live from london. this is bbc news. syrian rebels are hearing down on the capital damascus from the north and south, amid little resistance from president assad's forces. south korea's opposition fails in its effort to impeach president yoon suk yeol for his short—lived declaration of martial law. i'm live in notre dame in paris, as parisians, the french nation and the world await the reopening ceremony, five years after a fire devastated much of the cathedral�*s roof. and ahead of that ceremony, us president—elect donald trump has been meeting with the french president emmanuel macron. it is the us president's first trip abroad since his election victory last month.

hello, i'm martine croxall. breaking news from syria where the situation is developing rapidly. with one group of rebels claiming to have reached the suburbs of damascus in what they describe as the �*final stage�* of their offensive. the syrian state news agency is denying reports president bashar al—assad has left the city, insisting he is carrying out his work from damascus. but in pictures obtained by the news agency afp, which the bbc has verified, protesters can be seen toppling a bust of the president's father hafez al—asad in president's square in the damascus neighbourhood ofjaramana, about ten kilometres from the centre. the rebel group advanced rapidly on the capital after snatching the southern province of daraa from government control. these latest pictures show rebels driving in a seized military vehicle in the region of daraa. news agency reuters says other

rebels from hts have advanced from the north and are inside the third city of homs with the syrian army, loyal to president assad, simply falling away. the news agency reports around 2,000 syrian troops, many wounded, have crossed the border into iraq and sought refuge. with more on this, our correspondent hugo bachega is in antakia, on the turkish—syria border. yeah, i think the speed with which this offensive by rebels has been advancing in syria has caught everybody by surprise, has stunned everybody, because now we are watching what's happening in homs, which is the third—largest city. and this is a crucial city, because if the rebels manage to seize this city, essentially the capital, damascus, is isolated from the rest of the country. so the syrian military is now redeploying from other parts of the country to try to defend positions in homs. we are getting reports of intense fighting in some parts of the city.

and also to fortify positions around the capital, damascus, because rebels from this group, hts, say that the goal of this operation is to topple the regime of president bashar al assad. but elsewhere in the country, fighters are also making gains. in the south, the city of daraa has been now seized by rebels. this is extremely symbolic because this is where anti—government protests erupted in 2011, protests that were brutally oppressed by the regime of president assad. and also in the east of the country, deir al—zour, which is the main city there, has been now captured by the rebels. the entire eastern region of the country is essentially now under the control of the opposition. so significant gains are happening across the country. but the key city to watch here is again homs, where rebels are saying they are making progress there in the fight against government forces.

they are urging forces loyal to the president to defect. and again, we're seeing that the syrian military has been unable to stop this progress, but also unwilling to stop the rebels. there have been reports of defections across the country, soldiers abandoning their positions. so again, the key city here to watch is the city of homs, which could determine the future of president assad. now, hugo, you've mentioned several different groups in there. so how coordinated are their efforts, given that they're from different factions? exactly. so we're seeing that in the east, the progress that's been happening there is being led by kurdish fighters, and in the south, local insurgencies have ta ken the opportunity. again, it seems that government forces had abandoned their positions to join those soldiers trying to defend the city of homs. and obviously the main focus, the main insurgency here is being led by islamist rebels from hts. and i think not only the groups

participating in syria, but, you know, this is a war that has involved global powers like russia and iran. and we're seeing that without the help of russia and iran, president assad has been unable to defend his positions. and we've been talking about this for days. how president assad relied heavily on these two key allies to turn the tide in the civil war, especially with the support of russian air power, to crush the opposition and try to regain territory. and this is not happening now. 0bviously, russia is busy in ukraine. the iranians are also reeling after months of an israeli campaign that targeted its proxies across the region. so the position of the president looks increasingly under threat, as these rebels from different factions and being supported by different countries, continue to make progress across the country.

