syrian rebels declare damascus is free, as people take to the streets to celebrate the end of the assad regime. you can hear the sound of celebratory gunfire. people are driving around in their cars, they are giving me peace signs, they are saying that life is going to be so much better now that bashar al—assad is gone. syria's former president, bashar al—assad, is reportedly in moscow, claiming asylum from key ally, russia. and western leaders welcome the end of assad's rule, but warn of uncertainty to come.

a very warm welcome to newsday. the family dynasty that controlled syria for more than half a century is no longer in power, with president bashar al—assad having fled the country and rebel forces now in control of damascus. russian state media has announced bashar al—assad and his family are in moscow, and have been granted political asylum. in damascus, thousands of people celebrated in the main square, chanting freedom, after the rebels seized control, seemingly bringing to an end a civil war that has lasted 13 brutal years. civil war that has lasted 13 brutalyears. but civil war that has lasted 13 brutal years. but when the end came, it came quickly. the speed of the rebel victory, astonishing. there was only on tuesday that the city of aleppo was captured in a shock offensive. then, by the weekend, they had full control of harmless and the province of dirar within their grasp. then the rebels into the capital, meeting no resistance. barbara

plett usher, who was the first western journalist to enter damascus as the city fell, sent this report. car horns beep. this is an extraordinary moment, a seismic change in syria's balance of power. the strongman of damascus, bashar al—assad, is gone. rebels have declared victory. we were the first western journalists to reach the capital, just hours after it fell. this is where people are celebrating in the central umayyad square, civilians and rebels. you can hear the sound of celebratory gunfire. people are driving around in their cars, they are giving me peace signs. they are saying that life is going to be so much better now that bashar al—assad is gone. but there is a mix ofjoy and fear in the city. there are those who supported bashar al—assad, who felt they were protected by him, and now they're wondering what is going to happen. here, i spoke to people who have long been waiting for his downfall.

"thank you, thank you", she says. "the tyrant has fallen, the tyrant has fallen!" many of her family died under president assad's rule, some in prison. my cousin, my son, my family. all, all... all of them. how are you feeling? translation: it is an indescribable feeling, | we are so happy. after all the years of dictatorship we have lived through, we were imprisoned in 2014 and now we're out, thank god. we won because of our men, and ourfighters, and now we're at the moment that we are going to build the greatest syria. the old syria has gone, with breathtaking speed, the army melting away in the face of the rebel advance. last week, it was aleppo, yesterday the city of homs, last night the outskirts of damascus. when they arrived, the rebels went straight to a notorious prison to set the inmates free.

today, their leader took a victory tour of damascus, visiting the historic umayyad mosque. abu mohammed al—jawlani, head of the islamic group hayat tahrir al—sham. my colleague was there for bbc arabic. chanting. translation: a historic moment, in every sense of the word - - abu mohammed al—jawlani here for the first time, in the great umayyad mosque. the rebel commander has been playing down past links to al-qaeda, saying he wants to build a syria for all its people. from the syrian prime minister, also a message of calm. translation: we are all. concerned about this country and its institutions and facilities. i am here in my home, and i do not intend to leave it, except in a peaceful manner, in order to ensure the continuation of the work

of public institutions. the president fled, as the rebels closed in. reports in russia now say he's turned up in moscow. a statue of his father pulled down shortly before he flew out of the country. his damascus residence now a tourist attraction, stripped bare of anything valuable, of anything at all. we saw people carrying out furniture, with no one trying to stop them. the rebels may have brought freedom but not security. looters have been breaking into buildings here, too, deepening anxiety about this in—between time without a government in charge. definitely a freedom, but the transition has to happen super—quick. our president shouldn't have just left. he should have taken the proper measures that are needed

for him to actually give at least the army or the police, you know, control over those areas until a new president comes in, but he was just purely selfish and he left. the country is hoping for peace — and fearing chaos. different groups control different areas, no one knows how this will play out, but whatever happens here will be felt across the middle east. that was barbara plett usher in damascus, as the city fell. the assad family controlled syria for 53 years. president bashar al—assad took power in 2000, after his father had held power since the early 19705. russia propped up the a55ad dynasty for decades but in the past few years it's for decades but in the past few years its focus has shifted. 0ur russia added to steve rosenberg has more from the news coming from russian state new5 coming from russian state television that the former president is now in moscow. it was a brief announcement, quoting a kremlin 5ource, saying that bashar al—a55ad and

