(2026-01-18). Syria army tightens grip on Raqa. tribune.com.pk 
Syria's army took control of swathes of northern Syria and threatened to bomb parts of Raqa province on Saturday after Kurdish forces pulled back from territory they had held for over a decade. | The government appeared to be seeking to extend its grip on parts of the country under Kurdish control a day after President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a decree declaring Kurdish a "national language" and granting the minority official recognition. | The Kurds have said the move fell short of their aspirations. | The army drove Kurdish forces from two Aleppo neighbourhoods last week and took control of an area east of the…
(2026-01-18). US strike kills senior al-Qaeda-linked figure tied to deadly Palmyra ISIS ambush. hindustantimes.com On January 16, U.S. Central Command reported a strike in northwest Syria that killed Bilal Hasan al‚ÄëJasim, a senior al‚ÄëQaeda‚Äëlinked operative described as having direct ties to the ISIS gunman behind the December 13, 2025 ambush near Palmyra that killed two U.S. service members and an American interpreter and wounded American and Syrian personnel. CENTCOM said this operation is part of "Hawkeye Strike," a large‚Äëscale response to the ambush in which U.S. and partner forces have hit over 100 ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites with more than…
(2026-01-18). Inside panic gripping US war room: Trump quietly greenlighting Khamenei's assassination. hindustantimes.com Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro is warning that President Donald Trump's rhetoric and military posturing suggest he may contemplate a direct attempt on Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's life, but he argues such a move would be a dramatic escalation that would not by itself achieve regime change in Iran. Trump, meanwhile, is publicly intensifying his personal attacks on Khamenei and openly calling for "new leadership in Iran," even as reports indicate he has delayed planned strikes at the urging of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
(2026-01-18). PSL Franchises agree on players' auction. tribune.com.pk 
For the first time in the history of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), a player auction will be held. In a meeting held yesterday with CEO Salman Naseer, most of the franchises agreed to the auction format. Once approved by the PCB Chairman, it will be implemented. | On Sunday, a workshop will be organized to brief the team owners about the auction procedures. Meanwhile, all five of the original franchises have demanded to retain four players each, including their brand ambassadors. The new teams, however, have asked for zero retentions. A final decision on this matter will also be made by the Chairman. | It is…