ARASH ZEINI has some recent posts of interest:
Avestan research 1991–2014. Links to a helpful article (part 1) by Almut Hintze which surveys the field. Much of it is technical, but the first part is quite accessible to nonspecialists (like me!).
Scribal practices in the Turfan Christian community. Recent article by Mark Dickens. Much more on Turfan and its direct and indirect importance for ancient Judaism (notably, the Book of Giants) here and links.
Mani at the court of the Persian kings. New book from Brill by Iain Gardner, Jason BeDuhn and Paul Dilley.