EU-Syria diplomacy: Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met EU chief Kaja Kallas in Damascus, urging Brussels to lift remaining unilateral restrictions and to use “effective pressure” to stop Israeli attacks, while the EU pledged to upgrade partnership and boost investment tied to reforms and security. Humanitarian strain: UNHCR warned that severe funding cuts could leave 8.3 million displaced people without vital protection and aid, as Syria’s needs remain massive and response plans are far from funded. Education and identity: Presidential adviser Mazloum Abdi urged Kurdish families in Al-Hasakah to keep sending children to Kurdish-medium schools during the transition, saying mother-tongue education is a right. Security developments: Syria’s interior forces said they arrested a Hezbollah-linked cell in Daraa after it tried to deploy missile launchers near the Israel border. Energy and regional spillover: With the Strait of Hormuz still disrupted, Iraq has started importing gasoline via Syria’s Baniyas port, using land routes to meet demand. Reconstruction finance: The World Bank approved a $100M grant to modernize Syria’s financial sector, aiming to improve banking supervision, digital payments, and integrity. Japan signals support: Japan partially lifted sanctions on 16 Syrian entities, citing developments and reconstruction needs. Returns with gaps: UN OCHA said displacement-site returns are rising, but needs are shifting to communities where damaged homes, weak services, and job shortages make rebuilding hard.