Transcripts For BBCNEWS Newsday 20170125

Its newsday. Its 9am in singapore, 1am in london, and 9am in the morning in beijing where china has warned the United States that it wont back down over its territorial claims in the South China Sea. On monday, Donald Trumps spokesman said the United States would protect its interests in the region, a shift from president obamas more neutral position. But a Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman said china will safeguard its own rights. Our china editor Carrie Gracie reports on the growing tensions. There are three key flashpoints between the new Trump Administration and beijing trade, taiwan and the South China Sea. The last two involve the risk of Military Confrontation between a fast growing naval power and the worlds superpower. China lays claim to most of the South China Sea, of the one of the busiest commercial waterways in the world, and one where several of its neighbours have competing claims. Areas in the South China Sea that are part of International Waters and international activities, i think the us is going to make sure that we protect our interests there. After the new white house spokesman, sean spicer, echoed threats from the incoming Secretary Of State that the Trump Administration may use force to defend its interests in these waters, china has responded with defiance. Translation china will firmly safeguard the freedom of navigation under International Law, peace and stability in the South China Sea. The us is not a state directly involved in the South China Sea issue and china urges the us side to respect fact and speak and act with caution so as not to impair peace and stability in the South China Sea region. Less than a week into the trump presidency, there is enormous uncertainty in beijing about where the Us China Relationship is headed. On the campaign trail. Mr trump accused china of raping the us economy and to head off punitive action on trade, beijing has quietly begun to talk about widening Market Access for Foreign Companies, but on territorial questions, china is inflexible. If the new Us Government hopes to call beijings bluff on the South China Sea, it may find its own bluff called in turnb an unpredictable and perhaps a dangerous time ahead for east asia. Carrie gracie, bbc news, beijing. Later in the programme well examine how beijing might react to President Trumps hardline rhetoric on international trade. Lets take a look at some of the days other news. The Uks Supreme Court has ruled that the government must consult parliament before triggering the procedure to leave the european union. A referendum injune produced a narrow majority for brexit but thejudges said lawmakers must vote as well. Ministers have promised this wont delay the process. Of course the government is disappointed with the outcome but we have the good fortune to live in a country where everyone, every individual, every organisation, even government, is subject to the rule of law. So the government will comply with thejudgement of the so the government will comply with the judgement of the court and do all that is necessary to implement it. Also making news today a court in china has jailed a woman and her daughter for selling vaccines without a license. The woman was sent to prison for 15 years. Her daughter was sentenced to six years in prison for assisting her. The vaccines have been sold around china since 2011. Russia, iran and turkey have agreed to set up a mechanism to monitor the fragile ceasefire in syria. Theyve issued a joint declaration at the end of two days of peace talks in kazakhstan. The sponsors of the negotiations between the Syrian Government and rebel groups said there was no military solution to the six year old conflict. President trump has angered environmentalists and Native Americans by signing Executive Orders intended to revive two Controversial Oil Pipeline Projects in the United States. Mr trump said both keystone xl and the Dakota Access pipeline had his backing, subject to renegotiation. He said they could create thousands of jobs. Hong kong says it will release nine singaporean armoured vehicles its been Holding Since november. The troop carriers were seized on their way home from Military Exercises in taiwan. Its thought their release might ease tensions between china and singapore. And this is the magnificent scene showing the yellow river. For the first time this year an ice bridge has formed at the famous Hukou Waterfall. Locals have described it as a huge white dragon lying between the valleys. The ice bridge is about five kilometres long. Theres been strong reaction to the announcement by israel that it has plans to build 2,500 more Settlement Homes in the occupied west bank. The Israeli Defence Ministry Says that most of the new homes would be in existing settlement blocs, including ariel and givat zeev. However, a Government Breakdown of the plans shows large portions of the new homes will be built outside existing blocs. The Defence Ministry said the move was in response to housing needs. With more, heres our correspondent in jerusalem, mark lowen. This is the