Syrian Health & Training: A new look at ophthalmology in Syria highlights how the residency model is struggling under conflict-driven equipment shortages, staff flight, and disrupted hospital access—leaving trainees with uneven surgical exposure across Damascus, Aleppo, and Homs. Water Security: The Euphrates River crisis is reigniting both public health alarms and end-times debate as drought, upstream dams, pollution, and groundwater extraction push the river toward dangerous lows for Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. Energy Infrastructure: Syria and Iraq are in late-stage talks to restore the Haditha–Baniyas oil pipeline, with engineering, procurement, and construction expected to take up to three years and capacity pegged at 1.5–2 million barrels per day. Regional Tech & Connectivity: A report on Gulf rail cooperation argues that rail links could reshape politics and resilience as Hormuz disruptions and Red Sea tensions keep exposing maritime dependency. Digital Payments in Syria: UAE-based Syrians unveiled “My Syria,” described as the country’s first integrated tourism super app with digital payments. Research & Heritage: TÜYEK says thousands of Ottoman manuscripts have been digitized and released online, expanding access for researchers and helping preserve fragile originals.