The United States has announced that Syria will join the international coalition to fight the Islamic State group, marking a significant shift in regional alliances. This development follows a meeting between President Donald Trump and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House, where renewed diplomatic ties between Washington and Damascus were confirmed. President Trump emphasized Syria's role in his broader vision for Middle East peace. In other news, Delhi is on high alert after a deadly explosion, the so-called 'Chinese Cryptoqueen' faces sentencing for a massive fraud, and David Szalay's novel 'Flesh' has won the Booker Prize.