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
Israel develops new regulations for Google, Facebook Israel is working on regulations similar to European efforts to protect small businesses that advertise on Facebook and Google. Israel
Foreign debt risks hover over Turkish lira’s recovery Saddled with chunky foreign debt repayments in 2021, Turkey might face hefty borrowing costs and renewed currency jitters. Turkey
Egypt boosts investment in Congo, hoping to secure support in Nile dam crisis As Egypt seeks to grow its influence in Congo by boosting investments, Kinshasa takes over the chairmanship of the African Union, which is currently sponsoring the negotiations to resolve the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Egypt
Confident Netanyahu makes jokes in rare TV interview Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a rare and surprising interview to Israel’s Channel 12, making jokes and smiling throughout and throwing off the news anchor. Israel
Israeli mayor leads Haifa's charge against climate change Haifa Mayor Einat Kalisch-Rotem has put the challenges of climate change and sustainable development at the forefront of her agenda. Israel
Jobless Syrians have little use for government’s new construction training program Syrians are reluctant to apply to the technical training centers the regime plans to establish because of the shockingly low stipends provided. Syria
Gazans outraged over million-dollar mosque reconstruction The reconstruction of a mosque at a cost of $1 million in the cash-strapped Gaza Strip has shocked Gaza's largely impoverished population. Palestine
Turkey to purchase fourth drilling ship to expand energy projects Amid maritime boundary disputes in the eastern Mediterranean and after a 2020 gas field discovery the Black Sea, Turkey’s state-owned oil and gas company is finalizing the purchase of a fourth drilling ship to expand its energy development activities. Turkey
Turkey’s risk grade far from safe Turkey’s risk premium has sharply decreased over the past several months, but an array of economic and political factors threatens to undo the trend. Turkey
Despite coronavirus, Suez Canal records high revenues Despite the negative repercussions of the outbreak of the coronavirus on global trade, the Suez Canal took in $5.61 billion in 2020, its third-highest total ever. Egypt
Iraqi border crossings better protected as cells attempt desert attacks The prime minister’s decision to send military reinforcements to Iraq's border ports last year seems to have made officials feel safer and reduced revenue-siphoning corruption. Iraq
