in 2006, before being forced out by Ethiopian forces. There are numerous reports of foreign jihadists going to Somalia to help al-Shabab, from neighbouring countries, as well as the US and Europe. It is banned as a terrorist group by both the US and the UK and is believed to have between 7,000 and 9,000 fighters. Al-Shabab advocates the Saudi-inspired Wahhabi version of Islam, while most Somalis are Sufis. It has imposed a strict version of Sharia in areas under its control, including stoning to death women accused of adultery and amputating the hands of thieves. What drives al-Shabab? In a joint video released in February 2012, then al-Shabab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane said he "pledged obedience" to al-Qaeda head Ayman al-Zawahiri. There have also been numerous reports that al-Shabab may have formed some links with other militant groups in Africa, such as Boko Haram in Nigeria and al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, based in the Sahara desert. Al-Shabab debated whether to switch allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group after it emerged in January 2014. It eventually rejected the idea, resulting in a small faction breaking away. Al-Shabab is currently led by Ahmad Umar, also known as Abu Ubaidah. The US has issued a $6m (PS4.5m) reward for information leading to his capture. Al-Shabab wants IS to back off Somalia's government blamed it for the killing of at least 500 people in a huge truck bombing in the capital Mogadishu in October 2017. It was East Africa's deadliest bombing. Al-Shabab, however, did not claim responsibility for it. It did confirm carrying out a massive attack on a Kenyan military base in Somalia's el-Ade town in January 2016, killing, according to Somalia's then-President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, about 180 soldiers. The Kenyan military disputed the number, but refused to give a death toll. It has also staged several attacks in Kenya, including the 2015 massacre at Kenya's Garissa University, near the border with Somalia. A total of 148 people died when gunmen stormed the university at dawn and targeted Christian students.. In 2013, its gunmen stormed the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, resulting in a siege which left at least 67 people dead. During the 2010 football World Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands, it bombed a rugby club and a restaurant in Uganda's capital Kampala, killing 74 people watching the match. Al-Shabab cash targets disillusioned Kenyans The cleric who predicted he would be killed Although it has lost control of most towns and cities, it still dominates in many rural areas. It was forced out of the capital, Mogadishu, in August 2011 following an offensive spearheaded by about 22,000 African Union (AU) troops, and left the vital port of Kismayo in September 2012. The loss of Kismayo has hit al-Shabab's finances, as it used to earn money by taking a cut of the city's lucrative charcoal trade. The US has also carried out a wave of air strikes, which led to the killing of the group's leader, Aden Hashi Ayro, in 2008 and his successor, Ahmed Abdi Godane. In March 2017, US President Donald Trump approved a Pentagon plan to escalate operations against al-Shabab. The US has more than 500 troops in Somalia and conducted 30 airstrikes in 2017, more than four times the average number carried out in the previous seven years, according to The Washington Post. Although the military operations are weakening al-Shabab, the group is still able to carry out suicide attacks and has regained control of some towns. The AU is reducing its troop presence - about 1,000 have left and a further 1,000 are due to leave in 2018. This follows a cut in funding by the European Union (EU), amid allegations of corruption within the AU force, made up of troops from Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti. Somalia has not had an effective national government for more than 20 years, during which much of the country has been a war-zone. Al-Shabab gained support by promising people security. But its credibility was knocked when it rejected Western food aid to combat a 2011 drought and famine. With Mogadishu and other towns now under government control, there is a feeling of optimism and many Somalis have returned from exile, bringing their money and skills with them. Basic services such as street lighting, dry cleaning and rubbish collection have resumed in the capital. But Somalia is still too dangerous and divided to hold democratic elections - the last one was in 1969. So, its parliament and president are elected through a complex system, with clan elders playing an influential role in the process. Somalia's 'touch and feel' e-commerce hit Somalia's 'Mr Cheese' president has a lot on his plate | Who are al-Shabab? | 280 | Al-Shabab means The Youth in Arabic. It emerged as the radical youth wing of Somalia's now-defunct Union of Islamic Courts, which controlled Mogadishu in 2006, before being forced out by Ethiopian forces. There are numerous reports of foreign jihadists going to Somalia to help al-Shabab, from neighbouring countries, as well as the US and Europe. It is banned as a terrorist group by both the US and the UK and is believed to have between 7,000 and 9,000 fighters. Al-Shabab advocates the Saudi-inspired Wahhabi version of Islam, while most Somalis are Sufis. It has imposed a strict version of Sharia in areas under its control, including stoning to death women accused of adultery and amputating the hands of thieves. What drives al-Shabab? | 0.73806 | 0.769867 | 0.753963 |
1175_1 | South Korea's national airline has used electric stun guns on five passengers during flights, the BBC has learned. Korean Air is believed to be the only major carrier to routinely have the weapons on board. The airline is ramping up training for staff using the guns after criticism for the way it handled a recent in-flight disturbance. In that incident, US singer Richard Marx was among passengers who helped restrain an unruly passenger. Afterwards, both Mr Marx and his wife Daisy Fuentes used social media to claim that the crew was "ill-trained". Ms Fuentes wrote on Instagram: "They didn't know how to use the Taser and didn't know how to secure the rope" around the passenger. Taser is a brand name of a electric stun gun. The reference surprised many who did not expect airlines to carry the weapons, which are more commonly used by police. The carrier told the BBC it first introduced electric stun guns in 2002. It now carries at least one set of weapons on every plane, with two sets on its A380 jumbo jets. A Korean Air spokesman said that of the five incidents, three involved the gun being fired. In those instances, the gun used compressed air to fire darts that release a 50,000-volt electric charge, designed to temporarily paralyse the target. In the two other cases, the weapon was used as a stun gun, with the electric current fired directly into the passenger, with the weapon held against them at close range. Korean Air would not give further details about what prompted each incident, when they occurred or what happened to the passengers. But it confirmed all took place while the aircraft were airborne. After the incident involving Mr Marx, the airline said it was training its crews to use the weapons more "readily" against violent passengers. It also invited media to see a session where crew were practising using Tasers. Korean Air's former president, Chi Chang-hoon, said Asian airlines had not followed US carriers in tackling on-board violence and suggested "Asian culture" was to blame. However, the airline's spokesman said that current protocol limited cabin crews to using Tasers "only during life-threatening situation or when the safety of an aircraft is threatened". The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said airlines were not required to inform them if they carried the weapons on board. Several major carriers contacted by the BBC declined to comment on whether or not they had Tasers on board, citing security concerns. But some large airlines including Etihad, Malaysia Airlines and India's Jet Airways confirmed they did not carry electric stun guns. And sources at other global carriers, including Emirates and Lufthansa, also said they were not part of standard on-board kit, although the airlines did not officially confirm this. However, most airlines do carry equipment to restrain disruptive passengers including ropes, cuffs and adhesive tape. There is some risk to using Tasers or other similar stun guns, although this tends to revolve around the harm to those hit by them. In the UK, there have been at least 17 deaths linked to the use of stun guns since they were introduced by police in 2003. And while not ideal to use one on a plane, there is not thought to be any great risk to the safety of a plane if a Taser was activated. Bear in mind that proponents of air marshals (see below) argue that even when using regular gunfire on a flight - the level of risk is manageable. Unruly behaviour on aircraft is a growing problem according to a study by IATA, with a sharp rise of incidents in 2015. Incidents of people getting in fights, being verbally abusive or refusing to follow cabin crew orders were up by 17%. Alcohol or drug use was identified as a factor in one-in-four incidents. In 11% of cases, there was physical aggression or even damage to the aircraft. Some 10,854 incidents of passengers disrupting flights were reported to IATA last year, up from 9,316 incidents in 2014. That's one incident for every 1,205 flights. An air marshal is an undercover armed guard on board a commercial aircraft, to counter hijackings and other hostile acts. In the event of an imminent threat from a passenger, air marshals say they are trained to respond with lethal force. Their use was ramped up, especially in the US, after the 11 September 2001 attacks. It is thought there are now several thousand marshals employed by the US Department for Homeland Security, compared with the 33 flying regularly pre-9/11. Israel's El Al has had armed marshals operating on its flights for more than 30 years. IATA says that - perhaps not surprisingly - countries which do employ air marshals, do not disclose which flights they are on. | Are Tasers safe to use on planes? | 2,913 | There is some risk to using Tasers or other similar stun guns, although this tends to revolve around the harm to those hit by them. In the UK, there have been at least 17 deaths linked to the use of stun guns since they were introduced by police in 2003. And while not ideal to use one on a plane, there is not thought to be any great risk to the safety of a plane if a Taser was activated. Bear in mind that proponents of air marshals (see below) argue that even when using regular gunfire on a flight - the level of risk is manageable. | 0.669775 | 0.835415 | 0.752595 |
9844_0 | The man who led an inquiry into the future safety of Britain's banks has said Bank of England plans are not strong enough. Sir John Vickers, who headed up the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB), said: "The Bank of England proposal is less strong than what the ICB recommended." In a BBC interview, he added: "I don't think the ICB overdid it." The Bank of England rebuffed the criticism. Sir John has specifically questioned the plans to ensure that banks have enough capital. Capital is considered vital to a bank's safety, as it serves to protect it from sudden losses. It comes in many forms, but the most common is funding from shareholders, who expect a hefty return on the risk they are taking. The backdrop to this news is the current slump in bank share prices across Europe. Since the start of the year, European banking stocks have lost a quarter of their value. The Bank of England "might want to reflect on the turmoil we've seen in banking shares", Sir John told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "That's a very important lesson that you have to get the basics right," he said. Regulators, bankers and investors have been debating since the crisis just how much capital, and of what quality, will be needed for banks to survive the next crisis without another bailout from the taxpayer. Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group alone required a PS65bn bailout, while all banks were aided by cheap funding. Sir John, who has served as chief economist for the Bank of England and is now professor and warden of All Souls College, Oxford, says more capital is needed because no-one can predict the nature or scale of the next shock to the system. High-quality capital in the form of shares is the best option, he says, in part because it is tried and tested. "A good way to think about it is as an insurance policy," he said. "You do have to pay a premium to insure your house and you hope nothing bad will happen. But if it does, you are much better off in paying that premium, and for full coverage." "If banks run out of capital, all sorts of havoc could ensue. We want to be in a position where there's enough of a buffer to take any losses that might occur." Cheaper alternatives such as bonds which convert to high-quality capital - dubbed contingent convertible bonds (CoCos) - are untested. "Other types of capital - CoCos, for example - and new forms of loss-absorbent bank debt are welcome but untested. Equity capital is the best shock absorber - even if you haven't got a clue what's going to hit you, it works." Authorities have been criticised for what appears to be a softer approach to bank regulation. City watchdog chief Martin Wheatley, considered a tough regulator, was fired in the summer. The regulator then scrapped an inquiry into banking culture. The ICB report recommended that the six largest banks should have 3% of extra capital in reserve compared to loans, when taking into account their risk. The new Bank of England suggestion is for a 2.5% buffer for the very largest, and as low as 1% for the smaller lenders of the six. But the Bank of England said that it was in fact proposing "a higher level of capital and overall resilience" than was recommended in the ICB report. It added that its proposals reflected the cost of the crisis as well as the benefits of more resilient banks. "This judgement is informed by two years of severe but plausible stress tests," a Bank of England spokesperson said. "UK banks are now within touching distance of meeting these proposed new standards. "On a comparable basis, globally systemic banks in the UK will be required to have ten times more capital than before the crisis." The financial crash of 2008 exposed the Big Shortage - of bank capital. Some banks that had lent out, say, 40 times their shareholders' capital couldn't absorb their losses when loans went bad. Hence the taxpayer bailouts and further economic damage from bank lending seizing up. The clear lesson is that banks, especially major banks providing core retail services, need much bigger safety buffers - more capital relative to loan exposures. Important progress has been made internationally and in the UK on this front, but a key policy question remains open: how big a safety buffer should major British banks have? On 29 January, the Bank of England set out for consultation its proposed answer. The BoE expects that it would increase capital requirements, relative to banks' exposures, by about 5%. Well worth having, but not ambitious. So on bank safety buffers, the BoE's answer to the question "Are we nearly there yet?" is "Yes". I am not so sure. In 2011 the Independent Commission on Banking, which I chaired, recommended considerably stronger capital buffers for British retail banks. They would have significantly exceeded the buffers that some UK banks must have because of their global importance. That is not so true of the BoE proposals, which is why they add quite modestly to capital in British retail banking. Who is right? Nobody knows. But that in itself is a reason for strong capital buffers. Large uncertainties, and the massive costs to society of systemic bank failures, call for ample insurance. The main argument made against stronger buffers is rather a reason for them. Equity capital, it is said, is costly for banks because investors expect high returns. But high returns make sense only if they compensate for risk. It is in the public interest, however, to contain risks from banks - especially those providing core services such as current accounts - which is best done by more equity, not less. Banking, as it involves lending, will always be risky to some degree. That's fine, but only so long as capital buffers are strong enough to ensure that taxpayers aren't again on the hook when things go wrong. The worldwide fall in bank shares this year underlines the importance of the capital buffer question. The BoE might want to reconsider the answer. | Sir John Vickers: How big a safety buffer should banks have? | 3,669 | The financial crash of 2008 exposed the Big Shortage - of bank capital. Some banks that had lent out, say, 40 times their shareholders' capital couldn't absorb their losses when loans went bad. Hence the taxpayer bailouts and further economic damage from bank lending seizing up. The clear lesson is that banks, especially major banks providing core retail services, need much bigger safety buffers - more capital relative to loan exposures. Important progress has been made internationally and in the UK on this front, but a key policy question remains open: how big a safety buffer should major British banks have? On 29 January, the Bank of England set out for consultation its proposed answer. The BoE expects that it would increase capital requirements, relative to banks' exposures, by about 5%. Well worth having, but not ambitious. So on bank safety buffers, the BoE's answer to the question "Are we nearly there yet?" is "Yes". | 0.7106 | 0.794497 | 0.752549 |
