this is newsday on the bbc. i am rico hizon in singapore. the headlines. new threats to guam. north korea says it is working on a plan to launch four missiles to the tiny territory of the us. the new threat comes despite a warning from the us defence secretary that north korea's actions could result in the end of its regime and the destruction of its people. end of its regime and the destruction of its peopleli end of its regime and the destruction of its people. i am babita sharma in london. australia's bitter political battle over legalising gay marriage comes to a point as the government pushes on with a postal vote. and president duterte of the visit philippines head to universities to see what stu d e nts head to universities to see what students think of his plans. live

from our studios in singapore and london. this is bbc world news. it's newsday. i am glad you could join us. newsday. i am glad you could join us. it is in singapore, 7am in washington and 7:30am in pyongyang. the state media is reporting north korea is developing a plan to launch four missiles at the us island of guam. this comes after the us defence secretary issued a warning to north korea than he should stop any actions that would lead to the end of his regime and the destruction of his people. us correspondent nick bryant has more. a far—off american outpost in the tropical waters of the western pacific now finds itself at the centre of a dangerous stand—off. this is guam, the site this summer of us military exercises, american territory that north korea says could now be

in the firing line. from north korean state tv came this chilling headline, that guam could be targeted by medium to long—range rockets. and it came just hours after president trump threatened pyongyang with some of the most incendiary rhetoric used by a us president in decades. the words, improvised, the tone, agreed upon beforehand with aides. north korea best not make anymore threats to the united states. they will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen. and more tough talk on twitter this morning. "my first order as president was to renovate and modernise our nuclear arsenal. it is now far stronger and more powerful than ever before. " "hopefully we will never have to use this power, but there will never be a time when we are not the most powerful nation in the world." on a refuelling stop—over in guam, the us secretary of state, rex tillerson, used

more soothing language. "the island faced no imminent threat," he said, "and americans shouldn't lose any sleep." what the president is doing is sending a strong message to north korea in language that kim jong—un would understand, because he doesn't seem to understand diplomatic language. this small island is more than 2,000 miles away from pyongyang, but well within range of its missiles. with two military bases, it's a strategic military hub for america in the pacific, and the home to 160,000 people. i guess the first thing that comes to mind is, immediately, first, where is my family? to come up with a plan if anything happens. i think the response that president trump has presented is pretty much spot on. past administrations have just let it slide and kicked the can down the road, so, now north korea feels like they can get away with anything. donald trump has vowed that he will be the president who deals decisively with the north korean problem. with the rhetoric already at such a perilous pitch, there's the danger that both sides

become captive to their own tough words, that they talk themselves into a more serious confrontation. nick bryant, bbc news, washington. yogita limaye joins us yogita limayejoins us now yogita limaye joins us now from the south korean capital, seoul. yogita, we've been hearing about plans by north korea to attack guam. what's the latest? what north korea has done is now given the details of this attack that it given the details of this attack thatitis given the details of this attack that it is planning on guam. yesterday it said it was carefully examining the plan and it would be carefully given to kim jong—un. today, they say it involves firing four rockets over japan today, they say it involves firing four rockets overjapan into the sea near guam four rockets overjapan into the sea nearguam and four rockets overjapan into the sea near guam and the plan is to give it to kim jong—un by august. near guam and the plan is to give it to kimjong—un by august. he near guam and the plan is to give it to kim jong—un by august. he will then give the go—ahead. in the statement they say president trump

isa man statement they say president trump is a man without reason and only absolute force can work with him. yesterday there was a mass rally in north korea which the government says was to support the leadership. this is more tough talk coming from north korea ever since the un sanctions were passed against north korea. international pressure is growing on the country to halt the missile testing and come to the negotiating table. clearly, what we have seen from the response we have been seeing from pyongyang over the past few days, there is no indicator thatis past few days, there is no indicator that is likely to happen. we are now seeing specific action from pyongyang. what is the sentiment on the ground in this heightened tension between the north koreans, the south koreans, and the americans. this is a country that stands most to lose if any water brea ks stands most to lose if any water