here's our middle east correspondent sebastian usher for more on what we've been hearing from damascus. some of the people, syrians outside who have relatives inside damascus, have been saying that they've been speaking to their relatives there, and that what they're hearing is that there's an atmosphere of panic, confusion and uncertainty. they're not really hearing anything that's telling them what's going on, and they're actually asking the people who are calling them from outside if they can give them information. that, you know, i mean, clearly that kind of information you would expect at a moment like this, that people actually in the city that is most at risk wouldn't quite know. and that economically, where things have already been very bad, it's in a terrible state. banks are closing down, people unable to get money out. so a sense that something is impending, they don't know what, but they are very, very worried about it, obviously. so clearly, bashar al—assad under enormous pressure, where are his allies? well, i mean, there is a meeting going on in qatar at the moment with two of his main allies, the foreign ministers of iran and russia.

i mean, iran has said over the past few days that they will support bashar al assad, that they will send more military equipment, they will send more reinforcements, essentially. hezbollah, which played a key part, again, an iranian proxy to some extent, has said just in the last few hours, that it's sending 2000 fighters back into syria. and russia has also said essentially that it will back president assad, but on the ground that hasn't been what's happening. i mean, there have been, russian airpower has been used, but not anywhere near the extent that would be necessary to halt this advance coming down from the north or coming from the south. i mean, the big question is we know that the syrian government forces have huge weaknesses, but we also know that there are other units within the syrian orbit that defend president assad, which are much more hardened and have much more to lose.

you know, the elite around president assad, are theyjust going to give up? i mean, that is the big question. i think, again, when we talk about people in damascus, maybe in homs as well, they're worried, you know, about what could happen with these rebels coming in, what they might do. but also, i mean, they're worried about what the people who are at the core of assad's power, how they will react. i mean, we don't yet know, we haven't quite reached that stage where they're so encircled that we then get a sense of whether they're going to fight for every last inch, or they're going to essentially do what they can and leave. i mean, there are people around president assad who have made huge amounts of money out of what's going on, would be able to find a place outside. are they leaving? have they left? there's been speculation, as you were just saying in your intro, that president assad might have left, his family might have left. the only thing that's really come from his side is the presidential office saying, no, he's there at his desk in damascus, at his duties.

let's speak to fawaz a gerges, professor of international relations at london school of economics. thank you very much forjoining us here on bbc news. what are you able to determine about how far rebels have actually advanced inside syria? well, it is really very — advanced inside syria? well, it is really very alarming - advanced inside syria? well, it is really very alarming what. advanced inside syria? well, it is really very alarming what is | is really very alarming what is happening. just to give your viewers a glimpse of what is happening on the ground, the rebels position are trying to lay siege to damascus. they're coming from multiple angles from the golan heights, from central syria. there are reports that the rebels already in position are fighting fierce battles in harms. syria seems to be descending into chaos —— fierce battles in harms back.

we have very credible reports that 2000 syrian army units basically have crossed into iraq and asked for asylum or protection. the reality is most of our news is coming from the opposition. the question for me is where is assad? missing in action. where is the leadership? you hardly hear anything from the top leadership of syria. i speak to my syrians and they are basically lost. they say that we don't know what is happening. they are terrified, they're anxious. the reality is on the opposition side you have the chief of the sunny movement saying their basically having

been... 0n saying their basically having been... on cnn. and yet assad has been really absent and this tells you a great deal about psychological warfare. it seems to me that the opposition has already won because they have really won the psychological warfare against the regime itself. and the syrian army does not really seem to be standing up and defending many of its territories. most of syria's borders now have been captured by either the opposition or even some local communities who are opposed to assad. ., ~' , , communities who are opposed to assad. ., ~ , , ., assad. how likely is it that president _ assad. how likely is it that president assad _ assad. how likely is it that president assad could - assad. how likely is it that - president assad could backtrack from this? could put the situation back to where it was just two weeks ago? because it happened so immensely fast,

