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
Russia considers role in peace talks, Gaza energy The Kremlin prefers a multilateral, not bilateral, approach to the peace process, while Gazprom considers opportunities in the Gaza Strip. Palestine
Gaza youth dream of jobs in Qatar Amid increasing unemployment rates in the Gaza Strip, youth have warmly welcomed an agreement between the Palestinian and Qatari governments to employ 20,000 additional Palestinians in Qatar. Qatar
New report links Lebanese army to economic stability A report by the Institute of International Finance says the Lebanese economy can be improved by a return to stability. Lebanon
Iraqi 'Ninth Studio' avoids TV's sectarian divide Although Iraqi media outlets gained some freedoms post-2003, in the past 10 years much of the country’s media has been highly sectarian, but a few outlets are challenging that stereotype. Iraq
Tehran Stock Exchange plunges, baffling investors Why is Iran’s stock exchange falling under President Hassan Rouhani and after the easing of sanctions? Turkey
Erdogan visit to Iran to address Syria, economic ties The visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Tehran will offer an opportunity to defuse tensions on Syria while expanding economic relations. Syria
Russia can't lose in oil deal with Iran Russia is seeking to expand trade ties with Iran and is angling to benefit from any lifting of international sanctions on Iran. Turkey
Erdogan accuses TUSIAD chairman of treason Muharrem Yilmaz, chairman of the Turkish Industry and Business Association, had accused the prime minster of imposing tax penalties against political opponents. Turkey
Erdogan briefs EU on ‘rule of judiciary’ danger During a trip to Brussels, Erdogan tells EU leaders about Gulenist activities in the judiciary, where the community wields huge influence, and explains his vision for Syria. Turkey
As power cuts continue, Gaza turns to solar energy Amid an electricity crisis that has led to increasingly long daily power cuts, some residents in the Gaza Strip are turning to solar energy systems. Palestine
Bennett calls diplomatic process harmful to Israeli economy Israeli business leaders have called on the prime minister to end the conflict with the Palestinians so Israel can prosper, while Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett claims that this will destroy the Israeli economy. Palestine
Despite being illegal, sidewalk vendors thriving in Iraq Because of their popularity, street vendors are thriving in Iraq in spite of government attempts to control them. Iraq
![A Russian supertanker is anchored by Neka oil terminal, 300 km north-east of [Tehran], during an inauguration ceremony of the first phase of an oil swap project with Iran's Caspian neighbours, April 29, 2004. [ Under the project Iran will take crude from Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan and transfer them through pipelines to refineries in the cities of Tehran and Tabriz.] - RTXMLA4](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2014/01/RTXMLA4.jpg/RTXMLA4.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=Ht0Xk3dl)
