saudi arabia puts forward its vision for the middle east as it invites leaders from across the arab world to a summit on the wars in gaza and lebanon. they're the watchmen in a hidden word — we meet the online moderators, trying to rid social media of harmful content. let's return to our main story. the annual un climate conference cop29 kicks off today, with its president warning that the world is "on the road to ruin". the summit is not without controversy with the bbc reporting earlier this week that one of cop29's senior official appears to have used his role to arrange a meeting to discuss potential fossil fuel deals. last year, leaked briefing documents revealed plans by the united arab emirates to discuss fossil fuel deals with 15 nations something the president of cop28 denied.

on that, we are joined now by professor chris hewitt, head of international climate services at the world meteorological organization. chris, good to see you. this year is going to be the hottest on record. can you break that down for us? i on record. can you break that down for us?— down for us? i hope this site is ok. down for us? i hope this site is 0k- it _ down for us? i hope this site is 0k- it is — down for us? i hope this site is ok. it is very _ down for us? i hope this site is ok. it is very lively - down for us? i hope this site is ok. it is very lively and . is ok. it is very lively and busy here. we released a report saying that this year is on track to be the warmest on record. we haven't seen the whole year yet, but it is to warn this year that we are saying it is on track to be the warmest and this follows from last year, 2023, which is officially the warmest year on record. ~ ., ., , ., .,

record. what does a warming lanet record. what does a warming planet name. _ record. what does a warming planet name, chris? - record. what does a warming planet name, chris? there i record. what does a warming l planet name, chris? there are vafious planet name, chris? there are various impacts. _ planet name, chris? there are various impacts. as _ planet name, chris? there are various impacts. as the - various impacts. as the temperatures rise, heat affects a lot of people. the heat warms up a lot of people. the heat warms up the oceans of the ocean expanse when it warms and the heat melts coldest parts of the earth, the sea ice, the glaciers. the freshwater from theice glaciers. the freshwater from the ice and the warming temperatures raise the sea levels. . , , . levels. incredibly concerning. scientists _ levels. incredibly concerning. scientists and _ levels. incredibly concerning. scientists and governments l levels. incredibly concerning. - scientists and governments have been warning about this for years. what do you hope will happen at cop at the next few weeks that could try to reverse some of this? fir weeks that could try to reverse some of this?— some of this? or roll here on da one some of this? or roll here on day one is — some of this? or roll here on day one is to _ some of this? or roll here on day one is to give _ some of this? or roll here on day one is to give this - day one is to give this information to the parties here, the policy makers, to help them with their meetings and

what about the fact it is so important for poorer nations to get the funds they need to prepare for what seems like an inevitable climate disasters? yes, exactly, the finances needed and that is one of the key topics here. bringing the world together to discuss climate finance. more finances needed. there are financial investments taking place to deal with reducing the harmful impacts, but more is needed. in terms of intent at cop at the moment, intentions are quite low because so many world leaders are not there, but also

because donald trump is the climate sceptic. what is the atmosphere like they're at the moment? it atmosphere like they're at the moment? , ., , ., moment? it is only day one so robabl moment? it is only day one so probably too — moment? it is only day one so probably too early _ moment? it is only day one so probably too early to - moment? it is only day one so probably too early to answer l probably too early to answer that. it is very busy at the moment, especially for us with the reports we have launched. will have to wait and see how this unfolds over the next week or two. this unfolds over the next week ortwo. it this unfolds over the next week or two. it is too early to say. thank you forjoining us. but the environment is not the only thing being questioned in baku right now leading human rights organisations have urged the international community to hold the host country accountable for its continuous violations of human rights, saying the azerbaijani government has intensified its crackdown on journalists and civil society critical of the regime. on that, let's speak to rayhan demytrie, who's there in baku for us. good to see you. can i ask you first about the criticism and allegations, what are the criticisms of the government

