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
Palestinian Investment Fund Needs Reform The Palestinian Investment Fund, established in 2003 to bring transparency to the Palestinian Authority’s assets, may also be promoting monopolies. Palestine
Crisis in Algeria's Health Sector May Affect Political Stability The health sector in Algeria has been hit by a massive wave of strikes which, if ignored by the government, could spread and affect the country’s stability, writes Kaci Racelma. Business
Report Calls for New EU ApproachTo Israel, Peace Process A new European report urges the EU to toughen its stance on Israel and push it toward a two-state solution, reports Daoud Kuttab. Palestine
Floods Cause Severe Damage In Southern Iraq Southern Iraq has been hit with heavy rains for the past week, resulting in significant human and material losses. Iraq
Europe and the Politics Of Syrian Oil The EU lifted a ban on the export of Syrian oil from rebel areas and must figure out how to get hold of the oil, much of which lies under destroyed infrastructure and in areas of active fighting, writes Nasser Chararah. Lebanon
Inflation Takes Its Toll on Iran Iran's lower and middle-income classes have been the main losers in the country’s inflationary environment, writes Bijan Khajehpour. Iran
Iraqi Kurdistan Real Estate Market Makes a Comeback Progress made in the political dispute between Baghdad and Erbil has reflected positively on the economic situation in the Kurdistan Region, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
US Complicates Turkey’s Energy Interests in Iraq, Iran US sanctions on Iran and its disapproval of energy investments in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have complicated Turkey’s energy policies, writes Olgu Okumus. Iraq
West Bank Villages Face Shortage Of Water While Settlements Thrive Palestinian villages such as Al Hadidiya in the Jordan Valley are suffering from chronic water shortages, write Layan Masri and Loor Awwad. Palestine
Iraq's Housing Crisis Worsens Amid High Population Growth According to figures released by Iraq's Ministry of Planning, Iraq witnessed significant population growth in 2012, further exacerbating the country's housing crisis, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Is Palestinian Media A Special Case? Daoud Kuttab reports on the state of Palestinian media. Palestine
The Future of Subsidy Reforms After Iran’s Presidential Election The next president of Iran is likely to continue the subsidy reforms of the Ahmadinejad government, but with changes in pace and handout distribution, writes Bijan Khajehpour. Iran