breaks out. therefore, what it has been doing is following a two track policy. 0n the one hand it is strengthening capabilities along with america. american troops are stationed here and they are deploying us anti—missile defence system is. on the other hand, it knows no good can come from these escalating tensions. it has also made the offer of talks. it has said it is open to talks with north korea. pyongyang has not yet responded to this offer. the other player in the region is china, a key trade partner and ally of north korea. they urged north korea to stop missile tests and backed sanctions. but yesterday they said all parties involved need to stop the rhetoric, that this is a complicated and sensitive to the waist, and all parties involved should stay away from words and actions that could further this

incident. —— sensitive situation. actions that could further this incident. -- sensitive situation. as we just heard, the incident. -- sensitive situation. as wejust heard, the pacific incident. -- sensitive situation. as we just heard, the pacific island of guam is that the middle of these tensions. 0ur correspondent, rupert wingfield—hayes, is on the pacific island of guam. he told us what the mood there was like. there is clearly deep concern in guam. the threat against guam made by north korea was very specific and detailed. that has never happened before. there is also the sense it isa before. there is also the sense it is a rhetorical threat, that if north korea ever really did fire missiles at this island it would be suicidalfor missiles at this island it would be suicidal for the missiles at this island it would be suicidalfor the north missiles at this island it would be suicidal for the north korean regime. why do it? as nick bryant said, this is a juicy target for the north koreans. strategically, there isa north koreans. strategically, there is a huge airbase and a huge naval base here. after president trump

made those rhetorical comments about fire ant fury, north korea has decided to do the same thing. they are saying you must take us seriously and we will not be intimidated. i think across this region, especially in south korea andjapan, region, especially in south korea and japan, there is a feeling the weight president trump talks about north korea in these off—the—cuff remarks, it is not the way to deal with pyongyang. —— way. remarks, it is not the way to deal with pyongyang. -- way. we are following it closely for you and we will bring you the latest. also. kenya's electoral commission has dismissed opposition accusations that its computer system had been hacked. raila 0dinga, the main opposition candidate in tuesday's presidential poll, rejected the provisional results which indicated a strong lead for president uhuru kenyatta. the former american secretary of state, john kerry, part of the foreign monitors team, appealed for calm. there is an ability here which is

critical to be able to provide an appropriate, transparent, accountable counting of the balance. and people need to be patient. people need to let this process go through and not jump people need to let this process go through and notjump to conclusions at this point in time. french police have shot and wounded a suspect, after a car was deliberately driven at a group of soldiers as they left their barracks in a paris suburb. six soldiers were injured in the attack. the suspect, an algerian man, is in hospital after being shot five times after a motorway chase ended 260 kilometres north of the french capital. it's emerged that fbi agents seized documents and other material from the home of president trump's former campaign manager, paul manafort, two weeks ago. the raid, authorised by a search warrant, was carried out the day after mr manafort met members of the senate intelligence committee, as part of the investigation into alleged russian interference in last year's presidential election. nepal's parliament has passed a law

criminalising an ancient hindu practice that banishes women from the home during menstruation. anyone forcing a woman to follow the custom could get a three—month jail sentence or $30 fine. last month, a teenage girl died after being bitten by a snake while sleeping outside her home. good news for the botswana sprinter, isaac makwala. he was allowed to run alone against the clock at the world athletic championships here in london, after earlier being controversially barred due to quarantine restrictions after an outbreak of norovirus. after making the qualifying time, a few hours later he finished second in his semi—final to make thursday's 200—metre final. back to our top story. tensions have been rising in the region since north korea carried out two nuclear bomb tests last year and two intercontinental ballistic missile tests last month.

so, with america and north korea locked in an extraordinary standoff, what are the options for resolving the crisis? 0ur diplomatic correspondent, james robbins, reports. behind the fiery rhetoric from the two leaders, has the threat from north korea increased ? broadly, yes. recent tests suggest the country is much closer to being able to launch a long—range missile carrying a nuclear warhead, as far as the united states. the north korean regime and kim jong—un wants nuclear weapons because it believes they are the ultimate guarantee of regime survival. no—one is going to risk attacking you once you can respond with nuclear force. but already north korea has massive non—nuclear firepower. its artillery placed seoul, south korea's capital, within easy range. we're not looking at an immediate nuclear war situation right now. but we should also be aware

