Kurdistan Jobs & Innovation: Three unemployed agri graduates in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region launched the first vermicompost plant in Sharazoor, using red earthworms to turn local waste into bio-fertiliser to tackle soil salinity and create a new pathway for work. Hiring Watch (US): The US added just 29,000 jobs in September and unemployment ticked up to 4.2%, with economists pointing to calendar effects and warning hiring could still face pressure from the Iran-linked energy shock. Middle East Food Security: UN Women warns the Middle East escalation could push an extra 11.7 million women and girls into food insecurity by end-2026, with South Sudan facing the highest proportional risk. Aviation & Vetting Risk (Gulf/Israel): Israel is investigating how an Omani co-pilot could operate Flydubai flights to Tel Aviv despite restrictions, raising questions about pilot screening and “loopholes.” Cyber & Skills (Qatar): Qatar’s MCIT signed an MoU with PwC Middle East to build digital government capabilities through training and knowledge sharing. Corporate Restructuring (Nike): Nike announced further job cuts amid weak China demand, adding to regional workforce uncertainty. Women, Work & Precarity (Geneva): International Geneva staff report grim contract conditions and a tougher job market as funding pressures reshape HR and hiring.