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
Israel support for yeshiva students up by 53%. Is it enough? Once again, much is being made in the media about the state raising allocations for yeshiva students, but the ebb and flow of this funding is a perennial part of the coalition's wooing of the ultra-Orthodox. Israel
Local movie blockbusters break revenue records in Turkey The path of democracy will influence the future of the Turkish film industry. Turkey
Can new food safety law stop Egypt's 'donkey slaughter mafia'? Egypt is planning urgently needed legislation to protect its citizens’ food supply and prevent the spread of disease. Egypt
Gaza’s milk industry turns sour Wars with Israel have had devastating consequences for dairy factories in Gaza, but a few still survive even in the face of competition from Israel and the West Bank. Palestine
How Turkey is losing a top trade partner Turkey is experiencing a serious but underreported crisis with its biggest export market in the Gulf. Saudi Arabia
Turkey grants Syrians right to work, but is it too little, too late? Ankara has finally granted Syrians the right to work in a belated move to stop more highly qualified refugees’ flight to Europe. Turkey
Gas price hike, subsidy cuts shake up Saudis The Saudi government's new year is off to a shaky start financially — a burden it's sharing with its citizens, leaving them to wonder just how bad things will get. Saudi Arabia
Arab restaurateurs feel bite of settlers' blacklist The Samaria Settlers Committee, financed by Israeli taxpayers, has launched a defamatory campaign to boycott Arab-Israeli businesses they accuse of supporting terrorism. Israel
Will natural gas shelter Iran from oil price crisis? Although Iran faces many challenges in the global natural gas market, the industry also presents plenty of opportunities post-nuclear deal. Gulf
Is the KRG heading for bankruptcy? Iraq’s Kurds warn that unless Washington rides to their financial rescue, they cannot sustain their fight against the Islamic State. Iraq
Ramallah goes organic A popular Tuesday health food market in Ramallah is helping marginalized women and young farmers sell organic produce. Palestine
Will Renaissance Dam flood Egypt's Mediterranean coast? The author of a current study says Ethiopia must agree to change the Renaissance Dam's design to prevent serious environmental repercussions for itself, Egypt and Sudan. Egypt
