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
Donkey exports to China threaten animal population in Egypt The increasing demand in China for donkey hides from Egypt has taken its toll on the donkey population, posing several risks on the environment. Egypt
US to withdraw from Syria, leaving Kurdish allies to face Turkish offensive alone President Donald Trump tweeted that the war against Islamic State is over and his administration has confirmed American soldiers would leave Syria immediately, a significant diplomatic win for Turkey that follows US approval of a major weapons deal with Ankara. Syria
Iran faces budget deficit, but no shortage of means to cover it Having stabilized the Iranian rial in recent weeks, the Rouhani administration is poised to fill its projected budget deficit by reducing the flow of money going to the National Development Fund while pushing the official and open market rates closer to each other. Iran
Turkey's defense industry still striving for self-sufficiency Turkey has made significant strides in developing its defense industry during the past four years, but it is still being held back by its dependence on other countries' goods and technologies. Qatar
Egypt preparing for stage 3 of Victoria-Mediterranean project The first phase of feasibility studies for the Victoria-Mediterranean Waterway Project will soon conclude, but funding for the next phase is still to be determined. Egypt
Egypt taps Asian markets for agricultural export growth Egypt signed a series of agreements to export its agricultural products to Asia, including China and Japan, in a bid to boost its ailing economy. Egypt
Turkey's 'Olive Branch' takes root in Syrian olive business Kurdish olive growers in Afrin, Syria, complain bitterly that Turkish authorities who control the area aren't doing anything to stop massive exploitation and armed extortion that is costing the local oil economy $100 million. Syria
How will Egypt integrate its shadow economy in its official one? A study shows that Egypt’s shadow economy amounts to about $400 billion a year, prompting the government to merge it with its official economy through a series of new laws. Egypt
Turkey’s recession becomes official The shrinking Turkish economy needs external funds to start growing again, but luring foreign investors back is a tall task that Turkey is unlikely to accomplish in the short run. Turkey
PA looks to France for economic help The Palestinian Authority is seeking the assistance of France to help pressure Israel into reviewing the Paris Economic Protocol that is impeding Palestine’s economic growth. Palestine
Price hike: A nightmare for Israel’s finance minister Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon knows that to preserve political support, he must act quickly and curb the recent rise of water, electricity and food prices. Israel