she i'm rico hizon in singapore, the headlines: japan is set to become the first asian nation to host the rugby world cup. andl and i am mariko oi, outside the tokyo state where the home team will face russia later this evening. trudeau under pressure — the canadian prime ministerfaces heavy criticism after footage emerges of him in blackface makeup. darkening yourface, regardless darkening your face, regardless of the context of the circumstances, is a lwa ys the context of the circumstances, is always u na cce pta ble the context of the circumstances, is always unacceptable because of the racist history of blackface.

i'm nuala mcgovern in london. also in the programme: preparing to protest for the planet — students around the world get ready for friday climate strikes. and why gay rights activists in south korea say lack of laws to protect them is forcing many young people to take their own lives. good morning. it's midnight in london, 7am here in singapore and 8am tokyo where — if you didn't already know — the rugby world cup gets underway later today. this is the first time the tournament is being hosted by an asian nation.

it's only four years ago that japan's team, the brave blossoms caused a huge shock with their 3a—32 victory over south africa in england. nowjapan will be hoping to build on that stunning victory on home soil. let's go straight to the bbc‘s mariko oi who's in tokyo for us. iam sure i am sure everyone i am sure everyone is excited. yes, rico. and the aim for it to be taking place in japan yes, rico. and the aim for it to be taking place injapan is because they want to spread the popularity of the sport outside countries like australia, new zealand, england and south africa. of course, ager is the most populous region on the planet andjapan most populous region on the planet and japan has the biggest rugby playing ablation in asia. does make asia is the most populous region. it was the first asian nation to host

the fifa world cup in 2002 alongside south korea. from the japanese point of view, it is a good practice ahead of view, it is a good practice ahead of tokyo olympics next summer. —— asia is the most populous region. football is a lot more popular than by. football is a lot more popular than rugby. but rugby is popular with university students. i watched their practice last night to find out how the students feel about the sport? rugby has never been that big in japan but it suddenly came into the spotlight in 2015 after that shock victory by japan's brave blossoms over south africa. it has been dubbed the greatest upset at a rugby world cup. it gave the country the extra push for hosting rights and here we are. japan has become the first asian nation to host the

tournament. it was a bit of a gamble, though, for the rugby world cup to be taking place in a place where the ace and football are more popular. they have been some concerns about ticket sales, especially outside of big cities. local support will probably on how the type —— how the home team does in the big tournament but these stu d e nts in the big tournament but these students are very excited. translation: up until now, i only watched other nations teams on television but the fact they are playing in my home country is great. translation: the current japanese team is said to be its best and the coach hopes to be in the top eight. just like the last world cup when they beat south africa, hope they do well and rugby becomes more popular injapan. translation: i thought only rugby players and fans would enjoy this world cup that i noticed my fans who

don't play rugby are looking forward to it, too. japan is up against russia and the home team is ranked higher than the opponent. a lot more excitement anticipated and with me is a rugby expert from the university. i remember talking to you after the 2015 rugby world cup when we saw that shock victory by japan and you are saying that this is going to boost rugby's popularity. as the number of students playing the sport actually increased? actually, no. especially amongst high school players is a decline because all the mothers have found out what a dangerous sport it is because of it isa dangerous sport it is because of it is a typical not in my backyard scenario. it is a great spot but not for my son, everyone says. and we

found out that your wife says the same thing? she understands the camaraderie and everything but she says, "can you imagine my son playing this spot? no!" sol says, "can you imagine my son playing this spot? no!" so i guess she is a typicaljapanese mother. playing this spot? no!" so i guess she is a typicaljapanese motherlj suppose she is a typicaljapanese mother.” suppose there is a clear difference in howjapan suppose there is a clear difference in how japan played suppose there is a clear difference in howjapan played rugby compared to how overseas countries play. the main difference is there is a lot of segregation. hike —— high school, couege segregation. hike —— high school, college and company teams. the typicaljapanese college and company teams. the typical japanese psychological phenomena and a lot of rituals based oi'i phenomena and a lot of rituals based ona phenomena and a lot of rituals based on a lot ofjapanese issues so we have almost transformed the western sport into a japanese thing. as in the case with baseball as well but by the case with baseball as well but rugby as well, there is a lot of japanese issues and rules

