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Withdrawal From TPP Provides Opening for China; Is TPP Deal Dead?; Oscar Nominations Announced; Court Rules Parliament Has Say in Invoking Article 50. Aired 8-9a ET

Aired January 24, 2017 - 08:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


[08:00:07] KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. And welcome to News Stream. A landmark ruling in the UK. The government

cannot trigger Britain's exit without parliament's approval.

As Donald Trump withdraws his country from the Transpacific Partnership, we will ask Australia's trade minister whether the TPP can survive without the

U.S.

And will La La Land dance off with the most nominations for the Oscars? We will bring you the nominations in 30 minutes from now.

Britain's supreme court has spoken: Parliament, and not the prime minister, has the final say on

leaving the European Union.

Now the landmark ruling means that Theresa May must get lawmakers approval before formally triggering the Brexit process. The scene is now set for a

vote in Westminster. And that could delay government plans to begin the Brexit process in March.

And outside the court, the lead plaintiff explained the importance of the ruling.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GINA MILLER, LEAD PLAINTIFF: Only parliament can grant rights to the British people and only parliament can take them away. No prime minister,

no government, can expect to be unanswerable or unchallenged. Parliament alone is sovereign.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: And in the last few minute's, Britain's Brexit secretary has thrown cold water on

any speculation that the court ruling will delay or even derail Brexit. David Davis says Britain has passed the point of no return and his

government will press on with its plans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID DAVIS, BREXIT SECRETARY: This government is determined to deliver on the decision taken by the people of the United Kingdom in the referendum

granted to them by this house to leave the European Union. So we will move swiftly to do just that.

I can announce today that we will shortly introduce legislation allowing the government to move ahead with invoking Article 50, which starts the

formal process of withdrawing from the European Union.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Now, let's get the latest from Westminster. CNN's Nic Robertson is outside the prime minister's residence at 10 Downing Street. And, Nic,

there were fears that the court ruling would delay the Brexit process. What do we know about the timetable going forward?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Timetable is the end of March for triggering Article 50. That's what Theresa May has said, that's

what the Brexit minister David Savis has said, what they plan to do is introduce a very short, tight bill that will deny the opportunity to have

lengthy amendments put into it. But what we have heard as he was speaking to parliament there is his office at number across the benches from the

Labour Party saying, no, we would like to challenge the government on this. The amendments that we would like to see going into this are, you know,

Britain -- we don't want Britain to be tearing up the Custom's Union. We don't want Britain to be leaving the single market. Indeed, they're going

beyond that saying we want a process going forward whereby parliament will be involved through this process of Brexit.

Meaning, while David Davis and others help negotiating Britain's way out of the European Union, Parliament, Labour Party, opposition party is arguing,

they should have oversight and overview into that.

That's now Theresa May's position. It's not where she wants to be. Her concern is that the more amendments that are tabled, the more she will have

to say about the government's position and plans. And she says that's against national security interests, because that lets the European Union

know Britain's negotiating position, and that's not healthy for Britain overall.

We've also heard today from the first minister -- the leader of the Scottish SNP, the Scottish National Party. Her position has been that

Scotland should have a very strong voice. The Supreme Court today said that's not the case. There isn't a legal case for that. And this is what

we heard from the Scottish First Minister today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICOLA STURGEON, SCOTTISH FIRST MINISTER: And I think it's a matter of democratic principal that the Scottish parliament on such a big fundamental

issue with so many implications for the devolved settlement should have a say on whether or not it consents to the

triggering of Article 50. So we will bring forward a motion that allows you the Scottish parliament do that. And I would then hope that the UK

government would pay attention to it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: So, we will have these amendments put forward, once the bill is put before

parliament. But, again, the confidence seems to be with Theresa May. And she went to parliament today to sit there in the bench right behind David

Davis when he was speaking, a show of her solidarity and commitment. She believes that whatever amendments come forward is not going to knock her

off that timetable.

LU STOUT: So, can we assume that there will be smooth, timely passage of the bill? I mean, how much opposition is there?

[08:05:03] ROBERTSON: There isn't sufficient opposition as we understand at the moment. And certainly, this is the position of Theresa May that the

majority of parliamentarians will not choose to block the will of the British people in the referendum, that there is enough support to get this

bill through. The bill in the government's view will be short and simple and

strong enough to get majority support to get it through.

