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
Deciphering Iran’s sudden currency fluctuations Although Iran's business community has been unsettled by the recent fluctuations in the value of the national currency, the rial rates appear to be on a trajectory to finally become unified. Iran
Iraqi Kurdistan oil a slippery issue Ownership of Iraqi Kurdistan oil is a major source of friction between Baghdad and Erbil, while Turkey and Iran compete for lucrative oil transport contracts. Iraq
First ride-hailing app for Cairo's traditional taxis launched To compete with Uber, Egyptian-owned company Taxi Plus launched a ride-sharing app for local taxi drivers. Egypt
Why 2017 doesn’t bode well for Turkey's economy Official figures show the Turkish economy has plunged deeper into recession, as expected fourth-quarter economic numbers may not provide much hope. Turkey
Egypt's protest law gets makeover The amendment to the 2013 Protest Law, which deems several articles contrary to the Egyptian Constitution, will not mean a significant change to those in prison or those wanting to protest. Egypt
International oil companies pull out of Kurdistan Giant oil companies are withdrawing from oil and gas exploration in Iraqi Kurdistan due to the drop in oil prices and contractual problems with the regional government. Iraq
Palestinian startups are all about building community On the heels of an entrepreneurship conference in Jordan, three female Palestinian entrepreneurs have launched startups that aim to educate and empower young Palestinians. Palestine
Israelis sick of politicians' hot air as housing bubble expands Both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon had no business promising to lower housing prices and there is no solution in sight. Israel
Demolition contractors defy unemployment in Upper Egypt Since the 1950s, the majority of the residents of the Egyptian village of Naza Qarar have been working in the demolition of buildings and sale of rubble, but the government’s recent decisions of liberalizing the dollar exchange rate and raising fuel prices has deteriorated their financial situation. Egypt
Ballerinas perform in Cairo streets Two Egyptian directors launched a project to photograph ballerinas dancing in the streets of Cairo to highlight the capital’s beauty and art scene. Egypt
The EU giveth, Israel taketh away in West Bank The European Union keeps funding projects in the West Bank's Area C, and Israel keeps demolishing them. Palestine
Why Rouhani’s social housing scheme faces more than bumpy start The Rouhani administration’s long-delayed scheme to provide social housing for marginalized households finally appears ready to be implemented — but not without a bumpy start. Iran