Syria-Pakistan Business Push: Syria’s foreign minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani met Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, the first FM visit in 17 years, as Damascus signals deeper defense and economic cooperation with Pakistan amid regional realignments. Maritime Security Shock: Two separate pirate hijackings off Yemen and Somalia involved 22 Indian crew members; the Eritrea-flagged oil tanker MT Sibu 1 (16 Indians among 20 crew) was seized in the Gulf of Aden, while the Cameroon-flagged cargo ship MV Lutuf (six Indians among 10 crew) was taken off Puntland—crews reported safe so far. Construction Sector Benchmark: Türkiye placed 2nd globally on ENR’s top 250 construction firms list, with 48 Turkish contractors, highlighting strong project delivery and growth despite supply-chain and labor pressures. Iraq Oil Route Diversification: Iraq is pushing higher exports via Türkiye’s Ceyhan port and exploring Syria’s Baniyas and Jordan’s Aqaba as it targets 8–10 million bpd in six years, reflecting how Hormuz disruptions are reshaping regional energy logistics. Southern Syria Shelling: Israeli artillery struck farmland in Quneitra, sparking fires and following recent raids and detentions, underscoring ongoing instability that can disrupt agriculture and local supply chains.