Danny Cox

Lina Sinjab. As the new Syria struggles to take shape, old threats are re-emerging. The chaos since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad is paving the way for the Islamic State group to make a comeback. That's according to a leading Kurdish commander, General Mazum Abdi, who helped defeat the jihadist group in Syria in 2019.

Lina Sinjab. As the new Syria struggles to take shape, old threats are re-emerging. The chaos since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad is paving the way for the Islamic State group to make a comeback. That's according to a leading Kurdish commander, General Mazum Abdi, who helped defeat the jihadist group in Syria in 2019.

He's told the BBC that IS activity has increased significantly in recent weeks. The general heads the mainly Kurdish SDF, a force backed by the US. They're also responsible for holding around 10,000 IS suspects in Syria's Kurdish northeast. Our senior international correspondent Ola Guerin was given rare access to the largest IS prison there.

He's told the BBC that IS activity has increased significantly in recent weeks. The general heads the mainly Kurdish SDF, a force backed by the US. They're also responsible for holding around 10,000 IS suspects in Syria's Kurdish northeast. Our senior international correspondent Ola Guerin was given rare access to the largest IS prison there.

That report by Ola Gurin. In a world where we so often hear of the threat to endangered species and of species becoming extinct, it's heartening to hear that new ones are still being discovered. An expedition to Peru's Altamira region has discovered 27 new species, including an amphibious mouse with webbed feet and a blob-headed fish.

That report by Ola Gurin. In a world where we so often hear of the threat to endangered species and of species becoming extinct, it's heartening to hear that new ones are still being discovered. An expedition to Peru's Altamira region has discovered 27 new species, including an amphibious mouse with webbed feet and a blob-headed fish.

Nestling between the Andes and the Amazon, Otamayo is a lush patchwork of jungles, wetlands and mountainous terrain. Trond Larsson was the expedition lead. He's senior director for biodiversity and ecosystem science at Conservation International. Julian Marshall asked him if they knew they might come across something new in the animal world.

Nestling between the Andes and the Amazon, Otamayo is a lush patchwork of jungles, wetlands and mountainous terrain. Trond Larsson was the expedition lead. He's senior director for biodiversity and ecosystem science at Conservation International. Julian Marshall asked him if they knew they might come across something new in the animal world.

Trond Blassen of Conservation International. Still to come... The Chinese President Xi Jinping has been in Macau celebrating the 25th anniversary of its handover from Portugal to Chinese rule.

Trond Blassen of Conservation International. Still to come... The Chinese President Xi Jinping has been in Macau celebrating the 25th anniversary of its handover from Portugal to Chinese rule.

The Japanese government says it will come up with a plan in the next few months for the disposal of 14 million cubic meters of radioactive soil from Fukushima. The soil is currently stored at a site covering 16 square kilometers. Mickey Bristow reports.

The Japanese government says it will come up with a plan in the next few months for the disposal of 14 million cubic meters of radioactive soil from Fukushima. The soil is currently stored at a site covering 16 square kilometers. Mickey Bristow reports.

Mickey Bristow. The Chinese President Xi Jinping has been in Macau celebrating the 25th anniversary of its handover from Portugal to Chinese rule. Chinese TV live-streamed the day's event, showing children with flowers lining the streets. There were visits to Macau's Science and Technology University and a Chinese military garrison.

Mickey Bristow. The Chinese President Xi Jinping has been in Macau celebrating the 25th anniversary of its handover from Portugal to Chinese rule. Chinese TV live-streamed the day's event, showing children with flowers lining the streets. There were visits to Macau's Science and Technology University and a Chinese military garrison.

It was also an important day politically, as Macau's new leader, Sam Ho Fai, was inaugurated, and President Xi was keen to point out the success of the city since 1999.

It was also an important day politically, as Macau's new leader, Sam Ho Fai, was inaugurated, and President Xi was keen to point out the success of the city since 1999.

But the special administrative region on the southern tip of mainland China is most famous for its casinos. Millions of Chinese tourists flock there to gamble, and President Xi also called on the city to diversify and cultivate new industries. So could we see Macau change? I spoke to our China media analyst, Kerry Allen.

But the special administrative region on the southern tip of mainland China is most famous for its casinos. Millions of Chinese tourists flock there to gamble, and President Xi also called on the city to diversify and cultivate new industries. So could we see Macau change? I spoke to our China media analyst, Kerry Allen.

The phrase many people use to describe Macau is one country, two systems. We've heard that phrase before in the region.

The phrase many people use to describe Macau is one country, two systems. We've heard that phrase before in the region.