his family had arrived in moscow, been given asylum on humanitarian grounds. i think that these extraordinary events that these extraordinary events that we've been witne55ing are a major blow to the kremlin. i mean, after all, russia's intervention in the syrian war was driven to a large extent by russia's desire to itself as a global power, 5horing russia's desire to itself as a global power, shoring up assad. it was seen very much as a way of challenging the west. but now in a matter of days this kremlin syria project has sort of unravelled in dramatic circum5tance5. of unravelled in dramatic circumstances. i think that russia's priority now will be the fate of its two main military bases in syria, one air base, one naval base, which had given rusher a foothold in the eastern mediterranean. meanwhile tonight, russian state television is telling russians this, let me just tell you. so the tv 5aid russians this, let me just tell you. so the tv said of course we are not indifferent to what is happening in syria, but our

priority is russia's own security in the zone of the special military opposition —— 5pecial military opposition —— operation, russia's war in ukraine. i think that language, we are not indifferent to what is happening in syria, ifind that quite extraordinary in a country, ru55ia, that quite extraordinary in a country, russia, which for years has done everything possible keep a55ad in power, po55ible keep a55ad in power, but has failed. 50 possible keep assad in power, but has failed.— but has failed. so with the assad regime _ but has failed. so with the assad regime out, - but has failed. so with the assad regime out, who . but has failed. so with the | assad regime out, who are but has failed. so with the - assad regime out, who are the a55ad regime out, who are the rebels now in control of syria, and what does their victory mean for the country? our security correspondent frank gardner explains. everything now depends on hts, that's the main rebel group that has ousted a55ad, because this could go either way. a successful transition to a democracy of sorts, or a descent into chao5. democracy of sorts, or a descent into chaos. the words of their leader here are encouraging. he says he wants a government for all syrian5 so is there really was going to

happen? hts, the main rebel group, does have a murky pa5t. until 2016 it was linked to al-qaeda and it is still a prescribed terrorist group by many governments. the dark red on this map shows how they burst out of a north—west stronghold to come south. that's the dotted line, and take damascus. the orange and yellow areas are the smaller rebel group5, yellow areas are the smaller rebel groups, the purple i5 yellow areas are the smaller rebel groups, the purple is the kurds and up on the coast, the pink area shows the alawite heartland, assad's former power base. a5 heartland, assad's former power base. as if this wasn't, getting enough already, you also have the outside nations, russia and iran, who haveju5t lost an ally in bashar al—a55ad. they will be looking to salvage their interest in the new uncharted syria. let's get more on this now. a senior fellow with the atlantic council where he leads work on syria. thank you for your time

on the programme. firstly, you are syrian. what does this mean for you? are syrian. what does this mean for ou? , ., , u, for you? everything really came as a surprise — for you? everything really came as a surprise to _ for you? everything really came as a surprise to us _ for you? everything really came as a surprise to us for _ for you? everything really came as a surprise to us for the - a5 a surprise to us for the syrians or syria watchers and syrian5 or syria watchers and analysts. you know, yesterday we were talking about how probably of the battle around damascu5 i5 probably of the battle around damascu5 is going to take a couple of weeks. there were conversations about how the regime has really fortified the battle, how a55ad will hold until the last moment, but then everything came as a surprise, even to the extent to which some of your report has touched on, some of the rebels who really first touched damascu5 were just really exploring. a5 were just really exploring. as they advance from the countryside, they found no country5ide, they found no resistance, there is no evidence that the army was there so they just evidence that the army was there so theyjust really continued into the centre of damascus. so i think the complete collapse came really as a complete surprise to all a5 a complete surprise to all of us, but really for tsirion

specifically like myself ultimately, it brings a lot of hope. it is closing a chapter on at least 1a years of civil war and the uprising since 2011, but also it is closing a chapter on over 61 years of the ruling of the assad family, since 1963, and there couldn't have been a better closing for that chapter. a5 have been a better closing for that chapter. as you've seen in the last two weeks, there has been minimum civilian casualties, there has been minimal damage, and bombardment and war within civilian neighbourhoods and metropolitan centres. in a sense i think there's a lot of hope for the future and what it could bring. today we are seeing communities across syria sitting together, talking together about the future. we have seen alawite is an muslim sitting together as well, so it seems there is a lot of hope for what will come next, a lot of people are putting aside any ideas for revenge, putting aside the 13

