Economy and trade

Rouhani hits out at skeptics of Iran pandemic statistics

The Iranian president said skeptics of the official coronavirus narrative in his country are serving as enemy mouthpieces.

Iran

Larger than expected rate cut raises pressure on Turkish lira

Turkey’s central bank surprised market watchers Wednesday with a significant interest rate cut to bolster the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic, though analysts say the move poses inflationary risks.

Turkey

Lebanese parliament reconvenes with anti-virus measures in place

The Lebanese parliament voted to pass a bill allowing cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes as protests resumed in Beirut.

Lebanon

Iran extends closure of religious sites amid pandemic

While gradually reopening much of the economy amid lowering coronavirus-related mortalities, the Iranian government has extended a shutdown of religious sites nationwide.

Iran

Qatar Airways defers some employees' pay to save costs and keep flying

Qatar Airways is still offering many passenger flights, unlike other major Middle Eastern carriers. The drop in international travel due to the coronavirus has resulted in major losses for airlines.

Qatar

How a falafel shop owner may have accelerated Israel's unity government

A falafel vendor's tearful account in a TV interview about his livelihood and how he has been personally affected by the coronavirus pandemic has resonated across the country, so much so that it shook Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz into action.

Israel

Jordan eases lockdown, focuses on opening economy

Jordan ends the lockdown in Aqaba while keeping certain restrictions in place and eases curfews elsewhere as the region's first country to enforce a nationwide lockdown now seeks to gradually reopen its economy.

Jordan

Coronavirus lockdown uncovers vulnerability of Tunisia’s economy

Despite government measures to help those most affected by a general lockdown aimed at containing the spread of the coronavirus, Tunisia’s economy is being dealt a heavy blow.

Tunisia

Cash-strapped Lebanon struggles amid the coronavirus crisis

Various sectors in Lebanon, a country grappling with its worst economic crisis in decades, have been hit hard by the measures imposed to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Lebanon

For Gulf, South Asia countries, worst is yet to come

The pandemic is expected to be especially hard on migrant workers in the Mideast and South Asia, as it has left many of them unemployed and struggling to return home to an uncertain future.

Legacy: Gulf

Turkey says rate of coronavirus infection stabilizes

The health minister sees signs the fast-spreading contagion is coming under control as the number of new cases remains steady. But an independent physicians’ group warns the government may be undercounting.

Turkey

Mideast economies to see biggest downturn in four decades, IMF projects

Almost every country in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia is expected to have negative gross domestic product this year, and the overall GDP for the region is expected to contract by an average of 3.1%.

Legacy: Gulf