around its gas and oil industry and what they are trying to do around this at cop. azerbaijan's economy heavily relies on its oil and gas exports. it amounts to over 90% of this country's exports. that dependence is said to increase, given the commitment of azerbaijan to topple its imports of natural gas to europe. the eu signed a deal with azerbaijan injuly 2022, with azerbaijan in july 2022, just a few months after russia's invasion of ukraine and according to that deal azerbaijan is to deliver 20 billion cubic metres of gas by 2027. at the same time, azerbaijan's authorities here are saying they are committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by the end

of this decade. they are talking about the number of projects in the country that are being financed by international development banks such as solar power plants and so on. the president has announced that he wants to turn the territories that were regained by azerbaijan as a result of horseback in 2020 2023, he says he wants to turn them into green energy tunes. those conflicts, particularly the one that happened in september 2023, a lightening operation, entered in over 100,000 ethnic armenians being forced to leave their homes. what are the criticisms today particularly as the conference gets under way of human rights in azerbaijan? fix,

gets under way of human rights in azerbaijan?— in azerbai'an? a lot of criticism — in azerbaijan? a lot of criticism in _ in azerbaijan? a lot of criticism in the - in azerbaijan? a lot of criticism in the run-up in azerbaijan? a lot of i criticism in the run-up to criticism in the run—up to cop29. almost all leading international human rights organisations have called on global leaders, on the eu leaders, to really press azerbaijani authorities on its very pure human rights record. we are talking about dozens of journalists who have been arrested for doing their work, for holding the government accountable. they are now in jail awaiting trial. we are talking about researchers and independent scholars who came back home to azerbaijan on holiday leaving the country and being accused of all sorts of things, including espionage.

0ne peace activist was here in august, a phd student in prague. he came back home in august for a holiday and was detained. earlierthis august for a holiday and was detained. earlier this month there werejust six detained. earlier this month there were just six seconds for him when he was transferred from a police van to a court, he was screaming to the journalists, saying let my voice be heard at cop29. the human rights situation is very, very pure. it was something that was highlighted by greta thunberg, who is in the region. she is into pc. she said she will not be attending cop, but was talking about green washing by azerbaijan and human rights, saying you can't deliver climate justice if there is saying you can't deliver climatejustice if there is no human rights. climate justice if there is no human rights.— climate justice if there is no human rights. thank you for “oininu human rights. thank you for joining us- _

more than 10,000 people have been told to evacuate their homes in california due to a wildfire. the welfare set houses and businesses ablaze. it is about more than ia,000 acres and fire have not managed to maintain contain any of it. let's turn to the bbc world service climate change series life at 50 celsius. this time, the focus is on water. this first episode from bbc africa eye, takes us to south sudan where hundreds of thousands of families have lost their homes to floods. now, there's evidence that oil pollution in the country could be making a bad situation even worse. a warning there are some images in nawal al maghafi report that you may find distressing. it's the end of the dry season in south sudan, but the land is still flooded. livelihoods have been lost and many are forced to forage for food like the edible roots of water lilies.

translation: if we didn't have this, i don't know how we could survive eating. this is like eating mud. more than 700,000 people across the country have been affected by flooding, and oil is making matters worse. david boyeldieu spent eight years as a senior engineerfor a consortium that runs the oil fields in this state. he alleges they mismanaged facilities polluting the environment. oil spills from the wells itself, oilspills from pipes connecting otherwells, oilspills from the main export pipeline in a big quantity in 2019 and 2020. david left gppac in 2020. he says the pollution he saw was never cleared up and is more dangerous now than ever. so with this flood right

now, it is a disaster. the whole of that contaminated soil with the hydrocarbon is going to be flooded all over the state. we spoke to a number of people living near oil fields who said they no longer had access to clean water. translation: we know it's bad water, but we don't have anywhere else. we're dying of thirst. if you drink it, it makes you pant and cough. a german ngo, sign of hope, conducted two reviewed studies of communities living near oilfields in unity state. they found high sulphate content in the water and heavy metals and human hairsamples. these are indicators of oil pollution and could increase the risk of genetic disorders. at a hospital in bentiu, a doctor tells us that he's seen many such cases. the hospital doesn't have the facilities to do genetic tests, and it's rarely possible

