The Home Office warned that under the law anyone who killed a terminally ill person could face life in jail.

BBC: NEWS | UK | England | Southern Counties | Cancer patient 'would use hitman'

But given the difficulties that its weak, poor, ill-governed members face already, it is hard to see others queuing up to join.

ECONOMIST: Russia and its neighbours

Even as they work to stabilize the critically ill patients, doctors face another worry: the possibility of injuries emerging that weren't detected immediately after the explosions.

WSJ: Injuries Resemble Traumas of War

Yes, he was the most ill-tempered husband on the face of the earth.

WSJ: A Walk on the Dirty Side of Politics: 'Can You Tell Me a Little About Your Ex-Husband?'

They face 38 charges of either neglect or ill-treatment of people with severe learning difficulties.

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The pair also face a charge of repeatedly and wilfully ill-treating Brandon between October 2007 and March 2008.

BBC: Mother charged with killing son

Many of us face moments of overwhelming despair, whether mentally ill or not.

CNN: Guns and suicide: One mother's heartbreaking tale

All the same, Mr Primakov, is at least a presentable face for Russia: neither drunk, nor ill, nor a political amateur, and with a modicum of administrative ability.

ECONOMIST: Russia shipwrecked

Headlines in Europe this month have highlighted the continent's worst, and most ill-managed social problem: the treatment of millions of Romanies who face at best discrimination and at worst persecution.

ECONOMIST: Romanies

James had Anthony's hand in his face and just two seconds left on the clock, so he simply shot what look to be an ill-advised shot.

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