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
Defaulted Lebanon hopes to pay off debts with cannabis As soon as parliament returns from its closure over the novel coronavirus outbreak, a bill legalizing cannabis for medicinal and industrial purposes is expected to pass as lawmakers address the country’s worst economic crisis in decades. Lebanon
Is another economic crisis looming in Iraq, with dropping oil prices? Iraqis are expressing great concern about the low oil prices amid the coronavirus outbreak, as the government may not be able to pay their salaries in the coming months. Iraq
Egypt seeks economic haven from coronavirus threat The Central Bank of Egypt is taking steps to protect the country's economy as it weathers the coronavirus pandemic. Egypt
Iran expert says corruption 'No. 1 national security threat in Iran' Al-Monitor contributor Bijan Khajehpour discusses impact of coronavirus on Iran’s economy. United States
Turkey tightens restrictions to curb coronavirus outbreak As the death toll from COVID-19 reached 37 and cases spread across the country, Turkey pledged to accelerate diagnostic and treatment methods, while introducing new measures to keep people at home, though it has stopped short of a full lockdown. Turkey
Ankara’s economic measures bring little relief against virus crisis The embattled Turkish lira has continued to nosedive and Turkey’s risk premium has climbed to new highs despite a package of government measures to stem the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Turkey
What's behind arrest of Turkish-Azeri billionaire? Although Azeri-Turkish billionaire Mubariz Mansimov Gurbanoglu was cleared of links to the Gulen movement, he's been arrested again this week. Turkey
Russia hoping to outdo Saudis over time in coronavirus-hit oil market Russia opted for an approach based on uncertainty in its decision to leave the OPEC-plus deal, but is it punching above its weight? Saudi Arabia
Egyptian lawmaker calls for free COVID-19 tests as Cairo accused of profiteering The Egyptian authorities have come under heavy criticism for charging high fees for the coronavirus tests poor workers need to travel. Egypt
Profit, necessity spur trade across conflict lines in north Aleppo The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and Turkish-backed rebels have reopened trade crossings in northern Aleppo, bringing a sigh of relief to residents. Syria
Justice Department ordered Turkish TV station to register as foreign agent The decision came amid an intensifying push by the Donald Trump administration and Congress to get foreign media outlets to register. Qatar
Despite stimulus, Turkish economy faces grave coronavirus prognosis Economic analysts shared mixed reactions to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s stimulus package, with some saying it doesn’t go far enough. Turkey