300_0 | The bearded figure being dragged from his home, into a waiting police van, was a far cry from the man who had entered the building seven years previously. Julian Assange - who co-founded website Wikileaks - had sought sanctuary in Ecuador's embassy from extradition to Sweden and, he feared, to the US. Ecuador withdrew his asylum on Thursday, leading to his arrest and then conviction for failing to surrender to the court. But who exactly is Assange and what has he been accused of? Julian Assange was born in Townsville, Australia, in 1971. His parents ran a touring theatre and his childhood was filled with upheaval. He became a father at 18, later becoming entangled in custody battles. He showed an aptitude for computers and was fined several thousand Australian dollars in 1995 after pleading guilty to hacking activities. Assange avoided jail on the condition that he would not reoffend. He went on to help write a book about the internet, before studying physics and maths at Melbourne University. In 2006, Assange co-founded the whistle-blowing website Wikileaks, along with a group of like-minded people from across the internet. The site published thousands of classified documents covering everything from the film industry to national security and war. One of its most high-profile releases came in 2010, when it published a video from a US military helicopter that showed the killing of 18 civilians in Baghdad, Iraq. In the same year, Wikileaks published hundreds of thousands of documents leaked by former US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning. They revealed how the US military had killed hundreds of civilians in unreported incidents during the war in Afghanistan. Files from the Iraq war showed that 66,000 civilians had been killed and that prisoners had been tortured by Iraqi forces. At the time, the US government made it clear it hoped to prosecute Assange over the leak of the secret files. Sweden issued an international arrest warrant for Assange over allegations of sexual assault in 2010. He was detained in the UK, and later bailed over the allegations. It followed claims that while on a visit to Stockholm to give a lecture, Assange had raped one woman and sexually molested and coerced another. Assange says both encounters were entirely consensual and the Swedish efforts against him are part of a smear campaign. Following a long legal battle, the Wikileaks founder took refuge in Ecuador's embassy in 2012 to avoid being taken to Sweden to be questioned. He argued that he could also be extradited to the US and put on trial for publishing the secret US documents The Ecuadorian embassy was an obvious choice, since the South American country's then-president, Rafael Correa, was a strong advocate for Wikileaks, Swedish prosecutors dropped the rape investigation into Assange in 2017 because they were unable to formally notify him of the allegations while he stayed in the embassy. The two other charges of molestation and unlawful coercion had to be dropped in 2015 because time had run out. But even after Sweden dropped the charges, Assange stayed in the embassy as he still faced a UK charge of failing to surrender to a court. Relations between Assange and Ecuador's government worsened under President Lenin Moreno, who took office in 2017. Before withdrawing Assange's asylum, Ecuador accused him of improper behaviour, interference in the affairs of other countries and spying. Prime Minister Theresa May welcomed Assange's arrest, saying it showed that "no one is above the law" in the UK. But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Assange had revealed "evidence of atrocities in Iraq and Afghanistan" and that his extradition to the US "should be opposed by the British government". Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said Assange should face the criminal justice system if Swedish authorities decide to charge him. Assange's lawyer Jennifer Robinson said they would fight the US extradition request. She said it set a "dangerous precedent" where any journalist could face US charges for "publishing truthful information about the United States". Actress Pamela Anderson - a friend of Assange - has said the UK is "America's bitch" in response to the arrest. Assange faces legal action in three countries - the UK, Sweden and the US. Westminster Magistrates' Court found him guilty of a British charge of breaching bail on Thursday. He faces up to 12 months in prison for that conviction. Meanwhile, Swedish authorities have said they are considering reopening their investigation into sexual assault allegations against him. The US has already charged the 47-year-old with a single count of participating in the hacking of intelligence computers to reveal controversial intelligence operations in the United States. But he is likely to face more charges if he is extradited to the US - a decision that will be taken by a judge and the UK home secretary. If Sweden also makes an extradition request, one legal expert has said it would be for the home secretary to decide which request would take precedence. | Who is Julian Assange? | 485 | Julian Assange was born in Townsville, Australia, in 1971. His parents ran a touring theatre and his childhood was filled with upheaval. He became a father at 18, later becoming entangled in custody battles. He showed an aptitude for computers and was fined several thousand Australian dollars in 1995 after pleading guilty to hacking activities. Assange avoided jail on the condition that he would not reoffend. He went on to help write a book about the internet, before studying physics and maths at Melbourne University. In 2006, Assange co-founded the whistle-blowing website Wikileaks, along with a group of like-minded people from across the internet. | 0.783929 | 0.721008 | 0.752468 |
4970_0 | After the Duke of Edinburgh was involved in a road crash where he was at the wheel, there was surprise in some quarters that he was still driving at the age of 97. But he's not alone. The number of people over 90 holding a driving licence in Britain has been on the rise - it recently topped 100,000. So should you still be driving in your 90s? The number of over-70s holding a driving licence exceeded five million for the first time last year, but figures suggest concerns that older drivers pose a danger are unfounded. AA president Edmund King said high profile car crashes involving elderly drivers often spark calls for bans or restrictions - but it is younger drivers who pose more of a risk. "Young, predominantly male, drivers are much more likely to crash within six months of passing their test than older drivers within six months of hanging up their keys," he said. "Older drivers often self-restrict their driving by not driving at night and only driving on familiar roads." By BBC Reality Check In November 2018, there were 5.3 million over-70s with full driving licences in Britain, according to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). There were 11,245 people involved in road traffic accidents where the driver was in that age group - a rate of two per 1,000 licence holders. For Britain's 2.8 million drivers aged 17 to 24, the rate was more than four times as high, at nine per 1,000. The DVLA did not provide figures on whether this simply reflected that the older age group were on the road less than the younger age group. However, a separate study from the National Travel Survey suggests that over-70s drive an average of 1,000 miles a year more than under-20s. A Swansea University study in 2016 found drivers aged 70 were involved in three to four times fewer accidents than men aged between 17-21. Malcolm Tarling, from the Association of British Insurers, says car insurance claims point to the average cost increasing once you are aged over 80. However, he says age is not the only factor insurers will consider and older drivers with good records will see this reflected in the cost of their car insurance - so being older is not always seen in a negative light. In the UK, 110,790 people aged 90 or over still held driving licences, according to the figures released by the DVLA in November. The duke, who is five months short of his 98th birthday, famously drove the Obamas when the then-US president and first lady visited Windsor in 2016. There were 314 licence holders aged at least 100. The oldest were four people who were 107. Once you reach 70, your driving licence automatically expires. To renew it, you must fill in a self-assessment declaring you are medically fit to continue driving - but you do not actually have to pass a test. You have to reapply every three years. To drive legally, you must also be able to read a number plate from 20m (65ft) away. The Association of Optometrists has previously called for those behind the wheel to have compulsory eye tests every 10 years. You also need to tell the DVLA if you develop any medical conditions that could affect your ability to drive safely. Eileen Ash, from Norfolk, is 107 years old and the world's oldest living international cricketer (male or female). She has been driving since passing her test 82 years ago but has decided "the time has come" to give up driving. She says there is no particular reason she is stopping now but came to the decision on her own and will miss it "terribly". "It's about time. It's a thing you decide - you know when you have to give it up," she says. Fred Wright decided to retire from driving last year aged 90. His daughter Jennifer Broomfield, 66, admitted neither her dad nor her family wanted to address the issue at first. She said: "I think his reactions were getting slower - he knew that himself. "Driving had become stressful for him but he didn't want to address it at first." Mr Wright, who lives just outside of Peterborough, decided to stop after a conversation with his family. His two daughters now provide regular lifts to help out. Mrs Broomfield added: "I was worried about him but I think he's adapted really well - and it's stress free." Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said age was "a pretty poor indicator" of driving ability. She said: "We certainly don't think there is a place for arbitrary upper age limits for driving - the evidence suggests this would unfairly penalise many older people who are perfectly capable of driving safely." The Older Drivers website, which advises senior citizens how to drive safely, says you should be the one to decide when it's time to stop driving unless you are medically unfit to drive. The website, set up by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, also suggests talking to friends, family or your GP as they can help you to see problems you may not have noticed. If you feel someone's driving is affecting their safety, or putting other people in danger, Ms Abrahams says you have a responsibility to talk to them about it. The charity's website suggests doing some research so you can offer suggestions to help that person keep their independence, such as looking at public transport options. Age UK says: "Approach the subject sensitively and tactfully. It may be difficult if the person reacts defensively, gets upset or feels humiliated. "Encourage the person to think about whether they're putting themselves and others at risk which might help them consider whether their driving is a concern." The Older Drivers Forum - a charity that aims to keep older drivers on the road safely for longer - suggests looking out for the following signs: - Slower reaction times - Difficulty in turning to see when reversing - Keeping a foot on the brake - Other drivers sounding their horns at them - Incorrect signals - Hitting the kerb - Trouble making turns - Confusion at exits - Over-revving the engine, especially on low-speed manoeuvres - Difficulties with low-light or night-time driving - Avoidance of driving to new or unfamiliar places - Scrapes and dents in the car | Are elderly drivers potentially a danger? | 345 | The number of over-70s holding a driving licence exceeded five million for the first time last year, but figures suggest concerns that older drivers pose a danger are unfounded. AA president Edmund King said high profile car crashes involving elderly drivers often spark calls for bans or restrictions - but it is younger drivers who pose more of a risk. "Young, predominantly male, drivers are much more likely to crash within six months of passing their test than older drivers within six months of hanging up their keys," he said. "Older drivers often self-restrict their driving by not driving at night and only driving on familiar roads." | 0.737575 | 0.766332 | 0.751954 |
748_1 | A pause by Russia in carrying out air strikes on rebel-held eastern Aleppo has brought a brief respite for civilians and fighters under siege in the Syrian city. At least 250,000 people have been trapped there almost continuously since pro-government forces encircled the area in July. Conditions are said to be appalling, with destruction on a massive scale. Readers told us they wanted to know why people were still living there, so we put the question to residents through Facebook and WhatsApp. Formerly Syria's economic hub, Aleppo had an estimated pre-war population of about two million. About one million people are now living in the west, in comparative safety. Those trapped in the east are living in appalling conditions. The UN humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien recently described the area as "the apex of horror". Food and fuel are running out and basic infrastructure and health care have been obliterated. The rebels have retaliated by shelling the west - resulting in the deaths of civilians there - but this is on a smaller scale. The main reason why people have not left is that they have become trapped, they told us. "Some people left before the siege. Now no-one can leave," says Mohammed, a 31-year-old phonetics teacher at the university in Aleppo. People have to be careful not to use up their phone batteries because there are only a few hours of electricity each day. However, they are still able to get messages to the outside world. Dr Ossama, 32, is one of only 30 doctors left treating the 250,000 population of east Aleppo. He describes the dire situation: "The city is under siege completely. "No food, no electricity, no pure water, no roads out of Aleppo. The general situation is very dangerous. Every second you can be targeted by shelling or by snipers." Fatemah, 26, who is a teacher, says she never expected the siege to happen. "All my family got out three years ago and went to Egypt and Turkey. I stayed here because I wanted to complete my studies in law at the University of Aleppo. "We couldn't imagine we'd be under siege. We didn't think that the regime would do that. Before the siege, there was food and medicine and we had got used to the bombing. The bombing is more dangerous now." The Syrian government and its Russian allies have periodically opened "humanitarian corridors" for civilians to leave through. There is a lot of scepticism from residents of east Aleppo over how safe these routes actually are. "The regime lied about making humanitarian corridors," says Abdulkafi, who teaches English at the university. "If you were with your family, and a robber came and killed your son and daughter and then, after 10 days, he says, 'Come and be a guest in my house', would you trust him? "[President] Assad and the Russians kill civilians and now they say, 'Come on in'. How can we do that? We prefer to eat the leaves from the trees than go back." Abdulkafi has lived in Aleppo for three years. Before the uprising, he was a lecturer in a different town. He attended the demonstrations against President Assad. "I was accused and ran away to Aleppo. Assad's regime considers us all terrorists. We are going to die defending ourselves. I am not a fighter but I will fight to the death." Some in east Aleppo point out that fleeing their homes and becoming refugees would be a massive undertaking, even if they weren't trapped. "A very important reason people are staying here is that they are very poor," says Fatemah. "They have no money to rent a house somewhere else or to buy food, or even have the money to leave Syria for Turkey or another country." Everyone we spoke to also told us that they would continue to refuse to leave Aleppo because it was their home. "Aleppo is my life and my country. How could I leave it?" asks Fatemah. "The people here are civilians. They are not fighters - they just want freedom from the regime." Mohammed adds: "This is our land and it belongs to us. Assad wants us to be kicked out of our house and is trying to displace us. People want to keep their homes. It is as clear as glass. "My wife is seven months pregnant and it is very dangerous, especially now we are under siege. "She is really scared and she worries that every day is the last of our lives. Her only wish is to live to see our newborn baby." Ismail is a volunteer for the White Helmets, who rescue people from sites which have been bombed. He tells us he will never leave. "I am staying because it is my land and my city. It's my home. "We have nothing to eat. We will run out of bread and fuel in a month. Our best hope is that the