So, again, they believe that they -- they believe at this stage that they can, that the Scottish

contingent in there, the SNP if you will, in parliament is not large enough, whatever the first minister says, to block it. And at the moment,

there isn't enough opposition. No one is expecting that at this moment.

LU STOUT: And we know that Prime Minister Theresa May will soon be meeting with

Donald Trump. So, after this Brexit decision and after this defeat in court for the government, what are the prospects for a new solid trade deal

with the U.S., especially as Brexit approaches?

ROBERTSON: Well, this really cuts to the chase of some of what we heard today in parliament. The opposition saying, we don't want you to get rid

of the customs union. And that's something, an amendment they would like to put into the law that the government will -- the bill that the

government will be hoping to pass into law.

So what does that mean? If the government was to say to the European Union, we don't want to leave the customs union, we will change and fiddle

around with our stuff, they're not going to say that. But if they were to say that, then that would imply that they could not get a separate trade

deal with the United States.

So, you know, the position Theresa May made very clear a week ago is that she is ready to get out of the custom's union, that does free her up to go

and have a conversation with Donald Trump, President Trump, later this week that will allow them to begin their negotiators, British, American

negotiators, to begin talking about what a deal might look like, so when Britain does, in two years time, as expected, leave the European Union,

then they can finalize a trade agreement between Britain and the United States. That's where it leaves us.

So, you can see that the amendments and the opposition to the way that she is tackling Brexit with her aim to be able to make deals with the United

States, for example, you know, there are clashings of ideas and ideals here. But the weight at the moment does seem to be in Theresa May's favor

-- Kristie.

LU STOUT: All right, Nic Robertson reporting live from 10 Downing Street. Thank you, Nic.

And turning now to changing times in Washington. Donald Trump is pushing forward on what he calls his America first agenda. Only days in office, he

has already withdrawn from the Transpacific Partnership deal and is pressuring, some say threatening, American

businesses not to export jobs.

The new president held an important first meeting on Monday with leaders of congress. You can see them right here. They are gathered at the White

House.

And as Athena Jones reports, Mr. Trump used part of that meeting to repeat a claim that he apparently still has not let go of.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Trump again falsely claiming he lost the popular vote because of voter fraud. Sources tell CNN

during a bipartisan meeting with congressional leaders at the White House, the president reiterated the unsubstantiated claim that 3 to 5 million

illegal ballots cost him the popular vote. It's a claim Mr. Trump has made before on Twitter, and it's been repeatedly debunked. The president also

using the meeting to dwell on the size of his inauguration crowds.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was, from his perspective, a very, very large crowd, and we didn't -- we didn't push it beyond that, but it was clear that this

was still in his mind.

JONES: In his first official briefing as White House press secretary, Sean Spicer defending the president.

SEAN SPICER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY : It's about sitting here every time and being told, "No, the crowds aren't that big. He's not that

successful." The narrative and the default narrative is always negative, and it's demoralizing.

JONES: Spicer on the defensive after falsely claiming the 2017 inauguration had the largest audience of any swearing in.

SPICER: I think sometimes we can disagree with the facts. Our intention is never to lie to you.

JONES: But beyond his continued obsession with votes and crowd size, Trump spent most of his first Monday in office on repealing Obama's policies.

TRUMP: Great thing for the American worker, what we just did.

JONES: The president signing an executive action to withdraw the U.S. from the Transpacific Partnership.

TRUMP: We're going to have trade, but we're going to have one-on-one.

JONES: Casting the free trade agreement between 12 nations as bad for American business.

TRUMP: Companies that left are going to come back to our country. They're going to hire a lot of people.

JONES: The president also signing two other executive actions, imposing a hiring freeze on most federal workers, and reinstating a ban on funding for

international groups who provide or counsel women on abortion.

His policy moves coming on the same day he met with corporate and union leaders, warning U.S. companies against manufacturing overseas.

[08:10:15] TRUMP: A company that wants to fire all of its people in the United States and build some factory someplace else, and then thinks that

that product is just going to flow across the border into the United States, that's not going to happen. They're going to have a tax to pay, a

border tax. A substantial border tax.

