The worst in years. Welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. Hello. The United States has threatened to impose sanctions on myanmar, following a Military Coup in the country. President biden has urged an International Response to the power grab, and called it a direct assault on democracy. Those detained include the head of the largest party, Aung San Suu Kyi, and other members of the civilian leadership. Troops are on the streets of the capital, naypyidaw, and the biggest city, yangon and a curfew has been put in place. Our special correspondent, fergal keane reports. An army reverting to autocratic type, swiftly and ruthlessly deposing a democratically elected leader. Somewhere behind the guns, Aung San Suu Kyi is once more a prisoner of the generals. And even if people never trusted the military, theyre still shocked at whats happened. Translation the army assaulted i people as it carried out a coup i on the civilian government elected by our people. Our country is just a Bird Learning to fly. Now the army has broken our wings. Translation | am | surprised and shaken. I fear that prices will rise and people will revolt. I hope that Aung San Suu Kyi and her colleagues will be freed sooner rather than later. The crisis began when suu kyis party won a Landslide Victory in elections last november. That win may have convinced the military that their hold on key Security Ministries the root of real power here was threatened. This was their response, relayed to the public on state television. Allegations of Election Fraud from an army notorious for its human rights abuses. Therell be a State Of Emergency for a year, with Limitless Powers to detain political enemies. This is the husband of one woman mp asking the soldiers what they want. His wife is taken away in one of the numerous dawn raids. Expect them to escalate. The coup has an air of dark familiarity. For decades, the military has tried to maintain a monopoly of power. This was in 1995, when Aung San Suu Kyi was released after her first six years of house arrest. The woman i met then was a Global Human Rights icon. I think i became more political after i was put under house arrest than before, because once i was under house arrest, i became totally a political animal. Because this was my whole existence. But human rights would eventually come second to politics. Three years ago, by now sharing power with the military, Aung San Suu Kyi defended generals accused of genocide against the rohingya muslims, even appearing for the defence at a War Crimes Trial in the hague. Do you ever worry that you will be remembered as the champion of human rights, the nobel laureate, who failed to stand up to Ethnic Cleansing in her own country . No, because i dont think theres Ethnic Cleansing going on. For western powers, the issue isnt about a personality, but the principle of democracy in myanmar. And tonight, President Biden threatened renewed sanctions on the military. But he needs chinese support, and thats far from assured, given the competition for regional influence between beijing and washington, and chinas long standing support for the generals. The armys supporters were on the streets today, but the cheers wont echo for long. Ahead lies deepening isolation, perilous uncertainty. Fergal keane, bbc news. There is a Security Council meeting coming up at the un and a few hours. We will hear more a few hours. We will hear more a little later in the bulletin from the Pressure Group Human Rights Watch. Lets get some of the days other news. Irans Foreign Minister has suggested the European Union help negotiate his countrys return to the International Nuclear agreement. Iran lifted restraints on its atomic programme after donald trump pulled out of the deal. The us has warned that tehran could be only weeks away from having enough material for a nuclear bomb. Russias state Prosecutor Says hell ask for a 3. 5 year Jail Sentence for the russian activist alexei navalny. There have been more protests across russia in support of the putin critic. The South African government says there has been a one third fall in the number of rhinos killed by poachers partly attributed to covid i9 lockdowns. But conservationists warn poaching remains a big problem and that the Rhino Population in south africa has plummeted in recent years. Theres growing concern among Health Experts Around The World about the South African variant of coronavirus. The uk government has promised to Come Down Hard after the discovery of cases with no links to foreign travel. 80,000 people across england have now been told to take tests even if they dont have symptoms. 