siege is broken. But we are not asking for bread or food we want freedom and social justice." "Many people would prefer to die in Aleppo than to leave it," says Dr Ossama. "If we go out of Aleppo we will lose our home and our home is our life... and the regime and the Russians would win." We interviewed Abdulkafi while he was teaching English to children. He asked Hamad, a boy in his class if he would leave. "No, of course I will not leave," Hamad replied. "I have lived here and I will stay. This is my land." Like the other people we spoke to, Abdulkafi, who has an eight-month-old daughter, will stay in Aleppo, whatever happens. "Danger is everywhere - but freedom is not everywhere. "People stayed here because we first asked for freedom. We can't leave. "The blood of the children who died would not forgive us. The people suffering now would not forgive us. To be free is more precious than anything on earth." | Why haven't people fled east Aleppo? | 1,049 | The main reason why people have not left is that they have become trapped, they told us. "Some people left before the siege. Now no-one can leave," says Mohammed, a 31-year-old phonetics teacher at the university in Aleppo. People have to be careful not to use up their phone batteries because there are only a few hours of electricity each day. However, they are still able to get messages to the outside world. Dr Ossama, 32, is one of only 30 doctors left treating the 250,000 population of east Aleppo. He describes the dire situation: "The city is under siege completely. "No food, no electricity, no pure water, no roads out of Aleppo. The general situation is very dangerous. Every second you can be targeted by shelling or by snipers." Fatemah, 26, who is a teacher, says she never expected the siege to happen. "All my family got out three years ago and went to Egypt and Turkey. I stayed here because I wanted to complete my studies in law at the University of Aleppo. "We couldn't imagine we'd be under siege. We didn't think that the regime would do that. Before the siege, there was food and medicine and we had got used to the bombing. The bombing is more dangerous now." The Syrian government and its Russian allies have periodically opened "humanitarian corridors" for civilians to leave through. There is a lot of scepticism from residents of east Aleppo over how safe these routes actually are. "The regime lied about making humanitarian corridors," says Abdulkafi, who teaches English at the university. "If you were with your family, and a robber came and killed your son and daughter and then, after 10 days, he says, 'Come and be a guest in my house', would you trust him? "[President] Assad and the Russians kill civilians and now they say, 'Come on in'. How can we do that? We prefer to eat the leaves from the trees than go back." Abdulkafi has lived in Aleppo for three years. Before the uprising, he was a lecturer in a different town. He attended the demonstrations against President Assad. "I was accused and ran away to Aleppo. Assad's regime considers us all terrorists. We are going to die defending ourselves. I am not a fighter but I will fight to the death." Some in east Aleppo point out that fleeing their homes and becoming refugees would be a massive undertaking, even if they weren't trapped. "A very important reason people are staying here is that they are very poor," says Fatemah. "They have no money to rent a house somewhere else or to buy food, or even have the money to leave Syria for Turkey or another country." | 0.733081 | 0.770565 | 0.751823 |
770_0 | Nine more people have been injured in stabbings in London as the spate of violent crime in the capital continues. Seven people were stabbed in five incidents on Thursday. Two more were injured earlier - a male in his late teens or early 20s, and a 16-year-old boy who were found with stab injuries at the Whitgift Shopping Centre in Croydon, south London. They were taken to hospital following the attack at about 17:15 BST. No arrests have been made. It comes as the Met's commissioner Cressida Dick said the force has "not lost control" of London's streets despite the "ghastly" spate of violent crime. On Thursday, a boy aged 13 was seriously hurt in an attack in Newham, east London, and another in his late teens suffered stab wounds in Ealing, west London. Two 15-year-old boys and a 16-year-old were hurt in Mile End and another 15-year-old was stabbed in Poplar. A man, in his 40s, was stabbed in Herne Hill, south-east London, but his injuries are not thought to be serious. A man has been held on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the assault in Mile End and the injured 16-year-old, who had minor injuries, was also arrested. In addition to the stabbings, a man in his 20s was shot in the face in Tyers Street, Vauxhall, at about 01:25. He is in hospital and his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, police said. No arrests have been made. - 12:50 Billet Road, Walthamstow - man in his early 20s, stable condition, no arrests - 17:30 East India Dock Road, Poplar - boy, 15, stable condition, no arrests - 18:06 Grove Road, Mile End - two boys aged 15, both serious but stable in hospital. One boy, 16, who was not stabbed but was treated at the scene for minor injuries, has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm - 18:57 Gainsborough Avenue, Newham - boy, 13, serious but stable. Police said three youths have been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent. A section 60 order, granting police stop and search powers across the whole borough, was announced on Friday afternoon and will remain in place until 06:00 on Saturday - 19:05 Ealing Broadway - man, 18, taken to hospital, not thought to be life-threatening injuries, no arrests - 22:05 Railton Road, Herne Hill - man in his 40s, not thought to be life-threatening injuries, no arrests Analysis by Daniel Wainwright, BBC England Data Unit One of the most alarming aspects of the latest stabbings in London is the very short space of time between them. Six of the reported stabbings on Thursday happened within 95 minutes of each other. Over the past two years there have been between eight and 15 "knife crimes with injury" on average each day in London, according to the Metropolitan Police. There were between 243 and 476 knife crimes with injury recorded in each month between February 2016 and February 2018. Last April there were 420 such crimes, an average of 14 every day. Protesters and community leaders gathered at Hackney Central station, east London, to call for an end to the recent bloodshed. It comes after London Mayor Sadiq Khan denied police had "lost control of crime in London" in the wake of more than 50 murders in the capital this year. On Wednesday, 18-year-old Israel Ogunsola was stabbed to death in Link Street, Hackney. On Monday, 17-year-old Tanesha Melbourne was killed in a drive-by shooting. Less than an hour after Tanesha was killed, 16-year-old Amaan Shakoor, from Leyton, was shot in the face in Walthamstow. He died the following day, becoming the youngest murder victim to die in London this year. Speaking to BBC Newsbeat near to where the schoolgirl died, a young man called Brandon urged his peers to "get out" of gangs. Brandon, who used to "chill out" with many gang members in the area, said: "One day I just thought, what am I really doing here? "People are dying that are not even in gangs. I don't know what it is, if they getting killed (by) accident, or mistaken identity, and it's just making me think, you gonna be next. "Could it be one of my family, one of my friends. Could it be me?" At the Hackney protest, people huddled around the station entrance before locking fists in a wide circle in solidarity for those killed. Protest organisers Guiding A New Generation - commonly known as G.A.N.G. - asked people to share their stories and pleaded for an end to the killings over a megaphone. Activist Boogz, 40, said: "We are trying to guide these children to let them know that their life is not going in the right direction. "I want to say to them this is not the life. "All the music that you listen to which glorifies this kind of thing, all the money that they see, all the cars that they see people driving, they are being sold a lie, they are being sold a false narrative - and we are here to change that narrative for them." Four hours before Mr Ogunsola was stabbed on Wednesday, Hackney police were called to a bookmakers on Upper Clapton Road. There were reports of an unconscious man following an altercation. Medical staff tried to help the victim, aged 53, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination was set to take place earlier. A man has been arrested and will be interviewed by murder detectives from City of London Police, who have stepped in due to the "current demand" on the Met's Homicide and Major Crime Command (HMCC). There was also a fatal stabbing of a suspected burglar on Wednesday in Hither Green, south-east London, and, on Thursday, a man in his mid-20s was stabbed in Walthamstow. His injuries are not considered to be life-threatening. Officers need help from other organisations to stop the UK from becoming a "police state", the vice chairman of the Police Federation told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Che Donald said the recent spike in violent crime had led to questions "that the police can't answer on their own". He said London must learn from the joined up approach taken by Glasgow more than a decade ago, where knife crime was treated as a public health problem. "We have to look at the fundamental root causes of why people - young men in particular - are carrying knives on the street. Do they feel unsafe? Is it a cultural issue, is it a social issue, is it an ideological issue?" he added. "What we do not want to do is turn it into a police state, but unfortunately we are left with very little options and opportunities to address this growing crime." In a statement, the Met said it is "absolutely clear that we cannot tackle knife crime alone, we cannot enforce our way out of this and will do all we can to mobilise communities behind us and to help protect London". | Is it unusual to have so many stabbings in London? | 2,331 | Analysis by Daniel Wainwright, BBC England Data Unit One of the most alarming aspects of the latest stabbings in London is the very short space of time between them. Six of the reported stabbings on Thursday happened within 95 minutes of each other. Over the past two years there have been between eight and 15 "knife crimes with injury" on average each day in London, according to the Metropolitan Police. There were between 243 and 476 knife crimes with injury recorded in each month between February 2016 and February 2018. Last April there were 420 such crimes, an average of 14 every day. | 0.736926 | 0.76665 | 0.751788 |
6304_0 | A Congolese journalist who had been raising awareness about the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been killed at his home. The army said unidentified attackers raided Papy Mumbere Mahamba's home in Lwebma, in the north-eastern province of Ituri, killing him, wounding his wife and burning their house down. DR Congo is experiencing the world's second-worst Ebola epidemic on record. People working to stop the virus are often targeted. The BBC World Service's Africa editor Will Ross says over the past year there have been dozens of attacks on health centres and on people working to stop Ebola. The violence is thought to be fuelled by the belief among many people that the virus is not real, which can lead to mistrust of those working in the sector. When medics call for people to forgo traditional rites to ensure safe burials, for example, it can create animosity. Some people even feel Ebola is a hoax created by medics to get well-paid jobs. Mr Mahamba had just hosted an Ebola awareness programme on a community radio station when the attack took place. Prof Steve Ahuka, national co-ordinator of the fight against Ebola, confirmed the reports from the army that a "community worker" involved in the fight against Ebola had been killed. A journalist at Radio Lwemba, the local radio station where he worked, also confirmed the details. Jacques Kamwina told AFP news agency that Mahamba had been stabbed to death. The DRC declared an Ebola epidemic in August 2018. More than 2,000 lives have been lost amid a total of 3,000 confirmed infections, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The outbreak is affecting the DRC's North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri provinces. In July, the WHO said the situation there was a "public health emergency of international concern." Efforts to control the outbreak have been hampered by violence against healthcare workers and Ebola treatment facilities. - Ebola is a virus that initially causes sudden fever, intense weakness, muscle pain and a sore throat. - It progresses to vomiting, diarrhoea and both internal and external bleeding. - People are infected when they have direct contact through broken skin, or the mouth and nose, with the blood, vomit, faeces or bodily fluids of someone with Ebola. - Patients tend to die from dehydration and multiple organ failure. | What is the situation with Ebola in the DRC? | 1,440 | The DRC declared an Ebola epidemic in August 2018. More than 2,000 lives have been lost amid a total of 3,000 confirmed infections, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The outbreak is affecting the DRC's North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri provinces. In July, the WHO said the situation there was a "public health emergency of international concern." Efforts to control the outbreak have been hampered by violence against healthcare workers and Ebola treatment facilities. | 0.689631 | 0.813712 | 0.751671 |
2899_7 | After Brexit, the UK wants to boost business trade with Africa, but as a major UK-Africa business summit starts in London, Matthew Davies asks if there really will be new opportunities for the continent. Trade is tricky. Trade agreements are trickier. Trade negotiations to get those agreements are exponentially more complicated. And the road that the Brexit can has been kicked down for so long is rapidly running out. Once the UK leaves the European Union at the end of January, it has 11 months to come up with a trade deal with the European Union to avoid reverting to WTO rules. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Leave supporters have always expounded the virtues of being outside the EU, including the ability to negotiate its own trade deals on its own terms for the benefits of its own citizens. Being part of a big gang has its advantages and disadvantages. Yes, you have to make compromises and adapt your goals to match commonly-agreed policies. But you also get the power of the bloc behind you in trade negotiations. The UK's International Development Secretary, Alok Sharma, is, as one would expect, very optimistic saying that Britain's relations with Africa will be "turbo-charged", with trade, business and investment deals being struck left, right and centre. The UK government seems to be taking it seriously. The UK-Africa Investment Summit can be seen as evidence of that but any potential change in actual trade conditions is some way off. Possibly years. Mostly, nothing changes at the end of January. There will be much political posturing and speech making, but the UK will still be a member of the EU Customs Union and Single Market until the end of the year. There is a provision for it to extend that by a further two years, but that would seem to be ruled out by Prime Minister Johnson. That means trade relations between the UK and Africa stay the same for 2020, conducted under the EU's various existing deals with the continent. Beyond the 2020 horizon, trade arrangements between many African countries and a fully-Brexited UK are also set to remain the same under a number of "continuity agreements". These basically say that the trade conditions (tariffs, quotas, standards and so on) remain the same as they are currently between a number of African countries and trading blocs and the EU. For example, in September last year, the UK initiated an Economic Partnership Agreement with the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) - which is made up of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and eSwatini - and Mozambique. It is designed to keep things as they are under the current trade relationship that the southern African nations have with the EU. It mirrors the agreement that the EU already has with Sacu. According to Britain's International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss, the agreement "will allow businesses to keep trading after Brexit without any additional barriers". And that seems to be the UK's approach - keep the same conditions in place that already exist between the UK and African countries under EU deals. Worldwide, the UK has in place about 40 such "continuity" deals, covering some 70 countries. The UK has been allowed to strike these deals with countries that already have similar agreements with the EU. Part of the reason of doing it this way is that it allows the UK to negotiate new arrangements with those who do not have an existing trade deal with the EU. The big one here is the United States. Sounds simple, but it's not. At least, not in the longer term because of the uncertainty that is still very much part of post-Brexit picture. The "continuity agreements" will eventually run out. That's when the real opportunities and challenges