hasn't it? it happened so immensely fast, hasn't it? ,, hasn't it? it is shocking, the swift and — hasn't it? it is shocking, the swift and the _ hasn't it? it is shocking, the swift and the stunning - hasn't it? it is shocking, the i swift and the stunning advance of the opposition. both the islamist opposition and the nationalist syrian army opposition. and it is really alarming how the syrian army units have been crushed. what it tells you is that the state capacity, the syrian state capacity, the syrian state capacity, has been gutted. it has been degraded by years of poverty, corruption, sanctions, attacks by israel and of course syria's allies are nowhere to be seen. just before i came on air at one of your guests was saying that has been our word and iran will provide support. it is nonsense. —— that hezbollah and iran. israel has basically been bombing the crossing between lebanon and syria and also preventing any

iranian aeroplane from reaching the syrian borders. and russia is deeply preoccupied in ukraine. in fact, is deeply preoccupied in ukraine. infact, russia is seeking north korean boots on the ground, so you can imagine russia hasjust the ground, so you can imagine russia has just a small air contingent. at the end of the day, there is a race against time between diplomacy. as you know, there was a major meeting today between russia, turkey, iran, trying to find a political solution. iran, trying to find a politicalsolution. but iran, trying to find a political solution. but i think turkey is really being the most cunning in all of this. they realise that the battlefield and they realise that the balance, the military balance of power is really basically it will determine ultimately what is happening in syria. and they want assad out, they want assad to surrender.— to surrender. they have made a very clear. _ to surrender. they have made a very clear. yes- _ to surrender. they have made a very clear, yes. the _ to surrender. they have made a very clear, yes. the rebels - very clear, yes. the rebels have reiterated that again, have reiterated that again, have they not? always good to

get your insights, thank you very much for your time today. thanks. in south korea, an impeachment vote to remove the president, yoon suk yeol, has failed with members of mr yoon�*s own governing party boycotting the proceedings. the move was prompted by the president's surprise attempt to impose martial law earlier this week. ten of thousands of protesters gathered outside the national assembly as the parliament met, demanding his resignation. laura bicker reports from seoul. this was not the result they were hoping for, but they are still continuing to chant for him to resign orfor him to be impeached. some people here have been here since five this morning in temperatures that are well below freezing. they say they are incredibly disappointed, but they are going to continue. now, it turned out that president yoon�*s own party decided to leave the chamber during the vote, and that meant that the impeachment vote was actually impossible. it needed eight members to defect, the opposition—led bill needed eight of them tojoin, and that didn't

happen, and theirfaces were full of disappointment. some people had their faces in their hands. what they say they will do is continue to demonstrate. president yoon might think that he can continue for the next two years as a lame duck president. he said this morning that he has apologised, that he is sorry, he is appearing contrite. his party may also be thinking that there are other ways to get rid of him. but south koreans have proven themselves to be very resilient and very determined protesters, and these demonstrations are only going to get larger and much louder. now it's time for a look at today's sport. the weather here in the uk has

had a significant effect on the weekend sporting programme — with the merseyside derby, between everton and liverpool — the headline postponement, called—off on safety grounds. four other premier league games are going ahead though... champions manchester city are drawing 1—1 at selhurst park against crystal palace. aston villa are ahead at home to bottom—side southampton. there were four goals in the first half at brentford. they're drawing 2—2 against newcastle. the late game is at old trafford... with manchester united going into their match against nottingham forest having lost for the first time under new boss ruben amorim last time out. we are not the best team in this league. and that, we have to say that an think that clearly. but our past, our club is maybe the best one in the league. so we have here a problem but we have to focus on the little things, the little details. if you think in everything it will be a problem, let's focus on the small details and then we will improve as a team. we small details and then we will improve as a team.— small details and then we will improve as a team. we have one cuick improve as a team. we have one quick score _ improve as a team. we have one quick score update. _ improve as a team. we have one quick score update. crystal- quick score update. crystal palace have just scored so they

are winning 2—i. the f1 season comes to a close this weekend in abu dhabi and mclaren have had a huge result today, qualifying fastest with both cars as they look to win their first constructors' title since 1998. they'll have a one—two on the grid after lando norris was quickest with team—mate 0scar piastri in second. mclaren have a 21 point lead over ferrari but charles leclerc will start the race no better than 11th because of a penalty. lewis hamilton will start his final race for mercedes from 18th after a bollard got caught under his car. 0nto cricket and bowler gus atkinson was the star for england with a hat—trick, as they took a firm hold on the second test against new zealand. on day two in wellington — atkinson took the wickets of nathan smith, matt henry then tim southee in successive balls as they were all out for just 125. and england's batters then rammed home their advantage, ending the day on 378 for five in their second innings. half centuries, for ben duckett, jacob bethell, harry brook and joe root.

