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
During Ramadan, Militants Target Baghdad Liquor Stores, Cafes Since the start of Ramadan, attacks by militants against liquor stores and other shops deemed “morally corrupt” have increased in Baghdad, with some accusing the government of being involved. Iraq
Iranian Patients Still Suffer From Sanctions on Medicine Despite the United States easing the ban on medicine, Iranian patients with serious illnesses continue to suffer from sanctions as well as government mismanagement. Iran
Iran’s Renewable Energy Sector Poised for Growth Higher energy costs should be a boost for Iran’s renewable energy. Iran
Gezi Cleansing In Turkish Media Many journalists lost their jobs and suffered from police violence following the shifting of Prime Minister Erdogan’s hard-line reactions to media freedoms. Turkey
Child Workers Maintain Gaza's Cemeteries Child workers in Gaza's cemeteries struggle to provide for their impoverished families. Palestine
Iraqi Ambassador Says Iraq Willing To Help Bridge US-Iran Divide Lukman Faily, Iraq’s Ambassador to Washington, says his country is ready to help, if asked, to mend US-Iran ties. Iraq
US Treasury Tries to Boost Medical Sales to Iran The US government says it will increase humanitarian trade with Iran, but sanctions lawyers say the measures are not enough and still require authorized channels between US and Iran banks. Iran
Iran’s Civil Society Movement Against Sanctions The government of Iran might soon be grappling with how to manage a popular mobilization against US and international sanctions. Iran
Palestinians Still Buying Israeli Settlement Goods While international efforts increase against Israeli settlement goods, many Palestinians in the West Bank are failing to heed the boycott call. Palestine
Lapid Criticizes Idle Ultra-Orthodox For Hurting Israeli Economy The absence of the ultra-Orthodox from Israel's job market is a real threat to the state, but the aggressive attempts by Finance Minister Yair Lapid to solve the wrong problem will have the opposite effect. Israel
Turkey Between Interest Rates And Conspiracy Theories While Turkey was once praised as a "model" for the region, the recent economic woes facing Ankara and Erdogan’s insufficient response have shaken Turkey's perception in Arab countries. Lebanon
Iraqi Officials Divided Over Dinar 'Reset' Various bodies within the Iraqi government are debating the implications of a move to “reset” the national currency by deleting three zeros from it. Iraq
![A Palestinian boy looks from behind a tombstone at the El Sohada cemetary (martyrs' cemetery) outside Gaza city after the last prayer of Ramadan November 25, 2003. [Palestinians like Muslims all over the world today celebrate the first day of the Muslim's holiday of Eid El-Fitr folowing the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.] - RTXMB3X](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2013/07/Gaza-Cemetary.jpg/Gaza-Cemetary.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=1nE4Z_WF)