for African states will emerge. Outside the big EU gang, the UK, technically, has less negotiating clout. That could mean that the African countries that trade with the UK may be able to squeeze out slightly more preferential terms in negotiations. Perhaps. As mentioned earlier, trade negotiations are complex and require time and resources. With the starting gun fired at the end of January, the UK's trade negotiating efforts will have to be prioritised. The lion's share of the UK's effort will be aimed at getting the best deal possible with the EU, its closest and, by far, its biggest trading partner. Beyond that, deals with the likes of the US, China, South Korea and Australia will be prioritised, which means that African countries will be quite far down the list. But it is also a question of volume and value. For example, South Africa is the sub-Saharan African country that does the most trade with the European Union. Minerals, cars and agricultural products are exported into EU and of that total 18% end up in the UK. But some agricultural products are subject to quotas. In theory, the UK could allow greater access to the British market than it does under the current arrangement, something which, for example, South African wine makers could take advantage of. But equally, their French counterparts could lean on their government to lean on Brussels negotiators to get their exported wine into the UK under more preferential terms than those from South Africa. You may also be interested in: In truth, it is impossible to tell what could happen, but this does point to the complexities of over-arching trade negotiations. Uncertainty remains a factor, despite the efforts being made to counter it. Razia Khan from Standard Chartered Bank says: "In the short-term, greater uncertainty will weigh on prospects, although this has been mitigated to some extent by the UK's offer of an extension of trade agreements for two years, in order to deal with this uncertainty." Of course, the Brexit effect goes beyond trade. This may be seen if the UK falls into a recession after Brexit. That would hit places like South Africa hard. The UN calculates that the UK is South Africa's eighth-largest import and export market in global terms. If the UK's economy gets a recessionary cold, South Africa's could get flu. And given South Africa's powerhouse status as regards other African economies, that would not bode well. Brexit could also require new infrastructure in the UK to deal with certain imports. Flowers are one of Kenya's biggest exports and foreign currency earners. The industry is also a major employer, providing 100,000 people with direct work and around two million indirectly. At the moment, Kenya's flowers enter the EU through the massive market in Amsterdam. From there 18% of them end up in the UK. But what happens after Brexit? Zero-tariff arrangements can still be place under a continuity agreement, but there could be physical problems. The Kenya Flower Council has pointed out that the infrastructure for flying flowers directly to the UK is not as developed as the Nairobi-Amsterdam route. In other words, there could be an impact. As far as African companies are concerned, the post-Brexit world will depend very much on the nature of their business with both the EU and the UK. "Companies that depend heavily on EU-related preferences in the UK market need to keep a watchful eye on developments in Europe; and on negotiations between the UK and their own country on future arrangements," says Matthew Stern at DNA Economics in Pretoria. "If all goes to plan, these preferences will be maintained, but any slippage from either party could be costly for certain firms." As African politicians and business leaders gather in London for the UK-Africa Investment Summit, uncertainty remains. It may be mitigated to some degree by the continuity agreements, but somewhere down the line, new negotiations are likely to happen. Uncertainty is the enemy of investment. And behind the handshakes and smiles at the summit, it will be at least one of the elephants in the room. | Could Brexit effect other aspects of the African economy? | 5,697 | Of course, the Brexit effect goes beyond trade. This may be seen if the UK falls into a recession after Brexit. That would hit places like South Africa hard. The UN calculates that the UK is South Africa's eighth-largest import and export market in global terms. If the UK's economy gets a recessionary cold, South Africa's could get flu. And given South Africa's powerhouse status as regards other African economies, that would not bode well. | 0.759791 | 0.743265 | 0.751528 |
10028_2 | Until late December, 2016 had been a decent year for Toshiba. Then a bombshell. The Japanese industrial giant warned of a big one-off hit at its US nuclear business. At the time we did not know quite how huge that loss would be. But by February it emerged it would be about $6.3bn (PS5.05bn). Toshiba's chairman resigned, the firm delayed releasing its full financial figures - initially for a month - and then even longer. We're still waiting. To plug the gap, Toshiba is set to sell a majority stake in its NAND flash-memory business to get it through its ongoing financial turbulence. And its US nuclear business Westinghouse has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy - which temporarily shelters struggling firms as they try to restructure their affairs and outstanding debts. All this comes as it struggles to turn the corner after a profit-inflating scandal. Most people still recognise the name Toshiba for its electrical products but that is no longer at the heart of its business. It no longer makes televisions for export, for example, and its white goods business is losing money. Today Toshiba is a very diverse conglomerate, and these latest problems stem from its nuclear services business which brings in about a third of its revenue. Toshiba had initially alerted investors in December 2016 to the fact that it faced a heavy one-off loss linked to a deal done by its US nuclear subsidiary, Westinghouse Electric. Westinghouse bought a nuclear construction and services business from Chicago Bridge & Iron (CB&I) in 2015. But assets that it took on are likely to be worth less than initially thought, and there is also a dispute about payments that are due. Toshiba has also reported "inefficiencies" in the labour force at CB&I, along with other factors driving up costs. Toshiba hopes its saviour will be another major part of its business, the unit that makes memory chips for smartphones and computers, which has been valued at between $9bn and $13bn. It is the second largest chip maker in the world, behind Samsung. On 27 January, Toshiba announced it would split off this part of the business from the rest of the company - with plans to sell a slice of it to raise much-needed funds to help offset the losses in the nuclear division. Initially the idea was to sell a small chunk of this business, about 20%, but now Toshiba finds itself in such dire straits that it may have to shed a larger proportion of this NAND memory unit. A 20% sale would raise more than $2bn, which may not be sufficient given the current difficulties. Also would-be buyers are likely to try and negotiate a knockdown price. The Development Bank of Japan has been talked about as one potential investor. Industry rivals including Canon and Western Digital are also thought to be eyeing a bid, and another potential buyer could be South Korea firm, SK Hynix. It wouldn't be the first time in recent memory Toshiba has sold off profitable ventures. Its medical devices business (making things like MRI, ultrasound and X-ray equipment) was snapped up by Canon in 2016 for $5.9bn. It seems somebody, somewhere got the numbers wrong or did not anticipate the scale of problems in the nuclear business, and that reflects badly on the firm's management. Also, the fiasco of its earnings announcement will not have helped. Toshiba has not release its figures as scheduled in February, then missed anther self-imposed deadline a month later. It did however release earnings guidance and unaudited numbers, with the promise of audited figures in a month. In addition, Toshiba is still struggling to recover after it emerged in 2015 that profits had been overstated for seven years, prompting the chief executive to resign. Toshiba's nuclear business has not made a profit since 2013. And while the firm has said the huge writedown will be a one-off, nuclear services globally are struggling. Since the Fukushima disaster in 2011, nuclear energy has been a much harder sell. Some governments have opted to scale back how much they planned to rely on nuclear as an electricity source, or - as in the case of Taiwan - turn away from nuclear energy altogether to focus on renewables. Big nuclear projects around the world have faced heavy delays, partly caused by a lack of skilled workers needed to meet regulatory standards. For example in the US, Westinghouse (which Toshiba bought in 2006) is working on two new generation nuclear reactors in Georgia and South Carolina which are running late and over budget. By filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Westinghouse will be able to renegotiate or break its construction contracts - although the businesses that own the projects it is working on would likely seek damages. Shares have fallen for a reason: investors selling up because of the unease they feel about the position the company is in. That uncertainty saw ratings agencies cut their ratings on Toshiba's credit, making it more expensive for the firm to borrow money. A lower share price also reduces the amount of new funds that can be raised by selling shares. So if it needs to raise funds, that means going to the banks for support or, as we are seeing, selling off parts of the business. And clearly for investors who've held on to Toshiba shares, they are now worth markedly less than they were before Christmas. Longer term though, Toshiba shares had been doing very well in 2016. Until 26 December they were the second biggest gainer on the Nikkei 225 index for the year, adding more than 70%. The sharp losses in late December meant annual gains were pared to about 5%. | What are the prospects for Toshiba's nuclear business? | 3,709 | Toshiba's nuclear business has not made a profit since 2013. And while the firm has said the huge writedown will be a one-off, nuclear services globally are struggling. Since the Fukushima disaster in 2011, nuclear energy has been a much harder sell. Some governments have opted to scale back how much they planned to rely on nuclear as an electricity source, or - as in the case of Taiwan - turn away from nuclear energy altogether to focus on renewables. Big nuclear projects around the world have faced heavy delays, partly caused by a lack of skilled workers needed to meet regulatory standards. For example in the US, Westinghouse (which Toshiba bought in 2006) is working on two new generation nuclear reactors in Georgia and South Carolina which are running late and over budget. By filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Westinghouse will be able to renegotiate or break its construction contracts - although the businesses that own the projects it is working on would likely seek damages. | 0.756776 | 0.745841 | 0.751309 |
724_0 | A diet of cassava, Irish potatoes and indigenous vegetables helped Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni shed 30kg (4 stone), he told the BBC. "I am always fit but the doctors pointed out the mistakes and then I decided to shed off," Mr Museveni said. The 75-year-old leader said he had not been watching his weight, which had gone up to 106kg. He denied comments on social media that he "looked tired", saying that he had deliberately shed some fat. In his personal blog last month, he said he "had allowed fat to accumulate in his body frame because the doctors had not explained to us clearly the mistake of not fighting fat". He added that his current weight of 76kg was suitable for his 5ft 7in (170cm) height. Mr Museveni did not say how long it took him to shed the 30kg. "I eat some cassava, because I don't eat your European food and your Asian foods. I eat our food; which is cassava, some bananas, millets and our vegetables," Mr Museveni told BBC Newsday presenter Alan Kasujja. "So I normally eat a little bit of that in the morning. Then no lunch, I just drink water and coffee without sugar because it's very bad - sugar is not good," he said. "Then at around seven [in the evening] I eat two Irish potatoes because they have got low starch, and a lot of vegetables to deceive the stomach that I am putting there something when in fact it's just the roughage," he added. Philippa Roxby, BBC News health reporter It is hard to assess President Museveni's diet without knowing the quantities involved. However, cutting down on sugar is certainly advised if weight loss is the aim. And going without lunch presumably means that, overall, he is eating less and if there are more locally-grown vegetables in his diet, that is also a change for the better. Potatoes and cassava are packed full of carbohydrates and fibre - an essential part of any diet, although they are not normally associated with losing weight. In 2015, he said that then US President Barack Obama told him during a meeting in Ethiopia that he looked young. "I forgot to tell him that it's because I eat Ugandan grown foods," Mr Museveni said. He has advised Ugandans several times to shun Western foods for local ones, which are, according to him, healthier and also stave off diseases. Mr Museveni has been in power since 1986 and plans to run for a sixth term in 2021. Pop star-turned politician Bobi Wine, 37, plans to run against him. Two weeks ago Mr Museveni walked 195km (121 miles) through central Uganda to retrace the journey his forces used in 1986 when they seized power. | How healthy is Museveni's diet? | 1,383 | Philippa Roxby, BBC News health reporter It is hard to assess President Museveni's diet without knowing the quantities involved. However, cutting down on sugar is certainly advised if weight loss is the aim. And going without lunch presumably means that, overall, he is eating less and if there are more locally-grown vegetables in his diet, that is also a change for the better. Potatoes and cassava are packed full of carbohydrates and fibre - an essential part of any diet, although they are not normally associated with losing weight. | 0.736036 | 0.766564 | 0.7513 |
4696_0 | Everyone should consider taking vitamin D supplements in autumn and winter, public health advice for the UK recommends. It comes as a government-commissioned report sets the recommended levels at 10 micrograms of the vitamin a day. But officials are concerned this may not be achievable through diet alone, particularly when sunlight, which helps in vitamin D production, is scarce. Low vitamin D levels can lead to brittle bones and rickets in children. Limited amounts of the vitamin are found in foods such as oily fish, eggs and fortified cereals. But, for most people, the bulk of their vitamin D is made from the action of sunlight on their skin. And official estimates suggest one in five adults and one in six children in England may have low levels. Now, an extensive review of the evidence, carried out by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), suggests everyone over the age of one needs to consume 10 micrograms of vitamin D each day in order to protect bone and muscle health. And public health officials say, in winter months, people should consider getting this from 10 microgram supplements, if their diet is unlikely to provide it. Its main function is to regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body, which are vital for the growth and maintenance of healthy bones, teeth and muscles. In extreme cases, low levels can lead to rickets in children - where the bones become soft and weak and misshapen as they continue to grow. In adults, vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteomalacia - causing severe bone pain and muscle aches. But there is a balance - too much vitamin D can lead to high levels of calcium in the blood which can cause heart and kidney problems. Anyone with a chronic condition or taking medication should seek advice from their doctor. Vitamin D: Q&A - Why do we all need to take a pill a day? Meanwhile, children aged up to four should take supplements each day all year round, as should babies under one year - unless they already consume this in infant formula. Prof Peter Selby, at the University of Manchester, welcomed the advice. He said: "In particular, it dispels any doubt of the place of vitamin D in the maintenance of bone health and should ensure that all people will now be encouraged to receive vitamin D to reduce their risk of bone disease and fracture." Previous advice that recommended top-up daily supplements for a few at-risk groups, including pregnant or breastfeeding women, and over-65s, still stands. For example, people whose skin has little exposure to the sun, or who always cover their skin to go outside, should take the supplements throughout the year. Black and Asian people should also consider the supplements all year round. Dr Louis Levy, head of nutrition science at Public Health England, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "This is a change in advice, previously we have said that babies from six months to five years should have a supplement and only those people at risk of deficiency should take a supplement. "Previously we felt that everybody would get enough from the sunlight. "This is new advice based on evidence looked at over the last five years." He said those who apply sunscreen in the way the manufacturer recommended would not make enough vitamin D. "When you go out, you do need to have short bursts without sunscreen and make sure that you don't get sunburnt," he said. NHS England says vitamin D supplements are available free of charge for low-income families, through the Healthy Start scheme. Separately, health officials in Scotland and Northern Ireland say they have updated their guidance in line with the new recommendations, but only for people aged over six months. They are currently considering whether to extend the advice to babies from birth. SACN reviewed a growing body of evidence linking vitamin D to bone and muscle health. It also looked at studies suggesting Vitamin D levels might have an impact on cancers, cardiovascular disease and multiple sclerosis but found there was insufficient evidence to draw any firm conclusions. | Why is vitamin D important? | 1,165 | Its main function is to regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body, which are vital for the growth and maintenance of healthy bones, teeth and muscles. In extreme cases, low levels can lead to rickets in children - where the bones become soft and weak and misshapen as they continue to grow. In adults, vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteomalacia - causing severe bone pain and muscle aches. But there is a balance - too much vitamin D can lead to high levels of calcium in the blood which can cause heart and kidney problems. Anyone with a chronic condition or taking medication should seek advice from their doctor. Vitamin D: Q&A - Why do we all need to take a pill a day? | 0.750226 | 0.752327 | 0.751277 |
