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
Is Iranian economy weighing Rouhani down? Polls show the Iranian president’s voter base is broadening in the aftermath of the country’s parliamentary elections, but that he also faces immense challenges related to the state of the Iranian economy. Iran
How this NGO is helping victims of Turkish mine disaster provide for their families A project spearheaded by Turkish Americans aims to assist impoverished women in Turkey’s western town of Soma, where a massive mining disaster has left hundreds of families without livelihood. Turkey
Are ships really avoiding the Suez? Falling oil prices do not necessarily spell disaster for the Suez Canal. Egypt
Why Lebanon may be closing this naval base The construction of a tourism project at the port of Beirut requires removing a Lebanese army naval base. Lebanon
Why Israeli companies are fleeing West Bank settlements EU and UN decisions to label settlement products and identify firms doing business there are driving companies to relocate from West Bank settlements across the Green Line. Palestine
Why does Rouhani want a second JCPOA? Talk of a second, domestic Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or "Barjam 2," among rival Iranian factions is stirring heated debate in the Islamic Republic. Iran
How Turkey's Syrian refugees are getting by Some 85% of Syrians in Turkey who live outside the refugee camps are forced to accept meager wages due to their continued lack of work permits. Syria
Egyptian state takes on independent trade unions After Egypt recently declared independent trade unions invalid, many groups said they will fight the decision on the grounds that it violates the constitution. Egypt
Unemployed Iraqis join in looting of antiquities As security chaos persists and jobless rates soar, little can be done to protect Iraq's thousands of archaeological sites from illegal excavations. Iraq
Bosporus 'bulls' defy terrorist threat Turkey’s financial markets have continued to rally despite a string of bloody terrorist attacks, but their festive mood could sour at a stroke. Turkey
Is corruption suspect's US arrest bad news for Erdogan? The US arrest of Reza Zarrab, allegedly a key figure in Turkey’s bribery and corruption scandal, has set off alarm bells in Ankara. Turkey
Gaza’s electricity crisis sheds light on gap between social classes Although hospitals, medical centers and other sectors in the Gaza Strip are increasingly relying on solar power, its use is still limited to affluent households. Palestine