JONES: And offering an incentive to stay in the U.S.

TRUMP: We think we can cut regulations by 75 percent. Maybe more.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: CNN's Athena Jones reporting. She joins me live from Washington. And Athena, today President Trump is ready to meet with

leaders of Fiat Chrysler and Ford and GM. Is it safe to assume jobs, that's going to be the number one item on the agenda here?

JONES: Hi, Kristie.

I think it's safe to assume that he has talked a lot about promoting U.S. manufacturing and why do that? In order to make sure that there are

American workers have jobs. That is one of the main reasons that he talked about wanting to pull out of the Transpacific Partnership trade deal.

Opponents to trade deals, trade deal skeptics, have been concerned that it ends up hurting American workers. Jobs are shipped overseas. So, we

expect to hear him echo some of what he told business leaders yesterday about the need to keep jobs in America. He will likely promise more cuts

to regulations, tax cuts.

And remember, President Trump has promised to create 25 million jobs during his time in office. So this is one of the places that he hopes to start --

Kristie.

LU STOUT: Athena Jones live in Washington for us. Thank you, Athena.

Now, the Transpacific Partnership will likely disintegrate now that the U.S. has pulled out, but China is pushing its own trade deal. We will tell

you what it is and how it could affect trade in the region and beyond.

And Beijing is hitting back at the U.S. over remarks by the new White House on the South China Sea. We've got the details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU SOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong, welcome back. You are watching News Stream.

And now that Donald Trump has pulled the U.S. out of the Transpacific Partnership, some are warning the door is now open for China to lead trade

policy across the region.

Now, Andrew Stevens reports that Beijing is already pushing a trade deal that leaves the U.S. out of the picture.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Transpacific Partnership is another disaster done and pushed by special interests who want to rape

our country.

ANDREW STEVENS, CNN MONEY: All it took was the stroke of a pen for Donald Trump

to kill off the TPP in its current form, a deal that had been seven years in the making.

It was billed as a new kind of trade pact, one that gave the U.S. a leadership role in Asia, cementing Barack Obama's Pacific pivot to the

region.

That role now looks like it's been gifted to China, which is ramping up plans for a new

multi-country trade deal that does not include the U.S. It's the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, RCEP. It's made up of 16 countries,

the ten members of ASEAN and China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. It covers about 30 percent of global GDP compared with

the 40 percent for the TPP. RCEP would also account for about a quarter of global trade.

It's a fairly standard trade deal, slashing tariffs and trade barriers among member countries so trade can move freely. So not a lot different to

the TPP, you might think. But you would be wrong. There are important differences, key differences between these two policies.

The TPP was more than just cutting trade barriers, it included protections to workers' rights, environmental standards and intellectual property

rights. None of those are included in the RCEP.

Barack Obama called the TPP a chance for America to write the trade rules to the 21st century. Donald Trump is using a very different playbook.

Under his plans to make America great again, he could be handing China a key role in setting future trade standards in the most dynamic economic

region of the world.

Andrew Stevens, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now, there is some hope among Australia and other countries that without U.S. involvement, the TPP proposal can move ahead.

Now, let's bring in Steven Chiobo. He is Australia's minister for trade, tourism and investment. And he joins us now live from New York.

Sir, thank you so much for joining us here on CNN.

Of course, as reported, the TPP in its current form is dead. But is it true that you plan to

create a parallel agreement with other TPP members and without the U.S.?

STEVEN CHIOBO, AUSTRALIAN TRADE MINISTER: Well, we have had discussed about a reformulated TPP. Let's call it a TPP 12 minus 1. The minus 1

being the fact that the United States is not going to be part of the TPP.

The fact is that the gains that were achieved and agreed to under the TPP are so significant that there's a widespread view among many countries that

are TPP members that we shouldn't let these gains slip through our fingers.

So, we have been having some preliminary discussions about how we might be able to capture

within a new reformulated TPP those gains, just less the United states.

LU STOUT: Absolutely. You don't want to get rid of any gains that were already negotiated over the years.

But several countries, including Japan and Malaysia, they have signaled that a TPP deal has no

meaning without the United states. So is a, as you put it, a TPP 12 minus 1 even possible?

