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
Is Egypt-Sudan border dispute new thorn in Renaissance Dam negotiations? Although claiming to be independent, some suggest Sudan may in fact be on Ethiopia’s side with regard to the latter’s dispute with Egypt over the Renaissance Dam. Egypt
Will 'free financial center' lure foreign banks to Iran? Iranian authorities are weighing whether to launch a free financial center to encourage capital inflow into the economy. Legacy: Gulf
Erdogan’s secret economic weapon Turkey’s defense industry sector has emerged as a shining star in a turbulent period of economic jitters and falling exports. Turkey
Why big European banks are reluctant to return to Iran Iranians and Americans see different reasons for major European banks’ reluctance to return to the Iranian market after the nuclear deal. Iran
Gaza renews taxi fleet to dismay of old cab drivers For the first time in nine years, Israel has allowed the entry of new taxi cars into Gaza, a decision that appealed to Gazans but was met with criticism by the owners of old and dilapidated cars, who fear that the new cars will put them out of business. Palestine
Aleppo on verge of decisive battle UN Syria envoy calls for “urgent initiative” as Syrian offensive in Aleppo appears imminent; the question at the heart of the Aramco IPO offer. Saudi Arabia
Oman and Iran: friends with many benefits Oman is willing to brave the GCC's disapproval to take advantage of opportunities with and for Iran. Legacy: Gulf
What Iran’s first non-oil trade surplus means for its economy Iran’s non-oil trade balance has turned positive for the first time in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran, but is this good news? Iran
Why is Jordan restricting Palestinians' travel? Palestinians have been fighting repressive Israeli travel restrictions for years, now they face Jordanian ones too. Palestine
Who’s to blame for US seizure of $2 billion in Iranian assets? Iran's former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has rejected blame in a US Supreme Court case that ruled Iran's assets of $2 billion can be seized. Iran
Will Syria's Kurds succeed at self-sufficiency? Despite major obstacles and challenges, the Kurds are making efforts to achieve economic self-sufficiency in areas they control in northern Syria. Syria
Aid poured into fixing mosques while Gazans live in tents Enormous funds are being funneled into the reconstruction of destroyed mosques in private projects that are directed by the donors themselves, with money Hamas cannot redirect toward housing displaced Gazans. Palestine
