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
Syria’s Oil Crisis Since the Syrian regime lost its grip on oil production, domestic oil prices have soared, increasing the civil war's burden on the Syrian economy, writes Mohammad Harfoush. Lebanon
Fatwa Issued Against 3G Internet Operator in Iran Iranian grand ayatollahs and conservative parliamentarians are moving to shut down a new 3G mobile Internet operator because of its video capability, reports David Jones from Iran. Iran
Turkey Launches Ship to SupportOffshore Energy Exploration Turkey commits resources, including dedicated naval vessels, to preserve and protect its rights in its exclusive economic zone in the Eastern Mediterranean, writes Tulin Daloglu. Turkey
Iraqi Kurdistan 'Will to Achieve' Key to Success The Iraqi Kurdistan Region's economic success is rooted in a will to achieve that has outpaced the rest of Iraq, writes Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Iraq
Israeli Siege Snuffing Out Gaza's Camel Industry Camel production in Gaza is suffering from a lack of available grazing lands and continued instability with Israel, Rami Almeghari reports. Palestine
Most Iraqis Unaware Of Insurance Rights While the Iraqi government provides insurance for a variety of claims to all its citizens, many are ill-informed or simply unaware of their rights, reports Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Drafting Ultra-Orthodox Is No Solution Underlying the heated controversy over the enlistment of ultra-Orthodox men is a far more fateful question — that of their integration into the work force, writes Idan Grinbaum. Israel
Iraq Tackles Health Care Reform Iraq is considering a new health-care initiative in the face of criticism that only half of the current budget is received by the Ministry of Health, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Iraqi Kurdistan Takes Steps To Improve Road Safety Traffic accidents remain a major problem in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, as the government takes a number of steps to address the issue and improve car safety, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
Israeli Goods Flood Gaza Israeli products are filling Gaza's supermarket shelves, creating a false image that Israel is easing its siege, Rana Baker writes. Palestine
Iraqi Kurdistan Shifts Investment Approach The Kurdistan Region of Iraq is shifting its investment and development focus from housing to tourism, agriculture and other industry, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
Ramallah Wages War on Cart Sellers Palestinian Authority police have evicted cart sellers from the streets of Ramallah to improve the city's look, angering vendors who now have no source of income, Linah Alsaafin reports. Palestine