to know for certain the cause of any genetic abnormality in a child, but the doctor thinks pollution might be a factor. people born with no limb. people born with a small head. our environment is polluted by oil. the water must make ways with the oil. they will cause genetic abnormality. mary is a senior politician from the ruling party. she's been raising concerns about children born with genetic disorders with central government. we have reports from hospitals. i have many photos, but most cases are not reported. mary says that after mounting pressure, the government launched an environmental audit last year. so samples from the human blood, from their hair, from soil, from water were taken and sent to laboratories and the government declared

that the results will come out in 90 days. the government still has not published the results of the audit. the bbc asked the south sudanese government and oil consortium gpoc to comment, but they did not respond. you can watch the first episode of life at 50 celsius south sudan: poisoned floods on bbc iplayer if you're in the uk or on the bbc africa youtube channel outside the uk. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

to the middle east where arab and muslim leaders are meeting in saudi arabia to discuss the wars in gaza and lebanon. the summit in riyadh will focus

on what is being described as �*israel�*s ongoing aggression' in the region. it comes as israeli strikes on northern lebanon and gaza have killed dozens of people including several children, according to local officials. the new israeli defence minister says his country is close to defeating his brother. israel katz said the killing of the group's leader hassan nasrallah in september, was a �*crowning achievement�* and all that is left to do, is to �*finish the job�*. our security correspondent, frank gardner is following the meeting in riyadh. he explains why it�*s significant. this is the second so—called emergency arab and islamic summit to discuss what the organisers are calling the israeli aggression against the people of gaza and lebanon. it�*s exactly a year since the last one held here in riyadh. and of course, since then, the conflict in the region has grown into more than one conflict. israel is now at war with notjust hamas in gaza, but hezbollah in lebanon, and exchanging blows with the houthis in yemen and intermittently with iran as well.

so this conference is aiming to try and do two things. they�*re trying to get a ceasefire in both lebanon and gaza, and also to try and find or push forward plans for a palestinian state. i think reaching some kind of consensus isn�*t going to be that easy. usually the final communique is always a little bit of a fudge, because you�*ve got to try and match everybody�*s aspirations, and not everybody agrees here. you�*ve got countries that have got full diplomatic relations with israel like the uae, bahrain, morocco, sudan, jordan, egypt. and then you�*ve got countries like iran and algeria and others which are very much opposed to israel and don�*t see really the point in countries making peace with it if it is waging war on other countries. overshadowing all of this, of course, is the news that donald trump is going to have a second term in the white house, and there�*s a lot

of expectation, hopes, optimism and trepidation about that. he�*s a firm friend of israel. he�*s thought likely to give israel a freer hand when it comes to striking iran if there is further confrontation between those two countries. but he�*s also a friend of saudi arabia. he chose riyadh as his first overseas visit as president back in 2017. i was there covering it, and you could see how pleased, how flattered saudis were by the fact that he chose their capital as his first overseas visit as president. so mbs, that�*s crown prince mohammed bin salman, the de facto ruler of this country, saudi arabia will be ithink, welcoming him as the new leader of the united states and hoping for better relations than the saudis had with the current incumbent, joe biden. as franco sang, one of the big

people attending a syria�*s president, basheral assad. his attendance is starting to signal what some are saying it�*s a the dynamics in the middle east and possibly with the election of donald trump, we will say the us play a smaller role. saudi arabia and iran put into past differences aside to try to strengthen their ties, where we have seen very strong condemnation from the us and israel of iran again. president trump is about to be president again, and it is said there will be a tougher stance on iran if he comes to power. we will keep across that, looking at the shifting dynamics of the region. more than four million photos are uploaded to instagram every hour. 500 hours of video posted are to youtube every minute. and it�*s estimated that around 30 million videos are uploaded to tiktok every day.

