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
Coronavirus sickens Turkish-Iraqi trade Turkey's decision to close its only border crossing with Iraq amid a spike in coronavirus cases there will deal a great blow to the country's economy, costing some $1 billion monthly. Iraq
Iran’s coronavirus has no politics and can’t be contained UAE, Gulf take proactive steps to get ahead of outbreak, but region is already paying a heavy price. Saudi Arabia
What impact will Lebanon’s looming debt crisis have on its society and economy? Lebanon’s government is still negotiating the issue of Eurobonds maturing next week, with analysts saying that whatever the steps, Lebanon will face an even more agonizing economic downturn. Lebanon
Mountain couriers brave bullets along Iran-Iraq border As the economic crisis deepens in Iran, more people are risking their lives to earn money by transporting goods through the mountains of the Kurdistan region on the Iraq-Iran border. Iraq
Coronavirus puts more pressure on Iran’s already strained economy Amid ongoing economic strain due to sanctions, mismanagement and corruption, the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus presents additional challenges. Iran
Qatar brings on Republican lawmakers for new GOP push Holland and Knight’s new contract says that Republicans on Capitol Hill will be the focus of the lobbying. Qatar
Why is the steel industry in Egypt declining? Egypt's steel industry has generally been lowering prices as a result of an oversupply in inventories and lower raw material prices just as a new steel factory comes online. Egypt
Debt ordeal hovers over Turkey’s ‘megaproject’ builders Companies involved in Turkey’s “megaprojects” have incurred some of the worst damage that the slump of the Turkish lira caused on foreign loan liabilities in the private sector. Turkey
Netanyahu honeymoons with Hamas, expects quiet in return Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has quietly made a number of significant concessions to Hamas to buy some quiet until the March 2 elections in Israel. Palestine
Unfazed by lira's decline, Turkey persists with lowering interest rates The lira slumped to its lowest level since May a day after the central bank made its sixth consecutive interest rate cut to boost the economy and geopolitical worries also weigh on the currency. Turkey
New solar park to ease Iraqi governorate's power shortage A solar energy park to be funded by the European Union is expected to help lessen Dohuk's daily power cuts in two years. Iraq
Edelman strikes $6 million deal with Saudis to promote G-20 business summit Saudi petrochemicals company SABIC has hired the Chicago-based PR giant to support this year’s Business 20 gathering in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia
