UN calls for free and fair elections in Syria

It is vital that Syria's new leadership keeps its promises to respect the rights of all the country's diverse religious and ethnic groups, according to UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen.

After the UN also warned that Syria is not stable enough for the large-scale return of refugees, we bring together Syrian students abroad to discuss whether they are hoping to go back.

Our science correspondent has been to the polar bear capital of the world in Canada and will explain how polar bears, because of the warm weather, spend more time on land and come into contact with people more now.

The BBC has seen evidence that the multinational corporation that owns Jaguar Land Rover arranged for a whistleblower to be sacked for raising concerns about the safety of electric cars it had designed. We speak to our financial correspondent and bring together two whistleblowers to share their experiences.

Presenter: Luke Jones.

(Photo: Geir Pedersen, UN Special envoy to Syria, talks to media before departing Damascus, Syria December 18, 2024.Credit: Firas Makdesi/Reuters)