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
Diaspora Palestinians called to invest in homeland With the Palestinian economy in crisis, Palestinian leaders and businessmen are coordinating to maximize external support from the Palestinian diaspora. Palestine
Why Iran’s property market is unlikely to boom anytime soon The Iranian real estate market signals that a recovery is on the way, after an almost three-year-long recession — but there is still debate about the likelihood of a property boom. Iran
New taxes have Egyptian smokers fuming As part of a new VAT bill aimed at reforming the country’s fiscal policy, the Egyptian government hikes up taxes on cigarettes and tobacco for the third year in a row, raising concern among smokers of limited income who now must choose between paying more or quitting. Egypt
Khamenei calls negotiation with US 'lethal poison' Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has again criticized the nuclear deal, saying due to US-made obstacles, there have been no tangible effects for the people of Iran. United States
Jordan launches battle against Uber The Jordanian government is cracking down on Uber drivers because the company is in violation of public transit laws. Jordan
Even camels struggle to survive in war-torn, dry Iraq The camel population in Iraq is dwindling as traditional camel herders are forced to settle in one place and grazing areas are consumed by development and drought. Iraq
Gazans rejoice as Qatar vows to pay one month of full salaries Qatar has announced that it will provide about $31 million to the Gaza Strip, enough to cover one month's salary for Gaza's civil servants, who hope the aid will bypass the banks to avoid deductions for outstanding debts. Qatar
Libya's bungled oil deal Rather than uniting Libya's feuding national oil companies and myriad rival militias, the United Nation’s clumsy attempts to restart oil exports have pushed them all into pitched battle. Libya
Iran economy minister: There are positive economic signs Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s economy minister says there are signs that the economy is improving. Iran
Iran state broadcaster in hot water at home, abroad over airing rights The Iranian state broadcaster has found itself in a new dispute over broadcasting soccer games without permission, this time with Qatar’s beIN Sports and the UEFA. Iran
Accusations of corruption grow at Iran's Bank Mellat Since the arrest of the head of Bank Mellat, government officials have been divulging more and more details on the scope of corruption at the bank. Iran
The myth of no foreign investment in post-sanctions Iran Although President Rouhani is facing mounting criticism over the underwhelming economic dividends from the nuclear deal, the reality is that foreign investment is beginning to finally trickle into Iran. Iran