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
Will Saudi Arabia expel Egyptian workforce? The fate of 2 million Egyptian workers in Saudi Arabia is on the line in light of Saudi measures to charge expat fees amid several political crises between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, including the dispute over Sanafir and Tiran islands. Saudi Arabia
How Trump's economic policies could hurt Egypt In a time of global economic uncertainty, Egypt is worried about how US President Donald Trump’s decision to pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement will affect the Suez Canal. Egypt
Turkey’s wealth fund is less about wealth and more about debt Turkey’s newly established sovereign wealth fund is expected to throw life preservers to companies involved in the government’s “mega-projects” and primarily owned by AKP cronies. Turkey
Is Egypt moving toward rapprochement with Assad government? A number of unofficial visits to Syria by Egyptian groups have raised speculation that Cairo is conducting backdoor diplomacy with the Syrian regime. Egypt
Is the Palestinian economy trending up? After two years of sharp decline, the index for industrial production in Palestine rose slightly in 2016. Palestine
Syrians in Turkey baffled by Trump’s safe zones plan A state of confusion and uncertainty prevails among Syrians living in Turkey, after the announcement by US President Donald Trump at the end of last month of his decision to create safe zones for civilians in Syria. Syria
Ankara shifts public assets to sovereign wealth fund In a move critics say is financially risky and intended to concentrate money into corrupt hands, the Turkish government has created a sovereign wealth fund to finance its infrastructural projects as the lira falls. Turkey
Controversial canal again sparks dispute in Iraq The Khor Abdullah maritime canal between Kuwait and Iraq has ignited a political crisis in Iraq amid accusations that Iraq's Cabinet gave away Iraqi territory. Kuwait
Can new Russian Consulate boost tourism in Egypt's Hurghada? The Egyptian tourism sector is looking to Russia to boost the industry after a major decline following a Russian plane crash in 2015. Egypt
Ottoman princess stumps for Erdogan Support for the constitutional amendment meant to clear Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s path to an executive presidency is weakening in the polls, and the descendant of an Ottoman emperor is helping finesse nostalgia for the empire's glory days. Turkey
How drop in tourism is altering life for Sinai Bedouins With tourism having declined in Egypt since the 2011 revolution, south Sinai residents have been leaving their rich, green lands and heading toward urban areas in search of job opportunities. Egypt
Will Iran challenge Russian interests in European natural gas market? Iranian gas exports have been held back not only by sanctions, but also by Iran's lack of energy infrastructure and the country's domestic calculations. Russia