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
Iranian National Oil Company opens office in Iraq Tehran expands its economic and political influence in Iraq via its National Iranian Oil Company. Iraq
Despite FM's warm reception in Moscow, Russia can’t do much to save JCPOA Tehran's disappointment with the Europeans leaves Russia as perhaps the only leverage Iran still has with the West on the nuclear deal, but there's little Moscow can do to help at this point. Russia
Aleppo crippled by fuel crisis Aleppo's fuel crisis will only worsen with US sanctions on Iranian oil and the Syrian Democratic Forces' decision to stop smuggled oil from entering the regime-controlled city. Syria
Egypt takes further steps toward including informal businesses in its economy A mission of the IMF is currently visiting Egypt and is reviewing reports of the country’s economic performance as part of measures to include the shadow economy into its official one. Egypt
PA wants to break free from reliance on Israeli electricity Jordan and the Palestinian Authority are about to sign an agreement under which the kingdom would supply electricity to the West Bank. Palestine
Trump to Iran: Call me Amid rising tensions, President Donald Trump urged Iran three times to call him and said he believed they could make a fair deal. Iraq
Istanbul election rerun brings Turkey fresh economic turmoil The cancellation of the opposition victory in the mayoral race in Istanbul has raised the specter of more trouble for the Turkish economy, which is already grappling with recession and currency-related tumult. Turkey
Amid US pressure, Iran warns Europe of another ‘wave’ of refugees Iran has warned Europe that if US sanctions continue to take a toll on its economy, it will no longer be able to host Afghan refugees. United States
Israeli holidays delay deal to reopen Gaza border crossings Although Israel quickly reversed its decision to stop trucks from entering the Gaza Strip, the delay is shrinking already-strained supplies of essential fuel. Palestine
Egypt’s private sector to revamp 150 historic buildings in Cairo The Egyptian government is drawing up a plan to turn over historic buildings to the public sector to help refurbish them and rent them out Egypt
Egypt’s support for Hifter could cost it work in Libya Mounds of money could await companies able to win reconstruction contracts in war-torn Libya, but some Egyptian business owners wonder if they will be at a disadvantage because of the side Cairo chose in the civil war. Egypt
Local Israeli authorities lose a little freedom on Independence Day With local governments paying increasingly exorbitant prices for performers to entertain on Independence Day, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri has introduced a cap in pricing to take effect in 2020. Israel