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
Online company offers discreet condoms to Lebanon Yalla Condoms is selling contraceptives and other products over the Internet, saving its customers embarrassing trips to the drugstore in progressive Lebanon, where sexual taboos still linger. Lebanon
Russia considers natural gas expansion in North Africa, Near East Russia sees potential for LNG expansion in the Middle East. United Arab Emirates
Tourism is Lebanon’s biggest missed opportunity A new report highlights the wasted potential of the tourism sector in Lebanon. Lebanon
Is Turkish-Israeli reconciliation back on track? The shifting regional picture may be forcing Israel and Turkey to rebuild ties, but only after Turkey’s elections on March 30. Israel
The woman who holds the key to Olmert's fate As Ehud Olmert's former chief of staff, Shula Zaken has decided to unravel evidence which might incriminate the former prime minister for corruption, after realizing that he left her legally unprotected while covering his end in this long legal battlefield. Israel
Lebanon needs drastic steps to avoid bankruptcy After the growth rate of the public debt and the slow economic growth have reached alarming levels, the new Lebanese government must restore economic confidence in the country. Lebanon
Sisi's call for austerity falls flat with Egyptians While Egyptian Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has recently called on Egyptians to embrace austerity, some question whether state officials will also have to cut down on their opulent spending. Egypt
Hamas budget shows another tough year ahead for Gaza The Hamas government budget for 2014 is full of ambitious targets that most likely will not be met because of the current crisis and blockade. Palestine
Iraqi Kurds fear fallout from Erdogan-Gulen conflict Some Iraqi Kurds are worried that the potential fall of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan might result in a reversal of good relations between Erbil and Ankara. Iraq
Yemen faces increasing weapons, drugs smuggling problem The trafficking of weapons, drugs and human beings has become a major problem for Yemen. Yemen
The AKP’s failed urban strategy The Justice and Development Party’s municipal strategy emphasizing large-scale construction projects and urban transformation may be clashing with its focus on conservative values. Turkey
Economic chaos at Iraq's Anbar border crossings The security situation in Iraq's Anbar province has pushed security forces to close the border crossings on several occasions, impeding the movement of trucks transporting goods into the country and inflicting losses on traders. Iraq