0ur health editor, hugh pym has the latest. New Mobile Testing Units have moved in to some communities in england, part of a drive to track the spread of the South African variant of the virus. All this after a handful of cases were discovered which could not be linked to arrivals from south africa or other countries. Around 80,000 people aged 16 and over in eight areas most in the South East Of England and one in the West Midlands have been asked to take tests regardless of symptoms. Positive cases will be analysed to see if theyre caused by the variant. If you live in one of these postcodes where were sending in enhanced testing, then it is imperative that you stay at home and that you get a test even if you dont have symptoms. This is so important so that we can break the chains of the transmission of this new variant, and weve got to bring this virus to heel. How confident are you that the existing vaccines in use will be effective against the South African variant . So, three of the vaccines that have been used to date in trials have shown that theyve been effective against the South African variant. We expect all other vaccines to have a similar level of effectiveness, particularly in reducing hospitalisation and death. Theres speculation the vaccines might have to be adjusted to cope with new variants. It is unlikely that people would have to start again. Much more likely that it would be a booster shot, a bit like the annual flu vaccine. Local Councils Like woking have been sent home testing kits. Officials have been preparing to distribute them as fast as possible. The aim now is to contact as many households as they can. What were doing is mobilizing over 100 volunteers to go out and knock on residents doors in a defined geographical area with letters and testing kits, with a request that they carry out a test themselves, and then well come and collect it. So this is about identifying how far the South African variant has spread within the community. In the areas being targeted, like hanwell in west london, local people have been urged to take extra precautions, with a call for them to minimise social contact, as well as getting a test as soon as they can. Officials say the variant doesnt make people sicker than the original strain, but it can spread fast, and thats what they want to stop. Hugh pym, bbc news. President biden has been meeting with republican senators on a covid stimulus plan. The us president wants to push through a sweeping 1. 9 trillion Stimulus Package to get the economy moving again. But the republicans are proposing an alternative that would provide a much smaller 618 billion Relief Package thats less than a third the size of biden� s package. Speaking straight after the meeting susan collins, republican senator for maine told reporters that it had been a productive discussion. It was some very Good Exchange of views. I wont say that we came together on a package tonight, no one expected that in a two hour meeting but what we did agree to do is to follow up and talk further. So has this meeting achieved anything in bringing the two sides together . Ive been speaking to our north america correspondent peter bowes. This really is the first big test of President Biden� s pledge to be bipartisan in his approach to dealing with congress, dealing with republicans, especially bringing the two sides together. But i think there is still a huge amount of doubt as to whether this Stimulus Bill will be a good example of that, because he has really been digging in his heels to get the 1. 9 trillion, which would be split between money to help combat the virus the distribution of the vaccines but also economic aid as well. And these republicans, ten, who approached the president , he agreed to the request for a meeting and that has happened without any agreement at the end of it although the republicans, those republicans in the meeting seem to be happy with it. There is a clear difference between what those republicans believe and what President Biden wants. He will give individuals earning less than a certain amount 1400 in terms of stimulus cheques. The republicans want less than that, about 1000. The threshold has come down. They want they given only to americans earning under 50,000 a year. And Economic Experts argue over how to spend the money, that if people are given more money in their pocket will that filter into the Retail Economy which needs a shot in the arm as well . So at least they are talking. I think the one big thing that both sides here are in agreement on and this is in the wake of new numbers that show that the last month, january, was the worst month for coronavirus in the United States, some 90,000 deaths. Both sides agree that given everything that is happened at the moment, this package is a matter of urgency. The reddit army of amateur investors are at it again. After pushing video game retailer, gamestop shares to dizzying highs members of the online chat forum have now done the same for silver. Prices for the precious metal jumped 11 at one point, reaching an eight year high. I spoke to Michael Wittmeyer who is ceo and co founder of jm bullion, one of the Largest Online bullion dealers in the world. I asked how this great rush to silver is affecting him. Our business has felt a Significant Impact since those posts started to go up on wednesday night. We saw it pretty much immediately, enormous demand for silver product, from our existing Customer Base and a horde of new customers coming from reddit so we saw it start on thursday and then friday and culminated this weekend with some of the craziest numbers weve ever seen and we had our biggest sales day yesterday which we are going to top today. I