Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

London Police Shoot and Kill Suspect in Terror Attack; Arab League Rejects Trump's Plan; BAFTA Awards. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired February 03, 2020 - 01:00   ET

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

[01:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NATALIE ALLEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Natalie Allen at CNN Center in Atlanta. Coming up next here on CNN NEWSROOM, skyrocketing coronavirus cases and Chinese financial markets plunging as investors get their first chance to react to the worsening crisis. We'll have a live report about that.

Plus, terror in London a man with a fake device strapped to his body stabs two before officers shoot and kill him, what we're learning about the attacker. And his super ending to the Super Bowl as the Kansas City Chiefs score 21 points in the final minutes to stun 49ers.

Thank you so much for joining us. We begin with the Wuhan coronavirus spreading across China still and stoking fears in the country's stock markets. Trading is back underway in the mainland after the Lunar New Year break and it doesn't look good. Here's where things stand right now. The Shanghai Composite down 7.78, the Shenzhen Index down 1.692, and the Index B some 881 points. That's 9.25 percent.

As stocks fall, the number of infections keep rising. China now confirming more than 17,000 cases, 361 people have died. That means this outbreak has killed more people in mainland China than SARS did back in 2003 within 20 other countries or territories have cases of the virus as well. The first known death outside of China has been confirmed now in the Philippines.

Let's get the latest from Steven Jiang. He's in Beijing for us live. Steven, you've been watching these numbers every day go up and up. The question is, is Wuhan starting to catch up with the demand?

STEVEN JIANG, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER: That's right, Natalie. The situation in Wuhan does remain dire. You mentioned some of the grim numbers, and look at the 24 hours, the past 24 hours on Sunday alone, of all the cases you mentioned, the majority still came from Wuhan and in surrounding areas in Hubei province which of course is the epicenter of this outbreak.

On Sunday, Wuhan and Hubei reported more than 2,000 new cases and 56 deaths so these are very alarming numbers. But still, you know, there are some doubts over how accurate these numbers are. Because there has been a number of projections by outside experts actually put the figures even higher. There's one study published last Friday set the case numbers in Wuhan alone was already over 75,000 as of a week ago, so the worst may yet to come.

That's probably why for the Chinese authorities their efforts right now, their focus right now remains to be containment, containment in the epicenter. Now, they're doing a couple of things on that front. One is to making more testing kits available in Wuhan so more patients can be tested to confirm if they have the virus or not. And the other, of course, is making this confirmation result process much more -- much quicker.

And then, of course, they're also really shoring up the medical supplies and facilities in the epicenter. One precious commodity since the outbreak began is facemasks as ordinary people competing with medical professionals for a face mask around China. Now, the Chinese government is saying they're ramping up production of face masks nationwide, and saying they can now produce some 20 million face masks per day. That's quite a staggering number.

And then, of course, they're also building more medical facilities in Hubei, in Wuhan, including two brand new facilities being built on the outskirts of the city. Now, one of which, the construction just completed, and it was actually open on Sunday. Now we understand the Chinese military has taken control of this facility with more than 1,000 hospital beds and ready to receive patients on the outskirts of the -- of Wuhan, the epicenter. Natalie?

ALLEN: Yes, and there are so many people there waiting to get medical attention. And who knew a simple faith mass can be so important in something like this. It's incredible. Steven, thanks so much. Steven Jiang for us live in Beijing.

Now, for more on the hit to China's financial markets, Let's go to journalist Kaori Enjoji. She's live for us in Tokyo. This is truly a major drop, Kaori.

[01:05:13]

KAORI ENJOJI, JOURNALIST: This is. It's a vicious and knee jerk reaction as expected, because the markets, the capital markets in China coming back for the first time since the Lunar New Year holiday. So we're seeing a bloodbath, really, on the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets, and still a certain degree of uncertainty on the other Asian markets as well.

I think the big test is going to be how Wall Street opens later on today, because on Friday, the market would -- had its worst week in six weeks. So this knee jerk reaction in the mainland China is almost to be expected. So, I think how resilient the Dow proves to be or not proves to be is going to be a big test. I think that's one reaction.

The other more concerning long-term impact is on the manufacturing sector and on the global economies because I wanted to take a look at this graphic about how important China is and how important Wuhan is as an industrial hub. And we'd like to compare -- well, we tend to compare things with the SARS outbreak in 2003. Take a look at the size of the exports from China in 2003, just under about $500 billion. But in the years since then exports are now running at $2.5 trillion. That means the exports are six times more from China than they were during the outbreak of the SARS virus.