of the opportunities for miscalculation and escalation that could lead to nuclear use. so, what should be the international response to the threat? well, years of talks failed to persuade north korea to give up its nuclear ambitions, and now it's refusing dialogue. past "carrots," including support for a weak economy, also failed. and the "stick" of limited sanctions, well, that hasn't worked either. the new response is more severe economic pressure. it is now backed by the united nations, including the us, russia and china. although china has yet to show how far it really will go. which leaves the grimmest option of all, american military action. president trump's comments this week only increase north korea's paranoia about the threat from the united states, and it's not going to change north korea's current course of action. we need to get on the road towards dialogue with the north, as difficult as that is,

to decrease tensions and find a way out of this crisis. so, how should world leaders try to balance all the risks? is it an acceptable risks to allow the regime to get its nuclear weapons, and then rely on them being rational, like other nuclear weapon states, and to not use them? the answer to that depends on getting inside the head of kim jong—un. but he is harder to read than say, the old soviet union. with the soviet union, we had some reasonable visibility into the system. we don't have that with north korea. and so, although we can hope and assume that kim jong—un is rational enough and sensible enough to understand that any misadventure would attract a lot of retaliation, very few people from the outside have actually met him. that includes chinese leaders. it is because the really tough questions are so hard to answer with any certainty, that the crisis with north korea is very serious. james robbins, bbc news.

the australia government is to go ahead with a voluntary postal vote on legalising same—sex marriage, after plans for a compulsory vote were defeated in parliament. the former conservative prime minister, tony abbott, made a plea to australian's to vote against same—sex marriage. he told reporters "if you don't like same—sex, vote no " well, none other than his sister, who's openly gay, hit back. christine forster tweeted after the press conference "‘if you value mutual respect, vote yes." if you want all australians to be equal, vote yes. if you believe in free speech, vote yes. well, earlier in the programme i spoke with lauren foy from the new south wales gay lesbian rights lobby. the bill was never going to be a

constructive way forward. it was a lwa ys constructive way forward. it was always going to be a divisive discussion and we welcome the fact that the senate has rejected the push of pushed the plebiscite through. let's call the postal plebiscite idea exactly what it is. it isa plebiscite idea exactly what it is. it is a survey. what we are seeing here in australia is a real interesting shift in australian democracy, and we hold grave concerns not only for the mental health of our young people, but also about the efficacy of what a postal survey might look like for all australians. i think we also need to stop and get that we refer to this issue as a minority. however, in the recent abs survey, there were more same—sex couples than they were university students in australia, and we don't go referring to health oi’ and we don't go referring to health or education subgroups as a minority issue. the government really needs to make a decision on how we move forward. and there is a bill prepared which protect freedom of speech and provides the rest of us with equality, and that is the

direction that we really need to go in. what does this mean for you personally? i suppose it is a kind of limbo situation where you don't really know what is going to happen oi’ really know what is going to happen or have a voice heard. look, every day we get up in the sun rises, it means we are one step closer to equality. the lg bti community in australia are up resilient community. we always have been and we always will be and this is just another roadblock that we are breaking down to make sure that we are equal under the law. we need to also remember that this is about human dignity and respect for one another. australian values are about another. australian values are about afairgo, and another. australian values are about a fair go, and we do genuinely believe, after ten years of positive polling, that australia supports this change. it is about time that the government came to the table and progressed with the rest of the population. given that, then, do you think a compulsory vote is likely? no, it wasn't likely because the will of the australian people is for the government to do its job. will of the australian people is for

the government to do itsjob. we elect these people to make decisions on our behalf. that is that democratic place within our institutional systems. and this is really a new low in terms of democracy, and it will devalue what democracy, and it will devalue what democracy and decision making and the parliament means going forward. what we don't want to see is that every time a social issue comes up, oi’ every time a social issue comes up, oran every time a social issue comes up, or an issue is difficult comes up, is that the public are demanding a postal vote or a plebiscite on those issues. that is what the democratic process of electing at elections is for. we need to trust in our government to make decisions in the best interests of australia, and we know that equality under the law is in the best interests of all australians. you are watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme: they are no cinderellas. why some indian women are posting selfies while out after midnight. also on the programme: as president duterte of the philippines takes his war on drugs into universities, we will hear what students make of his plans.