5294_0 | Boris Johnson is the new leader of the Conservative party. He officially becomes prime minister on Wednesday, after Theresa May formally resigns. But what will his new job actually involve? The prime minister is the leader of the government and is appointed by the Queen. Normally, he or she is the leader of the party that wins a general election. It's the prime minister's job to appoint members to the government, known as ministers. Only a small number of MPs actually get these roles. The most senior figures are called cabinet ministers and they oversee government departments - such as the Treasury and the Home Office. The prime minister can, at any time, hire and fire ministers. They can also abolish government departments or create brand new ones. Alongside the chancellor, the prime minister is also in charge of tax-and-spending policy. And the prime minister can also bring in new laws - so long as they receive the backing of Parliament. Ultimately, the prime minister is responsible for all government policy and decisions. The prime minister has overall control of the civil service - the people and departments that carry out the government's decisions. They can award honours, such as knighthoods and damehoods. They can also award peerages. They also have a number of responsibilities relating to defence and security. For example, they have the power to send the UK's armed forces into action. However, recent convention says Parliament should also approve such a decision. A number of special responsibilities also rest on the prime minister's shoulders, such as deciding whether to shoot down a hijacked or unidentified aircraft. They can also authorise the use of UK nuclear weapons. Despite these powers, a prime minister can't just take any decision they like. Prime ministers need to retain the confidence of most MPs. That's because laws can only be passed if a majority of MPs vote them through. If a government repeatedly loses votes, MPs could choose to call a "motion of no confidence". If a prime minister loses such a vote, they face the prospect of a general election. If the prime minister's party loses a general election, they must resign so the leader of the winning party can take over. In theory, the Queen has the power to sack a prime minister if it was felt they were acting against the country's interest. That, however, would trigger a constitutional crisis. Boris Johnson needed the backing of both Conservative MPs and ordinary party members. To start with, 10 Tory MPs were nominated as possible prime ministers. But a series of secret votes by Conservative MPs whittled them down to two - Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt. Both Mr Johnson and Mr Hunt took part in a series of debates, before paid-up members of the Tory Party voted for who they wanted. That meant about 160,000 people were able to choose the leader of a country of more than 65 million people. Boris Johnson received 92,153 votes compared to Jeremy Hunt's 46,656. Most Conservative party members are over 55 and a large majority are from the top social class. A new prime minister doesn't necessarily mean a general election is inevitable. As the Conservatives are already in power, they won't have to hold one - so long as Boris Johnson can command the support of the majority of MPs. If he did decide to call an election, the prime minister would need at least two-thirds of MPs to agree to it. Despite Theresa May's departure, the problem of Brexit is far from resolved. Coming up with a solution that will define the future relationship of the UK with its European neighbours will keep Boris Johnson very busy. Mr Johnson has pledged to renegotiate the existing deal - the one Mrs May failed to pass three times. But there's also no guarantee that a revised deal can be agreed before the Brexit deadline. However, Mr Johnson is adamant the UK will leave on 31 October "deal or no deal". The prime minister is expected to live and work in 10 Downing Street - the office of the prime minister since 1735. However, there are some exceptions. Tony Blair, who had a young family, chose to reside in Number 11 in 1997 - as it had a larger living area. In addition, the prime minister has an official country residence, Chequers, which is free to be used at any time. Boris Johnson will be driven in an official prime ministerial car. Currently, it's a custom-built Jaguar XJ Sentinel. As for salary, the prime minister is currently paid PS150,402 a year. | What does the prime minister do? | 190 | The prime minister is the leader of the government and is appointed by the Queen. Normally, he or she is the leader of the party that wins a general election. It's the prime minister's job to appoint members to the government, known as ministers. Only a small number of MPs actually get these roles. The most senior figures are called cabinet ministers and they oversee government departments - such as the Treasury and the Home Office. The prime minister can, at any time, hire and fire ministers. They can also abolish government departments or create brand new ones. Alongside the chancellor, the prime minister is also in charge of tax-and-spending policy. And the prime minister can also bring in new laws - so long as they receive the backing of Parliament. Ultimately, the prime minister is responsible for all government policy and decisions. | 0.691468 | 0.810817 | 0.751143 |
6760_3 | Japan plans to leave the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to resume commercial hunting, media reports say. The government told its MPs of the decision, NHK reports. There has been no official confirmation of the move. Commercial whaling was banned by the IWC in 1986 after some whales were driven almost to extinction. For many years Japan has hunted whales for what it calls "scientific research" and to sell the meat, a programme widely criticised by conservationists. The Japanese government is expected to cite the recovery of certain whale species as justification for the move, although it's thought to be considering whaling only in its own waters. Officials in Japan say eating whales is part of its culture. A number of coastal communities in Japan have hunted whales for centuries, but consumption in the country surged only after World War Two when whales were the main source of meat. It has plummeted in recent decades. Wildlife protection groups have already criticised the planned withdrawal. Despite Japanese media widely reporting the decision has been taken, there has been no official announcement yet. Hideki Moronuki, from the Fisheries Agency of Japan, told the BBC that Japan was considering every possible option but has "not yet come up with a decision". Citing unnamed government sources, Kyodo news agency said a formal announcement could come next week. In September Tokyo tried to get the IWC to allow commercial catch quotas but the proposal was rejected. In 1986, IWC members agreed to a moratorium on hunting to allow whale stocks to recover. Pro-whaling nations expected the moratorium to be temporary, until consensus could be reached on sustainable catch quotas. Instead, it became a quasi-permanent ban. Whaling nations, such as Japan, Norway and Iceland, however argue the practice is part of their culture and should continue in a sustainable way. Today, whale stocks are carefully monitored, and while many species are still endangered, others - like the minke whale that Japan primarily hunts - are not. If Japan wants to leave the IWC, it has to send a notification by the end of the year. It would then be able to leave on 30 June 2019. Japan would, however, still be bound by certain international laws. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea binds countries to co-operate on the conservation of whales "through the appropriate international organisations for their conservation, management and study". The text does not say which international organisation that is. Japan could either try to set up another international body if it manages to get enough other countries to sign up - or join an existing one like the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (Nammco) instead. Like a smaller version of the IWC, Nammco is a grouping of pro-whaling nations - Norway, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands - born out of frustration with the IWC. Yes, Japan has been hunting whales for the past 30 years but under a scientific programme, granted as an exception under the IWC ban. Critics say the practice is a cover for what actually amounts to commercial whaling. It means that whales can be taken for scientific studies and the meat can later be sold for consumption. Japan has caught between about 200 and 1,200 whales each year, saying it is investigating stock levels to see whether the whales are endangered or not. Japan has repeatedly tried to overturn the moratorium and secure agreement on sustainable catch quotas. The last attempt to do so came in September at an IWC summit in Brazil. Japan offered a package of measures, including setting up a Sustainable Whaling Committee and sustainable catch limits "for abundant whale stocks/species". The proposal was voted down. Since then there has been talk of the country simply leaving the body so it will no longer be bound by its rules. | Hasn't Japan been whaling all along? | 2,895 | Yes, Japan has been hunting whales for the past 30 years but under a scientific programme, granted as an exception under the IWC ban. Critics say the practice is a cover for what actually amounts to commercial whaling. It means that whales can be taken for scientific studies and the meat can later be sold for consumption. Japan has caught between about 200 and 1,200 whales each year, saying it is investigating stock levels to see whether the whales are endangered or not. | 0.701665 | 0.799829 | 0.750747 |
3642_1 | US President Donald Trump has urged Nato allies to commit 4% of their annual output (GDP) to military spending - double the current target. The White House confirmed he had made the remarks during the Western military alliance's summit in Brussels. The meeting also saw Mr Trump single out Germany for criticism over its defence spending. Nato's secretary-general said the main focus should be on all members reaching the current target of 2% of GDP. Jens Stoltenberg declined to answer a specific question about Mr Trump's remarks, but told reporters: "I think we should first get to 2%, focus on that now... the good thing is that we are moving to that." For decades after the end of the Cold War, he said, Nato countries had cut defence budgets as tensions fell - and now needed to increase them at a time when tensions were rising. Previous US presidents have urged Europe to take more responsibility for their defence and reduce the burden on US taxpayers of maintaining forces in Europe long after the end of the Cold War - but none as bluntly as Mr Trump. Confirming Mr Trump's comments, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said: "President Trump wants to see our allies share more of the burden and at a very minimum meet their already stated obligations." The Brussels meeting comes less than a week before Mr Trump is due to hold his first summit with Vladimir Putin, in Helsinki, reviving concerns among US allies over his proximity to the Russian president. Mr Trump's main objection is that all but a handful of member states have still not increased their defence budgets to meet a goal of spending at least 2% of their annual economic output on defence by 2024. Of Nato's 29 members, just five meet that target this year: the US, Greece, Estonia, the UK and Latvia. However, several, such as Poland and France, are close to the mark. At a news conference after the first meetings of leaders at the summit, Mr Stoltenberg insisted that more united Nato than divided it. "We have had discussions, we do have disagreements, but most importantly we have decisions that are pushing this alliance forward and making us stronger. "In the history of Nato we have had many disagreements and we have been able to overcome them again and again, because at the end of the day we all agree that North America and Europe are safer together." All 29 Nato members released a declaration which reaffirmed a commitment to increase military spending. The communique also condemned "Russian aggression", including the annexation of Crimea, the use of a nerve agent in southern England and "election interference". The BBC's James Cook, at the summit, says the question is, will President Trump take up those concerns directly with President Putin? Our correspondent adds that some European diplomats worry he will not, harbouring a suspicion that Mr Trump's commitment to the multilateral institutions which buttress the liberal world order is only skin deep. By Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence and diplomatic correspondent So is this mission accomplished at Nato for Donald Trump? Has he achieved his goal of persuading his European allies to spend more on defence? He began the day by calling them "delinquents" and ended it with smiles. The Nato summit communique contained the usual words about "turning a corner" in terms of defence spending, while recognising "the need to do more". How much more and how quickly still remains an issue, with Mr Trump suggesting that the benchmark Nato spending goal of 2% of GDP devoted to defence should be doubled to 4%. That is a level that all the allies apart from the US would struggle to attain. But the real underlying issue remains Mr Trump's commitment to Nato. Does he see it merely as a set of transactional relationships, or as an organisation enshrining the transatlantic partnership that has been the central element of European and US security since World War Two? Mr Trump clashed with Mrs Merkel ahead of the summit. The US president accused Germany of only spending "a little bit over 1%" of its economic output on defence compared to the 4.2% spent by the US "in actual numbers". Germany spends 1.24% of GDP on defence and the US 3.5%, according to the latest Nato estimate. The US leader also said: "Germany is totally controlled by Russia because they will be getting from 60% to 70% of their energy from Russia, and a new pipeline, and you tell me if that's appropriate because I think it's not and I think it's a very bad thing for Nato." EU figures suggest Russia is responsible for between 50% and 75% of Germany's gas imports, but gas makes up less than 20% of Germany's energy mix for power production. Mr Trump made more conciliatory remarks on Wednesday after he and Mrs Merkel met on the sidelines of the Brussels summit, saying defence spending and trade had been discussed. "We have a very, very good relationship with the chancellor. We have a tremendous relationship with Germany," Mr Trump said. But he later repeated his criticism of Germany and other allies in a tweet: Mrs Merkel has responded by comparing German independence now with the time when she grew up in the former East Germany, a satellite of the then Soviet Union. Mrs Merkel told reporters: "I am very happy that today we are united in freedom as the Federal Republic of Germany. Because of that we can say that we can make our independent policies and make independent decisions." | Is Trump committed to Nato? | 2,957 | By Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence and diplomatic correspondent So is this mission accomplished at Nato for Donald Trump? Has he achieved his goal of persuading his European allies to spend more on defence? He began the day by calling them "delinquents" and ended it with smiles. The Nato summit communique contained the usual words about "turning a corner" in terms of defence spending, while recognising "the need to do more". How much more and how quickly still remains an issue, with Mr Trump suggesting that the benchmark Nato spending goal of 2% of GDP devoted to defence should be doubled to 4%. That is a level that all the allies apart from the US would struggle to attain. But the real underlying issue remains Mr Trump's commitment to Nato. Does he see it merely as a set of transactional relationships, or as an organisation enshrining the transatlantic partnership that has been the central element of European and US security since World War Two? | 0.726043 | 0.775383 | 0.750713 |
