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
Trump declares 'no concessions' for Turkey The US president said in an interview he is "saddened" by Ankara’s refusal to free an American pastor in a dispute that has exacerbated Turkey’s economic woes and threatened a decades-long alliance. Turkey
Plans to replace Catholic school with mall appalls Iraqis Al-Aqeeda, a Catholic girls high school built in 1921, is at the center of a controversy highlighting preserving Iraq's cultural heritage. Iraq
Russia-led regional payment network could blunt US sanctions on Iran Russia is reportedly expanding on previous talks with Iran to create a regional integrated payment network. Russia
New group forming to alleviate poverty in Palestinian territories As part of the Palestinian Authority's efforts to end poverty, the Islamic Development Bank has set up an investment fund allowing the new Palestinian People’s Economic Empowerment Institution to have its own budget. Palestine
Why Erdogan's so quiet about Turkish expansion in Africa It seems out of character for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to be so tight-lipped about Turkey's growing investments and influence in Africa, but he's certain to have a reason. Turkey
Basra protests spark government scramble to create jobs The Iraqi Council of Ministers has approved a regulation requiring that 50% of foreign oil company employees working in the country be Iraqis. Iraq
Gazoz, Turkey's eclectic national drink, recaptures its old fizz Gazoz, a light, fizzy and delicious drink that symbolized the recklessness of Turkish youth in the post-World War II era, is making a comeback. Turkey
Egypt taps investors to develop nature reserves Egypt’s Ministry of Environment is planning to open the country's underdeveloped nature reserves to investment projects to make the best use of their resources. Egypt
Turkey shares municipal expertise with Syrian engineers The municipality of the Turkish city of Kilis held a training for Syrian engineers in Syria’s Euphrates Shield area to help develop municipal services. Syria
Iran prosecutor warns ministers: no one is immune in anti-corruption probe Iran’s judiciary and the Rouhani administration appear to be heading for a clash over prosecutors' approach to an effort to tackle corruption. Iran
Sanctions, profiteering put Iranian newspapers in a bind A paper crisis exacerbated by US sanctions is weighing down Iranian daily newspapers, which are resorting to everything from closures to online paywalls. Iran
Egyptian economy hits highest growth rate in 10 years Egypt has hit its highest economic growth rate in a decade, but experts disagree about what it means for high prices in the country. Egypt