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
Turkish economy just as volatile after elections Despite expectations, Turkey’s June 24 elections have failed to reduce uncertainties in the economy, raising the specter of austerity measures with hefty political costs. Turkey
Israel tightens financial noose on Gaza Israel recently designated a Gaza currency exchange company a terror organization, raising concerns among local bankers and business owners about who might be next. Palestine
Fight over oil offers opportunity to protect Libya's wealth Gen. Khalifa Hifter’s Libyan National Army forces have retaken Libya's strategic oil crescent region and announced that the rogue Benghazi-based National Oil Corporation will now administer it. Libya
Floating oil island will handle Iraq's expected spurt in exports Now that OPEC has approved an increase in oil production, Iraq expects to boost its exports significantly, and to accommodate that increase, South Oil Co. will develop a floating oil island. Iraq
Israelis take two steps forward on equality, then two steps back Israeli consumers protested against companies segregating men and women or excluding on a racial basis, but the judiciary and government ministries continue to back gender segregation. Israel
Iran's car market engulfed in growing economic crisis Crisis conditions bite into Iran’s car market, with customers forced to shell out higher prices for both foreign and domestically made vehicles. Iran
Iran’s youngest minister becoming symbol of transparency drive Iran’s youngest minister has received widespread praise for his “courageous” transparency campaign after revealing a list of allegedly fraudulent cellphone importers. Iran
Ankara vows to ignore Iran sanctions Turkey and the United States are entering a new stage of strained relations as newly re-elected President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, flush with power, disregards renewed sanctions on Iran. Turkey
Sisi critics, supporters face off online Tensions are running high in Egypt after the government raised prices of fuel and cooking gas — and as the June 30 anniversary approaches, the authorities are taking no chances and have deployed added security. Egypt
How Iran dropped dual exchange rates but ended up with four While the Rouhani administration is taking steps toward stabilizing the rial, its rate unification policy has in effect resulted in a multi-tiered exchange rate regime. Iran
Will Iran's economy collapse? The best remedy for Iran to solve its economic crisis is greater transparency and a focus on technocratic remedies. Iran
Rouhani under fire amid second day of protests in Iran Protests against rising prices and a decline in the value of currency have erupted in Iran for a second day in a row, closing the Tehran bazaar. Iran