Its 8am in singapore, 1am In London and eight in the evening in new york, where diplomatic efforts to try to ease the tension on the Korean Peninsula are stepping up a gear this friday. The us Secretary Of StateRex Tillerson will attend a Un Security Council meeting. The United States and its allies are expected to turn up the pressure on china to use its leverage to rein in kimjong un. Speaking to the bbc, republican senator John Barrasso explained the renewed diplomacy drive. Well, of course the goal is a peaceful resolution of the process, thats what we want. We want north korea without Nuclear Weapons and this whole thing peacefully resolved. Thats the deliberations and discussions with china so they can get much more involved because you know after all, that 85 of the trading that north korea does is with china and i think china right now realises their interests are aligned with the United States, with regard to a Nuclear Armed north korea because the question is really can they or cant they in terms of delivering a Nuclear Warhead to where you live as opposed to will they or wont they and i think thats a change in the position for china. While diplomacy is key in moving forward, at a Senate Hearing earlier today, the top us commander in the pacific, admiral harry harris stressed the importance of keeping all options on the table. If we dont maintain credible combat power to confront kim jong uns testing and his development goals, then were gonna be in a position to be blackmailed by kju. Now i think thats probably a worse place to be. And i think that well all agree that everything thats been done up to this point has not worked in deterring kim jong un. Earlier i spoke to our washington Correspondent Laura Bicker and she gave more details about the up coming Security Council meeting. What we are hearing when it comes to doubt Security Council meeting tomorrow chaired by the Secretary Of State, Rex Tillerson, is the move will be towards more sanctions and putting the pressure on north korea, using the sanctions, the stringent sanctions already in place. Rex tillerson has already given a very rare interview to fox news. There he said that kim jong un was not insane, implying that he is a rational leader that could be negotiated with. Thats what we heard ina negotiated with. Thats what we heard in a statement yesterday, that they were open to negotiations, that they were open to negotiations, that they wanted a path to dialogue. Thats what the sanctions are about. Interestingly, what is also come out from this interview is that china has told the us that it told pyongyang it would impose sanctions if Kimjong Un Pyongyang it would impose sanctions if kim jong un Dead Pyongyang it would impose sanctions if kimjong un dead another pyongyang it would impose sanctions if kim jong un dead another nuclear test. So that is new information. That suggest that that important meat and between the president of china and the president of the us last month may have yielded results when it comes to china putting the pressure on north korea. Fascinating. Many revelations in that report that Rex Tillerson gave to fox news. But much depends on trying to convince china, and, if indeed the comments you made a correct, we should be watching china very carefully the Security Council meeting. I think the us is clear when it comes to china trying to be the leader on this. That is what these negotiations were about. Many people keep asking me the question, what is different now to Previous Administration attempts to force the hand of china. The difference is that china seems to be of the opinion that north korea is no longer someone opinion that north korea is no longer someone or opinion that north korea is no longer someone or willing to be tolerated but something that needs tolerated but something that needs to be dealt with. They have started imposing sanctions. The us seems to believe that they are showing willingness. Now whether or not that comes from the statement that you heard earlier, the question is now, perhaps, a matter of when north korea has a missile which it can launch. 0r, korea has a missile which it can launch. Or, perhaps, it is the fact that the us has put on china to call ita that the us has put on china to call it a currency manipulator. Either way, china is the one to watch you and the key ally that the us may have in solving this. Staying with north korea the russian president , vladimir putin, has called for the resumption of six Party International talks. He was speaking after talks in moscow with the japanese prime minister. Both leaders called on all sides to show restraint. We call on all countries involved to refrain from military rhetoric. We see it as a girl a call for the resumption of six country talks. Translation President Putin and i have agreed that japan and russia will continue to co operate closely and appeal to north korea to fully comply with the Un Security Council resolutions and avoid further provocative actions. Also making news today Human Rights Officers in