meanwhile over in adelaide, australia are in total control of their second test against india after day two of the day/night match. australia were finally all out for 337 in their first innings — a lead of 157, thanks largely to travis head who scored 1110. india have struggled in their second innings. they were 128 for five at stumps trailing by 29 runs. india lead the five match series 1—0. the wild british weather didn't stopjonbon from winning day's big jumps race — the tingle creek for the second year in a row. the star two—mile chaser — loves it at sandown and was dominant as he won his eighth grade one. jonbon is now favourite for cheltenham's queen mother champion chase in march. and that's all the sport for now. let's go live now to maryam moshiri in paris. you have taken your umbrella

down, so that is an improvement. the umbrella has gone because i felt like i was about to become the mary poppins of bbc news and be taken away with the next gust of wind. mary poppins without the fun and laughter, let's say. today is such an important day for the city of paris, for the country of france and indeed for the globe because it has been five years since that awful fire on the 15th of april 2019. we remember that night well, don't we? a lot of people around the world were glued to their televisions as the fire which began on the roof of the cathedral of notre dame took hold. and over the course of around 1.5 hours really ended up around 1.5 hours really ended up destroying notjust the spire at the top of notre dame but also all of the roof, damaging so much of the cathedral. it took the bravery of more than 600 firefighters to stop the fire doing even more damage to the 850—year—old

cathedral. now it is really hard to underline for viewers watching this at home how important this cathedral is to france. not only is it a symbol of catholicism, the beating heart of the catholic church in this country, but it also symbolises the many people in france the country's prayer mat past, present and future. so let's take you through the endeavour of is today. nearly 2000 specialist workers have had their hand in this work from artisans, specialist craft people, engineers, builders. before they started building the needy to remove more than 10,000 pieces of wood from the nave, salvaging whatever they could. to rebuild the roof framework in eluding that towering 96 metre spire you saw that in flames. it took the felling of 1200 oak trees from aerosol around france, 2000 decorative features and statues

have been restored or recreated, including the centrepiece sculpture. the grand organ wasn't damaged by the fire itself but its 8000 pipes were covered in lead dust and the needed dismantling, decontaminating. it has been painstaking and expensive work. more than 840 million euros is what it cost, paid off by an estimated 340,000 donors from around the world. many dignitaries from around the world are attending and amongst those president—elect donald trump arrived in paris. he was greeted by president emmanuel macron, who personally invited president—elect trump to the palace. the two are holding private talks. here's what they had to say to the media just before they cleared the room. it is a great honour for the french people to welcome you five years later. and you were at the time president the first time and i remember your

immediate action. so welcome back again. we are very happy to have you here. you back again. we are very happy to have you here.— to have you here. you very much, to have you here. you very much. a — to have you here. you very much. a very _ to have you here. you very| much, a very great honour. to have you here. you very - much, a very great honour. we had _ much, a very great honour. we had a _ much, a very great honour. we had a great _ much, a very great honour. we had a great relationship, as everybody knows, we accomplished a lot together. and the _ accomplished a lot together. and the people of france are spectacular. it is one of our largest— spectacular. it is one of our largest groups in the united states. _ largest groups in the united states, french people. and we respect — states, french people. and we respect them and we love them. they— respect them and we love them. they are — respect them and we love them. they are very talented people, extremely energetic people, as you know— extremely energetic people, as you know well. and it is an honour_ you know well. and it is an honour to _ you know well. and it is an honour to be here. we have a good — honour to be here. we have a good time _ honour to be here. we have a good time together and we had a lot of— good time together and we had a lot of success, really great success _ lot of success, really great success working together on defence _ success working together on defence and offence too. and it certainly — defence and offence too. and it certainly seems the world is going — certainly seems the world is going a _ certainly seems the world is going a little crazy right now and we _ going a little crazy right now and we will be talking about that — and we will be talking about that. . . , and we will be talking about that. ., ., , ., that. that was a president-elect| that. that was a - president-elect trump that. that was a _ president-elect trump and president—elect trump and president macron. present trump