So if we see factory shut down, if we see that prolonged, this could have a huge impact on the supply chain. And the supply chains are just far more complex nowadays than they used to be. That means companies are more specialized. So if you need a particular chip in your electronics device that they only make in Wuhan, and that might be the case because China has tried to go move up the value add chain in terms of industrial products, and Wuhan is really trying to -- has been trying to make itself a chip sensor. So if you need that particular chip and you don't have it, it's a lot harder to replace nowadays than it was a couple of years ago. So I think that is going to be the longer-term focus.

And when you consider that overall the China's economy is eight times larger than it was during the sour SARS outbreak. It's almost unquantifiable at this time. It could be weeks before the supply or months in the case of let's say, the Japan earthquake, before the supply chains are back to normal. Remember the Thai floods as well, I remember covering that, the chip sector was very hard to hit. And it had a ripple effect of the global economies as well. So that is a big impact as well.

And I think you really have to remember, and I was -- and I was reading research from the Japan Research Institute that these are all quantifiable things. But the unquantifiable, non-quantifiable should I say is consumer sentiment. Even if the markets start to rebound at some point, they probably well, sentiment is a lot harder to quantify and harder to come back.

So I mean, people are worried about that and China as a consumer, and that impact on tourism, and travel, and the whole supply chain affecting the global economies, I think that is the big worry. And I think one of the litmus tests would be to see how the Dow fares when market resumes trading later on today. Natalie?

ALLEN: Yes, absolutely. Other markets have had time to digest the coronavirus. But this is new for the markets there in China. We'll be watching that. We always appreciate all of the information you give us. Kaori, thanks so much.

Well, with nearly a dozen cases of the virus in the United States, officials here are not taking any chances. Americans traveling back to the States on evacuation flights face two weeks of quarantine when they return. CNN Lucy Kavanaugh has more about that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LUCY KAFANOV, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the focus now might be on that second evacuation flight taking Americans out of the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. But at least one U.S. official who's been briefed on the matter told CNN that this is not likely to be the last flight out. We could see more planes taking Americans out of China due to high demand.

Most of the Americans in Wuhan at the moment are ordinary citizens. The diplomatic staff and their families were able to get on that on that first flight which landed right here at the March Air Base. They are housed here under quarantine now for 14 days. They're expected to be here just to make sure that nobody is contagious, that nobody has the illness, that folks are safe.

Now the Pentagon is preparing for additional basis to house Americans who need potential quarantine. Two of them are right here in California. There's also in Fort Carson in Colorado as well as the Lackland Air Base in Texas. The Pentagon is preparing for up to 1,000 people to be housed at those locations if need be.

Now officials had bumped up the number of days. Folks need to spend under quarantine from three days to 14 days. That is because we are now learning that someone infected with a virus could be contagious long before symptoms appear. I did manage to speak to one American whose housed right here at the March Air Base. He said that folks are keeping their spirits high, that the base actually organized a Super Bowl football watch party for the 200 or so Americans who are under quarantine here. It's a barbecue party. It was intended to help people feel a little bit better about the fact that they are away from their families away from home for so long.

And while he says most of them do want to get back to their families, they want to get out of here, most of the folks here understand the importance of remaining under quarantine in order to keep this disease from spreading. Reporting from the March Air Base in California, I'm Lucy Kafanov.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[01:10:35]

ALLEN: Another story we're following. A busy afternoon of shopping erupted into chaos Sunday in South London. Police say a 20-year-old Sudesh Amman stabbed two people in a terror attack. A third person was injured by shattered glass when police open fire killing Amman. CNN's Nic Robertson has more for us from London.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, Police are describing this incident as isolated. They say they have it contained. They have named the 20-year-old man a former terror convict Sudesh Amman who they say was shot dead at the scene. They say that he was subject of an ongoing police operation. Indeed, there were police following him on foot when the events unfolded.

LUCY D'ORSI, DEPUTY ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, LONDON METROPOLITAN POLICE: The suspect had been recently released from prison where he had been serving a sentence for Islamist-related terrorism offenses. The officers saw that a device was strapped to his body and called in specialist explosive officers and armed officers to deal with a potential threat that post. Cordons were put in place and it was quickly established that this was a hoax device.

