Oil falls below $71 as US-Iran talks continue, Gulf exports rebound Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in an X post on Wednesday that Iran and the United States had made "positive progress." Iran
Newsletter: Business & Tech The race to restore Hormuz US and Iranian negotiators are seeking a lasting agreement on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz as Tehran pushes for long-term control over the strategic waterway. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Trump earns $810M from UAE-backed crypto firm: What to know According to the disclosure, Trump earned $810 million from crypto token sales and sales of interests in UAE-backed World Liberty Financial. United Arab Emirates
Kuwait's Zain eyes $1.5B mobile network in postwar Syria: What to know The Kuwaiti company is planning to invest more than $1.5 billion in Syria after securing a license to operate there, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. Syria
Interview Saudi labor localization will take ‘generation or two': Armada CEO Olivier Badard CEO of Armada Holding
Analysis Why the Hormuz oil shock never became an energy catastrophe By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Turkish unemployment down at end of 2021 Turkey is in the midst of an economic crisis, marked by historically high inflation. The government has misled the public with its unemployment figures in the past. By AL-MONITOR Staff
Egypt plans to export gas to Lebanon by end of February While Egypt stresses that the route is open for gas exports to Lebanon, two prominent members of the US Congress have called on the Biden administration to reconsider its support for the energy deal between Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. Egypt
Saudi Arabia building support for Expo 2030 bid The kingdom wants to host the international cultural forum, which is currently being held in Dubai. News Brief
World Bank report notes improvement Palestinian digital economy The DC-based institution’s report also said that Israeli restrictions and the Palestinian legal framework are impeding further development in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Palestine
First Abu Dhabi Bank seeks to buy Egyptian financial firm EFG Hermes Merger and acquisition activity rose dramatically in Egypt in 2021. By AL-MONITOR Staff
Report: Israel central bank leader not concerned about inflation Andrew Abir discussed interest rates, Israel’s high cost of living, foreign currency purchases and more with the Israeli media outlet Globes. By AL-MONITOR Staff
Turkey’s food delivery couriers latest to strike amid economic crisis A spate of industrial action from courier drivers comes as they step into an important gap created by COVID isolation. Turkey
Bread crisis looms in Syria amid low wheat production The bread crisis in Syrian regime areas is expected to become worse in the next few months due to drought and its subsequent impact on wheat crop production. Syria