Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Belarus opposition disputes leader's landslide win

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has refused to accept President Alexander Lukashenko won 80% of the vote in Sunday's election

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has refused to accept President Alexander Lukashenko won 80% of the vote in Sunday's election. We speak to her about this election.

Also in the programme: There's been an angry reaction in Hong Kong following the arrest of a pro-democracy activist and media tycoon, Jimmy Lai, under the national security law imposed by China. And the American professor who says he can predict who will win the White House in November.

(Photo: Ms Tikhanovskaya says she wants the authorities to hand over power. Credit: Reuters)

53 minutes

Last on

Mon 10 Aug 202013:06GMT
BBC World Service

More episodes

Previous

Emergency aid pledged to Lebanon

Next

The whole of Lebanon’s government resigns

See all episodes from Newshour

Chapters

  • WS Gen Prelude @59'30''-FP

    • WS Gen Prelude @59'30''-FP

      (Furniture Player PRELUDE and then PIPS TO THE TOP OF THE HOUR)

      Duration: 00:30

  • WS NH Opening BBD-HP - Start @ 00'00'

    • WS NH Opening BBD-HP - Start @ 00'00'

      Welcome to Newshour, from the BBC World Service ... I'm Razia IqbalThe president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, claims an overwhelming election victory despite vote rigging allegations. We speak to the opposition leader, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya: Also, reaction to most prominent person to be arrested under the new security law in Hong Kong: the media tycoon and pro-democracy activist, Jimmy Lai: We'll also get a pro-Beijing view. How researchers in Singapore have developed an "electronic skin"; it could help re-create a sense of touch for people with prosthetic limbs.And the man who says he can predict who will win the whitehouse in November; he has form.

      Duration: 00:51

  • WS Bull Open Tag -(Mandatory)

    • WS Bull Open Tag -(Mandatory)

      Hello, I'm xxxxxxxx with the BBC news[ALTERNATIVE OPENING WORDS FOR OCCASIONAL USE:](I'm xxxxxxxxx with the BBC News…. hello.I'm xxxxxxxxx, with a look at the latest BBC News.This is the latest BBC News, with xxxxxxxxxx.)

      Duration: 00:02

  • Q14 Abdulrasulov Belarus grab

    • Q14 Abdulrasulov Belarus grab

      The president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko has said he'll not allow the country to be torn apart by what he called foreign-inspired agitators. He described as 'sheep' those who took part in violent protests that erupted after his landslide election victory was declared on Sunday. The main challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said she did not recognise the result. The BBC's Abduljalil Abdurasulov in Minsk says the protests are likely to continue.

      Duration: 00:50

  • Q14 Belarus Polish clip

    • Q14 Belarus Polish clip

      The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has congratulated Mr Lukashenko on his re-election, but Poland has led expressions of concern. Pawel Jablonski is the Deputy Foreign Minister in Warsaw. (B/A) Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, has challenged the authorities in Belarus to publish accurate vote counts.

      Duration: 00:38

  • Q14 Brant US China

    • Q14 Brant US China

      China has imposed sanctions on eleven US political figures in retaliation for similar measures announced by Washington against Chinese officials last week. From Shanghai, Robin Brant reports.

      Duration: 00:46

  • 1100 HONG KONG LAI- (2)

    • 1100 HONG KONG LAI- (2)

      There's been defiance and anger in Hong Kong following the arrest of the pro-democracy activist and media tycoon, Jimmy Lai. He's been detained under the territory's new national security law. Executives at Apple Daily -- the newspaper owned by Mr Lai -- promised to continue publishing. (Shares in the newspaper's parent company soared by more than three hundred percent, in apparent support for Mr Lai. Journalists and media commentators condemned the arrest. Mr Lai's two sons and several others were also detained, as dozens of police officers raided Apple Daily's headquarters in Hong Kong.