think you had to suspend silver sales on saturday evening . What does that mean, what are the implications . Silver markets arent open on the weekend, so how we are able to sell products as we prepurchase portions of ounces to carry through the weekend. Typically we are able to estimate that very well so when the market opens on sunday evening we are perfectly hedged in flat on inventory but this time around we sold so much that by saturday evening had to pull the majority of the silver off the website because we would have had a significant exposure to when the markets opened on sunday evening and they did open well up, as we feared, so it was the right move in hindsight and we were able to resume sales on sunday evening and ended up selling about 27 million worth of product. Part of the point of what this reddit army is doing is give the so called fatcats a bit of a bloody nose. Its quite likely some of the large funds will benefit from all this, as presumably will other Companies Mining silver . So some of the things posted on that sub reddit are going contrary to what they posted last weekend, and as you said, some of these hedge funds are in silver, Mining Companies benefit from high Silver Prices so there is some hesitation on their part if this is what they want to be doing or not but we still seeing tremendous demand both from new clients existing investors. Did you see any of this coming . As soon as we saw this wednesday night, myself and one of the partners, we had a suspicion this was coming and we started to get ready and try to source inventory and batten down the hatches for what was to come. Talking of suspicions, do you have an idea of where this might move next . I dont have a crystal ball on Silver Prices, but as far as our market goes, the physical coin and bar market, there will be a Supply Imbalance for months to come. This was such a shock to the supply chain but i think it will be several months before Product Premiums and availability normalise. Stay with us here on bbc news, still to come americas east coast grinds to a halt as storm 0rlena causes major disruption. This is the moment that millions in iran had been waiting for. After his long years in exile, the first hesitant steps of Ayatollah Khomeini on iranian soil. South africas white government has offered its black opponents concessions unparalleled in the history of apartheid. And the anc leader, nelson mandela, is to be set free unconditionally. Four, three, two, one. A countdown to a critical moment. The worlds most powerful rocket ignited all 27 of its engines at once. And apart from its power, its this recycling of the rocket, l slashing the cost of a launch, l that makes this a breakthrough in the business| of space travel. Two americans have become the first humans to walk in space without any lifeline to their spaceship. One of them called it a piece of cake. Thousands of people have given the yachtswoman Ellen Macarthur a spectacular homecoming in the cornish port of falmouth after she smashed the world record for sailing solo Around The World non stop. This is bbc world news, the main story the us condemns the Military Coup in myanmar as a direct assault on democracy, and threatens to reimpose sanctions. In the next 2a hours, the un Security Council will hold an Emergency Meeting on the situation in myanmar though considering the us has criticised the coup, whereas china has declined to do so, it remains to be seen what will happen. I asked Linda Lakhdhir a Legal Advisor in the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch if she thought there was a chance of an agreement. I think there is a strong call from many countries involved in the Security Council meeting and a real shock that this has happened only five years after a quasi civilian government took hold. We are certainly pushing and encouraging all countries to Work Together and take a united front to push back against what is happening in myanmar. How well would you say the un generally has handled the Human Rights Situation in myanmar . Is it a lack of real International Response to the treatment of the rohingya . Absolutely. There has never been a strong co ordinated response from the International Community to what happened in rakhine state, and that has let the generals, who have enjoyed impunity for decades, feel as if their impunity can continue. It is time for the International Community to stand together and to tell the generals that this really cannot stand. And what are the chances of that, actually, do you think, realistically . Whether you would get a Security Council statement on that unclear because china can block it. But if it does not happen in the Security Council they can take it to the Un General Assembly and get a resolution there, and your chances there are pretty high. You could also have the Human Rights Council call a Special Session to speak on myanmar and pressure myanmar that way. And you can also have individual governments who have sanctions on regimes Work Together to put strong sanctions in place on military generals and on all of the military owned businesses that helped fund the tatmadaw and its abuses. Do you think the