the philippines have discovered a secret lock up cell in a Police Station in the capital, manila. It was hidden behind a bookshelf, where 11 people were being held. The undocumented prisoners said they had been there for a week. They told investigators that police had locked them up to extort money. Meanwhile the philippines is getting ready to host a summit of the association of Southeast Asian nations. Its expected to tackle terrorism, economic integration and territorial disputes. But president duterte has said theres no point in protesting against chinas Island Building in disputed areas of the South China Sea because it could not be stopped. United airlines has settled a lawsuit with a passenger dragged off a flight earlier this month. Lawyers for david dao said they had reached an out of Court Settlement with the airline, for an undisclosed amount. Dr dao was forcibly taken off the plane to make Space Forfour crew members. The Us Defence Department says its investigating Donald Trumps former National Security adviser. Its over payments he received from companies linked to the russian government. Michael flynn left the Trump Administration after only twenty four days in office. His lawyer said the pentagon was aware of one of his paid speeches. The white house spokesman, sean spicer, made this comment on the investigation. I think thats appropriate if they think that theres wrongdoing then the departments Inspector General should look into that. He was issued a Security Clearance under the 0bama administration in the spring of 2016. The trip and transactions youre referring to occurred in December Of 2015 from what i understand. Obviously there is an issue that as you point out the Department Of DefenceInspector Generals looking into, we welcome that, but all of that clearance was made during the 0bama administration and apparently you with knowledge of the trip that he took. Two american troops have been killed fighting Islamic State militants in afghanistan. A Defence Department spokesman said the incident happened in the same province where the us dropped its mother of all bombs earlier this month. 0ver dropped its mother of all bombs earlier this month. Over 2000 us Military Personnel in have died in afghanistan since 2001. The un has criticised a plan by the government of myanmar to resettle displaced muslims. Thousands of people fled across the border to bangladesh to escape riots. There is now concern that returning residents could end up that returning residents could end up in refugee camps. This could increase tensions. Police in london have arrested a Man Carrying Knives near the houses of parliament. The man, whos 27, is being held on suspicion of Planning Acts of terrorism. He had been under surveillance by the security services. No one was hurt in the incident. Nasas Cassini Space Probe is back in contact with earth, after successfully making a close pass of saturn. Three grainy images of the planets clouds, are among the data collected. The manoeuvre between the planet and its rings is the first of twenty two such dives before the Craft Plunges into saturns atmosphere in a few months. On this programme weve often reported on the illegal trade in ivory or rhino horn. Our next story is about donkey skin. An increase in demand from china, where the skin is used in traditional medicine, is now endangering lives and livelihoods in africa. The bbcs nomsa maseko sent this report from south africa and a warning viewers might find some of the images disturbing. Theyre animals known for their domesticated nature. In rural parts of the african continent, they ferry goods and people. 0ften bringing relief to daily chores. But now donkeys are being bludgeoned to death. Theyre mainly slaughtered illegally and skinned in backyards. Like rhino horn and ivory, donkey skins are sold to china for use in traditional medicine. This has raised the price and the rate of the slaughter of these animals, threatening the livelihoods of poor communities who rely on them. Translation gangs are paid by the chinese to steal our donkeys. Ive already lost five as a result and if i lose any more donkeys i wont be able to feed my family. This is my only source of income. The growing wave of Donkey Slaughtering in several african countries seeks to fuel a lucrative and illegal trade. Just recently thousands of donkey skins were found in a Shipping Container on a farm east ofjohannesburg. Ashley ness has been investigating the illegal slaughtering of donkeys. The trade is massive. The trade has. It doesnt extend just to south africa, also the bordering countries, kenya, tanzania, somalia. So the trade is immense. There is a risk that the meat is ending up in the human food chain. Hundreds of Donkey Carcasses that have been illegally slaughtered lie scattered here in the scorching heat. All of this to supply an increase in demand for donkey skin in china. The people who live in this community said dumping has been taking place for more than two years, and the smell is overpowering. Translation the stench is