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
How a US prosecutor is jolting Turkish markets US prosecutor Preet Bharara’s probe into the dealings of a Turkish-Iranian businessman has both political and financial repercussions in Turkey. Turkey
Should Lebanon found national oil company? Valerie Marcel, an associate fellow at Chatham House who heads the New Petroleum Producers Discussion Group, speaks to Al-Monitor about issues concerning good governance in the oil sector in Lebanon. Lebanon
Turkey's latest 'civilian coup' A civilian takeover of the top management of OYAK, a company owned by Turkish military personnel, has raised questions. Turkey
French oil exec speaks out on prospects of drilling in Lebanon Elias Kassis, vice president of the Middle East and North Africa division of French oil and gas company Total, says 'there are many factors' companies must consider when deciding whether or not to drill exploratory wells. Lebanon
Is Egyptian government pushing farmers to stop growing wheat? Complicated bureaucracy and shifting subsidizing policies are pushing many Egyptian farmers to give up cultivation of one of the country's most important crops. Egypt
Iranians in uproar over executive pay at state-owned company Leaks of executive pay at Iran’s main state-owned insurance company spark a public backlash, with a hint of what President Hassan Rouhani may face as the country enters election season yet again. Iran
Can raw meat dish rescue Turkey from export slump? By aggressively marketing raw “meat” ball appetizers to Europe and China, Turkey hopes to find new sources of foreign currency. Turkey
What's in store for Lebanon's nascent oil, gas sector? There is a new twist in the debate about Lebanon's best strategy for developing its offshore oil and gas resources. Lebanon
Saudi Arabia's post-oil plan enters slippery slope Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 plan, which foresees a post-oil economy for the kingdom, contains many contradictions. Saudi Arabia
How Turkey plans to boost home sales to foreigners Preparations are underway to offer work permits in addition to residency to buyers of real estate in Turkey, and citizenship could be next on the table. Turkey
Ultra-Orthodox slaughterhouse faces ax Ultra-Orthodox butcher Yoel Kraus claims that because he has no ID card and avoids contact with the Israeli authorities as an anti-Zionist, the police are trying to close down the ancient traditional slaughterhouse he operates and imprison him for tax evasion. Israel
Amid decreasing aid, Sahrawis seek self-sufficiency A Sahrawi woman's successful business of producing traditional garments is helping other Western Sahara refugees support themselves in Algeria after decades of dependency on aid organizations. Algeria
