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
Israeli soccer fans dream of returning to stadiums Israeli soccer players have resumed training sessions and might even play again, but the fans are still kept away from the stadiums. Israel
Intel: China tangled in US sanctions web for ties to Iran’s Mahan Air The United States sanctioned a China-based company today for providing “general sales agent services” for Iran’s Mahan Air. United States
Qatar Airways mandates full-body protective gear for flight attendants Passengers will also be required to wear masks per the Gulf carrier's new onboard safety measures as it looks to expand flights amid the crisis. Qatar
Israel advances 'travel bubble' with other Mediterranean countries Israel is in talks with Greece, Cyprus and a few other countries with low infection rates about creating travel corridors for resuming international flights. Israel
Egypt to export electricity to Saudi Arabia An interconnection power line between Egypt and Saudi Arabia is expected to generate important economic benefits for Egypt and boost its aspiration to become a regional energy hub. Saudi Arabia
COVID-19 ravages Turkey’s vital clothing, textile industry Turkey’s clothing and textile sector, a vital source of employment and revenues, has become the worst-hit industrial branch in the coronavirus crisis, taking both domestic and external blows. Turkey
Iran claims fuel shipment to Venezuela perfectly legal In today's Iran media roundup, Tehran condemned possible US interference with Iranian shipments of fuel to Venezuela. Iran
Intel: Saudi arms sale probe factored in Trump's firing of watchdog President Donald Trump fired State Department Inspector General Steve Linick last week in part because of an investigation into an $8 billion emergency arms sales for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, a source on Capitol Hill told Al-Monitor. Saudi Arabia
Arab councils in Israel on strike over pandemic, economic crisis Heads of Israeli-Arab local councils say they have no choice but to strike because no one in the government is listening to them. Israel
Emirates to resume international passenger flights The Dubai-based carrier will start flying to North America, Europe and Australia on May 21. United Arab Emirates
Iran’s industry minister sacked amid crumbling economy In a surprise move, Iran’s president dismissed his minister of industry as the sector is increasingly plagued by US sanctions, untamed inflation and corruption. Iran
Feuds continue over Turkey’s East Med gas drilling as global energy prices plummet Despite the falling financial viability of several eastern Mediterranean energy projects, Turkish gas drilling activities are set to continue in the region, drawing condemnation from five nations Ankara accuses of forming an "alliance of evil." Turkey