incorporated. the taboo is being the tattoos that all players have been covering in japan. the tattoos that all players have been covering injapan. the professor will be with us throughout our coverage on newsday. it is fair to say that if you ask fans watching tonight, do they know all of the rules ? tonight, do they know all of the rules? the answer is definitely no but they are definitely excited and treating it like a festival. back to you in london. eggs are very much. also making news today: former british prime minister david cameron revealed he asked the queen for help ahead of the scottish independence vote in 2014. the palace's reaction to the admission? sources say there's "displeasure." at the time, the queen told voters they should think very carefully about their decision. here's what mr. cameron said. i remember conversations that i had

with my private secretary and the queen had with her private secretary and not asking for anything that would be improper and unconstitutional butjust would be improper and unconstitutional but just a would be improper and unconstitutional butjust a raising of the eyebrow, even, you know, a quarter of an inch, we thought would make a difference. also making news today: the us secretary of state, mike pompeo, says he wants a peaceful outcome to the confrontation with iran over saturday's drone and missile strike on saudi arabia. on wednesday, mr pompeo described the attack as an act of war. iran denies us allegations it was behind the assault on saudi oilfacilities. i think it is abundantly clear and there is enormous consensus in the area that we know who conducted these attacks is around. i don't think there is anyone who doubted that for a moment. the former president of tunisia zine el abidine ben ali has died in exile aged 83. he was forced from office

after two decades in power, following mass street protests which triggered a wave of similar uprisings across the arab world. ben ali was sentenced in his absence to thirty five years in prison for embezzling public money. residents of the northern french town of armentieres were shocked to see what looked like a black panther stalking the rooftops. the big cat spent nearly an hour on a ledge before a vet sedated it with a tranquilliser dart. before its capture, the panther had gone into an apartment belonging to a family whose15—year—old daughter was at home. police are seeking the panther‘s owner for questioning. indonesia is still fighting to cope with thousands of forest fires which are sending thick smoke across the region. most of the fires are being started to clear land for plantations. the haze is causing health problems for local residents and wildlife — as rivan dwiaston reports from kalimantan.

firefighters and volunteers struggled to put out this fire. one of the thousands of hotspots burning across the island. but their water resources a re across the island. but their water resources are running out. the community is praying for rain. translation: our main problem is water. the long dry season has made our water sources run dry. it is difficult to get water close to the hotspots. from the air, their homes are barely visible through the haze. hundreds of thousands of acres of burning forest and peatland has thrown a toxic blanket over the region. it is having a devastating effect on people ‘s health. tens of thousands of people are now suffering from hayes related illness. this local hospital has set up illness. this local hospital has set up this clinic with bags and oxygen for the locals who have been breathing in toxic haze for weeks and the air outside is having real

impact on locals and some of the worst our children. this five month old baby has been struggling to breathe. he is being treated alongside his sister. endangered orangutans are also suffering while the fires destroy more of their shrinking habitat. there forest cleared to make way for a lucrative palm oil plantation. indonesia is the world's largest producer and these fires were lit illegally to clear more land. helicopters want to bomb hotspots and thousands of troops have been deployed to fight the fires. these fires release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. the worst fires into decades, the blaze are estimated to have emanated

more greenhouse gases than the entire us economy in the same period. after those devastating fires, indonesia failed to prevent it from occurring again. what observers say that we can law enforcement and corruption is the major barrier to stopping them coming back every year. the canadian prime minister justin trudeau has issued a new apology tonight — after fresh video emerged of him wearing blackface make—up, a day after he admitted such behaviour was racist. mr trudeau said he'd hurt people who faced discrimination — but couldn't say how many times he'd worn blackface. from ottawa, nick bryant reports. in this age of celebrity politicians, justin trudeau is a politician who became a celebrity. youthful, telegenic — a leader who seemed to embody the values of modern—day progressiveness, a model of political correctness.