as we know, some of it is harmful, disturbing, or illegal. so who are the people that have to go through it all? our technology editor zoe kleinman has been exploring the hidden world of the content moderators. and a warning that some viewers may find the decriptions of content in this piece upsetting if you see something bad on social media and you decide to report it, have you ever wondered where it goes? it lands in the inboxes of people called content moderators, whosejob is to review and delete the worst content on the internet. an average day for them can include watching child abuse, hate speech, and murder, but they�*re hidden away. many don�*t work directly for the tech giants. there are content moderators here in the uk, but thesejobs are often outsourced to other companies. and there are big hubs in places like east africa, india and the philippines. we are the ones who make sure they are safe, right?

and in doing that, we are the ones who usually get in the receiving end in protecting them. this is mojez, who lives in nairobi. for a year from april 2022, he worked as a content moderator for a company that tiktok had outsourced this work to. this is mojez, who lives in nairobi. for a year from april 2022, he worked as a content any disturbing content that you can imagine, you know, from sexual, you know, materials or content to very disturbing content whereby people are being, you know, beheaded or killed or skinned alive, you know, to, you know, kids being molested. the job hugely affected mojez�*s mental health. he feels he wasn�*t given proper psychological support or paid enough. content moderation is an industry in crisis. there are multiple ongoing legal claims that the work is destroying the mental health of the moderators. we�*ve spoken to several former outsourced content moderators for meta, which owns facebook and instagram, as well as tiktok

and chatgpt, and they�*ve all told us similar stories. but despite their work and the rise of ai tools designed to catch harmful content before it�*s even published, the torrent of horrific material that finds its way online continues. campaigners say these workers are essential to keeping us safe online and that they should be treated better. in the uk, we�*ve seen a lot recently what happens when social media companies don�*t properly invest in keeping their platforms safe. really, the only thing that�*s between me logging on to a social media platform and watching a beheading is somebody sitting in an office somewhere watching that content for me and reviewing it so that i don�*t have to. these are some of the richest companies on the planet and they can afford to invest in proper, safe content moderation. some tech firms say that artificial intelligence a tiktok spokesperson said

that it knows that content moderation is not an easy task, and it strives to promote a caring working environment for employees. this includes clinical support as well as creating programmes to support moderators�* wellbeing. it added that videos are initially reviewed by automated tech and said that this removes large volumes of harmful content. meanwhile, openai, the company behind chatgpt, said it�*s grateful for the important and sometimes challenging work of its ai trainers. a spokesperson added that along with its partners, openai enforces policies to protect the wellbeing of these teams. and meta, which owns instagram and facebook, said it requires all the companies it works with to provide 2a hour on site support with trained professionals. it added that moderators can customise their reviewing tools to blur graphic content. i�*m very proud of the work that i did despite the challenges, you know? the working environment being, you know, very terrible. i came to understand the importance of the job in itself, in protecting the users, being the front line people, to make sure the users are safe.

now how far would you be willing cycle for a dumpling? because thousands of university students in central china have started a viral trend of �*mass cycling�* at night, after four young women rode over a0 miles from zhengzhou to kaifeng for its famous dumplings. the six lane highway between the two cities quickly filled with young people on bikes. the event is part of a trend of young chinese people enjoying the freedom to travel after strict covid restrictions, whilst doing so as cheaply as possible amid a struggling economy. our china correspondent laura bicker told us why the event has caused the authorities concerned. this all started when four students made the cycle from zhengzhou city to the ancient city of kaifeng for very famous breakfast soup dumplings. it went viral on social media, and on friday, tens of thousands of them turned up to make the journey,

