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
Palestinian-Israeli agriculture exchange hits a snag The normal exchange of agriculture and animal goods between Israel and Palestine has hit a snag, causing economic and social interruptions and possibly pushing Palestinians to become less dependent on Israel. Palestine
Jordanians fuming over electricity bills, call for boycott Jordanians are angered at the sharp hike in electricity rates, which the government claims is due to the high consumption in subzero temperatures. Jordan
Will Jewish left-wing voters support the Joint List in March? Meretz's alliance with Labor-Gesher has put ardent leftists in an ideological bind, leading some to conclude that the overwhelmingly Arab Joint List might attract some of their votes. Palestine
Palestinians tell Trump, Israel: We are not for sale The Trump administration boasts of a generous economic framework offered to the Palestinians, while in truth it hopes the private sector will come up with the funds. Palestine
Egypt’s non-oil private sector activity declines despite banking flourishing Egypt's non-oil private sector growth has decreased to its lowest level in three years, affecting the country's private sector and undermining a campaign to boost private sector companies. Egypt
Is tourism the antidote to youth unemployment in Oman? Omani officials aim to create over 500,000 jobs in the tourism sector by 2040. Gulf
Jitters grip Egyptian importers as coronavirus spreads After Egypt suspended its flights with China, concerns emerged about the supply of Chinese products and raw material, as well as price hikes. Egypt
Militants blow up Israel-Egypt gas pipeline The Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack against a pipeline in North Sinai that carries gas from Israel to Egypt. Egypt
Erdogan to discuss trade, military plans in Pakistan Pakistani and Turkish officials have a variety of topics to address when they meet this week, including investment, foreign policy, China and defense. Saudi Arabia
Why are more Russians buying property in Turkey? Despite political tensions between Moscow and Ankara, Russians are increasingly purchasing property in Turkey. Turkey
Is the time ripe for US-Egyptian free trade agreement? Egypt will start its negotiations with the United States next year for signing a bilateral free trade agreement as several international financial institutions praised its economic reform. Egypt
Is France irked by Erdogan’s passion for Africa? Erdogan’s efforts to boost Turkey’s economic role in Africa have been marked by outbursts maligning France’s colonial past, but there is more to Turkey’s Africa opening that fuels the bilateral spats. Turkey
