UN diplomacy in Syria: UN Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Damascus for the first visit by a UN chief since 2009, calling for global support as Syria’s transition unfolds and meeting interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa plus civil society groups, including women’s rights organizations, with state media highlighting tours of the Old City and the Umayyad Mosque. Women’s work under pressure: A UN Women/ESCWA policy brief warns the 2026 Middle East crisis could deepen risks to women’s employment across Arab states, with Syria among the countries facing job losses tied to informal work and economic shocks. Rural recovery with a gender lens: Saudi aid agency KSrelief and the UNDP are backing women-led enterprises in Syria’s countryside—food processing, renewable energy, and training—to strengthen rural livelihoods beyond city reconstruction. Culture & community printing: Tashkeel’s “Khali Balak Men RISO” celebrates risograph printing through workshops and experimental works, spotlighting texture, layering, and collaborative creativity. Tourism tries to rev up: Syria held its first motorcycle rally in Damascus, linking riders to heritage sites in Homs and Tartus as visitor numbers climb. Transitional justice watch: Trials of former Assad officials continue in Damascus, with families of torture victims awaiting verdicts as hearings accelerate. Language heritage: In Al-Hamidiyah, coastal families still speak a Cretan Greek dialect alongside Arabic, preserving a rare Mediterranean link through songs and daily life.