years long bloody well and reallyjust years long bloody well and really just looking for what will come next in the future. yes, it is extraordinary there has been very little civilian collateral damage. you were a former prisoner under the assad regime. we are seeing some videos of prisoners being released. what's your reaction after all this time? it’s after all this time? it's absolutely _ afterallthis time? it�*s absolutely heartbreaking, seeing people who have been jailed not only for 12 or 13 years, some actually have been there for a0 years, including lebanese, palestinians, jordanians, not only syrians. i think i was lucky enough, my imprisonment didn't last long, even though the treatment, the torture that i have been through was definitely, will definitely last for a lifetime.

but just seeing that definitely last for a lifetime. butjust seeing that people are able to meet with their families, that many people who did not even know the regime had fallen, just seeing at that moment of freedom is just heartbreaking. but what is also heartbreaking. but what is also heartbreaking as the tens of thousands of families who are just so desperate, waiting to know whether their relatives are dead or alive. right now as we are speaking, virtually thousands of people are in prison trying to find any trace of their loved ones who have been jailed of their loved ones who have beenjailed in of their loved ones who have been jailed in that prison for over ten years. i'm worried actually and heartbroken that many of those families will eventually find out that their relatives have been killed by the assad regime, but then the search for their bodies will start again. search for their bodies will start again-— search for their bodies will start again. search for their bodies will start aaain. ., i. start again. right. i mean, you ourself start again. right. i mean, you yourself have _ start again. right. i mean, you yourself have posted _ start again. right. i mean, you yourself have posted videos i start again. right. i mean, you yourself have posted videos of| yourself have posted videos of children, toddlers, in prison as well, so this is really

something. i want to ask you about syria, going forward. i mean, the rebels have toppled assad and taken over damascus, the future is still very uncertain. are you concerned about the people who might be in charge, going forward? 50 in charge, going forward? so there in charge, going forward? sr there was initial concern first of course about chaos. a5 there was initial concern first of course about chaos. as you rightly reported from damascus, there was extreme chaos in the first 12 hours at least after the fall of the regime. that was apparently because the main rebel force coming from the north have not yet reached damascus, it was ratherjust local groups from around damascus that entered the city. there was some looting, there were some attempts of attacking or burning government buildings. things seem to be under control now. i'm speaking to families, friends and residents of the city. there has been local security groups established in every neighbourhood, and it seems

there is more coordination of security of the city. so i know this is our very immediate concern, but it also gives you an idea about how the country will be run in the short to medium term, and whether there will be at least some sense of stability that would help people move forward. there are definitely some concerns, especially related to how the political transition now would be framed, because the un security council resolution 225a ready talks about transitional governing body between the regime and the opposition, based on the idea of reconciliation between the regime and the opposition, but today we are talking about a totally different reality. assad has escaped to russia with his family, regime offices, some of them have escaped to the united arab emirates, others are in hiding, so there is really no presents for the regime itself. yes, elements of the syrian state is there, which are continuing to do their work, but there is really no other partner on the other side of the table to

discuss transition with, so the question is what is the international framework that can bring the rebel groups, the kurds in north—east syria, other groups across syria together to decide how the whole country will move together, so i think there's definitely concern there. i'm concerned also that the international community will be able to rally support and put together enough diplomatic investment to make sure that there is a political transition in syria. syria has been put on the back burner for over four years now. the back burner was completely turned off. so i'm concerned about the international community's ability to mobilise right now, and take this opportunity, this once—in—a—lifetime opportunity where the assad regime has gone, the ruling of the baath party in the whole region has now gone. iran and hezbollah have lost their main operating base in the region and finally the syrian people have managed

to do relatively low violence transition, where they are looking forward to what will come next. so i am definitely also concerned there. of course, there are a lot of questions, as you raised, about hts, the role in moving forward, and i think this is really a question for the syrian people and the international community to make sure that hts walks the walk. i'm afraid i will have tojump in there. many thanks for your insights and thoughts on what is happening in syria. mr; is happening in syria. my pleasure- _ is happening in syria. ij�*i pleasure. thanks is happening in syria. m: pleasure. thanks for is happening in syria. m; pleasure. thanks for having me. wade around the world and across the some other stories in the uk. clean—up efforts are still ongoing, after parts of the uk were battered by storm darragh over the weekend. tens of thousands of people face another night without power, after another day of strong winds.

