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
Egypt cracks down on Syrian businesses allegedly tied to Brotherhood Egypt is going after certain Syrian businesses that have flourished, citing national security. Egypt
Pompeo says US-Greek relations at 'all-time high,' urges Athens-Ankara talks In Greece, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged Athens and Ankara to resume talks over maritime disputes ahead of an EU summit later this week that is expected to address lingering tensions in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey
Iranian tanker reaches coast of Venezuela Other Iranian ships are bringing fuel to and from the South American country, despite a US seizure of such vessels in August. Iran
Emirates resumes flights to Muscat The Dubai-based airline is getting closer to resuming its pre-pandemic network, despite a new virus outbreak in the United Arab Emirates. United Arab Emirates
Rich families buy second citizenship in post-Ritz Saudi Arabia Political repression following the rise of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman has pushed some wealthy Saudis to buy second passports. Saudi Arabia
Intel: UN engages with Libya’s electric company amid blackouts, popular unrest The United States pledged support for Libya's electric company amid continued blackouts in Libya, which are fueling popular unrest. Libya
EU countries summon Iranian ambassadors over human rights concerns Iran's ambassadors to three European countries have been summoned this week over Tehran's human rights practices. Iran
Iran, Russia discuss producing COVID-19 vaccine Russia’s sovereign wealth fund has been in talks over manufacturing the vaccine with Iran and a number of other countries. Russia
How Turkey’s ‘zombie’ companies keep afloat A number of big companies that would have normally gone bust amid Turkey’s economic turmoil are surviving thanks to government favors. Turkey
Will Suez Canal feel impact of UAE-Israel normalization? The potential economic agreements between the United Arab Emirates and Israel may reduce traffic through Egypt’s Suez Canal. United Arab Emirates
Turkey yields to markets, raises interest rates as lira tanks The central bank hikes its benchmark rate for the first time since 2018, hoping to curb double-digit inflation and a currency that is plumbing record lows. Turkey
Normalization deals create warm environment for Egypt-Israel ties Relations between Cairo and Jerusalem may be thawing in the wake of Israel's normalization agreements with two Gulf states. Egypt