Initial first aid was provided to victims by our officers and London Ambulance Service continued their treatment once they were able to do so safely.

ROBERTSON: What isn't clear yet is how this all took place on a very busy thoroughfare in the middle of London on a Sunday afternoon, where there will lots of people walking about going to the shops. This will be a big cause for concern not just for the police, not just for the public, but for politicians as well. And British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that he is going to address the issue of terrorism prisoners and their release from jail.

This particular person Sudesh Amman had been released after serving only part of his sentence, very clearly he was still a danger to the public, and this is a very big ongoing political issue right now, and something that appears the Prime Minister is going to address and what can be expected to be very strong terms on Monday. Nic Robertson, CNN London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: Well, let's talk football, shall we? In Miami, it was Super Bowl 54. It's in the books and what a game it was if you are a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs right there. Led by Game MVP Patrick Mahomes, the Chief score 21 straight points in the fourth quarter to beat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20. The win marking the Chiefs' first Super Bowl victory and 50 years.

Let's go to our Andy Scholes. He is live there still in the stadium for us. Thank you, Andy. Can you even explain how this feels for the Chiefs? First time in 50 years they go home with the trophy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS: Yes, Natalie. And you think about that. All of their fans had lived their whole lives without ever seeing their team, the Chiefs, ever win the Super Bowl. They were ecstatic near the end of this game. I was watching them. I saw a guy even break into tears. He was so happy that the Chiefs finally won the Super Bowl for him.

But I tell you what, it was a nervous game for those Chiefs fans. They were down 20 to 10 with under seven minutes to go in this game. But like they've have all postseason, they just found a way to come back and win. Patrick Mahomes was making incredible throws leading the Chiefs up and down the field as they were able to score to get with him three touchdown to Travis Kelce, and then they would get a touchdown moments later to Damien Williams to take the lead for good.

They go on to win this one 31-20, an incredible comeback win. Patrick Mahomes now the first player in NFL history with an MVP award and Super Bowl trophy before turning 25 years old. And this is what he had to say about the incredible comeback win after the game.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PATRICK MAHOMES, QUARTERBACK, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: It's amazing. I mean, it really is amazing. I mean just to be here, it's surreal. Finding a way to win in the end with these guys I have around me, we'll enjoy this for a long time. I mean, it truly is historic to be here and to win this game. (END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: And Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has always been thought of as one of the brightest offensive minds in the entire NFL. And he was thought of as the coach -- the greatest coach to have never won a Super Bowl. He's been -- he's been close so many times. He took the Eagles to the Super Bowl in 2005, he was just never able to get it done. But he'll never have to hear all of those things again because now he's a Super Bowl champion and all of his players were just thrilled to win the Lombardi Trophy for him.

[01:15:14]

ALLEN: Players having heart to get playing -- talking about his players having heart, and he certainly does too, doesn't he? All right, Andy, thanks so much. We appreciate it. Go have some fun in Miami. There will be more coverage of the Super Bowl coming up on World Sport in about 30 minutes. Stay with us for that.

All right, next, it's time to look at the presidential election 2020, the crucial Iowa Caucuses just hours away now, and Democrats in the race for the White House are going door to door and meeting to meeting to try to get the support. We'll tell you more about it coming next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ALLEN: Welcome back. The first major contest of the 2020 U.S. Presidential race is just hours away. Caucus goers in the state of Iowa will gather Monday night and finally make their picks for president. Democrats vying for their party's nomination, sprinted across the state this weekend making their closing arguments to supporters and those undecided voters, still undecided after all this time. CNN's Arlette Saenz and Ryan Nobles tell us how some candidates are trying to stand out.

[01:20:20]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Heading into Monday night's caucuses, Joe Biden has been consistent in his message. He's essentially framed this race as a matchup between himself and President Trump, urging Iowans to caucus for him because he believes that the President is most concerned about facing him in a general election. Biden has also preached a message of unity arguing that he is the Democrat who could heal the country as president. Take a listen to his closing pitch in Des Moines.

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We choose hope over fear. We chose Science over fiction. And we choose unity over division. And we chose truth over lies.

