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
Turkey's Altay tank project not ready to roll after all Now that Turkey's government has rejected Otokar's bid for the Altay tank contract, other companies will participate in the tender, including BMC — a Turkish/Qatari partnership whose chairman is a close friend of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey
Palestinians optimistic as Jordan border crossing set to open 24/7 Israel has agreed to open the Allenby (King Hussein) border crossing into Jordan around the clock following bilateral negotiations with the Palestinians. Palestine
Influence-rich Saudis blow through Sunni unity Just a month after hosting the US president and the leaders of dozens of Muslim countries, Saudi Arabia apparently cares more about putting Qatar in its place than maintaining the alliance it built. Saudi Arabia
Turkey's economic interests dictate balanced stance in Gulf crisis Through analyzing Gulf investment into Turkey, it is obvious that taking sides in the GCC dispute could have a detrimental effect on Turkey's economy. Gulf
Iran's central bank must regulate unlicensed actors The Central Bank of Iran’s failure to regulate a major segment of the financial sector is putting the country’s economic and social well-being at risk. Iran
Turks unite to save olive culture Citizens of a small olive-producing town played a key role in defeating a government proposal to allow industrial development among Turkey's olive groves. Near East
'Day of the locusts' in Syria's Idlib A swarm of locusts have destroyed an estimated 60% of crops in Idlib province, threatening the livelihoods of thousands of residents. Syria
Chinatown thrives in heart of Cairo A Chinese district close to Al-Azhar University reflects the growth in Egypt's Chinese community over the past 10 to 15 years. Countries
Iraqi Kurdistan-Russia oil deal could have major implications for region The Kurdistan Regional Government quietly signed a major deal June 2 with Russian oil giant Rosneft, allowing Russia its first entry to the Kurdish oil market, which was dominated by the United States and Turkey. Iraq
Lebanese designers keep waste from going to waste Eco-friendly Lebanese designers are creating chic clutches and other products from plastic bags, bottles and other discarded materials. Countries
Russia’s reading on what’s at stake in Qatar crisis Moscow has pricked up its ears as Qatar’s diplomacy problems grow more raucous. Gulf
As Trump stumbles, Turkish economy comes back from brink of crisis US President Donald Trump's underperformance on his pledges has led global funds to return to emerging economies, which helped Turkey to escape an economic crisis, though not without a growing baggage of problems. Turkey