a final yellow weather warning for wind in england and wales expired on sunday evening, as the storm now moves further into europe. west ham say michail antonio, who was seriously injured in a car crash on saturday, has undergone surgery on a lower limb fracture. the striker, who's the club's all—time premier league goalscorer, had to be rescued from his car after the incident in essex. and prince william has helped serve christmas lunch at a homeless shelter, run by a charity he was introduced to by his mother, diana, more than 30 years ago. footage, posted to the prince and princess of wales' x account, showed william joining a long line of volunteers, dishing out parsnips and carrots to clients. you're live with bbc news. there has been reaction from

leaders and officials around the world to what has happened in syria over the weekend. the un security council says it will hold close consultations on monday at russia's request. the uk prime minister sir keir starmer welcomed the fall of bashar al—assad's barbaric regime in syria, as he called for the restoration of peace and stability. us presidentjoe biden called the fall of the assad regime a moment of historic opportunity, but said there remains risk and uncertainty. the pentagon said the us carried out strikes against over 75 targets linked to the islamic state group in syria. meanwhile, israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu has claimed the collapse of the syrian government was a direct result his country's forceful action against hezbollah and iran. the idf also struck government security buildings and weapons depots. israeli ground forces

also advanced beyond the demilitarised zone around the golan heights on the borderfor the first time in 50 years. i am joined byjoe rogan, former deputy assistant secretary of state in the 0bama administration. many thanks for coming on newsday. trump has said syria is not the us's fight. is he right to distance himself from the crisis? marko it doesn't really _ himself from the crisis? marko it doesn't really have - himself from the crisis? marko it doesn't really have a - himself from the crisis? marko it doesn't really have a choice | it doesn't really have a choice on this one because syria affects the entirety of the middle east, and it affects europe as well as the united states. we have had syrian refugees here from this war, and for american strategic interests, for our allies in the region, israel, jordan, lebanon, turkey, iraq, the list goes on and on, we need to be stepping in diplomatically to make sure that the transition, as you've been discussing tonight, is stable, in that a new government comes in that provide stability inside syria,

and reduces the role of extremism, terrorism and tyranny in the middle east. so no, he is really unable to convince i think most observers that the united states should not be engaging right now diplomatically in this issue. it is a unique situation in the us, with president biden is still in position, and president elect trump coming in injanuary. i mean, who is calling the shots and what should washington be doing next? , , ., should washington be doing next? , ~ ., ., , next? yes, you know, in many wa s it next? yes, you know, in many ways it is _ next? yes, you know, in many ways it is a _ next? yes, you know, in many ways it is a parting _ next? yes, you know, in many ways it is a parting gift - next? yes, you know, in many ways it is a parting gift from i ways it is a parting gift from joe biden to donald trump that onjoe biden watch we have seen the deposing of bashar al—assad, the murder of damascus, and we have seen a deep weakening of iran and hezbollah as well. sojoe biden is calling the shots, but only for six more weeks, and then it is the town of donald trump, so he is going to have this on his

plate whether he likes it or not, and he is going to be the one to really determine the long—term position of the united states, regarding syria and this new middle east, but he has six weeks to get his thoughts together. in the meantime, as you have heard president biden speaking about the risks, engaging our allies and certainly trying to sound and certainly trying to sound an optimistic note about where we are right now with syria. there are concerns about isis, and the us has been striking targets in the last few hours. do you see the group taking advantage of the situation? well, you know i think that is a direct reason why we have troops there, we have 900 american servicemembers in eastern syria, working alongside our allies, the kurds, to prevent isis from re—emerging. there are many isis fighters inside the prison is that the kurds guard, it is of course a serious concern, but the syrian rebels don't

have a great relationship with isis, and i think this will be one of the interesting policy challenges probably for president biden in the near term, which is what to do about hts and its designation as a foreign terrorist organisation. that means that we can't really directly engage it in a robust way, that we can provide age or reconstruction macro can't provide aid or reconstruction, so will they be distance from isis, can we verify that, they turned really away from that or not? and i think these are critical questions isis cannot be allowed to establish a real beachhead inside damascus. it has been denied that in iraq, it should be denied that in syria as well for the benefit of the syrian people.- syria as well for the benefit of the syrian people. yes, it is fascinating _ of the syrian people. yes, it is fascinating how _ of the syrian people. yes, it is fascinating how anyone i of the syrian people. yes, it. is fascinating how anyone deals with a man who is likely to be syria's next leader. we will have to leave it there, joel rubin, former assistant secretary of state to the 0bama administration.

