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
Saudi financial forum visit pays off for India Riyadh and New Delhi were productive during the Indian prime minister’s visit to Saudi Arabia last week. Saudi Arabia
Cairo seeks mediation for talks on Ethiopian dam Cairo has decided to seek international mediation for struggling negotiations on Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Egypt
Algeria’s hydrocarbon reform adds fuel to protest movement Algeria’s interim government claims to be undertaking economic reforms of the energy sector, but protesters see the effort as an attempt to shore up economic and diplomatic support heading into December presidential elections. Algeria
Top Netanyahu donors’ West Bank winery seeks Trump’s help fighting EU The Psagot winery has hired a former US ambassador to the EU to lobby against “settlement” labeling regulations. Israel
Ankara in quiet negotiations to buy Russian Su-35 fighter jets Following Ankara's expulsion from the F-35 program, Turkish officials are looking to Moscow to upgrade Turkey's aging warplane fleet with Russian-made Su-35 jets. Turkey
After unprecedented shutdown, Lebanon’s banks reopen, mitigate nationwide panic Lebanese banks have been shut for two weeks straight, not only because of the unprecedented nationwide protests but also because of the accumulation of an unresolved economic crisis. Lebanon
Israel threatens to cut electricity in West Bank The Jerusalem District Electricity Company is plagued by an ongoing crisis preventing it from paying its debts to the Israeli electricity company. Palestine
Syria looks to revitalize oil production to attract investors Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is tightening the regime's grip on oil fields with an eye toward their eventual rehabilitation. Syria
Netanyahu’s Israel: Safe-haven for criminals Israel’s ill repute for political corruption has an additional aspect: Capitalizing on their Jewish origins, criminals from other countries are finding a safe haven in Israel from law enforcement authorities abroad who prefer these criminals remain in Israel. Israel
Why Palestinian businessmen will visit Russia As part of efforts to achieve economic disengagement from Israel and find new markets, a Palestinian delegation will visit Russia in November with the goal of boosting bilateral trade. Palestine
Iraqi Kurds spurn Turkish goods to back Syrian kinsmen Kurds in Iraq are boycotting products from Turkey to show support for their brethren in Syria who are under attack by Ankara. Iraq
Will Adana accord take Erdogan to Damascus? Drawing on a controversial 1998 accord between Ankara and Damascus, Russia wants to get Turkey on board with its game plans for Syria and beyond, including energy in the eastern Mediterranean. Syria