And how does it cope with British, North American and Antipodean English?

BBC: Could a new phonetic alphabet promote world peace?

But a Chinese foreign-ministry spokesman said this week that he had not heard of any change in China's policy of helping North Korea cope with its shortages of food and energy.

ECONOMIST: Six-party talks are to resume. Two cheers

Accident and emergency wards in the North East are struggling to cope with patient numbers, the BBC has learned.

BBC: North East hospital A&E wards 'under strain'

France and Germany argue that, since Italy receives proportionately few requests for asylum (just over 10, 000 last year, compared with France's 52, 000 and Germany's 49, 000), it should cope with the relatively modest influx from north Africa.

ECONOMIST: Italy and immigration