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
Economic indices paint gloomy future for Palestine The latest economic reports from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics indicate a rise of prices, which may lead to inflation. Palestine
Beirut Design Week takes on collaboration, security and community Beirut Design Week brings together Middle East designers, providing them opportunities to further collaborations. Lebanon
Is Trump holding a Russian card in the Middle East? Trump visit launches new US-Saudi partnership, but the endgame in the Middle East still depends on Moscow and Tehran. Saudi Arabia
Turkey’s struggling wine sector gets Levantine touch Along Turkey’s chic Aegean coast, the dream of owning a vineyard could easily turn into a nightmare as tourism declines and legal restrictions rise. Turkey
Gaza's new strawberry farmers make progress in their field With the help of the Food and Agriculture Organization, the municipality of Um al-Nasser in the northern Gaza Strip launched a project to distribute lands to residents and train them to plant and export crops. Palestine
How Trump's upcoming visit is connecting Israelis and Palestinians The May 22 visit of President Donald Trump pushes Israelis and Palestinians into greater cooperation, driving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to decide on a package of economic incentives for the Palestinians. Palestine
Voters keep Algeria’s legislative leaders in power despite economy, unemployment Islamists gained some influence in Algeria’s recent parliamentary elections, but the ruling party retained its position. Algeria
New restaurant offers eco-friendly oasis in bustling Cairo A first-of-its-kind eco-friendly restaurant in Egypt serves homestyle food in a fully recycled setting where there is no internet, television or air-conditioning. Egypt
Gaza women make inroads into driving A very small number of women in the Gaza Strip have taken jobs as drivers, privately transporting other women and children to provide for themselves and families. Palestine
Will Jesus save Egypt's struggling tourism industry? The Egyptian government hopes that highlighting sites surrounding Jesus' flight into Egypt will boost its sagging tourism sector. Palestine
Gazans say Israel on wrong track with reported railway plans Israel has announced it will establish a railway into the Gaza Strip in what Palestinians suspect is only a bid to bolster its image. Palestine
Iraq's Hatra retaken from IS militants, but still vulnerable The liberation of the ancient city of Hatra from the Islamic State is only a small first step toward protecting its ancient treasures. Iraq