Turkey lifts veil on unemployment data, revealing bigger army of jobless A new, broader set of labor statistics has exposed a big gap between Turkey’s official unemployment rate and the actual joblessness in the crisis-hit country. Turkey
Rights group criticizes Jordan over debt imprisonment Human Rights Watch has highlighted the plight of poor Jordanians imprisoned for failing to pay back loans taken out to meet basic needs. Jordan
COVID accelerates evolution of Gulf economies The economic policy response to COVID-19 is an acceleration of specific trends already underway across the Gulf Cooperation Council members, variously affecting tax policy, labor market regulation and immigration policy. Saudi Arabia
Iran receives COVID-19 vaccine from Cuba Iran enjoys warm relations with the Latin American state and the two countries are also developing a coronavirus vaccine together. Iran
Oman's coronavirus cases pass 100,000 The Gulf state opened a field hospital Monday to deal with the influx of COVID-19 infections. Oman
Third, final Iranian tanker arrives in Venezuela Iran sent three tankers carrying more than 800,000 barrels of fuel to the South American country, successfully evading US sanctions in the process. Iran
American-Israeli yeshiva student takes reins of El Al Israeli authorities approved the sale of almost 43% of Israel’s national carrier El Al to 27-year-old Eli Rozenberg, whose American father critics say is behind the purchase. Israel
Qatar Airways resumes flights to three South African cities The Doha-based airline is nearing the number of destinations it offered services to before the coronavirus crisis. Qatar
Armenia accuses Israel of arming Azerbaijan Armenia has recalled its ambassador, claiming that Israel supplies its rival Azerbaijan with weapons. Israel
Etihad Airways provides COVID-19 test with ticket The Abu Dhabi airline is including a COVID-19 test that can be taken before departure in the ticket price for travelers on outgoing flights. United Arab Emirates
As pandemic wilts other industries, Egyptian vineyards flourish Egyptian grape growers are celebrating a profitable season as the coronavirus pandemic raises demand from European importers. Egypt
Bedouins in Egypt retreat to more traditional way of life to face COVID-19 Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the Bedouin community in Egypt, mainly in southern Sinai, that heavily relied on tourism to make ends meet, is retreating deep into the mountains and the desert to live a more traditional life. Egypt
Israel, Lebanon agree to maritime border talks Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz confirmed today that Israel and Lebanon will open direct talks on demarking their maritime border with US mediation. Israel
How much damage can Arab states do to Turkish economy? As Turkey’s Arab adversaries step up efforts to counter Ankara’s actions in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has reportedly started a covert boycott of Turkish goods. Turkey
Egypt turns to Russia to save decaying railway authority Russia is cooperating with Egypt on developing the Egyptian Railway Authority, which has suffered heavy financial losses. Egypt
Intel: First Israeli Iron Dome battery arrives in US A second Iron Dome battery is expected to arrive by the end of the year. Israel