      Duration: 00:15

  • WS Bull Mid Tag-HP @ 3'59''

    • WS Bull Mid Tag-HP @ 3'59''

      World News from the BBC.[ALTERNATIVES IF NEEDED FOR TIMING](This is xxxx xxx with the latest World News from the BBC)(BBC News)

      Duration: 00:01

  • 0800 US TAIWAN TALKS- (2)

    • 0800 US TAIWAN TALKS- (2)

      urn:bbc:slicerav:segment:id:360965

      Duration: 00:30

  • 1330 WHO VIRUS- (4)

    • 1330 WHO VIRUS- (4)

      The World Health Organisation has warned that societies can successfully reopen only if they are relentless in their efforts to suppress the coronavirus. A senior official (Mike Ryan) said the virus showed no seasonal pattern // and bounced back when pressure was removed. (The United States, Brazil and India account for half of all officially registered cases worldwide.

      Duration: 00:13

  • Q14 Johnston Algeria

    • Q14 Johnston Algeria

      An Algerian journalist has been jailed in a high-profile court case that was seen as a test of the extent of press freedom in the country. Khaled Drareni was given a three year prison sentence. (Our Arab Affairs editor) Alan Johnston reports.

      Duration: 00:47

  • 1000 GHANA VIRUS- (2)

    • 1000 GHANA VIRUS- (2)

      A BBC investigation has revealed that some staff in Ghana's hospitals have been selling personal protective equipment for personal profit. More than two thousand medical workers have been infected by the corona virus and there are complaints that staff lack the equipment they need to protect themselves. One hospital pharmacy worker, Thomas Osei, was filmed selling hundreds of dollars’ worth of gowns and face shields. (The Greater Accra Regional Hospital says following an internal investigation, Mr Osei was suspended for selling the PPE, in breach of hospital rules.

      Duration: 00:21

  • 1330 LEBANON BLAST

    • 1330 LEBANON BLAST

      There are reports that Lebanon's finance minister is preparing to resign following Tuesday's massive explosion in Beirut. One source said Ghazi Wazni had taken his resignation letter with him to a cabinet meeting that will discuss the crisis. Three other ministers have already stepped down. Many Lebanese are furious that the authorities allowed a vast quantity of explosive material to be stored in the capital, (and there have been calls for the entire government to resign. There's also anger at what's regarded as the corruption of the wider political establishment, and its handling of an economic crisis that has brought Lebanon to its knees. )

      Duration: 00:21

  • 1330 IRAN UKRAINE PLANE- (4)

    • 1330 IRAN UKRAINE PLANE- (4)

      Iran says it will not compensate Ukraine International Airlines for the plane it accidentally shot down in January. The head of Iran's insurance organisation said compensation should come from European aviation insurers as the aircraft was not insured by Iranian companies. He didn't address potential compensation for the victims’ families. (A-hundred-and-seventy-six people were killed when Iranian Revolutionary Guards mistakenly shot down the plane over Teheran. Countries that lost citizens have called for those responsible to be held to account. Iran has blamed human error and poor military communication.)

      Duration: 00:16

  • WS NH Sting & Ident

    • WS NH Sting & Ident

      [Note:THIS IS THE OFFICIAL 'START' OF THE PROG + PODCAST](PRESENTER IDENT - ALTER REGULARLY) Hello and welcome to Newshour, from the BBC World Service. Coming to you live from London - I'm *** ***

      Duration: 00:10

  • Belarus Opposition-Svetlana tape ready

    • Belarus Opposition-Svetlana tape ready

      We begin with Belarus, a country which has been run by the same man since 1994. President Alexander Lukashenko, Europe's longest serving ruler, on Sunday, was seeking a sixth term in office. It is a country which is situated west of Russia, north of Ukraine, and shares a border with Poland, and it has, in recent weeks, seen the most serious challenge to a man who has ruled with a solid and unrelenting authoritarian grip. Many, in recent weeks of campaigning, have sent a message that they want change. The results of the vote said the President won a landslide victory. Given that tens of thousands of people came out to support opposition candidates in the campaign, the result is being contested, amidst allegations of fraud and vote rigging. When the exit poll indicated the President had won 80 per cent of the vote, people went out on the streets to protest; there have been clashes with riot police who have used stun grenades, water cannon and rubber bullets, and its thought thousands have been arrested. Before we came on air, we got through to Svetlana Tikh-han-ov-skaya. This 37 year old former teacher was thrust into the spotlight after her husband was jailed and prevented from standing against President Lukashenko. I began by asking her for her reaction to state media saying there had been a landslide victory for President Lukashenka:

      Duration: 08:40

  • Belarus Correspondent or Pundit-LIVE Franak Via?orka via Skype - SM has details

    • Belarus Correspondent or Pundit-LIVE Franak Via?orka via Skype - SM has details

      Franak Via?orka <pron. FRA-nak via-CHOR-ka> is an independent Belarusian journalist normally based in Minsk - he's currently in hiding for security reasons. He joins me nowSUGGESTED QUESTIONS- what are you hearing about the current situation.. you're not there youreself but you're in touch with sources on the ground- who are the protesters - young students, or a broader mix of people across different age groups? Not just in Minsk but across the country?<WHAT HE SAYShe's tweeting @franakviacorkahe prefers not to say where he is, he had to leave Minsk for his own safety a few days agoJournalists without accreditation have been detainedThose with accreditation CAN go out in the streetForeign journalists are at risk of being deportedIf you have a press badge, they will remove you from events or arrest youCurrently in hiding, normally in MinskI'm gathering and working with user-generated content from sources on the groundCurrent sit: Internet back onNumbers of victims injured and wounded during protests last night, 50 people wounded3,000 people detainedOne dead protester in Minsk, hit by police truckProtesters behaving differently in different cities. Who are the protesters? The ones in Minsk mostly young students, but outside Minsk they're a more mixed group, older people taking part tooBroadly Peaceful protests, the violence coming from riot police. Orders come from government to clamp down hardWill protests continue? Depends on rally tonight and if Svetlana tikanovskaya will support the protesters.. but yes I think they will continue. The protests are not centralized, grassroots movements, no organised protests leadersThis situation in unprecedented in Belarus… never seen anything like it.. situation is fluid, changes from hour to hour.>

      Duration: 04:00

  • WS NH Ident & PF-FP PF to HP @ 18'59

    • WS NH Ident & PF-FP PF to HP @ 18'59

      [Presenter needs to give ident and stop speaking by 18'52. Then music bed comes up.]You're listening to the BBC World Service and this is Newshour.

      Duration: 00:03

  • WS NH 19 to 20 HP-CLIP + Heads. PF to 19'59

    • WS NH 19 to 20 HP-CLIP + Heads. PF to 19'59

      Coming up later:How the movie classic Star Wars has inspired a major advance in robot technology that will help humans with false limbs to regain a sense of touch:Headlines ... 1400The president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has claimed an overwhelming election victory despite vote-rigging allegations; the main challenger has refused to accept the result. There's been an angry reaction in Hong Kong following the arrest of a pro-democracy activist and media tycoon, Jimmy Lai, under the national security law imposed by China.(A journalist who reported on anti-government protests in Algeria has been jailed for three years in a case seen as test of press freedom there. A BBC investigation has found that some hospital staff in Ghana have been selling protective equipment for personal profit. )[NO PRESENTER OR STATION IDENT if filling needed you can say You're listening to the BBC World Service][Presenter to read trail ahead with clip from the second half (duration 10-15 seconds) and then read headlines as necessary to end at '52 MAX]

      Duration: 00:50

  • WS NH Ident

    • WS NH Ident

      (PRESENTER IDENT:) This is *** *** - with Newshour, live from the BBC (in London) ...

      Duration: 00:04

  • SOMMERVILLE Beirut-timed for SHORT

    • SOMMERVILLE Beirut-timed for SHORT

      Fresh clashes have broken out in the Lebanese city of Beirut between police and protesters, who are angered at the government's response to last Tuesday's massive explosion. It is now thought that more than 200 people have died; the resignation of now, three ministers from the cabinet, has done little to quell the rage of demonstrators; their anger is focussed on the official negligence blamed for last week’s blast.? But it is also not new.? Lebanon has faced months of economic crisis.? Many blame a corrupt political system and have been calling for change.Our Middle East Correspondent Quentin Sommerville reports from Beirut.