SAENZ: Now Biden's campaign has argued that Iowa is not necessarily a must win state. And Biden has predicted that it's going to be a tossup as the candidates leave here in Iowa. He thinks that there could just be a small difference between the candidates at the end of caucus night. But certainly, all of these candidates, including Joe Biden, know that the winner of Iowa is going to come out of this state with a lot of momentum, and that's something that they would like to have in their corner. Arlette Saenz, CNN Des Moines, Iowa.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RYAN NOBLES, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Monday is caucus day here in Iowa, but Bernie Sanders will not start the day in the Hawkeye State and said he is back in Washington D.C. as the closing arguments begin for the Senate impeachment trial. But Sanders is confident in his team of volunteers here to get out the vote on caucus night.

In fact, Sanders and his team confident that there are more Democratic supporters of his campaign than any of his opponents. But the question for them is will they turn out on Monday night. And Sanders spent all day Sunday hitting canvas locations across the state. He made this final pitch to his supporters that have been with him from as far back as 2016.

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (D-VT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And tomorrow night is the beginning of the campaign. So my request of all of you is to do everything that you can in the next 24 hours, to knock on doors, to talk to your friends, to get on the phone, to make sure that we have a large turnout tomorrow night. Because I've said this before, and I'll say it again, if there is a low voter turnout tomorrow night, we're going to lose.

NOBLES: So Sanders and his team do remain confident. They do believe they can win here, but they know it is certainly not a guarantee. They view this as a very tight race and that's why they believe their organizational efforts are going to be so important. And as you heard Sanders talk about there, turnout is going to be crucial for the Sanders campaign.

They do believe they need a big turnout in order to win, perhaps even a historic turnout. But they do believe it's possible and they do believe that Bernie Sanders could end the night on Monday as the winner of the Iowa caucuses. Ryan Nobles, CNN, Des Moines, Iowa.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: I was wrapping up and the impeachment trial is wrapping up. In just a few hours, closing arguments will begin in Washington. Then on Wednesday, senators vote on the two articles of impeachment, though at this point it is looking all but certain Mr. Trump will be acquitted. CNN's Jeremy Diamond has our story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, the President's impeachment trial in the Senate will finally come to a close this week. And it begins on Monday with Democratic House managers and members of the President's legal team each making their closing arguments for or against removing the president from office. But the outcome is already all but certain after Republican senators

already put to bed that question of witnesses voting overwhelmingly against doing so, against bringing additional witnesses or evidence into this trial, the President's acquittal is all but certain. And even those Republican senators who are saying that the President has committed wrongdoing, that he acted inappropriately in his dealings with Ukraine, senators like Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, they are also preparing to acquit the president.

SEN. LAMAR ALEXANDER (R-TN): I'm going to vote to acquit. I'm very concerned about any action that we could take that would establish a perpetual impeachment in the House of Representatives whenever the House was in different party than the president. That would immobilize the Senate. You know, we have to take those articles, stop what we're doing sitting in our chairs for 11 hours a day for three or four weeks and consider it, and it would immobilize the presidency.

So I don't want to situation and the framers didn't neither where a -- where a partisan majority in the House of either party couldn't stop the government.

DIAMOND: That acquittal in the Senate though won't happen until after the president delivers his State of the Union Address on Tuesday. That is a blow to the President and his aides who had hoped that he could enter that chamber of the House of Representatives where he had been impeached late last year, and enter there is a newly vindicated newly acquitted president. That will not be happening without acquittal now scheduled for Wednesday.

So now the question becomes how exactly the President will be responding to that acquittal once indeed, it comes through as expected in the Senate. And sources close to the President have told me not to expect anything like what happened in the last Senate impeachment acquittal of a president, President Bill Clinton, that is, when he came out to the nation, apologized that he was profoundly sorry for what he did and what led to his impeachment despite the fact that he was indeed acquitted.

[01:25:43]

Sources close to the President tell me not to expect anything like that, not to expect any act of contrition from this president. Instead, it appears President Trump is poised to simply continue to claim his vindication and really take a victory lap here as he enters this crucial election year. Jeremy Diamonds, CNN traveling with the president in Palm Beach, Florida.

ALLEN: Well, President Trump's Middle East peace plan is getting much criticism even from within Israel. Next here, why residents of one Israeli town say the proposal would rob them of their citizenship.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[01:29:41]

ALLEN: Welcome back. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Natalie Allen.

Here are our top stories.

