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
Are women the solution to Egypt’s economic problems? Many economists and experts expect women to boost the Egyptian economy by assuming more leadership positions. Egypt
EU deeply divided over Western Sahara policy A European Court of Justice decision excluding Western Saharan exports from receiving preferential tariffs granted to Morocco has highlighted the need for the European Union to address the issue of who represents the people of Western Sahara. Morocco
Gloom surrounds Rouhani’s budget for new Iranian year Despite the relative stabilization of the Iranian economy, the Rouhani administration has no choice but to seriously address the issues in the budgeting process if it wishes to realize its goals for economic growth. Iran
Who really benefits from Turkey-Russia joint fund? A Turkish construction company, which runs major operations in Russia and was the builder of Erdogan’s controversial palace, figures prominently in a deal to create a joint investment fund between the two countries. Turkey
Are Turkey's big businesses breaking with AKP? A businesses' commercial to celebrate International Women’s Day may be a troubling sign for the AKP and the upcoming constitutional referendum. Turkey
Gaza receives first batch of construction trucks in 10 years The Egyptian authorities allowed for dozens of trucks carrying construction materials to enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing, as part of its openness policy toward the small enclave that has been besieged by Israel since 2007. Palestine
Can American PR companies improve Egypt's image in US? Egypt's intelligence agency has contracted with US public relations and lobbying firms to improve the Egyptian government's image in the United States, but will simple window dressing be enough? Egypt
Why French carmakers are real winners of Iranian protectionism While Iran's steep import tariffs for vehicles are ostensibly designed to protect local industry, it appears that the primary benefactors are French carmakers. Iran
Has Israel’s finance minister abandoned the lower classes? Instead of focusing on poor people, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon has decided to advance tax cuts that will only benefit the rich and deprive the state of revenue. Israel
Cairo's rich asked to sort waste at home The Egyptian state is trying out a new initiative in Cairo’s well-off neighborhood of Heliopolis, whereby kiosks would buy presorted trash from citizens and then sell it to recycling factories. Egypt
Has Rouhani achieved his goals for Iranian economy? With his first term coming to an end in the next few months, it is time to assess President Hassan Rouhani’s management of the Iranian economy. Iran
Probe blames corruption for imports of bad food, medicine in Iraq Iraqi politicians rebuke regulatory and health authorities as spoiled food and expired medications are discovered. Iraq