News Exercise #227

The questions below are focused on the first two minutes:
1. In the first section of may’s speech, what three reasons are there to suspect that the Russian government are responsible for the attempted assassination? (up to 0:50)
2. According to may, what are the only two possible explanations for what happened?
3. Who has been asked by the Foreign Secretary for an explanation of this incident?
4. What has the UK government insisted that the Russian government do?

Answers:
The questions below are focused on the first two minutes:
1. In the first section of may’s speech, what three reasons are there to suspect that the Russian government are responsible for the attempted assassination? (up to 0:50)
They have identified the nerve agent, and there is knowledge that Russia has previously produced it.
Russia has a record of conducting state-sponsored assassinations.
Russia views some defectors as legitimate targets for assassinations
2. According to may, what are the only two possible explanations for what happened?
Either it was a direct act by the Russian state against the UK, or the Russian government had lost control of its potentially catastrophically damaging nerve agent, and have allowed it to get into the hands of others.
3. Who has been asked by the Foreign Secretary for an explanation of this incident?
The Russian Ambassador to the UK.
4. What has the UK government insisted that the Russian government do?
The Russian Federation must immediately provide full and complete disclosure of the Novichok programme to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.