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
Iraq’s Ports Record Highest-Ever Returns Iraq’s ports are enjoying an unprecedented period of prosperity and the Iraqi government is close to opening a new container port in the south, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Erdogan on Brussels-Shanghai Pendulum Cengiz Çandar writes that it is fine for Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to pursue membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, but not at the expense of EU membership. Turkey
Israeli Middle Class Only Dreams of the Good Life Idan Grinbaum analyzes who exactly makes up Israel's middle class and what economic challenges they face. Israel
Palestinian Authority Faces Crisis Over Salaries The inability of the Palestinian Authority to pay its employees a salary for the last three months is beginning to have serious repercussions, writes Omar Shaban. Palestine
Iraqi Housing Initiative Fails to Deliver Iraqi investment authorities have misstepped with the country’s largest residential housing project as they attempt to solve the country’s housing crisis, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Iraqi Oil Contracts Reward Kuwait, Punish Turkey The signing of the latest round of oil contracts in Iraq has been a victory for the Iraq-Kuwait detente, but comes at the cost of deteriorating relations with Turkey, writes Omar al-Shaher. Kuwait
Erdogan Serious About Turkey's Bid For Shanghai 5 Membership Kadri Gürsel writes that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is serious about his bid to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Turkey
Israel Defense Budget Can Be Cut Idan Grinbaum calls for a serious public debate and major cuts in the Israel defense budget. Israel
Intel Israel: Pioneer Employer of Women Intel Israel General Manager Maxine Fassberg tells Tali Heruti-Sover about her struggles in the male-dominated high-tech industry — which needs "equal opportunities for men and women alike to enter the industry and move on side by side." Israel
New Class of Palestinians Get Rich On Gaza Tunnel Trade The lucrative trade in contraband through Gaza's tunnel network has produced a new class of wealthy Palestinians, writes Omar Shaban. Palestine
Iraqi Agriculture in Crisis Agriculture in Iraq is experiencing a downturn as farmers leave their family trades for more lucrative government positions with steady salaries and government benefits, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Iraqi Kurds Press Ahead With Pipeline Plans Despite protests from Baghdad, the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq is moving ahead with plans to develop the infrastructure for an oil pipeline to Turkey, reports Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