will be sitting in between present macron and his wife. pride of place really. let's talk a little bit out more about the cultural significance of the cathedral and all the artwork and history that is involved. i'm very happy to say i enjoyed here outside in the rain by the founder and chief editor of a newspaper here. notre dame is absolutely beautiful.— notre dame is absolutely beautiful. ., , , beautiful. what you see is the facade, it _ beautiful. what you see is the facade, it was _ beautiful. what you see is the facade, it was not _ beautiful. what you see is the facade, it was not touched - beautiful. what you see is the facade, it was not touched by| facade, it was not touched by the fire. it was restored long time ago. inside it is beautiful. i could get into it and is very enlightened, very beautiful, a lot of light and it is cleaner.— beautiful, a lot of light and it is cleaner. tell me why it is so important _ it is cleaner. tell me why it is so important to - it is cleaner. tell me why it is so important to the - it is cleaner. tell me why it i is so important to the french nation. it is so important to the french nation. , ., nation. it is important because it is the cathedral _ nation. it is important because it is the cathedral of _ nation. it is important because it is the cathedral of paris - it is the cathedral of paris and paris is the capital of france. you see we are in the centre of paris on an island and you see it from many places in paris. i think it is

important for france but we have seen because of the fire it is important for everybody in the world.— it is important for everybody in the world. has it been seen as a success _ in the world. has it been seen as a success this _ in the world. has it been seen as a success this restoration l as a success this restoration within these five years? yes, the restoration _ within these five years? yes, the restoration is _ within these five years? yes, the restoration is a _ within these five years? yes, the restoration is a success l the restoration is a success but the fire should not have burned this way. there are many, in many ways there are failures. there were failures. around the security of the cathedral.— around the security of the cathedral. ~ �* , , cathedral. we're “ust seeing interior shots _ cathedral. we're “ust seeing interior shots of h cathedral. we're just seeing interior shots of the - interior shots of the cathedral. it is so beautiful and so white compared to what it was before.— it was before. yes, it was very dark. i it was before. yes, it was very dark- i went — it was before. yes, it was very dark. i went into _ it was before. yes, it was very dark. i went into the - it was before. yes, it was very dark. i went into the cathedral one year before the fire and it was very dark, you couldn't see anything. now you can see everything. it is very beautiful.— everything. it is very beautiful. ., beautiful. so in a way it has improved — beautiful. so in a way it has improved it. _ beautiful. so in a way it has improved it. yes, _ beautiful. so in a way it has improved it. yes, it - beautiful. so in a way it has improved it. yes, it is - beautiful. so in a way it has improved it. yes, it is clean as it should _ improved it. yes, it is clean as it should have _ improved it. yes, it is clean as it should have been - improved it. yes, it is clean i as it should have been before the fire. it is a pity we need a fire to restore the cathedral this time. it is because of the fire we have the cathedral today like this.—

