Now on bbc news, hardtalk. Welcome to hardtalk. Im stephen sackur. In ireland, all of the talk earlier this year was of a political earthquake. The radical nationalist Party Sinn Fein won the most votes in irelands general election. They promised to smash the status quo. Well, so much for that. In fact, irelands two Old Established parties formed a grand coalition, and they are guiding the country through the covid i9 pandemic and brexit. My guest today is Mary Lou Mcdonald, the leader of sinn fein. Has her party missed its moment . Mary lou mcdonald in dublin, welcome to hardtalk. Thank you. After the february election, when you and your party did remarkably well you won the most first preference votes in irelands general election you talked about a revolution at the ballot box. Well, five months on, whats happened to that revolution . Well, five months on, we are into really uncharted and unprecedented times, no more than yourselves, with a global pandemic, with the Public Health eme
A 13000000000. 00 euro tax spilled a u. S. Slapped on apple that on behalf of our allies will the tech giant have to pay out doubling doesnt even want the money well talk about why. And south africa reopens good schools up despite rising coronavirus cases many of them lack basic facilities and that has people worried theyll become breeding grounds for the covert 1000 bucks. Plus flooding in bangladesh forcing more than a 1000000 people from their homes about a 3rd of the countrys now under water after some of the heaviest monsoon rains in decades forecasters are warning more rain is on the way. Im brian thomas good to have you with us today you. President donald trump has signed an executive order ending hong kongs special trading privileges he also announced sanctions against officials and banks involved in beijings crackdown on human rights in the territory china has condemned the move and says it will impose sanctions and turn on u. S. Citizens well go live to beijing after this and
Lets start with the Military Coup in myanmar. Police have filed several charges against the elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. She hasnt been seen since her arrest on monday and remains in custody. The charges she faces are unexpected. First, shes charged with breaching the countrys strict import and export laws. Shes also accused of possessing Unlawful Communications devices, and we know that is related to six walky talkies used by her Security Guards and which the Authorities Say were found in Aung San Suu Kyis residence. Heres our South East Asia correspondentjonathan head. Any Walkie Talkies in her home would have been used by Security Guards. Everyone will know that is a device. Its a way of trying to neutralise. Just think about this. The military lots there too because she has one every election by really significant margins. If the military is to fulfil its promise on holding another election, it has to find a way to get out of the election. Thats what they will use to do that. A
Tensions are rising with local residents. And a major shootout in mexico city more than 2 dozen gunmen ambushed the chief of police and other officers on a major pull of authorities are calling it an assassination attempt. A michael thanks for joining us in the u. S. Several states that were the 1st to ease a lockdown restrictions are now seeing drastic spikes in coronavirus case its large states like texas and florida are now shutting parts of the economy back down in a race to get ahead of the infection spread records for new infections are being broken across the country while the administration and some local leaders continue to downplay the threat of the. Disease. One step forward 2 steps back states like texas and florida have been left reeling progress towards reopening has been put on pause with surging infection rates in both states in texas nearly 6000 new coronavirus cases were recorded on thursday prompting the governor to close by and limit restaurants to 50 percent capaci
Police and other officers on a major boulevard authorities are calling it an assassination attempt. A michael thanks for joining us parts of europe are dealing with a resurgence of corona virus infections in italy there has been a spike in new cases to the north of naples mainly in apartment blocks housing Agricultural Workers the city of mundra goni is on alert to try to stop the virus from spreading further. Tensions have been rising between the residents of these apartment blocks and the local people in undergrown e after the buildings were placed under lockdown due to dozens of coronavirus cases several residents trying to leave and defiance of the buddha and this is will be a big problem for us because. After they are going to close all the cv and that is a economic problem for us. Most of the residents of bulgaria many of them thought to be working in italy without proper contracts and for very low wages now sentiment against the foreign workforce is mounting. The biggest im goin