put this photo presents a very different picture, showing him wearing blackface make—up at a private—school gala in 2001. an arabian nights costume party where, as a 29—year—old teacher, he was dressed as a charater from aladdin. his message today — "forgive me, i've changed." darkening yourface, regardless of the context or the circumstances, is always unacceptable because of the racist history of blackface. i should have understood that then, and i never should have done it. more blackface photos have emerged, and a video has surfaced from the early ‘90s showing a young justin trudeau sticking his tongue out and making faces. all this in the midst of an election campaign in which mr trudeau had already been reeling from a corruption scandal. blackface is now recognised as a racist caricature, and his opponents are piling in. any time we hear examples of brownface or blackfacing, it's making a mockery of someone for what they live,

and what their lived experiences are. i think he needs to answer for it. the young prime minister has always sought to portray canada as one of the world's most successfully multicultural countries. here, he greeted syrian refugees at the airport. this damages his political brand. but in the capital, ottawa, today, most people we spoke to were forgiving. it is nothing, because he was very young at the time. and it was canada, it's not the us, we don't have the same history here that they have in the us. do you find it offensive? i do. he's positioned himself as a liberal counterpoint to donald trump, but his golden boy image has been tarnished. nick bryant, bbc news, ottawa. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme:

climate protests are expected in countries across the world. we'll hear from one of the students preparing to strike also on the programme: how discrimination and prejudice in south korea are driving young gay teenagers to the brink. our 30 hours after the earthquake that devastated mexico city, rescue teams still have no idea just how many people have died. there is people alive and there is people not alive. we just can help and give them whatever we've got. a state funeral is being held for princess grace of monaco at the church where she married prince rainier 26 years ago. it looked as though they had come to fight a war, but their mission is to bring peace to east timor, and nowhere on earth needs it more badly. the government's case is being forcefully presented by monsieur badinter, the justice minister. he's campaigned vigorously for the abolition, having once witnessed one of his clients being executed.

elizabeth seton spent much of her time at this grotto, and every year, hundreds of pilgrimages are made here. now that she's become a saint, it's expected that this area will be inundated with tourists. the mayor and local businessman regard the anticipated boom as just another blessing of st elizabeth. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm rico hizon in singapore. i'm nuala mcgovern in london. our top stories: japan prepares to make history as the first asian nation to host the rugby world cup. canada's prime minister, justin trudeau, says he deeply regrets that he wore blackface make up on several occasions decades ago. he's facing renewed pressure ahead of next month's general election. now for a look at some front pages from around the world. let's begin with the japan times — its reporting that after a 2—year

trial, three former executives of the japanese electrical company tepco have been acquitted of professional negligence. 30 lawsuits had been filed against them arguing that their negligence resulted in the 2011 fukushima nuclear crisis. the straits times is leading with one of our main stories — the haze cloaking singapore and malaysia for a second week. it says says air purifiers will be issued if the haze worsens for students undergoing examinations, and employees who work outside are being given masks to help filter the air. and arab news is covering a report by amnesty international titled all work, no pay that says qatar is failing to fulfil its promises to improve the conditions of migrant workers in the run—up to the 2022 world cup.