CHIOBO: Well, this is a subject that we have discussed most recently at the World Economic Forum. And in fact, we had an informal WTO ministerial

meeting as well.

I had the opportunity to talk with Japan, to speak with Canada, Mexico, conversations with Singapore, with New Zealand, with Malaysia, and there's

a general consensus that there is gains there that need to be held on to.

Now, ultimately, there's a lot of work that needs to be done. There's discussions that need to

be had. Obviously, in the case of Canada and Mexico, they will be watching what happens in terms of NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement.

So there's a number of moving parts to this. But I go back to that central point, which is that there's a lot of progress that was made under the TPP,

which we don't want to let slip through our fingers.

LU STOUT: But even if you do move forward with multiple players involved, but without the U.S., any economic benefits would be significantly reduced,

right?

CHIOBO: Well, yes and no. This is exactly the question that needs to be asked and analyzed. I mean, in Australia's case, we already have a free

trade agreement with the United States. And we've been a good friend with the United States for, of course, decades and decades. And we want to

continue to build on that relationship.

But under the TPP, we had the opportunity to have for the first time a comprehensive agreement with, for example, Canada and Mexico, which we

don't currently have. The same applies to a number of other countries. It was the opportunity to actually have some strong bilateral agreements

within the framework of the TPP.

Plus, it was the fact that we saw under the TPP the application of standards, like environmental

standard, labor standards, those types of benefits, which we don't want to lose.

LU STOUT: Now, you mentioned those benefits like labor standards. And I have got to ask you about China, you know, because with Trump pulling out

the TPP, many people are saying that the door is open for China to assume a global leadership role in trade. But

given China's history, is that a good thing?

CHIOBO: Well, I'm always -- I always reject the notion it's one or the other. The fact is that these operate in parallel. Australia is also a

member of the negotiations around the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or what's called RCEP. We're a part of that, because, of

course, our geography is within Asia. We're having discussions with a lot of trade partners.

We already have in place a free trade agreement with ASEAN countries, but RCEP provides opportunity to have an agreement on a broader basis, 16

countries in total. So, there's a key role there for RCEP.

And in fact, part of the vision was to have both RCEP and the TPP coming together at some future point for what they call the free trade agreement

area of Asia-Pacific, and that's the long-term APEc vision to have a regional trading bloc across Asia and the Pacific.

[08:20:50] LU STOUT: And finally, I want to get your reaction, your gut reaction to Donald Trump's decision here. You know, we know it was

expected. He did for a long time pledge to scrap the TPP. He has done that. But how do you feel about working with America under Trump and the trade relationship between U.S. and Australia?

CHIOBO: Well, Australia and the United States have been long friends for a long time. We're close very friends allies. And we will continue to have

a very solid and sound working relationship under the Trump administration, as indeed we had under the Obama

administration.

As far as I'm concerned, as Australia's trade, tourism and investment minister, we will go

forward for me in the case of pursuing Australia's national interests.

Now, we will pursue that national interest under multilateral, pluri- lateral (ph) as well as bilateral deals. I understand the Trump administration only wants bilateral deals. And of course that's their

prerogative.

In Australia's case, though, we will pursue multi-lateral, pluri-lateral, and bilateral deals because we can achieve good outcomes for Australia

using all three.

LU STOUT: All right, Steven Chiobo, trade minister of Australia, joining us live from

New York. Thank you very much. Good luck to you. Take care.

CHIOBO: Thank you.

LU STOUT: Now, Donald Trump, again, he promised to scrap the TPP trade pact. He did just that only days after taking office. He has also pledged

to slap new tariffs on imports from China. And if that happens, what could China do to fire back? I spoke with JP Morgan managing director Jing

Ulrich about China's economic weapons.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JING ULRICH, VICE PRESIDENT OF ASIA PACIFIC, JPMORGAN CHASE: In terms of what China might do in the event of U.S. slapping tariffs on Chinese

exports into America, of course, China could do a lot. China could use a tit for tat approach by introducing tariffs on American exports into China.

Remember, Boeing has projected selling around in the next 20 years $1 trillion worth of aircraft to China.

