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Celebrations erupted around Syria and crowds ransacked President Bashar al-Assad's luxurious home on Sunday after Islamist-led rebels swept into Damascus and declared he had fled the country, in a spectacular end to five decades of Baath party rule.

Ghana's former president John Drahami Mahama won a historic comeback election victory on Sunday after the ruling party accepted defeat with voters appearing to punish them for the government's handling of an economic crisis.

McLaren's hopes of a first constructors' title since 1998 suffered a blow after a dramatic start to the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Bayern Munich announced on Sunday that their total annual revenue topped 1 billion euros for the first time, with the football club contributing 951.5 million euros (1.006bn dollars).

Norway's double Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen won a third senior European cross-country title in the Turkish city of Antalya on Sunday.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday he told US President-elect Donald Trump Kyiv needed an "enduring" peace that Russia will not "destroy" in the future, after they met in Paris for talks on the almost three-year war.

Hundreds of Syrians celebrated the fall of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad in joyous scenes on Sunday outside the Fatih Mosque in central Istanbul, one of the focal points for their 500,000-strong Syrian community in the Turkish city.

Manchester United confirmed the shock departure of sporting director Dan Ashworth on Sunday, just five months after he took up the role at Old Trafford.

Real Madrid confirmed Sunday that left-back Ferland Mendy had suffered a thigh injury and will be unable to face Atalanta on Tuesday in the Champions League.

Ghana's former president John Dramani Mahama won a historic comeback election victory on Sunday after voters appeared to punish the ruling New Patriotic Party over its management of an economic crisis.

Former president John Mahama, Ghana's main opposition leader, tried twice before to win back the country top post.

Newly restored Notre Dame cathedral held its first mass on Sunday, with Christians celebrating the return of the French capital's most famous place of worship after a historic re-opening ceremony.

Ghana's ruling New Patriotic Party candidate, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, on Sunday conceded defeat in the country's presidential election after failing to shake off widespread frustration over the struggling economy.

Islamist-led rebels took Damascus on Sunday after a lightning offensive, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath party rule in Syria.

Ghana's opposition on Sunday claimed provisional results showed its candidate John Mahama winning the weekend presidential election, though electoral authorities said they were still collating the official tallies.

South Korea's main opposition party said Sunday it will try again to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after his declaration of martial law.

US president-elect Donald Trump said on Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is keen on a "deal" to end the war with Russia, after the pair met in Paris to discuss the future of the conflict.

Romanians on Sunday protested outside a voting station near Bucharest together with far-right presidential frontrunner Calin Georgescu after a top court scrapped the scheduled run-off vote after allegations of Russian interference.

Pat Cummins warned India that Australia are pumped up and back to their best as they look to carry the momentum from a commanding 10-wicket win on Sunday into the next Test in Brisbane.

At least five bodies have been pulled from the wreckage of an apartment block in The Hague, authorities said, as recovery efforts stretched into a second day on Sunday.

A resurgent Australia thumped India by 10 wickets to win the second Test on Sunday and level their blockbuster five-match series 1-1 after a batting and bowling masterclass at fortress Adelaide Oval.

India were all out for 175 in their second innings Sunday to leave Australia needing just 19 to win the pink-ball second Test in Adelaide and level the five-match series 1-1.

Islamist-led rebels declared that they have taken Damascus in a lightning offensive on Sunday, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria.

The Washington Wizards withstood a 56-point explosion from Denver star Nikola Jokic to beat the Nuggets 122-113 on Saturday and snap their 16-game NBA losing streak.

An aggressive England dominated from start to finish to thrash New Zealand by 323 runs on Sunday in the second Test and emphatically win the series with a match to go.

A Syria war monitor said that President Bashar al-Assad has left the country, after losing swathes of territory to a lightning offensive led by an Islamist-led rebel coalition that said it entered Damascus on Sunday.

Ruby slippers worn by actor Judy Garland in "The Wizard of Oz" went under the hammer Saturday, and the winning price was over the rainbow -- a record $32.5 million, the auction house said.

China's retaliatory export controls could take a toll on the growing US clean energy sector and its defense industry, analysts say, as a trade tussle escalates between the world's two biggest economies.

They come with big budgets, are wrapped in sentimentality and boost company revenues -- Britain's latest instalment of eagerly awaited Christmas television advertisements has a nation tuned in.

Joe Root raced to a century before England's methodical bowlers reduced New Zealand to 199-6 on Sunday to put the visitors on course for a series-clinching win in the second Test.

Gunfire rang out in the Syrian capital Sunday, residents told AFP, as Islamist-led rebels said they were "entering Damascus" in a lightning offensive against President Bashar al-Assad's forces.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's future remained uncertain Sunday after surviving an impeachment vote over his brief imposition of martial law.