Second-hand smoke burden: A new Lancet analysis estimates 2.71 billion people worldwide were exposed to second-hand smoke in 2023, including 767 million children, linked to 1.66 million premature deaths and major child lung infections—highlighting the need for stronger tobacco control, especially across Africa and the Middle East. Lebanon health toll: Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon killed at least 27 people and wounded 69 over three days, with repeated hits on residential areas and reports of medical personnel among the dead. Yemen prison strike claims: Houthi media alleges Saudi airstrikes hit a northern Yemen prison, killing seven (including a child) and injuring at least seven; Saudi has not commented. Gaza recovery and funerals: Mass funerals were held for about 100 people recovered from Gaza rubble, with Palestinian authorities estimating more than 10,000 bodies still buried. Arab Health Day in Kuwait: Kuwait’s health ministry ran hospital-based nutrition and integrated-care awareness events under Arab Health Day 2026. Disability ruling in Kuwait: Kuwait’s Court of Appeals overturned a disability assessment, confirming moderate, permanent visual impairment and ordering inclusion under disability law. Sickle cell therapy update: Cell Stem Cell reports base-editing therapy (tBE) achieved durable remission and transfusion independence across diverse genetic backgrounds, including patients from Nigeria, Laos, Malaysia and Pakistan. Humanitarian partnership: Qatar Red Crescent Society signed a strategic cooperation deal with Syria’s Red Crescent and opened a Damascus representation office to scale relief and development work. Edtech for healthcare training: Kuwait’s Dawraty secured a $2m seed investment from Qatar Development Bank to expand AI-powered bilingual healthcare education and certification across the region.