horrible. Ive been going to the clinic to get treatment for a Chest Infection because of this. We cant live like this. Many african countries are beginning to worry about their donkeys. A number of them, including niger and burkina faso, have banned the export of donkey hides. Its hoped others willjoin in to end the illegal trade. Nomsa maseko, bbc news, johannesburg. Now in snooker ding junhuis quest to become the first asian World Snooker champion is one step closer. He beat five time champion ronnie 0sullivan in the quarterfinals. He now leads against reigning champion mark selby in the World Championship semi finals by five frames to three. The contest resumes on friday morning here in the uk. A little earlier i spoke to my bbc sports colleague marc edwards about snookers rising star. The story of his rise apparently beginning with a rather fortuitous toilet break aged eight. Dings father, Keen Snooker Player himself, popping to the loo during a game at the local snooker hall. Xiao ding, or little ding, as hes known affectionately by the chinese press, deciding to take over the cue and before the elder ding returned he had won the match. Shortly after that his parents selling up their Grocery Business and house, moving from jiangsu to Dongguan City in guangdong province, where ding, who stopped his formal education at the age ofjust11, he practised for eight hours a day at a training hall. Age of 15 he started winning national, regional Snooker Youth Championships and then he fast became chinas top player. The next decade was then is spent on the international circuit, where he slowly climbed the rankings. He won his first major final, the china open, with a 9 5 win over seven time World Champion stephen hendry. That was a big one. He was only 18 when that happened. That was back in 2005. And it was the same year he became uk champion for the first time with a 10 6 win over another goliath of the sport in steve davis. And hes really continued to win trophies from there. Now, its interesting to note that ronnie 0sullivan, who he beat in the Quarter Finals as you describe, he described ding as a special lad, a beautiful guy after that 13 7 frame loss to arguably snookers biggest global icon. It seems that it kind of shows especially how highly regarded he is within the sport as well as outside it. Youre watching newsday on the bbc. Still to come on the programme normally associated with the yakuza, or japanese mafia, tattooing is a Taboo Injapan. We talk to one man whos trying to break down the barriers. Also on the programme these Iconic Wooden Junk ships used to be synonymous with hong kong but could they be disappearing . Nothing, it seems, was too big to withstand the force of the tornado. The extent of the devastation will lead to renewed calls for government to build better government housing. Internationally, there have already been protests. Sweden says it received no warning of the accident. Indeed, the russians at first denied anything had gone wrong. Only when Radioactivity Levels began to increase outside russia were they forced to admit the accident. For the mujahideen, the mood here is of great celebration. This is the end of a 12 year war for them. Theyve taken the capital, which theyve been Fighting Forfor so long. It was 7am in the morning, the day when power began to pass from the minority to the majority, when africa, after 300 years, reclaimed its last white colony. This is newsday on the bbc. Our top stories the us Secretary Of StateRex Tillerson has said north Korean LeaderKimjong Un Is not insane and could be open to negotiation. Tillerson is preparing to chair a Un Security Council amid rising tensions. More than ten undocumented prisoners have been found in a secret cell, hidden behind a bookcase, in a philippine Police Station. The prisoners were found during a raid by Human Rights Officers. An american man in ohio is facing much more punishment than hed bargained for after he appeared in court for a Traffic Violation and accidentally dropped his bag of cocaine. It was later picked up by a Security Guard who had it tested. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. That story is popular on bbc. Com lets take a look at some front pages from around the world. We start with the south China Morning post. It leads with Donald Trumps tax plan for corporate america, which could have a big impact on china, according to the paper. It says the proposed reductions could Spark Capital flight from chinas mainland and prompt chinese manufacturers to invest in the us. The New York Times is not impressed by the president s tax proposal. 0n the front page, columnist Nicholas Kristof calls it an irresponsible, shameless, budget busting gift to zillionaires like mrtrump. And finally the japan times, leading with a new study, which could change guidelines for Cancer Treatment for elderly patients. The study says that for people over 75 years of age, drugs dont lead to significant improvement compared to similarly aged patients who werent on medication. You either love th