Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity: The FBI and EPA warned that malicious hackers remotely tampered with internet-connected controls at water and wastewater systems in at least seven US states, with Minnesota’s attack hitting 30+ utilities and forcing manual operations; federal agencies suspect Iranian-linked actors while attribution remains under investigation. Regional Security & Defense Tech: Reports say Iranian precision drones and missiles destroyed key air-defense assets, including Patriot systems, near Erbil, prompting a rapid US withdrawal; separately, Trump said he will pause a planned Iran strike if a deal is reached that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz. AI for Telecom Planning: Iraq’s telecom regulator says AI is being used to forecast a 135% Karbala traffic surge for Arbaeen, using data from thousands of towers to help operators add capacity ahead of demand. Innovation & Startups: Israel’s hi-tech sector reportedly cut about 9,500 jobs in the first half of 2026 amid AI-driven restructuring; in Syria, a UAE-backed “My Syria” super app launched with tourism, payments, and cross-border digital payments. Science & Engineering: India delivered its first indigenous expendable turbojet engine for one-time military uses; Türkiye begins competing in the International Nuclear Science Olympiad with a first full team. Local Tech & Heritage: Istanbul is using advanced tree scanning and digital mapping to preserve centuries-old trees and assess internal structural risk.