Syria–US normalization: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says President Trump will remove Syria from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list as part of a normalization process, aiming to unlock trade and investment and reduce legal friction for companies (including tech exports and energy deals). Damascus security tightening: Authorities in Damascus reintroduced checkpoints, blast walls, and vehicle searches after a wave of bombings, including an attack near the French president’s visit. Education & ideology: A report by Alma Research and Education Center says Syria’s Dar al-Wahi al-Sharif school network teaches extremist, antisemitic and anti-Christian material and frames Israel as a “Zionist enemy” in official curricula. Identity systems for migrants: Researchers urge interoperable, family-sensitive document portability systems after interviews with families displaced from Afghanistan, Syria and Ukraine found that missing or inaccessible papers can block asylum and basic services. Digital security: Two US Army sites were defaced on 404 pages with pro-Kurdish slogans, highlighting how military tech ecosystems can be targeted. Digital payments tech: UNDP expands Stellar blockchain support for aid payments beyond pilots, cutting costs and improving delivery—relevant for humanitarian tech planning.