Economy and trade

Was Egypt's bond sale a sign of hope or desperation?

Egypt raised $4 billion in a debt sale to help finance its budget deficit, but some economists emphasize that the government must ultimately find ways to generate income if it is to successfully deal with its economic problems and settle its debt.

Egypt

No light at end of tunnel for Yemen’s economy

The Yemeni government and central bank are unable to solve the unpaid salaries crisis of government employees amid an economic crisis that has left devastating humanitarian conditions in the war-torn country.

Yemen

Rouhani’s visit a reality check for Iran-India relations

Trade connectivity overtakes energy as Tehran and New Delhi move to forge closer cooperation.

United States

Iran's Rouhani mocks his opponents, again

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who has welcomed criticism in the past, is under fire for mocking his critics once again.

Iran

Palestinians call for new reconstruction plan for Gaza

Although more than $5 billion was pledged by international donors to help rebuild the Gaza Strip after the 2014 war, much of the plan to revitalize the coastal enclave has gone unimplemented.

Palestine

Iranian lawmakers block cuts to cash handouts

Iran's parliament has dramatically weakened the administration's proposed plan to end cash subsidy payments in a politically motivated backlash against the cost-saving effort.

Iran

Turkish-Iranian trade revived amid growing cooperation in Syria

Turkey and Iran have reversed a four-year downturn in bilateral trade as collaboration in Syria increases, but the possibility of a setback remains real.

Syria

Iran prepares to boost jobs, clean air by revamping auto fleet

The vast fleet of dilapidated vehicles on Iranian roads may disappear sooner than thought, though not everyone is optimistic about Tehran's latest attempt to get it done.

Iran

Iran's currency crisis shakes Rouhani’s middle-class base

Following the nationwide protests led by the Iranian working class in late December, the return of fluctuations on the foreign exchange market is putting pressure on the minds of middle-class Iranians.

Iran

After big boom, Turkey’s aviation sector heads for turbulence

Led by national carrier Turkish Airlines, Turkey’s civil aviation sector has grown impressively since 2003, but its heyday may be over due to the strain of economic and political factors.

Turkey

Turkey mulls 'national' bitcoin

A government-promoted push for the "native and national" in almost every realm has reached the sphere of cryptocurrency despite Turkey's lingering mistrust of bitcoin.

Turkey

Congress skeptical of Saudi nuclear energy demands

Lawmakers are making it clear that any proposal to share civilian nuclear technology with Saudi Arabia must include robust nonproliferation safeguards.

Saudi Arabia