fire we have the cathedral today like this. what next for notre dame? _ today like this. what next for notre dame? of— today like this. what next for notre dame? of the - today like this. what next for i notre dame? of the restoration is not over— notre dame? of the restoration is not over is — notre dame? of the restoration is not over is what _ notre dame? of the restoration is not over is what you - notre dame? of the restoration is not over is what you can - notre dame? of the restoration is not over is what you can see l is not over is what you can see scaffolding at the back of the building still. a lot of work to do and there is another thing, ifight against to do and there is another thing, i fight against com is the presence of the republic emmanuel macron wants to replace the stained glass windows of the south part of the church. these stained glass windows were not touched by the fire. they were restored with the money of the donors and it is a shame. the money of the donors and it is a shame-— the money of the donors and it is a shame. what are you most excited about _ is a shame. what are you most excited about seeing _ is a shame. what are you most excited about seeing in - is a shame. what are you most excited about seeing in the - excited about seeing in the ceremony tonight? the ceremony doesnt ceremony tonight? the ceremony doesn't excite _ ceremony tonight? the ceremony doesn't excite me! _ ceremony tonight? the ceremony doesn't excite me! i'm _ ceremony tonight? the ceremony doesn't excite me! i'm sorry, - doesn't excite me! i'm sorry, it is the cathedral that excites me.— it is the cathedral that excites me. ., ., excites me. fine, fair enough. what bar— excites me. fine, fair enough. what bar about _ excites me. fine, fair enough. what bar about the _ excites me. fine, fair enough. what bar about the cathedral i what bar about the cathedral excites you?— what bar about the cathedral excites ou? n, , ., excites you? maybe the medieval stained glass _ excites you? maybe the medieval stained glass windows. _ excites you? maybe the medieval stained glass windows. in - excites you? maybe the medieval stained glass windows. in the - stained glass windows. in the cathedral you have many sculptures, paintings, very beautiful and not very many people talk about it. but they

need to be seen.— people talk about it. but they need to be seen. 0k, thank you very much _ need to be seen. 0k, thank you very much indeed _ need to be seen. 0k, thank you very much indeed for— need to be seen. 0k, thank you very much indeed for that. - need to be seen. 0k, thank you very much indeed for that. as . very much indeed for that. as we show you the live shot of the cathedral itself, i know didier said he is not excited but i tell you what, there are hundreds of people lined up along the seine. they are waiting in the rain for this momentous moment after five years the cathedral, the beating heart of paris and france will finally be resurrected from the flames. storm darragh has caused widespread travel disruption and power cuts too, particularly across wales and the western side of england. now, the met office red warning that was in force has now expired. but we do still have this amber warning. we will still see gusts of 70 to 80mph or more in these western areas. so there remains a danger to life and certainly the threat of further

significant disruption because of the strength of the wind. not only wind — there's a lot of rain out there as well. a met office amber warning in force for some of these parts of south wales. 80—90mm of rain looking likely. here is the culprit. here is storm darragh. this swirl of cloud on the satellite picture. it's around this southern flank of the storm where we have been seeing the strongest of the winds. 0ur area of low pressure continuing to track eastwards this afternoon, slowly filling and weakening, but still bringing some very strong winds. wind gusts widely 50mph, 60mph, but stronger than that in some spots even by the end of the afternoon. still some pretty heavy rain falling as well, especially across eastern parts. a little bit drier out towards the west. and those are the afternoon temperatures. now, during this evening and tonight our storm system will continue to push away eastwards. we'll continue to see some heavy rain and strong winds, particularly, i think, across parts of southeast scotland. northeast england, could be some very gusty conditions here for a time.

further north and west, some clear spells, some showers, could be some wintriness over high ground. i think the strength of the wind will stop it getting too cold overnight, but it certainly will be a chilly start to sunday morning. storm darragh easing away to the east. still though, some pretty brisk winds, especially across these eastern and southern parts of the uk as we go through the day. still some very gusty conditions, there could still be a little bit of disruption and some rain easing across the southeastern parts as well. further north and west, some sunny spells, just the odd shower. these are the kinds of wind gusts we're expecting through into sunday afternoon. and temperatures, well, with this northerly wind it is going to feel pretty cold out there. single digit temperatures for just about all of us. through the week ahead, well, things do look a little bit calmer. still quite breezy. a lot of dry weather around, some showers, a lot of mist and murk and low cloud as well.

this is bbc news, the headlines... syrian rebels are bearing down on the capital damascus from the north and south, amid little resistance from president assad's forces. pictures verified by the bbc show a bust of the president's father being toppled in the neighbourhood of jaramana. south korea's opposition fails in its effort to impeach president yoon suk yeol for his short—lived declaration of martial law. a man has died after

a tree fell onto his van