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
Transparency-hungry Turkey eyes blockchain The Turkish Informatics Foundation has launched a platform to promote and support the development of blockchain technologies for use in everything from banking and law to public opinion polls and elections. Turkey
Iran's calendar in dire need of reform There will be several benefits to the national economy if Iran's government finally establishes a five-day work week in the country. Iran
Can pay raises placate Egyptians amid fuel, electricity price hikes? The Egyptian government has announced an increase in pay and pensions for civil servants before it lifts subsidies on electricity and fuel. Egypt
Shocking price jump in Turkish onions makes voters' eyes water The price of onions, the quintessential Turkish staple, has shot up days before Turkey's parliamentary and presidential elections, sparking outrage that may benefit the opposition and feeding conspiracy theories left and right. Turkey
Iran preps for sanctions by expanding major port project Iran has long sought to develop the port of Chabahar, but its plans have recently expanded to building a major industrial center. Iran
Israel's finance minister listens carefully as citizens grumble over price of food The social protests that erupted in the summer of 2011 are still reverberating in Israel, and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon's refusal to allow the price of milk to go up means he senses growing consumer anger. Israel
Why Turks keep billions 'under the pillow' Amid waning confidence in Turkey’s economic prospects, many Turks have come to shun the financial system and keep their savings at home. Turkey
Egypt to comb black-sand deposits for hidden riches Major new deals and projects with foreign companies to extract valuable minerals from Egypt's black sand promise to create more jobs and enhance local industries. Egypt
Legendary Iranian soccer player urges consumer boycott to root out ‘thieves’ As consumer prices continue to hit ordinary Iranians hard, a popular former soccer player is leading a consumer boycott on social media in an effort to reduce prices. Iran
Leave room for private sector to flourish, IMF advises Egypt The International Monetary Fund is cautioning Egypt not to allow its military-affiliated businesses to grow even larger at the expense of the private sector. Egypt
Displaced Syrians build new lives in Idlib Syrians evacuated from eastern Ghouta have found new life and work in Idlib, where few still rely on aid and charity organizations. Syria
Iran may become third wheel in Saudi-Russian relationship Saudi Arabia and Russia have been overlooking their differences, focusing instead on their mutual energy interests, but it might prove hard to ignore the elephant in the room indefinitely. Saudi Arabia