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
Why boycotting Israel also hurts the Palestinians In an interview with Al-Monitor, President of the Manufacturers Organization of Israel Shraga Brosh says that the BDS movement against settlement products hurts first and foremost Palestinian workers. Palestine
German FM: Iran, Saudi tensions strengthen terrorists Germany's foreign minister encourages Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani to work to reduce Iran-Saudi tensions. Saudi Arabia
Gaza's driving schools take students for a ride Schools and instructors with dubious ties to driving examiners are taking financial advantage of students in Gaza. Palestine
Egypt holds its breath for development of underwater museum The project to build an underwater museum in Alexandria has been revived after years of having been stalled. Egypt
Will Rouhani end the $15 monthly handout to citizens? Five years after its initiation, monthly cash handouts to citizens continue to burden the Iranian government. Will Rouhani finally end this program? Iran
Turkey’s plane project hits turbulence Technical, economic and political problems threaten TRJet, Turkey’s first passenger plane. Turkey
Egypt faces another dam challenge Egypt has been expressing its fears that the Renaissance Dam project would be completed before a planned study is carried out, as this could jeopardize Egypt’s share of the Nile waters. Egypt
Iranian stocks continue two-year slump Despite the July 14 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action between Iran and six world powers, Iranian shares continue to drop. Iran
Iranian government official promises better economy after nuclear deal An official with the Rouhani administration tells reporters that "there is no doubt" that the economy will improve after Iran's parliament approved the nuclear deal. Iran
Tough times ahead for Turkey's economy Warned about their mounting foreign debts, Turkish companies are having problems finding external financing. Turkey
Gaza tunnels, how did it all start? The division of Rafah led to the creation of the tunnels, which are still being used to smuggle goods from Egypt to the Gaza Strip despite Egyptian authorities’ efforts to the contrary. Palestine
Russian market huge disappointment for Turkey Turkey’s hopes of replacing European countries as a major food exporter to Russia have been dashed. Turkey
