Newshour

A far-right, pro-Russian candidate has won a surprise victory in the first round of Romania's presidential election. Calin Georgescu has an unassailable lead with more than ninety-nine percent of the votes counted. Mr Georgescu has expressed views that are sympathetic to Russia, is a critic of both NATO and the European Union, and campaigned heavily on social media during the election particularly on TikTok.

Also in the programme: a BBC investigation has exposed a fertility scam fuelling a black market trade in babies in Nigeria; and we ask whether it's acceptable for people to sing-along to a film in the cinema, as the highly promoted musical Wicked is released.

(Picture: Presidential candidate Calin Georgescu attends a televised debate in Bucharest, Romania on November 13, 2024. Credit: Inquam Photos/Octav Ganea via REUTERS)

Poorer countries say the billions of dollars pledged at the UN climate summit in Baku go nowhere near addressing the challenges they face.

But Ireland's environment minister Eamon Ryan tells us why he welcomes the deal,

Also in the programme: A British minister is warning of an increase in cyber warfare against members of the NATO alli#ance - but are such fears justified?; and we report from Laos where the deaths of six tourists from suspected methanol poisoning have sent shockwaves along a popular backpacking trail.

(Photo shows Ireland's Minister of the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan speaking to the press at the COP29 United Nations climate change conference, in Baku, Azerbaijan on 21 November 2024. Credit: Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)

A finance deal reached at the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan to help less-developed countries tackle climate change has been bitterly criticised for failing to meet the scale of the challenge. We talk to those who support it and those who say it is a “slap in the face”.

Also in the programme: UK parliament prepares to vote on a bill giving ill adults in England and Wales the right to choose to end their life; and London Jazz Festival hosts a special acknowledgement of 30 years of post-apartheid democracy in South Africa.

(Credit: Activists protest to urge world leaders to commit to a strong climate finance deal during COP29, in Baku Photo: Reuters.)

UN climate negotiations in Baku, Azerbaijan have reached a critical stage, but a resolution of the main sticking point - how much wealthier nations should pay poorer ones to help them respond to climate change - does not appear in sight. The BBC’s Mark McGrath gives us the latest after some nations exited talks earlier today to review their options.

Also on the programme: reaction to US President-elect Donald Trump selecting his treasury secretary; and what a recent discovery in Belize can tell us about the fabled Maya civilisation.

Photo: Activists hold a protest during the COP29 United Nations climate change conference, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Credit: Aziz Karmov/Reuters)

Israeli airstrikes have flattened a residential building in the centre of the Lebanese capital Beirut. At least 11 people have been killed and more than 60 injured, according to Lebanon's health ministry. The eight-storey building was completely destroyed without warning in the capital's densely-populated Basta district. We hear from a local resident.

Rich and developing countries alike have criticised the draft climate agreement at the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan, which has now gone into overtime as wrangling continues. Newshour hears from Johan Rockstrom, Director of the Postsdam Climate Institute.

Also in the programme: The disappearance of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal; and sinkholes in China.

(Picture: The venue of the COP29 United Nations climate change conference, in Baku, Azerbaijan November 22, 2024. Credit: Reuters)

A new draft of a global climate agreement at the COP29 summit proposes rich countries provide two hundred and fifty billion dollars annually over the next decade to help poorer nations combat global warming. Africa's delegation denounced the figure as "unacceptable".

Also, is Russia giving North Korea weapons -- as well as oil -- in return for Pyongyang's support in Ukraine?

And we will hear about some brand new recordings of the jazz great Miles Davis that have come to light.

(Photo: Some politicians doubt if the host country, Azerbaijan, can get a deal done at the talks. Credit: EPA)

Israel and allies denounce the International Criminal Court's decision to issue an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant. Newshour hears from former MK Ruth Wasserman Lande.

Also in the programme: Matt Gaetz withdraws nomination for US attorney general; and Ukrainians evacuating from the east.

(Picture: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the plenum, during a discussion on the subject of hostages kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, in Israel's parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem. Credit: Reuters)

The International Criminal Court has issued arrests warrants for the Israeli Prime Minister and the former defence minister for crimes against humanity. A warrant has also been issued for a Hamas leader who's believed to be dead. Also on the programme, Russia has struck Ukraine with what may be an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, a first in the war; and, is one banana really worth more than $6 million?

(Photo: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant attend a ceremony for the 70th cohort of military combat officers, at an army base near Mitzpe Ramon, Israel, October 31, 2024. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo)

A senior Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Gregory Meeks, says the US has no choice but to keep bolstering its military support for Kyiv.

Also on the programme: The wife of Uganda’s opposition leader Kizza Besigye on her husband’s arrest; a BBC reporter’s encounter with the lookalike of the media personality Logan Paul; and a tribute to guitarist Vic Flick, famous for his riff on the James Bond theme tune.

(Picture: Flags signalling landmines on a demining training field at the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence training centre in the Chernihiv region, Ukraine. Credit: MARIA SENOVILLA/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)