The streets of Wuhan had been nearly abandoned as China faces the escalating coronavirus outbreak. The country has confirmed more than 17,000 cases now along with 361 deaths. Police in this huge city of 11 million -- people, excuse me -- are having to stay in doors still. There are more deaths now than reported from the SARS outbreak in 2003.

In Australia, recent rains are giving a much-needed break to crews battling bush fires in New South Wales. Authorities say rain fell across most of the affected area on Sunday but many active fires still remain. A high fire danger is in place for most of the region.

London police say 20-year-old Sudesh Amman stabbed two people in a terror attack in south London Saturday. Amman had been under surveillance at the time, and police shot and killed him. He was recently released from prison after being convicted of possessing and distributing extremist material.

Steve Moore joining us from Los Angeles. Steve -- always good to have you. Thanks for coming on.

STEVE MOORE, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTRIBUTOR: Good to see you. Sure.

ALLEN: Let's talk about the police work first and the fact that they were following this man as soon as he was released. What do you make of this?

MOORE: Yes, this is unusual -- Natalie. But it is not something that is unheard of. I mean we used to do that in the FBI. When you get somebody who is a danger to society it doesn't matter if they're prior to a sentence, or after a sentence -- you still are going to investigate. And if they pose enough of a problem to society, you can get permission to surveil them.

And in this case the decision to surveil somebody after they were released obviously saved some lives.

ALLEN: Right. And the fact that he had a fake device. What do you make of that? What was behind that, do you think?

MOORE: What that does is, number one, it tells you that he was not in a position, or not connected with people who could get him real explosives, or build him an IED. So he made his own obviously, made his own fake unit.

The deal with that is it causes even more disruption. I mean think about it, terrorism besides causing people to fear for their lives is meant to disrupt society. So if you've got a body laying in the middle of the street even though that person is no longer a danger to immediately take a life, now you have to build a cordon around him. You have to bring in bomb experts and that streets are shut down for hours. So it is an additional -- it's kind of like just an additional layer of terrorism that he can get essentially for free.

ALLEN: Right. And as Nick referenced in his story, and as we can see here on the screen, this was a busy thoroughfare on a Sunday and we have seen Londoners who are out and about shopping become victims.

Someone driving through. Someone wielding a knife. And this has to be unsettling that something like this happened again.

MOORE: Yes. And that is the intent of terrorism -- to make people feel unsafe in their own home, in their own home country and therefore destabilize governments, things like this.

But the terrorist will go to the most populous place they can find. I mean that is where the targets are. That is where they get body count.

I would believe that if I were one of the officers, the MI5 people surveilling this guy, I'm fairly certain that they thought that wait, he is going to this area, this is not a usual area, this could be a very bad thing. He is going to place where lots of people are and unless that was part of his regular routine, they probably had a inkling that something might be going down.

ALLEN: All right. Following him at the right time.

Steve Moore -- we always appreciate your expertise. Thanks so much for joining us.

MOORE: Thanks you for having me.

ALLEN: Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan is being met with criticism in the region. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation is meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to discuss the proposal Monday. It comes after the Arab League already rejected it after meeting over the weekend.

Meanwhile objections are also coming from within Israel. Many in the country's Arab population are protesting the plan for its proposed borders.

CNN's Sam Kiley has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The Israelis demonstrating against Trump's peace plan which he believes could lead to a Palestinian state alongside Israel but they're not Jewish.

[01:34:51]

KILEY: They are ethnic Arabs and make up about 21 percent of Israel's population. They're saying no to a plan which among other things proposes redrawing the boundaries of a future Palestinian state.

Among the proposals coming from the Trump administration is to incorporate Israelis who identify as Palestinians into a future Palestinian state. That means moving the boundaries between the two from there maybe to here.

Now, that is a journey of only about a mile but it incorporates a population of about 50,000 people that is in this town of Taibai alone. The total number of people who could end up being moved into a new Palestine could be over 250,000, human rights groups say.

Dr. Jaber Awida's family has lived on this boundary between Israel and the West Bank for decades.

So if there was going to be a movement of Palestinian ownership, if this town was going to move into a future Palestinian state, that fence would effectively have to be moved from there, to somewhere over there.

DR. AMANI JABER AWIDA, SOCIOLOGIST: Yes. Certainly.

KILEY: There are how many people in your town?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have there 50,000 people -- Palestinian people living in Taibai.

KILEY: They get fenced into a new Palestinian state?