second time in the space ofa this is the second time in the space of a week that the Israeli Government has announced more building in settlements, 2500 homes to be built in occupied. The occupied west bank and over the weekend there was an announcement that over 560 new homes would be built in settlements in occupied eastjerusalem. Both built in settlements in occupied east jerusalem. Both of built in settlements in occupied eastjerusalem. Both of these announcements coming after the inauguration of donald trump. A feeling here that the Israeli Government is feeling emboldened, even encouraged by the new administration in the us to build more in the settlements after the relationship between israel and the us under barack obama plummeted partly over the issue of settlement building. Mrobama was partly over the issue of settlement building. Mr obama was fiercely opposed to the settlements, he allowed a us resolution to pass last month condemning israeli building of the settlements but donald trump, his son in law and his pick for Us Ambassador to israel have all donated to the settlements and they will clearly take on a much more pro israeli policy. But theres also a feeling this is being done partly for domestic political consumption because the Prime Minister here Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a big challenge here from the far right, so hes trying to burnish his right wing credentials by choosing an issue that will go down well with nationalists, i. E. Settle m e nt well with nationalists, i. E. Settlement building. Now, the issue of settlements is so contentious because it violates International Law according to the un and its being built in areas that the palestinians want for a future state that are going beyond israels borders according to the 1967 border demarcation. So the palestinians have reacted furiously, his boatman for the palestinians saying this would foster extremism and terrorism and calling on the International Community to take a stand on the issue of settlement building. During his election campaign, President Trump threatened to impose some pretty punishing tariffs on chinese imports, which could lead to a trade war. So how might china respond to the new Us Administration . Heres our beijing correspondentjohn sudworth. China was once isolated behind its great wall but it was here, too, that its emergence onto The World Stage began. In 1972, another combative and controversial us republican president stood on this wall and used it as a metaphor. Richard nixons speech that day looks to a future in which there are no walls between people, laying the foundations, of course, for one of the most important bilateral trading relationships the world has ever seen. The benefits of that relationship have been celebrated by every president since, until now. America threatens china with 45 Import Duties on a range of its products, so what are the chinese going to do . The chinese arent going to just take it. They are going to respond more or less in kind, probably. What are the potential dangers in Donald Trumps strategy . This is very disturbing. The consequences for the International System and for of the health of the Global Economy could be enormous. But at a briefing by senior chinese diplomats, i put it to them and that mr trump is not so much attacking free trade as unfair trade. Should not china do more to put its money where its mouth is, removing the big subsidies to state owned enterprises, removing some of the restrictions and denial of Market Access that still hinders and so many Foreign Companies trying to do business here . I understand what you mean but in general, the direction is there, the effort is there and i have very, very strong belief and confidence in an improved. An improved general environment for Foreign Companies. These days, tourists can gaze into a period in chinese history when it is reluctant rulers were forced to trade by occupying foreign armies. Few us companies that do business in china today would dispute that significant barriers to trade remained. Significant barriers to trade remain. The question, though, is whether to conjole or to coerce and mr trump, it seems, may be about to embark upon his own version of gunboat diplomacy. Over that much traded commodity, tea, i asked about mr trumps threats to challenge chinas territorial claims unless it makes concessions on trade . Translation he plays with fire. Mr trump plays with fire but china also has fire and it is going to burn him. Its trade, of course, that has made the china a wealthy superpower and the stakes could not be higher. John sudworth, bbc news youre watching newsday on the bbc. Still to come on the programme after a huge row last year, the oscars gets a lot more inclusive. We look at the films that make it the most diverse Nomination List for a decade. The Shuttle Challenger exploded soon after liftoff. There were seven astronauts on board, one of them a woman school teacher. All of them are believed to have been killed. By the evening, tahrir square, the heart of official cairo, was in the hands of the demonstrators. They were using