those are the papers. thanks, rico. students around the world are ditching class to demand action on climate change. organisers expect more than a million people to join the global climate strike on friday, with events held in at least 100 countries. the movement is championed by teenage activist greta thunberg, who willjoin protestors in new york. they're hoping the world's leaders take note as they head to next week's un climate action summit. 15—year—old student danielle porreh viahfahnya is in sydney, and will be marching on friday. we're going to be striking in the city of sydney today because climate change is something we care so deeply. it generally threatens our future like nothing we've ever seen before so us, as tens of thousands of stu d e nts before so us, as tens of thousands of students arejoining before so us, as tens of thousands of students are joining together with adults and all people across

society to fight the climate justice because it needs to be done and we need to have action. have your pa rents need to have action. have your parents said yes, that's fine, go ahead, skip school. tell me a bit about the interaction you had with adults. it's a fascinating thing that its teenagers were leading this movement. i think it's really interesting how a lot of people frame it as we are just being told by adults to go and skip school. the reality is, we are not skipping school, we are working hard, we are on the street fighting the social movements, something that is so deeply important to us and that something that adults have not acted on and it's not adults telling us to go onto the streets, it's science telling us to go onto the street because adults are not listening to the science which is why we are out here fighting for it. my point is slightly different. i was wondering whether your parents are cool for you to go out or they would prefer you to go out or they would prefer you to go out or they would prefer you to stay in school. my parents

are quite supportive of it. they are happy that i am involved and i'm really passionate about something that's important to me and i'm not it. you feel enough has not been done. do you think something like this can really make a difference? will it really connect with political leaders? so many opportunities in the previous decades to perhaps be more forthright than they have been. well ido forthright than they have been. well i do think it's quite disappointing that up to this point, they haven't really listened to us. they haven't listened to the science until we ta ke listened to the science until we take these actions and us young people go out on strike in locations all over the world. i definitely think that is a force with hundreds of thousands of young people as a force across the world, together, we are incredibly powerful and we see that. there is a un climate summit next week. they are listening to us and climate change is definitely on

most people's radar. in sydney, is there one particular aspect that you'd like to see the australian government tackle? so, in australia, school streit the climate has three demands. no new muscle fuel projects including the adani carmichael calm —— coalmine and 100% renewable energy by 2030 and adjust conditions for fossil energy by 2030 and adjust conditions forfossilfuel energy by 2030 and adjust conditions for fossil fuel workers and their families. we need to have adjust transition for those who are directly impacted by a transition to renewa bles directly impacted by a transition to renewables and by a transition to a new greener and renewable and sustainable economy. a row —— arow ——a a row —— a role model for the youth there. lgbtq campaigners in south korea believe the lack of an anti—discrimination law in the country could be costing young lives. surveys suggest nearly half of all gay and lesbian teenagers

in the east asian country attempt suicide. many feel that being gay is treated as a disability or a mental illness. laura bicker has been finding out why many south koreans find it hard to live with being lgbtq. you'll burn in hell. you get aids. those of the insults shouted at members of the lgbt community as they squeeze their way through an intimidating line of protesters on the way to a gay pride festival. the very vocal protestant christian community say they do it not out of hate out of love. we just stop them going to the help. we shout, if you going to the help. we shout, if you go there, you will go to hell. translation: homosexuality is a

country ruining disease. if you commita country ruining disease. if you commit a homosexual act, the country will perish. last year, this festival took a more violent turn as protesters tried to stop the lgbt community from marching. the voices ofa community from marching. the voices of a few hundred people who wanted to celebrate our love drowned out by thousands who believe it is a sin. the lack of acceptance was too much for some to bear and it's a kind of discrimination which could be costing young lives. nearly half of all young lg bt people costing young lives. nearly half of all young lgbt people try to commit suicide. alienate it from society, they feel they will never be accepted. kim knows this all too well. he was 20 when a co—worker outed him as gay. translation: it. like the sky was falling down. i was so scared and shocked. the restau ra nt so scared and shocked. the restaurant owners told me they can't work with a homosexual and they did