3254_0 | Pakistani troops have been using helicopter gunships to try to dislodge a group of bandits from their hideouts in Punjab province. The offensive comes after more than 20 police officers were taken hostage by the gang. They are a gang of bandits operating along a stretch of Indus river in the remote south of Punjab province. Led by Ghulam Rasool, nicknamed Chhotu, they have been active in the region for more than a decade. The gang's members run into hundreds - more than 300 according to one account. It is one of the more prominent gangs among dozens operating along a 150km (95 mile) stretch between Dera Ghazi Khan in Punjab and Kashmore in neighbouring Sindh province. These gangs are linked and conduct a range of activities including smuggling, gun-running, kidnapping for ransom and highway robberies. Chhotu and the rest of the core of the gang come from a branch of the Mazari tribe which dominates the Rojhan sub-district of Rajanpur. Remote and poor, the area is marked by feuds over land and family honour. It is dominated by politically influential landowners who are accused of paying off both the police and the bandits to protect their own interests. The Chhotu gang controls some key river islands along Rajanpur district, which are deeply forested. These islands lie between the Punjab regions of Rajanpur and Rahimyarkhan, and Kashmore district in Sindh. This riverine belt lies at the confluence of southern Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. It has served as a hideout of choice for bandits and freedom fighters/militants since the colonial era because it provides easy access into different jurisdictional zones that often lack a co-ordinated response. Due to the remoteness of the region, banditry has traditionally attracted little attention. Besides, the Mazari tribal leaders have often been able to prevail on the bandits to reverse actions that might embarrass the government. So in 2005, the Chhotu gang found themselves under considerable pressure after they kidnapped 12 Chinese engineers from nearby Indus Highway. They ended up releasing them without a ransom. Many believe the army's current move against the bandits is part of its plans to reassure the Chinese and secure the Indus Highway, which passes through the area and is the main route for the $46bn (PS32bn) economic corridor the Chinese propose to build to connect north-western China with the Pakistani port of Gwadar. The area is also understood to have served as a sanctuary for sectarian militants and Baloch insurgents, with whom the bandits are believed to share economic interests. In a recent telephone interview with Zafar Aheer, a Jang newspaper correspondent based in Multan, Chhotu admitted they were using Indian-made weapons, although he added they had been procured from Afghanistan. Mr Aheer, who met Chhotu in his island hideout in 2006, says the gang members were armed with both light and heavy machine guns, including an anti-aircraft gun which he said was planted near one of Chhotu's camps. During 18 days of police action, the bandits killed seven policemen and took 24 of them hostage. They have lost two men in the fighting so far. Since the army arrived on the scene there have been reports of shelling of the bandits' hideouts, but no ground action has been reported yet. One reason may be because the Chhotu gang are using hostages as human shields. Civilian populations along the riverbank, which may get caught in crossfire, have also not fully vacated the area yet despite several warnings The word Chhotu is a pet version of Chhota, meaning a small boy, and was given to him by Baba Lowng, the leader of a gang he joined when he was barely in his teens. His story is typical of any tribal youth from this region. The son of a small farmer, he served as a table boy at a truckers' tea stall in Kashmore in 1988, when he was 13. He told his Jang interviewer that one of his brothers went to jail because of a tribal dispute, and his father and other brothers went on the run to avoid arrest. A year or so later, he himself was implicated by some policemen in a "false" theft case after he failed to pay them bribes. In their absence, their family land, some 12 acres in all, was appropriated by their neighbours. When he came out of jail two years later, he joined Baba Lowng's gang to retrieve his family land. Later his brother also joined him. | Who are the Chhotu gang? | 218 | They are a gang of bandits operating along a stretch of Indus river in the remote south of Punjab province. Led by Ghulam Rasool, nicknamed Chhotu, they have been active in the region for more than a decade. The gang's members run into hundreds - more than 300 according to one account. It is one of the more prominent gangs among dozens operating along a 150km (95 mile) stretch between Dera Ghazi Khan in Punjab and Kashmore in neighbouring Sindh province. These gangs are linked and conduct a range of activities including smuggling, gun-running, kidnapping for ransom and highway robberies. | 0.655093 | 0.845289 | 0.750191 |
1856_0 | The Afghan Taliban say they have unleashed "special forces" in an increasingly bloody battle with fighters from the rival, so-called Islamic State (IS) group. The Taliban's dominance and monopoly on insurgency in a region home to numerous local and foreign militant groups is being challenged by IS, which has been gaining some support. Who's winning the war of the militants? According to Taliban sources, the special task force, part of the Taliban's special forces command, was set up in early October and has more than 1,000 fighters - better equipped and trained than regular Taliban and with the sole aim of crushing IS. Special ops teams are handpicked for their fighting skills and experience and are active in all provinces where IS has a current or potential presence - including Nangarhar, Farah, Helmand and Zabul. But Taliban special forces will deploy anywhere against IS, leaving other Taliban to fight Afghan and foreign troops. When IS planned its expansion into Afghanistan, the Taliban quietly ordered their commanders to confront the group by "all means possible". Since April, the Taliban and IS have attacked each other many times as they try to hold or take territory. IS cells, mostly led by disgruntled ex-Afghan Taliban commanders - as well as some militants from Pakistan and Uzbekistan - have been targeted. Nangarhar, Helmand, Farah and Zabul provinces have seen most of the fighting, with hundreds of insurgents from both sides killed. Exact figures are not available but Taliban special ops units are thought to have killed dozens of IS fighters since October. For their part, IS has also killed dozens of Taliban, mainly in Nangarhar. They seek out Taliban whenever they can and have ambushed them many times. IS beheaded 10 Taliban fighters earlier this year in Nangarhar. In June, the Taliban shadow governor for the province, Mawlawi Mir Ahmad Gul, was assassinated in Peshawar. It was believed that IS was behind the attack. For the time being, it seems that IS has been largely eliminated in the south and west of the country. But its small groups of fighters are active in eastern Afghanistan, especially Nangarhar and Kunar provinces. IS is also focusing on northern Afghanistan where it wants to establish pockets to link up with other Uzbek, Tajik, Chechen and Uighur militants and cross international borders with ease. The two groups declared war on one another in January 2015 after IS announced the establishment of its branch in "Khorasan", an old name for Afghanistan and parts of neighbouring Pakistan, Iran and Central Asia. It was the first time that Islamic State, which has its roots in the conflicts in Iraq and Syria, had officially spread outside the Arab world. IS, or "Daesh" as it is known by its Arabic acronym, was the first major militant group to directly challenge the authority of the Taliban's founder, Mullah Muhammad Omar, who was regarded by the Taliban as Amir-ul Momineen (Leader of the Faithful) of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda's leaders were given shelter by the Taliban leader and they had acknowledged his authority. But IS has been vocally opposed, with statements and propaganda videos questioning the legitimacy of the Taliban and accusing them of promoting the interests of Pakistan's ISI intelligence agency. The Taliban hit back, telling the IS to stop "creating a parallel jihadist front". In an open letter to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi dated 16 June, the Taliban warned they would be compelled "to defend our achievements". The IS response a week later, from its central spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, specifically mentioned opponents in Khorasan, Libya and Syria and accused them of committing a religious crime. IS fighters were ordered to "have no mercy or compassion" for those who didn't "repent" and "join the Caliphate". The Taliban's dominance has never been so directly challenged by other militants. Now their worst nightmare is a large-scale defection of their cadres to IS. To prevent this they have been confronting their new enemy on two fronts - militarily and ideologically. Islamic State is running an aggressive recruitment campaign and mainly targets militant commanders who have been expelled or sidelined. It has been exploiting the internal power struggle within the Taliban that became more visible when Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour was appointed as the new leader after the death of Mullah Omar was announced in July. Last month a breakaway Taliban faction was formed, further complicating matters - it says it is also against IS. The vast monetary resources enjoyed by IS have been a lure too. Many, especially the young unemployed, have been attracted by salaries as high as $500 a month. IS's future in Afghanistan is also closely linked to the fortunes of IS in Iraq and Syria, where it has taken swathes of territory. But many militants are in a "wait and see" phase or are too scared of the Taliban's harsh reprisals to make their allegiance to IS public. Elements in Pakistan's powerful military, who are accused of backing the Taliban, will have an important role to play in how things pan out. There are several ideological and cultural differences between the two groups. IS is a pan-Islamist organisation, has an agenda of borderless global jihad and aims to establish a single political entity consisting of all Muslim countries and territories. The Taliban insist their agenda is local, confined only to Afghanistan. Their stated aim is to free Afghanistan of "foreign occupation" and the full and immediate withdrawal of all foreign forces from the country. By declaring the Caliphate, Abu Bakar Al-Baghdadi claims the allegiance of all Muslims. A video posted by the IS's Khorasan chapter in late May categorically says that there cannot be two Caliphs in the world and in the presence of the eligible one, the other Caliph needs to be eliminated. There are theological differences too. The Taliban is a conservative clerical movement loyal to the puritanical version of the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam, practised by the vast majority of Sunni Afghans. They generally believe in Sufism and have tended to avoid anti-Shia sectarian violence. IS, which subscribes to the ideology of the more austere Wahhabi/Salafi branch of Sunni Islam, does not believe in Sufism and regards Shias as non-believers. While announcing the establishment of its Khorasan chapter, IS said that the aim was "to impose Tawhid (monotheism) and rout Shirk (polytheism)", a reference to traditional Islam in which Sufi saints are venerated and shrines visited. The Taliban's religious scholars have also issued fatwas (religious edicts) against IS's legitimacy and ideology and justified fighting against it on religious grounds. Such attacks have been a serious setback for the newly-recruited IS militants in Afghanistan. The group appointed Hafiz Saeed Khan (a former Pakistani Taliban commander) as its "Khorasan governor" and Abdul Rauf Khadem (a prominent former Afghan Taliban commander) as his deputy. But just two weeks after his appointment, Khadem was killed in a US drone strike on 9 February in Helmand. A few days later, his successor was also killed in a similar strike. In early July, another key IS commander - formerly a Pakistani Taliban commander - and the group's local spokesman, Shahidullah Shahid, were killed in a US airstrike in Nangarhar province. A few days later, the Afghan intelligence agency announced that Hafiz Saeed Khan had been killed along with 30 fighters in a "co-ordinated" drone strike in Nangarhar. The group denied the killing but has not provided credible evidence that he survived. Over the past year, up to 1,000 IS-linked fighters have been killed in US drone strikes and in fighting with the Taliban, statements by Afghan officials and media reports suggest. In some cases Islamic State fighters have come up with harsher and more elaborate ways of punishing and killing their opponents than their counterparts in the Middle East - particularly in Nangarhar province, their de facto "capital". One video in particular, released in August, created horror and fear throughout the country. It showed IS fighters herding 10 blindfolded people, including old men, to a hillside in Achin district, who were forced to sit on the ground on top of holes already filled with explosives. The video titled "monotheists take revenge on Apostates 2" also shows the aftermath, including flying ripped up body parts and dirt. In some parts of Nangarhar province, IS told villagers to provide wives for the newly recruited fighters and banned the smoking and selling of cigarettes. Narcotics, including the cultivation of opium poppies, were also banned. In December IS launched a local FM radio station in Nangarhar as part of its propaganda to attract more recruits. IS fighters have looted and burned hundreds of their opponents' houses and taken over others that had become vacant. While IS's ideology and the announcement of the Caliphate has attracted recruits in South and Central Asia, its brutal tactics have also alienated many in the region. The emergence of IS in Afghanistan poses a serious challenge to the Taliban's supremacy. But it has also helped them in many ways. Taliban leaders have already opened dialogue with several regional countries, assuring them that they would not allow IS to gain a foothold in Afghanistan and threaten their stability. States such as Iran, China and Russia have had to review their old policies of non-interaction with the Afghan Taliban. The Taliban are now fighting against two enemies - Islamic State and the Afghan government and its international allies (as well as the breakaway Taliban faction). IS is finding it hard to become a major force in the already congested militant market - but if it were to, it would not only fundamentally change the insurgency, but also mark the end of any hopes for a peace process in Afghanistan. Instability in the wider region would increase. Unless regional states implement a joint plan to bring stability, the prospects for the region look grim. | How many Taliban special forces are fighting Islamic State? | 377 | According to Taliban sources, the special task force, part of the Taliban's special forces command, was set up in early October and has more than 1,000 fighters - better equipped and trained than regular Taliban and with the sole aim of crushing IS. Special ops teams are handpicked for their fighting skills and experience and are active in all provinces where IS has a current or potential presence - including Nangarhar, Farah, Helmand and Zabul. But Taliban special forces will deploy anywhere against IS, leaving other Taliban to fight Afghan and foreign troops. | 0.746672 | 0.753551 | 0.750112 |
