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Rebel leader Abu Mohammed al Jolani, whose group was central to the lightning offensive that toppled decades of dictatorship in Syria this weekend, has spent years trying to distance himself from his former ties to al Qaeda.Labelled a terrorist by the US, which still has a $10m (£7.8m) bounty on his head, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) says he has renounced his past as a hardline jihadi extremist and now embraces pluralism and tolerance. Now poised to play a major role in the future governance of Syria - a diverse country with a variety of religious minorities - al Jolani's apparent transformation will be put to the test.Follow live: Assad flees to Moscow amid celebrations in SyriaEarly years and pivot to jihad Al Jolani's real name is Ahmad al Sharaa - it's what he was known by ...

Israel has said it is "more optimistic than before" about the chance of reaching an agreement over hostages held in Gaza.Foreign minister Gideon Saar said indirect negotiations were taking place over the return of about 100 hostages.It comes amid reports Hamas has asked for lists to be compiled of people still being held by militants in Gaza.Mr Saar said: "We can be more optimistic than before but we are not there yet. I hope we will be there."There will not be a ceasefire in Gaza without a hostage deal."A Palestinian official said Hamas had asked other factions in Gaza to start listing the names of Israeli and foreign hostages in their custody, whether dead or alive, according to the Reuters news agency.The official gave no further details, but said the mediators, backed by the US, had st...

Two people have died and four are missing after an explosion at a fuel depot near Florence, authorities said.Eight people have also been injured in the blast - with an emergency alert sent to everyone living within 5 km from the site. Italian energy group Eni, which owns the site, said: "Eni confirms that a fire broke out this morning at the fuel depot in Calenzano (Florence) and that the Fire Brigade is working to put out the flames which are confined to the loading shelter area and do not affect the tanks in any way."The impacts and causes are being immediately verified. Updates will follow".This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.Please refresh the page for the fullest version.You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via...

The UK government could remove the group that led the Syrian rebellion from its list of banned terror organisations, a senior minister has told Sky News.Pat McFadden told Sky News' Breakfast with Kay Burley a decision would be made "quickly" about whether to take Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) off the proscribed terror list. Syria latest: 'Human slaughterhouse' prison investigatedAsked if the government planned to do so, Mr McFadden said ministers will "consider" it."I think it will partly depend on what happens in terms of how that group behaves now. "I think countries around the world who proscribe HTS - it's not just the UK, the United States, European countries as well - I think probably will look at that now, and see what's going to happen in the future."It won't take that long. I think w...

Thousands of people, including women and children, have been released from Syria's infamous prisons - as civil defence teams work on freeing those who may still be detained in hidden underground cells. After insurgents swept across the country in little more than a week to topple the Assad family's half-century rule, families wept as they reunited with inmates held on political charges. At Sednaya prison near Damascus - a facility dubbed the "human slaughterhouse" by Amnesty International - women screamed with their children as their cells were opened.Syria latest as Assad flees to Moscow"Don't be afraid… Bashar Assad has fallen," one of the rebels told them as he tried to rush streams of women out of Sednaya prison. As they left their cells a toddler could be seen walking down the corrido...

Rapper Jay-Z has been accused of raping a 13-year-old girl after the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000, allegedly alongside Sean "Diddy" Combs.The accuser, who is identified as "Jane Doe", said the assault happened at an after-party. A federal lawsuit - which originally only named Combs - was refiled on Sunday in New York to add Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter.According to NBC News, Sky's US news partner, the lawsuit claims that Doe was dropped off at the VMAs at Radio City Music Hall by a friend - she did not have a ticket and approached various limousine drivers to try to gain access to the show or after party.One driver allegedly told Doe he worked for Combs and she "fit what Diddy was looking for". The driver later picked her up, the lawsuit says, and after 20 minutes she was dropp...

Donald Trump has urged Vladimir Putin to reach an immediate settlement to end the war in Ukraine, saying it was the Russian president's "time to act".The US president-elect wrote on social media on Sunday that [Volodymyr] "Zelenskyy and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness". He called for "an immediate ceasefire" and said, "negotiations should begin". Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:10 Trump and Zelenskyy hold meeting with Macron Referring to his closeness to Mr Putin, he added: "I know Vladim...

Syria's new rebel leaders are facing the daunting task of healing a divided nation - and the toppling of the Assad regime has not put an end to fighting in the country.In northern Syria, Turkey-backed opposition fighters are still battling US-allied Kurdish forces, while both Israel and the US have today launched airstrikes on Syria. There is also uncertainty surrounding two Russian bases. President Bashar al Assad fled Damascus with his family on Sunday morning and their whereabouts were unknown until Russian state media confirmed they had been given asylum in Moscow "on humanitarian grounds".Read more: Latest updates from SyriaSources also told Russian media the Kremlin had struck a deal with Syria's rebel leaders to guarantee the safety of its bases in the country, as part of arrangemen...

Singing, dancing, hugging and crying. Hundreds of Syrians have gathered in Manchester city centre to celebrate the end of the regime, a regime many fled in fear of their lives. Their faces are full of joy and tears as years of fear, worry and disappointment make way for hope. They wave flags saying "freedom" and cheer as an impromptu fireworks display lights up the sky.Many refugees said they've dreamt of this moment for years. I've never been approached by so many people wanting to tell their story.After years of repression, they want the world to hear what they've been through. Refugee Yasmin said her words are her weapon, which is why she had to flee Syria. But now she no longer has to be quiet.She said she was "ecstatic to see President Assad's repressive regime finally over. ...

Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed the fall of Bashar al Assad, saying Syrians "have put up with his brutal regime for far, far too long".The prime minister said his government is "talking to regional allies" as he urged Syrians to find "a political way forward", adding that "it's very important that civilians and minorities are protected in this process. "But [I'm] very, very pleased that Assad has fallen," he said.Syria latest: Curfew imposed by rebels Image: Syrian opposition fighters celebrate the fall of the government, in Damascus. Pic: AP Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:59 ...