JABER-AWADI: Yes, along with the other neighboring, you know, towns.

KILEY: These youngsters are Israelis. Removing their citizenship could violate the Geneva Conventions. Ahmad Tibi leads the mainly Arab joint list. It's the third largest bloc in Israel's parliament.

AHMAD TIBI, ARAB MOVEMENT FOR RENEWAL: It is racist because they are sending a signal and a message for the Arab citizens of the state of Israel. Because you are saying that you are Palestinian, you can be moved or transferred for almost over anything. So ridiculous and so anti-Jewish (ph).

KILEY: The ruling Likud Party has authorized only Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to comment on the Trump plan. It includes a U.S. green light for unilateral annexation of Jewish settlements on the West Bank and of the Jordan Valley.

Netanyahu stood next to Trump when he said the plan will double the amount of land under Palestinian control.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: Mister president, Israel wants the Palestinians to have a better life. We want them to have a future of national dignity, prosperity and hope.

Your peace plan offers the Palestinians such a future. Your peace plan offers the Palestinians a pathway to a future state.

KILEY: But these Israeli citizens are insisting that they don't want to be forced into being part of it.

Sam Kiley, CNN -- in Taibai. (END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: The BAFTA film awards are under fire over a lack of diversity. Just ahead, we find out what some actors had to say about it on the red carpet.

[01:38:01]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ALLEN: Britain's BAFTA Film Awards were Sunday and the period movie "1917" became the big winner. The World War One drama captured seven awards including Best Picture and Best Director. But casting a controversial shadow over Sunday's show, excuse me, was yet again a lack of diversity among the nominees.

And some of the stars who attended talked about that with our Isa Soares.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hollywood has descended on the Royal Albert Hall in London for the British Academy Film Awards.

I feel like we are matching. Your earrings and my jacket.

Give me a shimmy -- oh, look at that, fantastic.

And it was a night where acting royalty rubbed shoulders with British royalty. The stars, the glamour, and a glaring omission -- diversity, summed up by Rebel Wilson.

REBEL WILSON, ACTRESS: I don't think I could do what they do, honestly. I just don't have the balls.

SOARES: Which just meant either with all 18 acting nominees all so white -- a topic that overshadowed the awards so much so that Prince William, BAFTA president, felt the need to speak out.

PRINCE WILLIAM, DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE: Yet in 2020, and not for the first time in the last few years, we find ourselves talking again about the need to do more to ensure diversity in the sector and in the awards process. That simply cannot be right in this day and age.

SOARES: On the red carpet, women to my left.

That could be (INAUDIBLE). I mean do you feel there is a lack of diversity?

And to my right did not back away from tackling the topic with candor.

SCARLETT JOHANSSON, ACTRESS: It is pretty disappointing, especially because they were so many great films this year that happened to be directed by women. I think it just goes to show us that we're, you know, still part of a system that holds women back. SOARES: One woman that did break through was Waad al-Kateab for her

heart-wrenching documentary on Bashar al-Assad's war on the Syrian people.

WAAD AL-KATEAB, DIRECTOR: This award, I would get it for the great Syrian people who are suffering until today.

SOARES: On the night it was another war that took home the most BAFTAs.

HUGH GRANT, ACTOR: And the BAFTA goes to "1917".

SOARES: A total of seven BAFTAs including Best Film and best director for Sam Mendez's World War One epic, "1917".

As expected, Joaquin Phoenix won Best Actor for his captivating performance in "Joker" but it was absent winner Brad Pitt represented on stage by Margo Robbie who got the Royal Albert Hall giggling with a cheeky swipe at the Royals.

MARGO ROBBIE, ACTRESS: When he says that he's going to name this Harry because he is really excited about bringing it back to the states with him.

His words, not mine. Thank you.

SOARES: On the night, Hollywood royalty did not disappoint. With Best Actress Rene Zellweger paying tribute to the town that Judy Garland so cherished.

RENE ZELLWEGER, ACTRESS: Miss Garland, Londontown which you have always loved so much still loves you back. This is for you. Thanks -- everyone.

SOARES: Isa Soares, CNN -- at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

ALLEN: Thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM.

I'm Natalie Allen.

"WORLD SPORT" is next and another hour of news at the top of the hour.

You're watching CNN. We appreciate it.

[01:43:41]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WORLD SPORT)

[02:00:00]