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
Nobel winner: Peace in Libya will solve 80% of Tunisia's problems Employers federation chief Ouided Bouchamaoui presses the United States for greater involvement in North Africa. Tunisia
Why high inflation may return to Iran The Central Bank of Iran is urging banks to slash deposit rates in the hopes that money locked in savings accounts will be channeled to manufacturing and capital markets. Iran
Will Africa cheer up Turkey’s troubled exporters? Turkey scrambles for trade opportunities in Africa to make up for major losses in economic ties with Iran, Iraq, Syria and Russia. Turkey
Historical, pampered bath in Gaza draws visitors from afar The majestic Hammam al-Sammara, the only bathhouse left standing in Gaza City, is an architectural masterpiece that has survived many hundreds of years. Palestine
Bus crash enrages ultra-Orthodox A fatal bus accident on the Jerusalem highway has stirred up long-held grievances by the ultra-Orthodox sector against the Israeli bus company Egged. Israel
Why Boeing kept Iran dealings under the radar As the world cashes in on an Iran ready to do business, the US risks being late to the game because of a mixture of political sensitivities, confusion about the remaining American sanctions and structural impediments. Iran
Green activists, and their livestock, send Turkish miners packing Turkish fauna comes to the aid of flora as thousands of protesters — and their livestock — send a mining company packing, at least for now. Turkey
Iraq's dubious religious shrines The Shiite residents of Babil keep visiting religious shrines as they believe in their healing character, although historical information contradicts their beliefs. Iraq
Will the Democratic Republic of Congo be Egypt's newest ally in dam disputes? Cairo says it will help the Democratic Republic of Congo out with its Inga Dam hydroelectric project on the Congo River, while the Nile upstream country indicates that it supports Egypt in its dispute with Ethiopia over the Renaissance Dam. Egypt
Russia keeps Turkish trucks parked Russia by not renewing the Road Transport Accord that expired Feb. 1 delivered a significant blow to Turkish exports. Gulf
Will Putin’s economic attacks bring Erdogan down? The economic warfare declared by Russia damages the Turkish economy beyond expectations. Syria
What is Abadi doing to protect Iraq’s Christians? The Islamic State is known for forcing Iraq's Christians out of their homes, but the terror group did not start the ugly trend. Iraq
