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
OPEC+ pressures Iraq, UAE to further cut oil production Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members held a virtual meeting with Russia and other allied oil producers today to discuss the continuing low price of oil amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Saudi Arabia
US imposes sanctions on Iranian intelligence, Hezbollah-linked targets in Lebanon New US sanctions affect 47 individuals and entities in Iran as well as three targets in Lebanon. Lebanon
Is Israel-Gulf business ready to take off? Agribusiness, retail, housing, and hospitality look like good bets for Israel-Gulf trade. United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi investor surprises Israelis, interested in Jerusalem soccer club Despite — or because of — the racist attitude of Beitar Jerusalem’s fan club, an Abu Dhabi investor is now interested in investing in the soccer team and developing coexistence. Israel
Possible resignation of Libya's PM raises questions over Ankara-Tripoli ties Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj is reportedly planning to resign from his post and take on a caretaker role in the Tripoli government, a move that could complicate prior agreements with Ankara and raises questions over future bilateral ties. Turkey
Can EU sanctions threat cool Turkey’s moves in eastern Mediterranean? EU leaders will gather on Sept. 24 to discuss sanctions on Turkey over its aggressive stance against Greece and Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean, where despite its hawkish statements, Ankara may be backing down. Turkey
Egyptian schools to add Chinese language China is growing its ties to Egypt with a deal with the government for Egyptian schools to offer the Chinese language. Egypt
Israeli wig industry hit on the head by coronavirus With the coronavirus-induced economic crisis, and with restrictions on mass gatherings, Israeli ultra-Orthodox women have stopped buying new wigs. Israel
Bahrain will establish ties with Israel, Trump says Bahrain follows Kosovo and the United Arab Emirates in normalizing ties with Israel. United Arab Emirates
Iranian fuel tankers reported off coast of South Africa The tankers are reportedly bringing oil to Venezuela and may be taking the longer African route to avoid US forces following a seizure in August. Iran
Saudi women entrepreneurs fight cultural conditioning The Saudi government has changed many practices that were discriminatory against women, but really empowering women requires a profound change of mentality. Saudi Arabia
Egypt, Cyprus focus on natural gas pipeline amid tensions in eastern Mediterranean At a time when tensions are on the rise in the eastern Mediterranean, Egypt and Cyprus are intensifying talks to start building an offshore gas pipeline from the Aphrodite gas field to Cairo in preparation for re-export to Europe. Egypt