not want me to spread homosexuality to the co—workers. not want me to spread homosexuality to the co-workers. they then told his mother, who flung him out of the house. alone and homeless, he also found he become a target. men i didn't recognise came up to be saying, homosexuality is a sin and it cannot be forgiven. then they stubbornly started to beat me with a bamboo sword. south korea is one of the most conservative countries in east asia in terms of gay rights, one study ranks itjust above russia. translation: korean conservative christians have said that discrimination should not be made illegal in the government have accepted the small but vocal opinion that it's the majority of society so it really hinders any active measures to adopt and respond to the need to protect the rights of sexual minorities. back in incheon, to

foreigners braver kiss in front of the protesters. it's a show of affection most gay people in south korea can only dream of. but hope remains that one day soon, they will be free to love whoever they choose without this rumination. laura becker, bbc news, incheon. now, just before we go, japan loves mascots — every city has one. so, not surprisingly, there are several mascots for the rugby world cup. here are a few of them. these characters are ren — g the official tournament mascots. there's also a dog mascott called ragamarukun and trykun, this one kind of looks like a rugby player. the most popular it seems is kuma—mon — pictured here with the former emperor and empress. another couple of pictures for our viewers. these tourists in the australian outback have got more than a poor road surface to worry

about. take a look, blocked by 30 saltwater crocodiles and that is where we will leave you with this edition of newsday. hello there. temperatures are set to climb over the next couple of days. friday morning will start off with some fog patches in places but that you tend to lift and clear fairly quickly and we will see a lot of sunshine and some real warmth as well. high is centred just about here. consider wind rotating around it in here. consider wind rotating around itina here. consider wind rotating around it in a clockwise direction. the high pressure keeping the rain bearing cloud they have the atlantic. wanted to fog patches across southern scotland, northern england. the dense patch of fog, some potentially for northern ireland as we go through the day, any fog will lift and we will see patches of cloud drifting northwards and a lot of sunshine across most parts of the uk and temperatures widely between 19 and 22 degrees.

but with the south or south—easterly winds blowing across the uk, the favoured spot the high temperatures will actually be the north of scotland, particularly when you get some shelter to the north high ground. 23 or24 some shelter to the north high ground. 23 or 2a degrees. as we go through friday night, it's going to stay dry. there will be long clear spells overhead and we will see more of reason at this stage so not too many problems with mr fog and it's not going to be quite as chilly as some nights with had recently. some spots holding up in double—digit ‘s. 14 spots holding up in double—digit ‘s. 1a degrees therefore plymouth for example, down to nine in glasgow and newcastle but the saturday, we have the speed of our coming up in the south of the south—east. pretty warm wind direction, but a human. high—pressure holding onto the first half of the weekend but notice these frontal systems out in the atlantic stop these will eventually make their move and turn things quite a lot more unsettled. saturday then, most reliably dry day for many parts of the uk. a lot of fine weather,

lots of sunshine as well but notice the under storm late in the day to the under storm late in the day to the south—west of england, parts of wales, maybe northern ireland as well. temperatures though, 21 degrees, glasgow, the south—east of england could get to 25, 20 six degrees. through saturday night, the increasing chance we could see and read downpours drifting across western areas. had this frontal system. it is a cold front. we could be moving erratically northeast woods as we moved to sunday. some uncertainty about where it will come to rest without makes a brain for the afternoon but ahead of it, another warm day, 23 or 2a degrees but behind that cold front, the turns colder. it will feel cooler and much fresher and that leaders us into a cooler, fresher week generally for all of us next week and there will be some wind and rain at times. it is going to feel quite autumnal.

this is bbc world news. our top story: the rugby world cup isjust hours from starting, with japan the first asian country to host the competition. the world's top rugby nations are poised for the start of the cup with the outcome as uncertain as any of the previous eight tournaments. the canadian prime minister, justin trudeau, has again apologised for wearing blackface make up on several occasions decades ago. he faces renewed pressure ahead of next month's general election after pictures and footage emerged. and this story is popular on bbc.com: protesters are preparing for friday's climate strikes in around 100 countries across the world. organisers say there could be up to a million people taking part.