the big crowds became bigger at the time of the funeral approach. as the lines of fans became longer, the police prepared for a huge drop of crowd control. -- huge job. uganda's rouble former dictator has died at the age of 80. he has been buried in saudi arabia, where he lived in exile since being overthrown in 1979. 2 billion people around the world have seen the last total eclipse of the sun to take place in

this millennium. it began its journey off the coast of canada, ending three hours later when the suit ending three hours later when the sun set over the bay of bengal. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm rico hizon in singapore. i'm babita sharma in london. our top stories: north korea issues a new threat to guam. it says kim jong—un will decide within the next few days whether to launch four missiles towards the tiny pacific island. it comes despite a strong warning from the us defence secretary that pyongyang would be grossly outmatched by america in any arms race. and the american it expert who suggested that people use complex passwords and change them regularly now says he was wrong. bill burr‘s advice was adopted throughout the world, but he now says it drives people bananas, and actually makes security worse. that story is popular on bbc.com.

let's take a look at some front pages from around the world. france's le figaro leads with six soldiers injured after being run over by a suspected terrorist in paris. the newspaper says they were part of the high—visibility patrols deployed in response to the country's heightened terror alert. british schooling is set to boom in beijing, according to the china daily. uk trade officials say their respected education system could tap into a market that will be worth nearly $500 billion in china by 2020. the israeli prime minister's woes feature on the front page of the new york times. the main story imagines israel without neta nyahu, saying corruption cases are making the leader's position vulnerable. babita, what has trending this hour online? this has been trending in india,

and is featured on our website — the hashtag #aintnocinderella. women in india are posting photographs of themselves out in public at midnight, after a politician said a woman who was chased by two men late at night shouldn't have been out at that hour. hundreds of women have taken part, accusing the politician of victim—shaming. it is honestly very disrespectful that our political leaders, instead of being the forefront and holding those responsible for these assaults, holding them responsible, punishing them, we are being blamed. victims are being caused as a reason. a lot of young women are being asked not to go out past midnight, not to dress a certain way, instead of asking the man to respect women, and for them to act

ina more respect women, and for them to act in a more dignified manner. as rodrigo duterte's brutal war on drugs continues in the philippines, the country has announced another controversial measure to tackle the use of illegal substances. the higher education ministry is allowing universities to carry out mandatory drugs testing on students and applicants. the government hopes it will prevent young people using drugs. critics point out president duterte's advocated vigilante killings of drug users, and fear it could encourage violence and victimisation of young people. one of those critics isjustine balane, the secretary of akbayan youth international. he is in manila. thank you so much forjoining us. what is the fear right now among incoming university students? that they may become possible targets of they may become possible targets of the rodrigo duterte administration's war on the rodrigo duterte administration's waron drugs? the rodrigo duterte administration's war on drugs? yes, exactly. that is one of the fears of students, and we think it is valid. especially because this forced drug testing policy does not have clear guidelines as of yet. and second, we

don't think that colleges and universities are able to handle this properly, especially when the higher education ministry's memorandum also states that colleges and universities may sanction students who test positive in their drug examinations. and put sanctions on stu d e nts examinations. and put sanctions on students who even refuse drug testing. so this is quite harsh, justine. so in your view what is the best way to approach this initiative? is there a middle ground, orare initiative? is there a middle ground, or are you asking the government to totally scrapped it? the problem is that the drug testing policies, especially the task —— test forced, violates the rights of the students. the problem is that we need to stop this thinking. the only way to stop the drug menace from getting our youth is through

punitive measures. we think that drug dependency and drug addiction isa drug dependency and drug addiction is a health and human rights problem. therefore, schools should intensify their educational programmes, to prevent young people from getting into the drug trade or drug use in the first place. and also schools, colleges and universities have special rules to direct rehabilitation and intervention for students who are already drug dependent. at justine, if the government is that fast on in lamenting this initiative, how could your organisation work with the government to be able to smooth out the rough edges of these initiatives? yes, right now we are encouraging a student councils, our student governments, to monitor how their higher educational institutions are implementing this new higher education ministry