      Duration: 04:22

  • 25 Past Sting NO Ident

    • 25 Past Sting NO Ident

      [PRESENTER: cue with hand wave / last words of previous back anno]

      Duration: 00:08

  • Artificial Skin-Benjamin Tee ex VCS

    • Artificial Skin-Benjamin Tee ex VCS

      Researchers in Singapore have developed "electronic skin", which is capable of re-creating a sense of touch, an innovation, which once it is fully developed and tested in human trials, could allow people with prosthetic limbs to detect objects as well as feel texture or even temperature or pain. The team leader of the research from the National University of Singapore, is a man called Dr Benjamin Tee, for whom the inspiration for this artificial skin came from an unlikely source:

      Duration: 04:01

  • WS Gen Mid Promo-FP

    • WS Gen Mid Promo-FP

      [Midway Promo from 29'01 to 29'59"]

      Duration: 01:00

  • WS NH Mid BBD-Pres

    • WS NH Mid BBD-Pres

      [Notes:TRAIL BUSINESS SLOTAND ANOTHER STORY - can be more conversational rather than a list][Mid BBD Music starts at xx'30'00''](PRES) Coming up on Newshour in the next thirty minutes:- (biz slot) The latest on a raging fire at Kenya's Tsavo National Park which may have been started by arsonists- Reaction in Hong Kong to the arrest of the media tycoon and pro-democracy figure, Jimmy Lai.- And the political analyst who has correctly forecast the result of every US presidential election since 1984....After the news.

      Duration: 00:22

  • WS News Summary-Newsreader

    • WS News Summary-Newsreader

      [Newsreader reads summary. Straight in on first story. Out by 32'29" on words "BBC News".]BBC News with xxxxxx xxxxxx.BBC News.

      Duration: 02:00

  • Biz Slot ~ Kenya national park fire-Emmanuel Igunza LIVE ex Traffic

    • Biz Slot ~ Kenya national park fire-Emmanuel Igunza LIVE ex Traffic

      Welcome back to Newshour. Hong Kong, and the arrest of the most prominent media tycoon in the city under the new security law, is coming up next. First, the Kenyan army has been deployed to help try to put out a large fire in a national park in the south east of the country. Kenya's Wildlife Service believes the fire in Tsavo National Park was started on Saturday by arsonists. Our correspondent in Nairobi, Emmanuel Igunza joins us now on the line...(Tell us more about the Tsavo National Park and the extent of the fire raging there?Why do authorities think arsonists started it?

      Duration: 00:27

  • WS NH 2nd Half Lead Ident

    • WS NH 2nd Half Lead Ident

      [Notes:AT 36'00" EXACTLY:]You're listening to Newshour from the BBC. I'm XXX XXX

      Duration: 00:03

  • Hong Kong Opposition-clip + tape timed to medium

    • Hong Kong Opposition-clip + tape timed to medium

      Let's turn to Hong Kong now, where today, police have arrested several people under the new and controversial security law, including the media tycoon and pro-democracy figure: Jimmy Lai, who is 72. His company, Next Digital, publishes Apple Daily, which is, among other things, a fiercely pro-democracy title, which routinely takes on the Hong Kong government and the Chinese leadership. Jimmy Lai is the most high-profile person to be detained under the law. And it was done in the most dramatic fashion: some 200 Hong Kong Police, raided the Apple Daily newsroom, handcuffed Mr Lai, and took away documents. He is being investigated on charges of collusion with a foreign country, or external elements. Asked (at a news briefing in Beijing) how Mr Lai was alleged to have colluded with foreign powers, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, said he did not know details of the case. But he stressed that Hong Kong, which China describes as a Special Administration Region, or SAR, was right to use the law:(ZHAO LIJIAN, m, in Mandarin:"I haven't seen this report but, as a principle, China is a country rooted by law. As long as the National Security law was passed our central government supports the (Hong Kong) SAR (Special Administrative Region) government in taking lawful action.")Before we came on air, I spoke to Hong kong legislator, who opposes the new law - Eddie Chu

      Duration: 05:22

  • Hong Kong Pro Beijing Ip-timed to shorter

    • Hong Kong Pro Beijing Ip-timed to shorter

      Let's hear now from another Legislator for the council in Hong, Regina Ip, who is pro-Beijing and supports the new secuitry law.