So, if tariffs were put on, that would be very damaging to a very successful, very iconic American company.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: One economic weapon, losing a big contract there. That was Jing Ulrich speaking to me earlier.

Now, Beijing is urging the U.S. to speak and to act cautiously when it comes to the South China Sea. And China has been building man made islands

there despite the objection of other countries who also lay claim to the area.

The Trump White House says the U.S. will defend its interests in those waters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SPICER: I think areas in the South China Sea that are part of international waters, and international activities, I think the U.S. is

going to make sure that we protect our interests there. So, it's a question of if those islands are in fact in international waters and not

part of China proper, then, yeah, we are going to make sure that we defend international territories from being taken over by one country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: OK. So let's get the reaction from Beijing. Matt Rivers was there. He joins us now.

And Matt, we heard Sean Spicer there not only addressing the South China Sea issue, but asserting that the U.S.would defend its interests there.

So, how is Beijing responding to that?

MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, they respond the same way they do every time someone brings up the legitimacy of these artificial

islands that China has built. And they say, what we are doing in that part of the world is legal by our standard. It should be legal by any

international standards.

Let's bring you a little bit of sound that we heard early early today from a spokesperson at the ministry of foreign affairs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HUA CHUNGYING, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN (through translator): China's position on South China Sea issue is clear and consistent. There

is no change in our position. China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and their adjacent

waters. China is firm in safeguarding our rights and interests. And we are also committed to peaceful negotiations with countries concerned.

China also firmly oppose freedom of navigation and over flight in the South China Sea in accordance with international law.

The United States is not a party to the South China Sea issue. We urge the United States to

honor its commitments.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[08:25:07] RIVERS: And so here is why this is really interesting, Kristie. Remember the question that Sean Spicer was responding to when he said that

the U.S. would defend its interests. The reporter who asked him that question asked him if the administration supported the comments issued by

Rex Tillerson, the nominee for Secretary of State during his confirmation hearing where he said that it should be U.S. policy to prevent China from

accessing the islands that it has built over the last several years.

How would the U.S. go about that, though? Neither Tillerson nor Spicer would elaborate on that. But most experts would tell you, the only way to

stop China from getting those islands is to have a big military presence, go so far as to blockade those islands. And that's when you start talking

about the possibility of a confrontation between the two largest militaries in the world.

LU STOUT: Yeah, especially given how heated the exchange has become between these two

nations. Matt Rivers reporting for us live from Beijing. As always, thank you Matt.

Now, you are watching News Stream. Still to come, the wait is almost over. Find out which films will earn Oscar nominations this year. We are going

to bring the announcement to you just a few minutes from now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(HEADLINES)

[08:30:35] LU STOUT: Nominations for this year's Academy Awards are being revealed right

now. Let's listen in on the announcement.

(OSCAR NOMINATION ANNOUNCEMENTS)

[08:36:05] LU STOUT: All right, an untraditional way of presenting the Oscar nominations, but there you have it. You've been listening to the

nomination for this year's Academy Awards.

Let's bring in Film critic Richard Fitzwilliams from our London bureau for his take on the nominees. And Richard, we have to start off talking about

La La Land.

You know, it was expected to be a big frontrunner at the Oscars this year. It seems to be really shining in the eyes of the academy judging from what

we heard just then. Why?

RICHARD FITZWILLIAMS, FILM CRITIC: Well, there's no doubt at all its exuberance, the color, the fact it's such a wonderful, romantic tribute to

Hollywood. I mean it could be made for the Oscars. And yet, I have to say that one of the reasons it's going to be

rather dramatic is that although I think La La is going to win --and La La Land, everybody who has made the

prediction more or less agrees, it isn't an absolute certainty.

The reason is the Academy has a bit of a bias against musicals. Only Chicago in the last 48

years, this goes back to Oliver in 1969 -- has won as a musical. And the other thing is Moonlight has a

chance. It's a small, perfect movie. It's also -- and this is the year, the last couple of years that we had the hashtag Oscar so white with an all

black cast and also with an LGBT theme, it's about a young African-American striving to find his identity and know his sexuality.

It's a very power film and it has a chance, not a good chance. I think it is going to be La La Land.

And Manchester by the Sea, I have to say, a perfect film, would be my choice. But it will be very interesting on the night.