nld has any realistic path for action . Anything that it can do given that most of its leaders have been arrested . The bigger problem is that the 2008 constitution that was written by the military and is the alleged basis under which theyve called this State Of Emergency gives them no real legal avenues for to contest this. So the real question is what the nld supporters do and whether they do or do not take to the streets in myanmar. That take to the streets in myanmar. Was Linda Lakhdir rights that was Linda Lakhdir of Human Rights Watch. The Turkish President , recep tayyip erdogan, has sharply criticised the countrys lgbt movement, accusing it of vandalism following student protests. It comes after the arrest of several University Students in istanbul over an artwork that reportedly depicted an lgbt rainbow flag alongside an image of a sacred islamic site. Tanya dendrinos reports. Stu d e nts students detained, tussling with police in the latest processed at this istanbul university. This is a show of solidarity for peers who were arrested just days ago accused of inciting hatred after displaying a depiction of the holy site of mecca alongside a rainbow flag. While homosexuality has been legal throughout modern turkeys history, official opposition to the Lgbt Community has grown in recent years. President erdogan taking a swipe at lgbt youth in a Virtual Congress of his party on monday. Translation willing will carry our youth to the future, not the accurate free gift, but the youth who have a glorious history of our nation. You are the youth who are typing on the keyboards of computers, not the lgbt you. You are not the youth who analyses, but totally opposite, you are the ones who repair broken hearts. You are the ones who repair broken hearts. These comments likely only broken hearts. These comments likely only to broken hearts. These comments likely only to add broken hearts. These comments likely only to add fuel broken hearts. These comments likely only to add fuel to broken hearts. These comments likely only to add fuel to the likely only to add fuel to the fire. Protests have been ongoing since the president s appointment of a director to the university who demonstrators believe has close links to his conservative ak party. Tanya dendrinos, bbc news. A World Health Organization team sent to china to investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic has been continuing their mission, visiting two centres for Disease Control in the central hubei region. Over the weekend the scientists visited hunan market the Seafood Centre in the chinese City Of Wuhan where the virus was initially detected. The devolved government in Northern Ireland has suspended physical inspections of Food Consignments at belfast and larne ports because of security concerns. Earlier a council withdrew its staff from larne, saying thered been an upsurge in sinister behaviour over new brexit arrangements. Checks are being carried out on some goods arriving from the rest of the uk. A major winter storm has hit the northeastern United States, bringing heavy snowfalls and blizzard like conditions to new york state, pennsylvania and new england. Thousands of flights have been cancelled, schools have been closed and coronavirus vaccinations have been postponed. Mark lobel reports. Heavy snow and high winds force a State Of Emergency in newjersey and new york city. Flights grounded, Vaccinations Sites shut. With up to 22 inches of snow expected in coastal flooding, new yorks mayor warns of a new reason to stay at home. Blizzard conditions. Stay off the road, stay off the streets and sidewalks, stay inside. If there is anyway you can avoid travelling. As this curtain of snow lifts the mood on broadway, its most definitely snow time. In central park, as in europe recently, americans now savouring snow days at a time of otherwise virtual life. Ijust wanted to enjoy the snow a little bit. He is also enjoying it, but i think hes done. This is a wonderful day today. Its not that often that we get this kind of snow in new york city, and this is one of the most beautiful places in the world to enjoy that snow. With the fight against Climate Change thrown a lifeline by americas new president , Current Conditions show what Global Warming can lead to. Meteorologists say snow here has become less frequent, but more intense. The snow is perhaps less often, or i should say, its mixed with rain or it changes to rain more often than it used to, but when we get a big storm, more often than not, they become blockbuster storms. From the frosty. To the fluffy. With the world seemingly sliding into freefall at times, this is one way to make the best of it all. Mark lobel, bbc news. A new movie for us. Life in a day 2020 brings together personal videos from around the globe, all shot onjuly 25th 2020. The World Premiere is at the Sundance Film Festival this week. Its a Sequel To A Film Macdonald made ten years ago. His new work is more sombre in tone because of the pandemic, but also uplifting. Wake up in a year when weve all been brought together by covid, where nobody really in the world has been untouched by covid and its consequences, this film, in