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
Controversy continues over Nile, Congo river projects The recent decision of Egypt to suspend the works of a private company tasked with the project of linking the Congo River to the Nile stirred much controversy, considering the water quota this project would have provided to Egyptians. Egypt
Taxes on fuel paralyze Gaza’s only power plant By imposing the so-called blue tax on industrial diesel before it is sold in Gaza, the national consensus government in Ramallah is effectively paralyzing the only electrical power plant in the Gaza Strip. Palestine
36 years after the revolution, where is Iran now? Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution has faced many challenges, with lifespan, access to education and standard of living having improved significantly, while corruption and the country's human rights situation remain a cause of concern. Iran
Russia looks to Egypt for Mideast foothold Russia wants to increase its regional presence in the Arab world, and having Egypt share the Russian narrative of regional dynamics is a way out of its isolation. Egypt
Erdogan's 'facts' muddle Turkey's economic reality For his supporters, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is an unquestionable leader who, not being limited by reality, is able to create his own facts. Turkey
Why did Turkey seize Bank Asya? A Turkish government agency made the unprecedented move of taking control of the management of the financially sound Bank Asya. Turkey
Iraqi government spends millions on medical treatment abroad The Iraqi government is paying huge sums to help Iraqis travel abroad for medical treatment instead of allocating money to improve health care in the country. Iraq
Hamas declares opening of Gaza seaport Hamas is working to open and operate its Gaza seaport, especially since countries such as Turkey, Cyprus and Greece apparently have agreed to send and receive ships from Gaza. Palestine
Khamenei's fans take to Instagram Supporters of Iran's supreme leader have taken to Instagram to share his message urging the youth of the West to study Islam. Iran
Gaza’s fishermen confront multiple dangers Not only are fishermen from Gaza subject to being shot by Israeli sailors, they also struggle against potentially fatal weather conditions. Palestine
Al-Azhar, Salafist group spar over banking interest The Salafist Call in Egypt issued a fatwa prohibiting banking interest in a move that could push Egyptians to either keep their money at home or in Islamic banks. Egypt
Turkey’s Central Bank caves on interest rates Under fire from the government and the president, Turkey’s Central Bank has abandoned its cautious approach and moved to lower interest rates. Turkey
