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
PA mulls over importing fuel from Iraq The Palestinian Authority weighs its options to import fuel from Iraq through Jordan as a step toward economic disengagement from Israel, but will the Paris Protocol allow it to do so? Palestine
New UK government signals continued support for Iran nuclear deal The new British government led by Boris Johnson's expresses support for the Iran nuclear deal as the pact faces a possible new obstacle involving the reduction of proliferation risks at Iran’s Fordo and Arak facilities. United States
Turkey finesses Trump for continued support against sanctions Turkey's government is preparing to offer new incentives to the US administration to secure its lasting support against economic sanctions. Turkey
Palestine, Jordan boost economic ties The Palestinian Authority and Jordan are in the process of establishing a logistics zone to facilitate and expand the bilateral trade exchange and boost import and export, within the framework of the PA's plan of breaking away from the Israeli economy. Palestine
Russia, Turkey seek to seize 'cooperation momentum' Following Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 anti-air missile system, Moscow and Ankara are looking to expand the bilateral cooperation in trade and military fields. Turkey
Iran’s teachers learn regrettable lesson from US US sanctions on Iran could actually discourage the kind of democratic thinking the free world should want to foster. United States
Why US companies seek role in Egyptian oil sector The Egyptian oil and natural gas market is witnessing a significant expansion of US companies and although some observers are concerned about this expansion, most agree that this reflects the stability and neutrality of the Egyptian market and is in its favor in the near and long terms. Qatar
Turkey’s current account deficit shrinks, but budget gap widens Turkey’s chronic current account deficit has fallen to a 16-year low, but this ostensible improvement is hardly the outcome or harbinger of sound economic headway. Turkey
Egypt evaluates digital upgrades, prepares for more The Egyptian government is reporting advances toward achieving its goal of digital transformation in all sectors. Egypt
Lebanon’s air pollution nears alarming level Under new austerity measures and budget cuts, Lebanon’s Ministry of Environment was forced to close its air monitoring stations across the country, raising the concerns of experts amid high levels of pollution. Lebanon
Iranians floored by sky-high housing costs A proposal by some Iranian parliament members designed to help renters could leave them locked out instead. Iran
Life is no bowl of cherries in Idlib's groves Constant shelling by regime forces has disrupted Idlib's centuries-old tradition of cultivating cherry groves. Syria