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
Iran nuclear deal with West could help it pivot East A nuclear deal could bring about the membership of Iran in the Russia and China-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Egypt
Never-ending electricity crisis means lights out for Iraqis, again Power outages have become a commonplace happening in Iraq, where people now depend on more than one source to substitute for the government’s poor services. Iraq
Qatar opens doors to help Palestinians escape 'painful reality' of Gaza Qatar and Palestine have been working together to bring a larger number of Palestinians to work in Qatar, where the market is in need of skilled labor. Qatar
Iran, P5+1 face Security Council conundrum Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will have problems if Iranian expectations regarding the timing of lifting sanctions are not managed. Iran
Gaza's Ramadan drummers The dire economic situation in the Gaza Strip is making the monthlong job of the musaharati, who wakes people before dawn to break the Ramadan fast, one of the most dependable sources of income all year. Palestine
Netanyahu, Cabel battle over natural gas outline In an interview with Al-Monitor, Zionist Camp Knesset member Eitan Cabel said he will fight to ensure that any deal to exploit Israel's offshore natural gas will be in the public's best interest. Palestine
The Ponzi scheme that's trapping Israel’s ultra-Orthodox The ultra-Orthodox, often hesitant to approach the police out of fear of their name being tarnished, are being fleeced by their own community members. Israel
Iranians look to post-deal economic, political challenges As Iran moves toward a final nuclear deal, the national media is buzzing with the domestic political and economic issues to be addressed the day after. Iran
Gaza's only mobile phone company forced to close The Gaza attorney general's shutdown of Jawwal for alleged tax evasion could affect hundreds of jobs and has been met by criticism by those who see the company as a victim of a political divide. Palestine
Egypt fights for Mubarak's millions Egypt is seeking to repatriate $700 million that Switzerland has frozen in accounts that belong to Hosni Mubarak and his family. Egypt
Common market between Africa, Egypt not in the offing The African economic blocs summit left some feeling that the African common market idea is far-fetched. Egypt
Tehran art auction attracts buyers, controversy Tehran's biggest art auction attracted accusations of money laundering as well as record bids. Iran
