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
Livestock prices soar in Gaza Each year around Eid al-Adha, the demand for sacrificial animals rises simultaneously with their prices, but more Gazans than ever are left unable to buy them as the already difficult economic situation worsens. Palestine
Why Israel, not NGOs, must care for poor Welfare and Social Services Minister Haim Katz says that the work being done by associations, providing food and products to the poor, cannot replace the responsibility of the state toward its citizens. Israel
Defying Palestinian law, many still seek work in West Bank settlements Palestinian workers are forced to seek employment, and accept harsh working conditions, in Israeli settlements, as the Palestinian Authority has failed to create viable alternatives. Palestine
Israeli, Palestinian women weave peace through fashion American psychologist Whit Jones has brought together Israeli and Palestinian women to jointly create a fashion brand featuring Israeli design and Palestinian embroidery. Palestine
Aid cuts keep PA stuck in economic rut The Palestinian Authority has been plagued by a protracted financial crisis amid thinning foreign aid and not enough local revenues to end the deficit. Palestine
Have Israeli politicians forgotten who they are supposed to serve? The Knesset opposition seems to have forgotten that it has a crucial role to play in keeping the government in check. Israel
Struggling to keep up, conflict causes major economic setback in Turkey's poorest region After several years of revival, the struggling economy of Turkey’s Kurdish-majority southeastern region faces collapse. Turkey
Soap is slippery business in Nablus Nablus has been historically known for pioneering soap-making in Palestine, but the once-booming industry there is now facing some hurdles. Palestine
Does Israel's economy minister know the election is over? Israeli Economy Minister Aryeh Deri seems more busy creating provocations and headlines than making ministerial decisions on crucial issues such as the 2016 state budget or the natural gas outline. Israel
Jordan’s ‘highway through hell’ Amid security concerns, Iraqi authorities decided in mid-July to close the only border crossing with Jordan, leaving the once-busy trucking route between the two countries deserted. Iraq
Iraqis look to gemstones for psychological, physical treatment Iraqis are increasingly buying precious stones, which they believe have therapeutic capacities, can give energy and strength, protect them from envy and fend off dangers. Iraq
Russia to build Egyptian nuclear reactor Egypt selected a Russian company to build its long-stalled nuclear reactor, raising controversy about the political dimensions of this coordination. Egypt
