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
Lebanon looks for economic lift from cannabis Lebanon’s parliament is set to discuss a bill to legalize the production of industrial hemp as part of efforts to boost the country’s ailing economy. Lebanon
Pence escalates Trump-Erdogan rift with tweeted threats The US-Turkey brawl over American pastor Andrew Brunson is as intense as ever, as the Turkish president and US leaders exchange public threats and messages of defiance. Turkey
Residents of Cairo's historic buildings make plea to prevent demolitions Cairo's governorate is destroying architectural heritage in Egypt as part of the Maspero Triangle investment plan. Egypt
Gaza rolling in fake money Gaza police have seized their first major high-tech counterfeiting operation as more desperate Palestinians pass off fake money to unsuspecting businesses. Palestine
EU condemns Israel's new nationality law The European Union is concerned by Israel's new law defining a Jewish nation-state, protesting that it is discriminatory and will hinder a two-state solution. Palestine
Turkey makes payout to families of FSA fighters killed in Afrin operation The Turkish government has paid the families of Free Syrian Army militants killed in Operation Olive Branch a death gratuity, though the families of those Syrians killed in other operations are still waiting for aid. Syria
Is ‘national reconciliation’ Iran's key weapon to win economic war? A top pro-reform official in Iran said national unity and reconciliation are in the making to defuse the US-led economic pressure and media war against the country. Iran
Turkey seeks to grab bigger share of halal market Turkey is setting up a Halal Accreditation Authority in the hope of boosting sales to fellow Muslim countries. Turkey
Egypt goes against IMF advice, boosting public investments The International Monetary Fund is keen to reduce Egypt's investments in the country in favor of private investment, but the new government has decided to increase the amount it will spend. Egypt
Turkey declines to raise interest rates, sending lira on another tumble Turkey's Central Bank has decided to keep interest rates where they are, surprising investors and dashing hopes that Turkish policies might evolve to meet the country's dismal economic reality. Turkey
Will Iranian Kurds be on front lines of US conflict with Iran? The US administration appears to increasingly be looking at armed Iranian Kurdish opposition groups as part of its campaign to economically and militarily pressure Iran. Iraqi-Kurdistan
Can the private sector salvage Egypt’s dilapidated railway system? While a train accident in Egypt’s Giza governorate has placed the railway system's efficiency in the spotlight, experts remain optimistic about the government’s modernization plan. Egypt