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
Will Iran’s 50% gas price hike pay off for the economy? Iran’s cutbacks on gas subsidies must be accompanied by a crackdown on corruption if they are to yield real benefits for the government. Iran
Palestine takes tangible steps in its 2020 agricultural clusters plan The Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture is raising its GDP contribution to 30% over the next three years. Palestine
Iran continues dismantling JCPOA nuclear restrictions Tehran is launching construction work on the first of two new nuclear units in a $10 billion expansion of its power plant and has begun enriching uranium at a site formerly limited to research. Russia
Turkey’s economic crisis takes toll on wealth holders Hit by the Turkish lira’s slump against the dollar, economic contraction and decline in real estate prices, Turkey’s richest have watched their wealth erode. Turkey
Why Turkish government turned a blind eye to draining, excavation of Ice Age lake Turkish authorities allowed an excavation and draining of the 12,000-year-old Fathomless Lake in pursuit of a rumor that there was Roman treasure on the lake bottom. The lake was drained, revealing no treasure. Turkey
How Iran's protests could impact foreign policy Critical comments from France and Germany about the Iranian protests could further accelerate the dismantling of the Iran nuclear deal. Israel
Istanbul mayor looks overseas as state banks deny him funds Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul’s new opposition mayor, says government-controlled banks are refusing to finance the city’s stalled infrastructure projects after the ruling party lost control of Turkey’s largest city. Turkey
Israel: plenty of bread but no butter Since the price of butter is controlled by the government, Israeli dairies prefer using the butterfat for other dairy products. Israel
Can EU's fear of terrorists give Turkey clout in ocean drilling? Following his threats to flood Europe with Syrian refugees, the Turkish president is now trying to use Islamic State suspects as leverage. Syria
Turkey remains determined to keep Russian missiles After last week’s meeting between the US and Turkish presidents, some in Washington seem hopeful Turkey won't activate its Russian-made S-400 missile system, but Ankara insists Turkey didn’t buy the $2 billion weapons system to mothball it. Turkey
Iranian media seems to be preparing public for clampdown on protests The IRGC issued a statement warning that continued unrest would result in a firm confrontation. Iran
Reduction in Iran's gasoline subsidy sparks anti-government protests President Hassan Rouhani’s announcement of a large reduction in the gasoline subsidy sparked protests across a number of cities, with deaths having been reported. Iran