memorandum. we as much as possible wa nt to memorandum. we as much as possible want to make sure that there are consultations done, and that the universities will not bar students from enrolling whoever test positive. and we think that further in traps students into the drug menace, especially when they don't have education, when they don't have the facilities available for intervention. we will have to leave it there. thank you so much for your insights. you have been watching newsday. stay with us for the latest instalment of our business of birth series. hello there. much of the country was

fine and dry, with some good, sunny spells on wednesday. but it was atrocious across the south—east. cold and wet like this weather watcher behind me depicts a central london. the rain has been slowly petering out, and as we start thursday morning with largely clear skies and light winds it is going to bea skies and light winds it is going to be a chilly one. temperatures out of town in single figures widely across the uk. maybe a little bit of mist penfold in places as well. that is because we have got a ridge of high pressure which will keep things largely fine and settled for thursday. this weather front which brought all the rain across the south—east on wednesday slowly clearing away. we have also got

another weather system slowly approaching the far north—west of the uk. that introduces a little bit of thicker cloud and also a few spots of light rain across the far north and north—west of scotland. but awayf north and north—west of scotland. but away f rom north and north—west of scotland. but awayf rom here, much of scotla nd but awayf rom here, much of scotland is going to be for northern ireland, temperatures around ten to 13 degrees to start the day and dry morning with some sunshine. same two for northern ireland, temperatures around ten to 13 degrees to start the just one ought two showers there in across kent, and quite a strong northerly breeze as well, which will gradually ease down through the day. apart from a few heavy showers for kent in the very far south—east for england and wales, most places fine dry. lots of sunshine around. the south—east little bit of cloud. just one or two showers there in across kent, and quite a strong northerly breeze as well, which will gradually ease down through the day. apart from a few heavy showers for kent in the very most places will be dry for the very most places will be dry for the afternoon as scotland. temperature—wise, around 17 to 20 degrees, much warmer around the south—east compared wednesday. so good—looking date for the world championships athletics in london stadium. it is going to be dry with some sunshine. temperatures around

21 or 22 degrees. now, i but the winds will be increasing for the north—west of scotland. temperature—wise, around 17 to 20 degrees, much warmer around the south—east had wednesday. so a good—looking date for the world championships athletics in london stadium. it is going to be dry with some sunshine. temperatures around 21 or 22 degrees. now, a fine end day as well for thursday day as well for and wales it is going to be another largely clear night, with light winds, so it is going to turn quite cool. but for scotland and northern ireland we will have an approaching weather system, so here turning wet and windy through the night. here, not quite as cool. so for friday, then, we have got this weather system across northern and western areas. a nice, fine start, though, for central, southern and eastern parts of england. even here conditions will go looks like the england and wales it is going to be another largely clear night, with light winds, so it is going to turn quite cool. but for scotland and northern ireland we will have an approaching weather system, so here turning wet and windy through the night. here, not quite as cool. so for friday, then, we have got this weather system across northern and western areas. a nice, fine start,

though, for central, southern and eastern parts of england. even here conditions will go downhill during the course of the day. so the rain will heavy across western scotland and north—west england. northern and western wales, it will slowly move its way eastwards, eventually reaching the south—east later on. top temperature 16 to 22 celsius again across the south—east. looks like friday night could be quite a wet and blustery one as those weather systems clear away. as we had on towards the weekend, a big ridge of high pressure builds in. so does mean saturday and sunday we are looking at fine and dry weather. a little bit of clout here and there but some good sunny spells. fairly cool but some good sunny spells. fairly cool, though, and night. i'm with bbc world news. our top story. north korea says it's working on a detailed plan to launch four missiles towards the island of guam. state media in north korea say the plan will be presented to kimjong—un by mid august and he will decide whether to proceed. several thousand us troops are stationed on the island.

the new threat comes despite a warning from the us defence secretary that north korea's cannot win an arms race with the us. he also warned that pyonyang's actions could result in the end of its regime and the destruction of its people. and this video is trending on bbc.com. nine magellanic penguins have just been released back into the sea, after being rescued and rehabilitated by a team of specialists in argentina. they've been nursed back to health, after suffering from malnutrition. the mundo marino centre, which has been feeding them up, has rescued more than 2,500 penguins. that's all from me now.