the word revolution. The earthquake singled out buildings, and brought them down in seconds. Tonight, the search for any survivors has an increasing desperation about it as the hours pass. The new government is firmly in control of the entire republic of uganda. Moscow got its first taste of western fast food, as mcdonalds opened their biggest restaurant, in pushkin square. But the Hundreds Of Muscovites Who Queued Up today wont find it cheap, with a big mac costing half the days wages for the average russian. This is newsday on the bbc. Im rico hizon in singapore. Im Babita Sharma in london. Our top stories the Chinese Government has rejected criticism from President Trumps administration over the South China Sea, saying it will be firm in safeguarding its rights and interests. The un Secretary General has expressed concern over israels decision to build 2,500 new homes in the occupied west bank. Lets take a look at some front pages from around asia, and theres a lot of reaction to Donald Trumps order to withdraw the us from a massive Trans Pacific trade deal. The japan times says tokyo will not seek an alternative treaty, but instead will try to get President Trump back on board. The picture on The Front Page shows mr Trump Holding up the document that marks the end of the us participation in the tpp deal. Here in singapore, the Straits Times signals a completely different approach. It says the city will keep pursuing other free trade initiatives including a possible implementation of the tpp, with or without america. China daily reports on beijings reaction to comments by the White House Press secretary who on monday said the us will protect its interests in the South China Sea. The title on The Front Page urges the us to be cautious. China says it is determined to protect its own territory and sovereignty. There are discussions online on the height of a famous peak. There is a row between india and nepal about measuring the height of mt everest. India has said it will send a team to the himalayas to find out whether the big earthquake two years ago affected the mountains height. But now, kathmandu has said it wants to do the work instead. Everest sits on the border between india and china. Japan has named its first home grown Sumo Grand Champion in almost two decades, in a boost to the traditional wrestling sport. 30 year Old Kisenosato was promoted to the topmost yokozuna rank after his win in the first tournament of the year. Mariko oi reports. Sumo is Japans National sport, Dating Back Hundreds of years. Wrestlers are ranked, and the ultimate goal is to become a yokozuna. But there hasnt been a japanese wrestler to reach the sports highest rank in nearly two decades, until this guy. Kisenosato becomes the 72nd yokozu na in history, joining three others who are actively competing in tournaments. Translation i am physically fit, and i needed to go further. I feel i will get stronger and stronger, as i consider this a new start. The head of the sports association, which decides about the promotion, says it is a deeply emotional time. Translation we felt that kisenosato would continue to do well, and therefore is fit to become yokozuna. In the last 19 years, five wrestlers, one American Samoan and four mongolians, were promoted to be yokozuna. The hope is kisenosatos promotion would boost the sports popularity. Chris gould is an author who has written a book about the sport, and regularly writes for sumo magazines. On the line from tokyo, i asked him why it has taken so long forjapan to be on top of the sport again. Yes, well, i think over the past 20 years the foreigners who have come in have already excelled in other forms of combat sport, for example freestyle wrestling. You have, on the other hand, japanese guys. A lot of it them are signing up having not actually had any Combat Experience at all. So when you have these highly trained foreigners coming in to fight againstjapanese guys with comparatively little experience, i think that is when the gap in quality tends to show. And i think the other thing, as well, is that the mongolian guys have come in. The techniques they have learned in Mongolian Wrestling are incredibly effective for sumo. It has taken a while for the japanese to catch up. So does kisenosato deserve to really be the grand champion, or was itjust done by the Sumo Wrestling Association because they havent had a japanese champion in two decades . Well, i think it was obviously a source of concern for the Sumo Association that foreign champions had risen to the fore. His performances over the past five years have been very consistent. He has regularly defeated the top mongolians, and certainly in the past year his demeanour has looked incredibly impressive. He has presented a relaxed presence in the ring, and i think his performances have been fully befitting of a grand champion. So in your view, chris, will the promotion of kisenosato bring back the popularity of Sumo Wrestling . I think it will bring it back to a certain extent. But as to whether it will return to the levels of the 1990s, you know, i think that is impossible in this day