which is around 50km or 30 miles, and most of them did it on public hire bikes. you can see them on social media. they were cheering each other on. some of them were singing and some of them were carrying chinese flags, an act of patriotism. however, the authorities have now clamped down on this because the six—lane highway between the two cities were filled with young people, and even the public hire bike companies have now said that they will automatically lock a bike if it�*s taken out of the city of zhengzhou. now, while for many young people this is a little bit of a lark, a little bit of fun, a chance to take part in a viral social media craze, for others, it may have been more of a freedom of expression ride because it�*s very rare that young people get the chance to gather in very large groups. the authorities get nervous here when young people do that. they remember 1989,

they remember tiananmen square. so even if it�*s not political, you can see the authorities clamping down. we saw this just a couple of weeks ago in shanghai with the halloween celebrations. police lined the road, and many halloween parties were cancelled. many people in costumes were told to go home. there is an extreme nervousness when young people gather. and the second thing really is generation z in china are experiencing a reshaping of the chinese dream. they were told for years that if you worked hard, if you studied hard, there would be a job at the end of it. that�*s not necessarily the case any more. around i9% of young people are the latest figures, showing that they are facing unemployment. that�*s nearlyi in 5 of under 24—year—olds. so now they�*re trying to find a different way to confront their future, a future that they�*ve not prepared for. and how they do that may very well shape the future of the world�*s second—largest economy.

hello. after the very gloomy conditions of the last couple of weeks, things have started to brighten upjust a little bit. we are going to see some sunshine through the rest of this week. i�*m not promising that it will be completely sunny, but it will often be dry. a few showers in the mix though through the rest of today. could just see the odd shower across the north east of scotland, the east of england. quite breezy in these eastern parts as well. further west well some areas of high cloud, but some decent clear gaps in the sky as well. temperatures ten 11, 12 degrees for most of us, maybe 15

there in the southwest of england and the channel islands. and then through this evening and tonight stays quite windy across these eastern parts of england. but elsewhere, under clear skies with light winds, temperatures will drop away very close to freezing. we could getjust below freezing for some spots in the countryside, and with that, there could be some fog patches around across parts of wales, northwest england, western scotland, perhaps most especially northern ireland, and some of that fog where it does develop could be quite slow to clear through the day tomorrow. we�*ve got the increasing chance of some showers across east anglia, the south—east of england and the channel islands. most other areas seeing some spells of sunshine. temperatures maybe just eight degrees in glasgow. 12 degrees there in london. now, as we move out of tuesday into wednesday, this area of high pressure stays just about in charge. but we will see this cold front pushing down from the north. that is going to introduce a bit more in the way of cloud across scotland. there could be some quite widespread fog across northern ireland through the morning. and thatjust replaced by cloud through the day. that cloud pushing southwards as we go on into the afternoon with that, just the odd spot of rain here and there. temperatures of nine

to 12 degrees in most places by thursday. just some large areas of cloud. also some sunny spells and temperatures again generally in that range between nine and 12 degrees in most locations. now as we head towards the end of the week, a bit of uncertainty about the forecast, but it does look like high pressure will retreat. we�*ll see a frontal system pushing down from the north and potentially an area of low pressure developing over the weekend, so that will turn things more unsettled. then, behind that, it looks like things could turn a fair bit colder.

today at one. britain stops to remember. across the, uk two minutes�*

silence are observed to remember those who have lost their lives in conflict. the prime minister has marked armistice day in paris. the visit comes at a time of delicate diplomacy. also on the programme. the archbishop of canterbury faces calls to step down over his handling of a child abuse scandal over his handling of a child abuse scandal. former soldier daniel khalife changes his plea to guilty — for escaping from wandsworth prison. how smart your smart meter is could depend where you live. we look at the north—south divide in how well they work. paddy mcguinness tells us how sir chris hoy helped him train for a 300 mile children in need bike ride — all on a chopper bike. he�*s got a lot going on in his own personal life, but he still picks up the phone, gets me out on the bike, brutalises me, i might add! if you�*re watching, chris! and coming up on bbc news... a new era begins at manchester united.

ruben amorim is expected to fly in to the city today and says he�*s