The other thing is Denzel Washington would love that third Oscar for a superlative performance in August -- in August Wilson's Fences. I mean,

this was a really dramatic study of an egotistical figure who is also very much a failure.

But Casey Affleck for Manchester by the Sea, I suspect very, very strongly, will be the winner there. What we can't tell is best actress. That's so

exciting.

LU STOUT: Absolutely. And it's interesting because among the nominations for best actress

it surprised me that Amy Adams was not named for Arrival, because she had so much Oscar buzz.

Who do you think is going to win that award?

FITZWILLIAMS: Well, I can only say that Jackie with Natalie Portman.

I mean, Portman won for Black Swan before. She'd been nominated for Closer. And this would be her third nomination. She's absolutely

mesmerizing as Jackie Kennedy. And yet Emma Stone to me was the heart and soul of La La Land as a waitress who is an aspiring star. I thought she

was glorious.

And yet Isabelle Huppert won at the Golden Globes.

Now, she was marvelous in Elle. And I have to say that between the three of them, and I mean, it's interesting, Ruth Negga edged out Amy Adams and

we've got Meryl Streep, it's far too close to call, certainly among the first three, you really couldn't tell.

And the fight, as well, for best supporting actress. I think it's going to be Viola Davis who has a feisty performance in Fences.

But let's face it, we have got Naomi Harris, wonderful in Moonlight as a crack addict. And alos Michelle Williams in Manchester by the Sea as a

soul-searing role.

So that, too, is exciting. And with a best director.

LU STOUT: You know -- before we move on, I just want to ask you about Meryl Streep, do you think the reason why perhaps she made it on to that

list is because of her Golden Globe speech when she took down Donald Trump without mentioning him by name?

Do you think she scored points with the Academy there?

FITZWILLIAMS: I think that her speech at the Globes was absolutely superb. I think it represented everyone's view in the industry. And I think that

also it was very timely.

But the reason she's got her 20th Oscar nomination, she's won three, is that her performance in Florence Foster Jenkins is absolutely marvelous.

And I think also that also that we will have a very political evening on the 26 of February at the Dolby Theater. Jimmy Kimmel, it will be

interesting to see how he handles it.

And he has also got some very close races with best director. We don't know whether it's going to be Damien Chazelle glorious La La Land or could

it be Barry Jenkins for that unorthodox Indy Moonlight or might it be Kenneth Lonergan for my personal favoriteManchester by the Sea? So, we

will wait, obviously, to find out.

Zootopia, definitely, for best animated movie. And no question at all that the overall standard is very high and also the diversity quotient here, I'm

delighted to say, after two years of #Oscarsowhite, we have got movies like Fences. We've got Hidden Figures. We've got Moonlight. We've got

Loving. We've got Lion. Telling stories as they should be told with top African- American talent.

LU STOUT: Absolutely. Such a relief as you pointed out after two years with no non-white acting nominations, bringing about the hash tag,

#Oscarsowhite, that's finally changed this year.

I wanted to ask you about under the best actor category. Tom Hanks made it on to the list. And of course, he has always been a Oscar favorite. But

really for his performance, for Sully, does he deserve to be on the short list? Do you like the short list?

FITZWILLIAMS: I think the short list is very good. I think Sully was an excellent film. And I'm rather delighted it has got a nomination, because

Hanks was first class.

But it will be a battle between Casey Affleck for Manchester by the Sea playing a janitor almost exhausted by life for reasons that the film

reveals, and Denzel Washington who unquestionably is still in the running because his performance in Fences is absolutely superlative.

But it is in the best actress category, the best supporting actress category, and the best director I see a really close fight. Best

supporting actor Mahershala Ali seems an absolute certainty for Moonlight, also an African-American performer and an absolutely marvelous one.

It's also important to remember, almost all the films are American films this year, so another one up for Hollywood.

LU STOUT: Yes. But a number of British actors were up for nominations this year. It seems to be an annual trend.

Unfortunately, we are going to have to leave it at that. Richard Fitzwilliams, thank you for joining us. Take care.

That is News Stream. I'm Kristie Lu Stout. But don't go anywhere. We have got World Sport with Patrick Snell up next.

END