1563_0 | The claim: The Labour MP published a tweet suggesting rising violent crime could be linked to cuts in young people's services. Verdict: Youth services have seen big cuts in their budgets over the past few years. However, it's impossible to make a clear link between that and a rise in violent crime. Youth service spending by local authorities in England is down by a third compared with three years ago, according to figures for the Department for Education (DfE). When we refer to youth services we're talking about youth clubs, after-school clubs but also things like teenage pregnancy advice services. The DfE data shows that over the last 12 months, councils in England were expected to have spent a total of PS416m on youth services. That compares with PS489m the previous year. And if we go back to 2014-15, English councils spent a total of PS622m in that year. That means councils are now spending PS206m less this year than they did three years ago. Another way of looking at it is spend per pupil. In 2015, councils spent PS48 on youth services per pupil (that's worked out after you factor in the money spent by the council, minus any income received). Today it is closer to PS31 per pupil. So Ms Hayes is certainly right that spending on youth services has been cut. Funding for individual Sure Start centres has also fallen during the same period - from PS648m in 2014-15 to PS445m last year. But it should be pointed out that other areas - such as child protection and looking after vulnerable children - have seen their budgets rise over the same period. This suggests that councils are prioritising different areas of spending as a result of central government funding cuts. If we're talking about overall crime and the number of young people entering the criminal justice system, the answer is no. Despite a cut of one-third in youth service spending, overall youth crime is falling and this is part of the trend that's been observed since the mid-90s. In the year 2016-17, there were around 75,000 arrests of children and young people - and by that we mean anyone aged between 10 and 17 - in England and Wales. The number of young people arrested has decreased by 79% over the last 10 years and by 14% alone in the last year. And it's a very similar trend when it comes to the number of young people receiving police cautions or custodial sentences. However, when it comes to knife crime, that's a different story. In the same year, 2016-17, children and young people were involved in 4,000 crimes involving knives or offensive weapons - that's an 11% increase from five years ago. As a proportion of overall knife offences, adults are responsible for the majority of incidents. But last year, one in five perpetrators was under the age of 18 - the highest number for seven years. And it's that increase in violent crime that's been the subject of recent headlines. So the overall crime figures suggest it's not that simple to draw a link between youth service cuts and offending. There's plenty of anecdotal evidence out there about the positive impact of youth clubs, but it's proved harder to find reliable research that shows how taking part in these sort of activities can potentially steer someone from a life of crime. For one, statistics can't tell you how much enjoyment children get from taking part in youth services and how it alters their outlook on life. On the other hand, an empty room in a youth club with a battered ping pong table in the corner is far less likely to offer a positive experience than a busy club with lots of activities on offer. In fact one study, led by Prof Leon Feinstein and carried out for the Department for Education in 2005, found the children who had attended youth clubs with ineffective supervision went on to become more at risk of turning to crime, drink or drugs than those who had never attended a youth club at all. That research led to the-then children's minster, Margaret Hodge, to declare that "these young people would have been better off at home watching telly than spending their time with others in this way." Other academic literature suggests that organised activities reduce behavioural problems and the chance of criminal activity. In 2000, for example, Prof Joseph Mahoney, a child psychologist based in the US, tracked the outcomes of 695 youths in California and found that those who took part in structured extracurricular activities were less likely to commit criminal offences. The study showed that the likelihood of committing crime later in life comes down to the quality of services on offer and whether young people have a chance to mix with better-behaved peers, guided by structured activities and respected youth leaders. But those sort of outcomes are very difficult to measure, especially if you want to produce statistics at a national level - a point that was made in a 2011 Education Select Committee report. Another problem with explicitly linking youth service funding with the recent rise in violent offences is that you cannot isolate other factors that could also be contributing, such as changes to police numbers. There is no doubt that youth clubs can be a hugely valuable resource to communities. But as to whether they can actually keep crime down - the jury's still out. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions | Is crime rising as youth services are cut? | 1,692 | If we're talking about overall crime and the number of young people entering the criminal justice system, the answer is no. Despite a cut of one-third in youth service spending, overall youth crime is falling and this is part of the trend that's been observed since the mid-90s. In the year 2016-17, there were around 75,000 arrests of children and young people - and by that we mean anyone aged between 10 and 17 - in England and Wales. The number of young people arrested has decreased by 79% over the last 10 years and by 14% alone in the last year. And it's a very similar trend when it comes to the number of young people receiving police cautions or custodial sentences. However, when it comes to knife crime, that's a different story. In the same year, 2016-17, children and young people were involved in 4,000 crimes involving knives or offensive weapons - that's an 11% increase from five years ago. As a proportion of overall knife offences, adults are responsible for the majority of incidents. But last year, one in five perpetrators was under the age of 18 - the highest number for seven years. And it's that increase in violent crime that's been the subject of recent headlines. | 0.762049 | 0.735032 | 0.74854 |
4324_0 | Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced an independent review into why 450,000 women in England failed to receive invitations for a final routine breast cancer screening between the ages of 68 and 71. So what went wrong with the NHS's screening programme? Breast screening aims to find cancer early by using an X-ray called a mammogram that can spot tumours when they're too small to see or feel. Around one-in-eight women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime, and if it's detected early treatment is more likely to be successful. As the likelihood of getting breast cancer increases with age, women in the UK from the age of 50 who are registered with a GP are automatically invited for a screening with a letter every three years up until their 71st birthday. Women can't ask for an appointment themselves until they turn 70, when screening requests can be made every three years. The AgeX trial has been looking at offering screening to women as young as 47 and up to the age of 73 to see what risks and benefits there are to expanding the service for these women. In older women screening can pick up cancers that do not need to be treated. The NHS national breast screening programme invites more than 2.5 million women every year for a test, with about two million women taking up the offer. Mr Hunt told the Commons the problem was caused by a "computer algorithm failure", which led to some women not receiving their final breast screening when they were between the ages of 68 and 71. The problems happened between 2009 and the start of 2018. It is not currently known if anyone died as a result of the errors, but Mr Hunt said it was estimated that between 135 and 270 women may have had their life shortened. Public Health England spotted the issue in January during an analysis of data from the Age X trial. For the trial, women in some parts of England were put into two groups - one that got screening services beyond the normal cut-off ages and a control group that had screening invites at the standard ages. The BBC understands an error led to women in the control group wrongly being offered screenings up until their 70th birthday, rather than their 71st. This led to a bigger review that found a number of other issues, including some local services not inviting everyone for a final screen in the three years before their 71st birthday. Mr Hunt said further analysis found there had been issues with how people's ages were programmed into the IT system. The health secretary said the errors came to light after an upgrade to the breast screening invitation IT system. The issues were escalated to ministers in March by PHE following an urgent clinical review, and the government was told the error should not be made public to ensure existing screening services were not overwhelmed. The problems were fixed in April, the health secretary said. Scotland has a different system, and Wales and Northern Ireland have similar ones but do not seem to be affected, Mr Hunt said. Of those who were affected, 309,000 are estimated to be alive. Mr Hunt said the NHS intended to contact these women if they were still living in the UK and registered with a GP by the end of May, with the first 65,000 letters going out this week. Anyone who does not receive a letter this month is not likely to have been affected, he said. Those under the age of 72 will receive an appointment letter informing them of the time and date. Those over 72 will be offered access to a helpline to decide if it will be beneficial for them, as scans in older women can pick up cancers that do not require treatment. - Call the breast screening helpline number 0800 169 2692 - Go the NHS Choices website for more information Mr Hunt said "best endeavours" would be made to contact the next of kin of women who had missed a scan and subsequently died of breast cancer. A process will be set up to establish if the missed scan was a likely cause of death and whether compensation should be paid, Mr Hunt said. The independent review into the "serious failure" will look at how many people were affected, why that failure happened and how it can be prevented from happening again. But beyond this, Mr Hunt said it will also examine why systems did not detect the problem sooner, whether there were warnings that should have been noticed earlier, and if ministers should have been informed quicker. He also said it would look at what patient safety lessons could be learned. The review will be chaired by Lynda Thomas, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, and Professor Martin Gore, from the Royal Marsden Hospital - it is expected to report back in six months. | How does breast cancer screening work in England? | 259 | Breast screening aims to find cancer early by using an X-ray called a mammogram that can spot tumours when they're too small to see or feel. Around one-in-eight women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime, and if it's detected early treatment is more likely to be successful. As the likelihood of getting breast cancer increases with age, women in the UK from the age of 50 who are registered with a GP are automatically invited for a screening with a letter every three years up until their 71st birthday. Women can't ask for an appointment themselves until they turn 70, when screening requests can be made every three years. The AgeX trial has been looking at offering screening to women as young as 47 and up to the age of 73 to see what risks and benefits there are to expanding the service for these women. In older women screening can pick up cancers that do not need to be treated. The NHS national breast screening programme invites more than 2.5 million women every year for a test, with about two million women taking up the offer. | 0.70347 | 0.793453 | 0.748462 |
9938_0 | Ed Miliband has vowed that a Labour government would give employees on "exploitative" zero-hours contracts the legal right to a regular contract after they have worked 12 weeks of regular hours. A: Zero-hours contracts, or casual contracts, allow employers to hire staff with no guarantee of work. They mean employees work only when they are needed by employers, often at short notice. Their pay depends on how many hours they work. Some zero-hours contracts require workers to take the shifts they are offered, while others do not. Sick pay is often not included, although holiday pay should be, in line with working time regulations. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) says that 697,000 people were employed on zero-hours contracts for their main job between October and December 2014, based on figures from the Labour Force Survey. That represents 2.3% of the UK workforce. This figure is higher than the figure of 586,000 (1.9% of people in employment) reported for the same period in 2013. The ONS said it was unclear how much of the rise was due to greater recognition of the term "zero-hours contracts", rather than new contracts being offered. The number of contracts that do not guarantee a minimum number of hours was 1.8 million as of August 2014. That was 400,000 more than the previous estimate for January 2014. The ONS said the differences in the two totals could reflect seasonal factors, because they cover different times of the year. A survey of employers by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that a third of voluntary sector organisations used zero-hours contracts, along with a quarter of public sector employers and 17% of private sector firms. A high proportion of staff at companies including retailer Sports Direct, pub chain JD Wetherspoon and cinema operator Cineworld are on zero-hours contracts. They are also used by other employers, including a number of London councils and Buckingham Palace. A: There is concern that zero-hours contracts do not offer enough financial stability and security. The ONS found that employees on such a contract worked an average of 25 hours a week. However, about a third of those on zero-hours contracts want more hours - mostly in their current job - compared with just 10% of other people in employment. The CIPD research found that 16% of zero-hours workers said their employer often failed to provide them with sufficient hours each week. The ONS said that zero-hours workers were more likely to be women or in full-time education and aged under 25 or over 65. Employees on zero-hours contracts also do not have the same employment rights as those on traditional contracts, and critics are concerned that the contracts are being used to avoid employers' responsibilities to employees. The CIPD warned that employers may also take advantage of zero-hours contracts by using them as a management tool - offering more hours to favoured employees and fewer to those less valued. Employers say zero-hours contracts allow them to take on staff in response to fluctuating demand for their services, in sectors such as tourism and hospitality. Employers also say that many workers appreciate the flexibility that a zero-hours contract gives them. Some 38% of workers in the CIPD research described themselves as employed full-time, working 30 hours or more a week, despite being on zero hours. Michael Burd, joint head of employment at the law firm Lewis Silkin, says the majority of employers use zero-hour contracts, not to avoid giving employees their rights, but to avoid paying fixed overheads and give them flexibility over their workforce. He points out that this flexibility is envied by employers in struggling economies such as Spain and Greece, where potential costs may dissuade employers from taking on staff. The Institute of Directors has voiced concern about Labour's proposed policy, saying the changes would be unnecessary and potentially damaging. Christian May, head of communications and campaigns, said: "Limiting the use of a zero-hours contract to just 12 weeks would apply rigid controls on an important element of our flexible labour market. They are used by a little over 2% of workers, which can hardly be described as an epidemic. Nobody supports the misuse of these contracts, but demonising and ultimately outlawing them will simply risk jobs." Simon Rice-Birchall, partner at law firm Eversheds, said it was not clear how the proposed new right would apply, given that Labour refers to "employees" rather than "workers". "Many staff on zero-hours contracts are workers and do not have full employment status. In addition, depending how the change in the law is drafted, there is a risk that some employers may simply offer contracts with minimal fixed hours to limit its impact," he said. | Q: What are zero-hours contracts? | 195 | A: Zero-hours contracts, or casual contracts, allow employers to hire staff with no guarantee of work. They mean employees work only when they are needed by employers, often at short notice. Their pay depends on how many hours they work. Some zero-hours contracts require workers to take the shifts they are offered, while others do not. Sick pay is often not included, although holiday pay should be, in line with working time regulations. | 0.672982 | 0.823877 | 0.74843 |