      Duration: 04:52

  • Apple daily journo -LIVE whastapp alicia to come through

    • Apple daily journo -LIVE whastapp alicia to come through

      Joining us now from Hong Kong is Alex Lam, a senior reporter at the Apple Daily, and union spokesman at Next digital media-you are now back in the apple daily office.. ? do you know what the police took? -He says he is now in the office and they are looking through to see what was taken, he wasnt in the office when the raid happened because most journalist re woking form home due to the pandemic. so this is how the people are apple daily were outnumbered by police this morning. The police warrent says they could not take journalistic material, so far they know they took things from the charitable foundation, from the sales dept and a server. they don't know if the server they took is one which includes journalistic material. the police took over the whole of the building which they are not supposed to do either, they checked everyone's ID. The editor in chief had a heated debate with the police and they threatend him with arresting him .

      Duration: 02:45

  • WS NH Ident & PF-FP PF to HP @ 48'59

    • WS NH Ident & PF-FP PF to HP @ 48'59

      [Presenter needs to give ident and stop speaking by 18'52. Then music bed comes up.]You're listening to the BBC World Service and this is Newshour.

      Duration: 00:03

  • WS NH 49 to 50 HP-Self-contained trail COPY DAILY TRAIL FROM DIRA TRANSFERS

    • WS NH 49 to 50 HP-Self-contained trail COPY DAILY TRAIL FROM DIRA TRANSFERS

      [Self-contained trail sent to W1 News > zz Dira Transfers every day][If no Trail provided use the generic Witness History Trail...]

      Duration: 01:00

  • WS NH 50 to 51 HP-CLIP + Heads. PF to 50'59

    • WS NH 50 to 51 HP-CLIP + Heads. PF to 50'59

      A reminder of our top story this hour ...The president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has claimed an overwhelming election victory despite vote-rigging allegations; the main challenger has refused to accept the result. Speaking to Newshour earlier, Svetlana Tikhanovskay rejected President Lukashenka's suggestion that she had been manipulated by what he described as foreign puppet mastersThere's been an angry reaction in Hong Kong following the arrest of a pro-democracy activist and media tycoon, Jimmy Lai, under the national security law imposed by China.<A journalist who reported on anti-government protests in Algeria has been jailed for three years in a case seen as test of press freedom there. A BBC investigation has found that some hospital staff in Ghana have been selling protective equipment for personal profit. >[NO PRESENTER OR STATION IDENT if filling needed you can say You're listening to the BBC World Service][Presenter to read headlines with clip from earlier in the programme reprising main story or best audio (duration 10-15 seconds) and then read headlines as necessary to end at '52 MAX. Music bed should be clearly established after the clip, under the headlines, then flourish after the presenter finishes talking at '52 MAX.]

      Duration: 00:46

  • WS NH 51 Ident

    • WS NH 51 Ident

      (PRESENTER IDENT:) This is *** *** - with Newshour, live from the BBC (in London) ...

      Duration: 00:04

  • US Election Lichtman-LIVE ex Facetime

    • US Election Lichtman-LIVE ex Facetime

      The French astrologer and seer, Nostradamus, may well be turning in his grave with envy now, for we are about to talk to a man who has successfully predicted every single winner of the US Presidential election since 1984. Yes, essentially, even the hanging chad one, and yes, the last one in 2016; indeed he was definitely in a minority when he predicted that Donald Trump would win. His name is Alan Lichtman, who is a professor of history at American university in Washington DC. And he joins us now ..

      Duration: 00:30

Broadcast

  • Mon 10 Aug 202013:06GMT
    BBC World Service

Podcast

  • Newshour

    Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.