and age. There are just so many more sports now for young kids to get into injapan. There are so many sports stars emerging from other sports. So yes, it will bring back the popularity to a certain extent, but not to the level of the heyday. The first japanese Sumo Grand Champion in 20 years, this could be the perfect plot for a hollywood movie. Absolutely, and what a great achievement we will follow that very much, with a lot of anticipation, to see how well he does. And you know what, i am looking forward to the oscars, they cannot with the Nomination List, and one of your favourite movies was nominated for 1h categories. Washington maybe dominated by politics right now, but in hollywood theyve opted for a bit of escapism. The feel good musical la la land is tying a record for the most oscar nominations. The film about aspiring stars in modern day los angeles received 1a nods, including for its two leads, ryan gosling and emma stone. Other films getting attention this year include the coming of age drama moonlight, and sci fi crowd pleaser arrival. Our arts editor Will Gompertz has more. Someone in the crowd could be the one you need to know. Theres nothing hollywood likes more than a film that puts it centrestage. So no great surprise la la land, the musical about two wannabes making their way in tinseltown, has 1a nominations, including Damien Chazelle for Best Director and ryan gosling and emma stone in the best actor and best actress categories. Look into somebodys eyes. It will get a run for its money from moonlight, barryjenkins coming of age drama, which gets eight nominations, and sees Mahershala Ali getting a nod as best supporting actor and a crack addled Naomie Harris one for best supporting actress. Some boys chased him and they cut. Hes scared more than anything. Im trying to explain it to you the best way i know how. She will be up against viola davis, who puts in a powerful performance in fences, directed by and starring denzel washington, who is nominated in the best actor category. Ive got a life, too. Who the hell is private darce . Along with American British actor Andrew Garfield, as the heroic Conscientious Objector in mel gibsons Hacksaw Ridge. Well, thats some of the runners and riders. Kate muir, youre the times film critic. Pick us some winners, starting with best picture . Has to be la la land. Its completely in a league of its own. Its glorious, its romantic, its dancing on air, but theres also the cinematic craft there. Ok, best actor . Has to be, i think, Casey Affleck in manchester by the sea. Its a real nuanced performance. Hes like an unexploded bomb. So not Andrew Garfield . No, Hacksaw Ridge is not our thing, i dont think. Ok, best actress . I would really like to see Natalie Portman win this forjackie. I think its a cool, elegant, clever performance. Meryl streeps not going to get it, then . Absolutely not. Ok, best supporting actor . I would like to see Mahershala Ali win this for moonlight. Hes playing a drugs kingpin, but against all odds, hes tender, hes fatherly. Its quite a surprise. Best supporting actress . I would like Naomie Harris to win this for britain, for moonlight. Shes usually miss moneypenny. Here she is playing a crack addicted mother. Its a great surprise. I think it will be viola davis. And then, finally, Best Director . Damien chazelle really, really deserves this for pulling all the stops out on la la land. Last years awards were dominated by the oscars so white campaign. The 2017 shortlist is more diverse, but we can still expect politically charged speeches, with the name donald trump likely to crop up. Will gompertz, bbc news. So, la la land leading the nominations. Peter bowes has more. It is definitely in Pole Position i think to do extremely well on oscars night, with the main stars emma stone and ryan gosling both nominated best actor and best actress, nomination in the Best Director category. This is probably the local favourite. There director category. This is probably the localfavourite. There is nothing hollywood likes more than talking about itself, and essentially that is what the film does, it is about los angeles, set in modern day la, but it really harks back to the golden age of hollywood. It is quite a simple story, it is a boy meets girl story, it isa story, it is a boy meets girl story, it is a romantic story and it is, of course, a musical. This time last year we were talking about how it was lacking minority and people of colour last year, that has changed somewhat easier . It has changed radically this yearfrom somewhat easier . It has changed radically this year from last year and the previously, where there were only white faces nominated in those key acting categories. This year it is very racially diverse, so it if you look at a film like moonlight you look at a film like moonlight you have a couple of the leading stars naomi harris nominated for their performances. You have the African American cast in Hidden Figures and dev patel for his performance in lion, that is a very highly rated film, very emotionally charged, the story Of A Young Indian boy lost in calcutta, thousands of