9162_3 | For a business that now sees itself as being all about wellness and not just shedding pounds, the company formerly known as Weight Watchers looks like it has been on a crash diet. In the second half of its financial year, it dropped 600,000 subscribers. And at the beginning of its peak season - when Christmas overindulgence morphs into New Year virtuousness - membership is well below forecasts. The problem, it seems, is all in the name. After 56 years of trading as Weight Watchers, the company changed its name last September to WW, which, it says, doesn't stand for anything - not Weight Watchers, not even its new tagline "Wellness that Works". The intention, under new chief executive Mindy Grossman, was to modernise the brand amid a cultural shift to body positivity that now emphasises health and wellness as opposed to counting calories. But Ms Grossman this week admitted to analysts - when the company missed full-year forecasts and warned on profits - that using the word "weight" in its marketing actually carried, well, more weight. "I think it needed to be more weight-loss focused, especially in the January season," she said. She added that it needed to be made clearer that Weight Watchers is now WW. Yanhui Zhao, assistant professor of marketing at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, says that the rebranding of Weight Watchers to WW was "a risky move" in the first place. "A rebranding project may lead to losses in brand awareness and brand familiarity. "These risks were even bigger for WW, considering their almost 60-year brand history in the market. Firms should be especially cautious when abandoning a long-standing brand name." Not even the motivational tones of Oprah Winfrey - a board member, strategic adviser and owner of an 8% stake in WW - could lift subscriber numbers and avoid the PS50m dent to operating profit in the first quarter following the name change. Despite introducing a voice over by Ms Winfrey to its advertising explaining that Weight Watchers is now WW, the company made a "soft start" to the year which, its chief financial officer Nick Hotchkin says, is "difficult to recover from". Camilla Butcher, strategist at branding company Siegel+Gale, questions whether the company should have changed the brand at all. "The name, if anything, for any brand is really sometimes the most important asset. That is what a brand is when it really comes down to it, it can be name, the meaning and the feelings that are associated with that name." She adds: "I think that we live in such a fast-moving time... and there's nothing more shifting than the diet and weight loss category." WW boss Ms Grossman says the company is operating in a "very competitive environment", with trends such as the high-fat, low carb "keto" diet becoming popular. But Ms Butcher says: "By nature, it is a whole industry of fads and things that come and go, and Weight Watchers' absolute strength was the fact that they had stood the test of time." Shareholders, it appears, also weren't too sold on the name change when it was announced back in September. In a study looking at the effects of rebranding on share price returns by University of Nebraska's Prof Zhao, in association with Prof Roger Calantone and Prof Clay Voorhees from Michigan State University, an examination of 215 announcements showed that on average, stocks rose 2.5%. But the research also found that 40% of the rebranding announcements were associated with negative shareholder reactions. For WW, Prof Zhao found that its share price fell 30% in the month after it said it was changing its name. While the name change may have puzzled some, the reasoning behind it makes sense. Ms Butcher says: "I think there are very valid conversations to be had about the term 'weight' and whether that is a helpful thing to be talking about any more." Also, the image of the company needed refreshing, says Prof Zhao: "Their previous brand image was outdated and was not appealing to millennials, males and many other demographics." In order to address this, WW recruited singer Robbie Williams and Instagram star DJ Khaled as "brand ambassadors". However, it was not the idea, but its execution that has hurt WW. "I just think it happened very quickly... the timing was probably a mistake," Brian Nagel, senior equity analyst at Oppenheimer told CNBC. "They did this around October, November of last year, two months before the peak season." WW's peak first quarter season brings in about 40% of its annual recruits. While its total subscribers for 2018 rose by 22% on the previous year - helped by strong first half as it introduced its new WW Freestyle programme - recruitment numbers have fallen in the first quarter. Revenue for the first three months of the year will now be down by 10% and operating profit will drop by $50m compared to the same period last year. For the full year, sales will now be $1.4bn, down from $1.5bn in 2018, and WW will no longer meet its $2bn annual revenue target by 2020. Prof Zhao says: "Although rebranding was necessary for them, they probably shouldn't have acted so fast to change their brand name. "They should have started with a revised brand strategy and updated brand offerings, and then started to made small changes to their brand identity, such as brand logo and tagline. "Corporate name change should have been their very last step of rebranding." For its part, WW is sticking with its new name. Ms Grossman said: "We believe [in] the most WW and Wellness that Works for the long-term relevance and performance as a brand is the right thing to do. She added: "We are not giving up our leadership in healthy weight loss." | How should have Weight Watchers changed its brand? | 4,998 | Prof Zhao says: "Although rebranding was necessary for them, they probably shouldn't have acted so fast to change their brand name. "They should have started with a revised brand strategy and updated brand offerings, and then started to made small changes to their brand identity, such as brand logo and tagline. "Corporate name change should have been their very last step of rebranding." For its part, WW is sticking with its new name. Ms Grossman said: "We believe [in] the most WW and Wellness that Works for the long-term relevance and performance as a brand is the right thing to do. She added: "We are not giving up our leadership in healthy weight loss." | 0.783486 | 0.713248 | 0.748367 |
6262_0 | The coronavirus outbreak has been labelled a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is a term that the organisation had refrained from using before now. WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was now using the term because of deep concern over "alarming levels of inaction" over the virus. A pandemic describes an infectious disease where we see significant and ongoing person-to-person spread in multiple countries around the world at the same time. The last time a pandemic occurred was in 2009 with swine flu, which experts think killed hundreds of thousands of people. Pandemics are more likely if a virus is brand new, able to infect people easily and can spread from person-to-person in an efficient and sustained way. Coronavirus appears to tick all of those boxes. With no vaccine or treatment that can prevent it yet, containing its spread is vital. At the end of February, Dr Tedros said while coronavirus "absolutely" had pandemic potential it was not there yet because "we are not witnessing uncontained global spread". What has changed is the number of countries dealing with cases. There have now been 118,000 in 114 countries. - EASY STEPS: What can I do? - A SIMPLE GUIDE: What are the symptoms? - CONTAINMENT: What it means to self-isolate - VIDEO: The 20-second hand wash Changing the language does not change anything about how the virus is behaving, but the WHO hopes it will change how countries tackle it. Dr Tedros said: "Some countries are struggling with a lack of capacity. Some countries are struggling with a lack of resources. Some countries are struggling with a lack of resolve." He added that the WHO was asking all countries to: - activate and scale-up emergency response mechanisms - communicate with people about the risks and how they can protect themselves - find, isolate, test and treat every Covid-19 case and trace every contact "We cannot say this loudly enough or clearly enough or often enough - all countries can change the course of this pandemic." | What is a pandemic? | 312 | A pandemic describes an infectious disease where we see significant and ongoing person-to-person spread in multiple countries around the world at the same time. The last time a pandemic occurred was in 2009 with swine flu, which experts think killed hundreds of thousands of people. Pandemics are more likely if a virus is brand new, able to infect people easily and can spread from person-to-person in an efficient and sustained way. Coronavirus appears to tick all of those boxes. With no vaccine or treatment that can prevent it yet, containing its spread is vital. | 0.737164 | 0.759241 | 0.748202 |
8575_0 | A police union in New York is reportedly cutting back on the number of so-called "get out of jail free" cards given to friends and family. So what are these cards for? The Patrolmen's Benevolent Association (PBA) is reducing how many cards are issued to members, according to the New York Post. A source told the Post the cutback was ordered to prevent the cards' sale online. The plastic cards can be presented to officers to indicate the holder knows another officer, reportedly to "wiggle out of minor trouble". But whether they actually spare people tickets for minor infractions such as speeding is a matter of debate. Readers have been telling us ways the cards have helped them while driving - see comments below - but police say they have little impact. For most, such cards exist only in Monopoly games. And they are popularly known as such because of the game. Police don't like that name though, because it implies holders can evade justice. As well as the PBA, other police unions such as the Detectives' Endowment Association and the Fraternal Order of Police also issue the cards, which typically expire at the end of every year. The plastic laminated cards identify to police that the bearer is a friend of law enforcement. Officers say they are often kept next to the driver's licence, so they can be produced to an investigating officer along with a mention of which police force issued it. Police unions, who are very tight-lipped about them, have said they serve as "a public relations tool" and are in no way offer actual immunity. Asked if the PBA union cards were "get out of jail free" cards, union spokesman Al O'Leary said: "No, they are not." The cards do not entitle its owner to any special rights, but those who use them say they can help avoid traffic and parking tickets, such as red light and speeding violations. Police officers will sometimes give warnings instead, but will still arrest the card holders for more serious violations, such as drink driving and aggressive speeding. The decision is purely up to the officer's discretion. Former NYPD detective Angel Maysonet told BBC News that card holders do not get any special favours but they can help defuse a tense situation. "That's not to say that they didn't find that card in the floor of a men's room and stuck it in their wallet either," said Mr Maysonet, 47. "So you can never put your guard down totally, but it would kind of put you at ease, to an extent." Professor Todd Clear, from the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice, told BBC News that the cards were more widely recognised by police years ago, but lost credibility as more and more got into the public's hands. He was personally offered a PBA card from a student over 20 years ago, but chose not to accept it. "I think it's a bad idea to have some people be able to show a card and be excused," said Dr Clear. "It's not wise to rely on that card to get you out of trouble," he said, adding that they are no longer "universally respected" by police. The cards are sold on websites such as eBay for as much as $200 (PS145). Expired ones go for as little as $3. New York City Councilman Donovan Richards, who chairs the city's Public Safety Committee, told BBC News that there should be "protocols in place for PBA cards that ensures that there is no abuse in the system". The cards are given to officers to distribute, as well as community leaders such as politicians and religious leaders. The passes indicate the rank of the officer with a silver or gold badge or medallion, and which union has issued them. They are also sometimes given to journalists, but some media organisations view them as a conflict of interest, and advise their employees to forgo them. A spokeswoman for the New York Times tells BBC News that the newspaper's journalists "are not permitted to seek or accept favours or special treatment from people or institutions they cover, including the police". Reporting by Max Matza I have many family members who are police officers in New Jersey. I was given a golden metal card by my cousin that cannot be taken and has no expiration date. I have used it multiples time during traffic stops and have gotten off with a warning. Sometimes all they did was look at it and told me to have a good day and walked away! Mike M I have been a patrol officer for eight years and have encountered these cards as well as the stickers. I also frequently have law enforcement office and members of the military present me with badges/ID cards when I stop them for violations. Frankly, I find this offensive. Officers, their families, and members of the military should know the law and be extra cognizant of obeying it. There is no excuse for breaking the law and officers should not proudly proclaim to be such when they do so. I personally do not give people a break when I see these items. M Chuvarsky These cards are by no means the only method used to communicate that the owner is "police-friendly" AKA "has paid the pre-bribe". For example, FOP (Fraternal Order of Police) and "Bacon Bowl" (a common police fundraiser) stickers often are used the same way. My personal experience was riding with a friend of mine, driving in MD at roughly 60-80 MPH over the limit (yes, we were idiot 20-somethings), easily enough to lose your license and *immediately* go to jail. We were, of course, eventually pulled over, and I watched the officer's eyes flicker over his FOP sticker. Result? A simple verbal warning! It's sure nice to be a white male with a "get out of jail free" card/sticker, no? Z Conelly These are very common here in the US. My detective neighbour gave me one once in case I wanted to "open up" my motorcycle on the highway. I was once pulled over driving to work. As I am British, I actually struggled to use the card when it came time to hand it to the officer with my licence. There's a technique - you place it under the licence card. I just couldn't do it, it felt wrong, and I got points on my licence as a result. I won't make that mistake again. What's worse are the gold badges that people buy from the police (for $3-5k) and put in their windscreens. This is a badge which shows that you contribute financially to the police. My friend who has one of these and does not want to wear his seat-belt around town - for some unknown reason - has never been stopped and moreover has actually been waved through a police checkpoint without his seat-belt on. A Barron I think this is a New York local thing. The people that buy these things are literally being scammed by the police "brotherhood" associations, I donate to associations like this and don't expect any favorable treatment nor do I let it known in anyway that I donate normally. Good police aren't letting people go for serious infractions. J Paolucci I am a judge. Yes, people appear in court who received speeding tickets despite their idea of privilege. In our county, we do not respect that privilege; the district attorney prosecutes all cases. These people are quite annoyed, disbelieving at first. They produce this stuff, and I say we are discussing speeding, not relationships. I can hypothesize that perhaps the speed was much greater, the officer wrote a lower ticket, but did write the ticket. I was particularly startled by the woman whose son was a trooper in another state. She kept repeating, "My son said to say . . . My son is . . . I can call my son and he can talk with you." Anon While attending law school, a colleague from New York City indicated her fiance owned a police equipment store and he gifted to her a small medallion that could be pinned on her driver's license or in her wallet. She referred to it as a "get out of jail free card". It appeared to be metal, approximately 2 square centimeters. She indicated the medallions were only issued to police officers for use by their family members. She told me how the police stopped her for speeding several times in New York state and each time she offered the pin with her driver's license and specifically told the officer, "This is a get out of jail free card." Each officer asked her who she knew in the police department and then let her go with no tickets. R Nelson When I was a child in the 1950s growing up in NYC I recall that my father had New York State license plates on our cars that began with -4N- a special code that indicated "police friendly." Apparently it signalled to the police that my father was to be left alone, something he told me he had to pay for! R Fogel | What are 'get out of jail free' cards? | 762 | For most, such cards exist only in Monopoly games. And they are popularly known as such because of the game. Police don't like that name though, because it implies holders can evade justice. As well as the PBA, other police unions such as the Detectives' Endowment Association and the Fraternal Order of Police also issue the cards, which typically expire at the end of every year. The plastic laminated cards identify to police that the bearer is a friend of law enforcement. Officers say they are often kept next to the driver's licence, so they can be produced to an investigating officer along with a mention of which police force issued it. Police unions, who are very tight-lipped about them, have said they serve as "a public relations tool" and are in no way offer actual immunity. Asked if the PBA union cards were "get out of jail free" cards, union spokesman Al O'Leary said: "No, they are not." | 0.800932 | 0.693635 | 0.747284 |
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