thank you for your time. a quick look at some other news from around the world. rapper and businessman jay—z, whose real name is shawn carter, is accused in a civil lawsuit of raping a 13—year—old girl in 2000. the lawsuit reportedly claimed that carter assaulted the girl along with sean diddy combs. ina in a statement, jay—z strongly denied the allegations. the lawsuit comes weeks after federal prosecutors in new york criminally charged sean combs on other offences, including racketeering and sex trafficking. at least hundred and ten people have been killed by gang rape myths in haiti, who are targeting people suggest —— suspected of witchcraft. the national human rights network said it happened in a notorious cite soleil slum in a notorious cite soleil slum in the north of the capital porto prance. the group reports the leader of the gang ordered the leader of the gang ordered the killings over the weekend,

after his child became sick. all of the victims were over 60. ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky has given a rare update on ukrainian military casualty figures. he says a3,000 ukrainian soldiers have been killed in the war since russia's invasion. the last time zelenskyy update of the casualty count was in february, when it stood at 31,000. and president donald trump says he will consider leaving nato, if allies don't "pay their bills". he insisted nato members had to treat america fairly, in an interview with nbc. he also called for an immediate ceasefire in ukraine. and new york city police have released new images of a man suspected of killing the health care ceo brian thompson as they continue their manhunt for a fifth day. stay with bbc news, many thanks for watching newsday.

hello, there. thousands of homes are still without power, particularly across northern ireland, thanks to storm darragh over the weekend, and with all the rain that fell over the weekend, and for the past few weeks, the ground does remain saturated, river levels running very high, so we have dozens of flood warnings still in force up and down the country. hopefully, though, those numbers will go down as we head into the new week, thanks to high pressure, which will build, and that will bring lots of dry weather, very much needed dry weather, to our shores, but it will turn colder, with overnight frost and fog making a return. high pressure already toppling into the north of the uk to start the new week, so, monday, cold, frosty, but bright and sunny, with light winds across scotland and northern ireland, a bit of early mist and fog around, but as we move across england and wales, we've still got the influence of the remnants of what was storm darragh, so still quite breezy. a fresh east—northeasterly breeze could feed in a few showers, south—east england, down towards the channel islands. we could see a bit of sunshine breaking through here and there, but it will stay breezy, much lighter winds across the north, where we've started off very

cold and frosty. temperatures struggling to get much above three or four degrees in a few spots in scotland. otherwise, its seven to nine celsius for england and wales, but factor in the northeasterly breeze, it will feel quite raw. as we head through monday night, we'll see that cloud continuing across england and wales, streaming in off the north sea, with maybe a few showers running through the channel. that will stop temperatures from falling much below two to seven celsius for england and wales, but it's a very cold night to come for scotland and northern ireland, with quite a hard frost, down to —5, —6 celsius, and some freezing fog. into tuesday, that area of high pressure begins to exert its force across the country. it's a cold, frosty start in the north, plenty of sunshine, early mist and freezing fog. more cloud again for england and wales, the breeze beginning to ease, but still a feature through the channel. maybe the odd shower, but mostly dry at this point, but it could be quite grey and gloomy in the south throughout the day on tuesday. another chilly day to come here, but cold in the north, struggling to get much above freezing across parts of scotland.

0ur area of high pressure dominates the scene through the week, just a few weather fronts spinning around it could affect the northern isles at times, and by the time we reach friday, into next weekend, it looks like low pressure will start to push into northern and western areas off the atlantic. but the run—up to them, much of the week will stay dry, cloudy in the south, sunnier in the north, and it will remain cold for all of us. take care.

south korea �*5 president narrowly survives an impeachment vote. we'll be looking what comes next. last, how american businesses are preparing for donald trump �*5 proposed tariffs. hello and welcome to business today. i'm suranjana tewari. we're keeping a close eye on developments in syria. rebel forces captured the damascus, effectively toppling the regime of bashar al—assad that has been power for more than half a century. the deposed president has fled to moscow according to russian state media. uncertainty in the middle east and also here in asia where the focus is back on south korea. its president, yoon suk yeol, has narrowly survived an impeachment vote after a short lived attempt to declare martial law.