a way that could appear kind of sentimental or hippyish but is not when you see the film, reinforces the similarities between everyone in the world. I was so surprised by how different this film was than the first one in that the form is kind of the same but the content is much more diverse. There is material really from every corner of the world, filled by people who have smartphones and cameras and secondly, because the things people chose to film, they tended to be a lot more melancholy, sad, stories about loss. Generally people are a lot more pensive. I had two brothers. Not one, but two brothers die in police custody. We structured around kind of a human life, the birth of little children we have towards the end of the film, old age. In the middle, we kind of move through the years and then we go through thematics even within that as well. You go through a sequence which is about romance and love and sometimes heartbreaks, people get rejected on camera, splitting up on camera. There is a sequence about covid, a sequence about how nature has returned during this time. It really did change the way i saw people. You cant help but see these thousands of hours of footage and humanity in all its forms, without Feeling Uplifted by and feeling, you know, arent we kind of wonderful ina way . Kevin mcdonald movie for us there. Always something to look forward to. And you can get in touch with me and most of the team on twitter im bbc mike embley. Thank you for watching. Hello there. Heavy snow is on the way for tuesday. The met office have issued an Amber Weather Warning for this one across parts of Northern England, where were looking at around 10 15cm of snow over the higher ground. Its more than enough to cause Transport Disruption. Some roads will be shut, and we could see some power cuts as well. This area of low pressure, then, these Weather Fronts are pushing into cold air thats with us across scotland and Northern England and will be slow to budge through the course of tuesday. So its one of these situations where the rain is starting to turn to snow, and that will continue over the next few hours. Now, the initial concerns will be across parts of Northern England, where we could be looking at around 3 8cm building in. But across some of the hillier areas, you dont have to go too high up for this, were looking at around 10 15cm. I think sheffield could be one of the places that gets hit pretty hard with this. Notice the snow isntjust limited to the pennines. Across into cumbria, Into Southern Areas of scotland, well also see snowfall developing through the day, so were more likely see some disruption in some of these areas, as well. Now, funnily enough, away from this band of snow, weve got some sunshine and cold air in scotland. Cold and frosty here. To the south, weve got some thundery ran pushing into the south west but look how mild this is across these southern areas. Temperature 12 14 degrees in cardiff and london. You arent going to get any snow with that, but further northwards, thats where the cold airjust continues to loiter. As i say, Transport Disruption is more than likely. I suspect the A57 Snake Pass will be shut. The m62 could be affected, maybe parts of the m16 in cumbria and the A74m In Southern Scotland all areas that could see some issues. Now, we are not done with the snow just there because as we go through the night time, tuesday night and into the early part of wednesday, the snow pushes northwards into scotland. Heavy rain across Southern England could bring a risk of some localised flooding. Could see some localised flooding from the rain in north west england, as well. Wednesday, weve got more snow to come in scotland, perhaps the heaviest migrating north of the central belt, causing some Transport Disruption here. But its turning milder across Northern England, temperatures about 9 degrees in liverpool and hull. Still around double figures, 10 degrees or so in london and cardiff. So quite a mild spell of weather, really, across Southern Parts of england, and that means that whats coming next week may well come as something of a rude shock. Thats the latest. This is bbc news, the headlines the United States has condemned the coup in myanmar as a direct assault on democracy. President biden says he will hold the military accountable for overturning a democratic transition and threatened to re impose sanctions. The European Union, japan and india have also been critical. Tens of thousands of people across england will be tested for the South African coronavirus variant after a series of cases with no links to travel were detected. Englands Health Secretary said the uk must Come Down Hard on the new strain, which has been found in six regions. Joe biden has held a meeting with ten moderate republican senators to discuss a proposal to shrink his sweeping 1. 9 trillion covid 19 Relief Package. Speaking afterwards, the republicans said, though they hadnt agreed on a package, theyd had an excellent meeting. The us president has promised to explore a bi partisan response to the pandemic. Now on bbc news, its hardtalk with stephen sackur
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