kilometres away from his home, ends up kilometres away from his home, ends up being adopted by an australian couple, the mother played by nicole kidman, she is nominated in the best supporting actress category, and it follows his journey, essentially supporting actress category, and it follows hisjourney, essentially his journey back home in search of his roots. It is a great performance by dev patel and i think he stands a good chance. That was peter bowes in hollywood, and a lot of Great Performances and interesting films, Andi Performances and interesting films, and i am sure i will be watching some of them over the Chinese Lunar new year we here in singapore. You have been watching newsday. Stay with us. Which one is yours . Laughter. Stay with us, we will find out if the man in charge of legos huge new factory in china can tell the difference between real lego and the fake one. And, before we go, if you have ever been to london, you will know riding on a bus is an essential part of any visit. And for these passengers, they hop on board, stare out of the window everything, in fact, that real londoners do. Over 160 pampered pooches enjoyed the special ride through the capital. Thats all for now. Hello. Wednesday will start quite windy across northern and Western Parts of the uk, and continue that way. Whereas in parts of southern england, the midlands, east anglia, it is troublesome fog once again. Some Freezing Fog Patches there, dense in places. And that could be having an impact on travel again, so check the situation before you head out, the fog showing up here. But, if you are in scotland and Northern Ireland, you can see the wind arrows indicating a strong, quite gusty wind in places, keeping the fog at bay, also the far west of wales and the far south west of england. Where we have the thickest fog is where we have the frost as well, and that could be giving the icy stretches on untreated surfaces. Look at the strength of wind, though. To the far south west and the Western Parts of wales could be a few fog patches into the welsh marches, into a few spots in yorkshire. It is a windy picture through scotland and Northern Ireland, North West England as well. Plenty of cloud around, could be quite drizzly in places first thing. As we go on through the day, the fog will gradually lift into low cloud, but a cloudier, colder feeling day into east anglia and the south east compared with tuesday. Some brighter skies, though, into much of south west england, wales, parts of northern england, keeping fair in Northern Ireland and scotland. A largely dry picture, but the outbreaks of rain coming into Northern Ireland and scotland late in the day, and gusty winds. 11 degrees in stornoway, ten in belfast. Just six, though, in london. Now, as we go through wednesday night, there will be a frost developing for many of us. Just a subtle shift in the wind direction, connecting with colder air freezing continental europe, means we draw in some colder air to the uk for thursday, and quite brisk south easterly winds, so it is going to feel quite raw. There could be a few snow flows around the beginning in some spots. Many of us will improve the sunny spells. It wont help the feel of the weather on thursday in that brisk south easterly flow, as temperatures for some will struggle to get above freezing, and if you add in the impact of the wind, it will feel like it is below freezing, a raw feel on thursday. Not quite so chilly on friday, but still chilly, definitely, down the eastern side of the uk. Towards the south west we bring in some cloud. The risk of getting a few showers as we go through friday. It is a bit of a change heading into the start of the weekend. A Weather Disturbance coming our way. Still a lot of uncertainty about the detail, but that could bring some heavy downpours into parts of england and wales at the start of the weekend. Sunday, at the moment, looks quieter, more of us dry. The risk of some showers, at least, to start the weekend. Some sunshine around. Less chilly at the weekend, but still the scope for getting some overnight frosts, and some fog patches around too. Thats it, bye bye. Im Babita Sharma with bbc world news. Our top story in its First Official response to comments from the Trump Administration, the Chinese Government has said it will uphold its rights in the South China Sea. It said that it wont back down over its territorial claims in the region after the us vowed to protect its own interests there. The un Secretary General has expressed grave concern over the latest israeli plans to build 2,500 new homes for settlers in the occupied west bank. And this video is trending on bbc. Com. A five kilometre long ice bridge has formed over part of the Hukou Waterfall on the yellow river in northern china. Locals have described it as a huge white dragon lying between the valleys. Thats all from me now, stay with bbc world news. And the top story here in the uk the government insists itll press ahead with its timetable to leave the eu, despite losing its appeal in the supreme court. The court ruled that Parliament Must vote on triggering article 50