Coronavirus

Souvenir stand in Petra, Jordan.

Gendarmerie operation sparks controversy in Petra, Jordan

Petra’s tribal entrepreneurs react to a security operation carried out inside Jordan’s most-visited UNESCO World Heritage Site with criticism and concern for their livelihoods.

Uman Hasidim

Culture

Despite war, thousands of Israeli Hasidim make pilgrimage to Ukraine

Much like the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine won’t stop thousands of Hasidim from reaching the city of Uman and the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov just before the Jewish New Year.

A picture shows an Emirates Airlines airplane at Dubai International Airport on Feb. 1, 2021.

Middle East airlines to suffer losses again in 2022

The International Air Transport Association said that airlines in the region will fare somewhat better financially due to the return of long-haul flights.

Israeli passengers arrive from Ukraine via the border with Romania on an Israeli Israir flight at Ben Gurion Airport in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel, March 1, 2022.

Israel expects post-COVID tourism rebound this summer

Israeli experts do not expect tourism to reach this summer the record level of 2019, but they certainly notice a trend of increase on both outbound and incoming tourism.

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Egyptian startups reimagine mental health services in Arab-speaking world

A social worker plays an educational game with a homeless child inside one of the mobile units run by the Egyptian authorities and used as part of the "Atfal bala ma'wa" (Children Without a Home) social program, Abbasia district, Cairo, Egypt, June 22, 2020.

Egypt removes all mosque restrictions amid Brotherhood criticism

Muslim worshippers pray on Laylat al-Qadr during the holy month of Ramadan at Al-Azhar Mosque, Cairo, Egypt, April 27, 2022.

World Bank praises Palestinian easing of COVID rules, criticizes Israeli control

Palestine COVID

Egypt hopes Israeli tourists will make up losses from Ukraine war

A picture taken on Sept. 29, 2021, shows Russian tourists in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

A nurse prepares to inoculate volunteer Ilya Dubrovin, 36, with Russia's new coronavirus vaccine in a post-registration trials at a clinic in Moscow on September 10, 2020. - Russia announced last month that its vaccine, named "Sputnik V" after the Soviet-era satellite that was the first launched into space in 1957, had already received approval. The vaccine was developed by the Gamaleya research institute in Moscow in coordination with the Russian defence ministry. (Photo by Natalia KOLESNIKOVA / AFP) (Phot

Iran, Russia discuss producing COVID-19 vaccine

Russia’s sovereign wealth fund has been in talks over manufacturing the vaccine with Iran and a number of other countries.

How Turkey’s ‘zombie’ companies keep afloat

A number of big companies that would have normally gone bust amid Turkey’s economic turmoil are surviving thanks to government favors.

Alliance between Netanyahu and ultra-Orthodox survives coronavirus crisis, emerges stronger

The historic alliance between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the ultra-Orthodox parties faced several obstacles throughout the coronavirus, but it is now strengthening.

Shoppers, wearing protective masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, buy bread at the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem on September 24, 2020, a day ahead of a nationwide lockdown aimed at curbing a surge in coronavirus cases. - Israel toughened its coronavirus measures as a second nationwide lockdown failed to bring down the world's highest infection rate a week after it was imposed.
The new rules will close the vast majority of workplaces, shutter markets and further limit prayers and demonstrations. (Photo b

Israeli-Arab town operates its own anti-corona plan

The Israeli-Arab town of Kafr Qasim has managed to lower the number of coronavirus infections, but some residents warn that celebration is premature.

Benny Gantz (C), A former IDF Chief and the head of Israeli Resilience party speaks to supporters during an election campaign event in Tel Aviv. Israelis will vote in a parliamentary election on April 9, choosing among party lists of candidates to serve in the 121-seat Knesset

Israel sets new virus record with nearly 7,000 new cases in one day

The Health Ministry announced 6,923 confirmed cases, shattering the previous highest single-day total of 5,533.

Escaping coronavirus stress, Israelis buy chocolate

Young Israeli chocolatiers are battling the coronavirus-induced economic crisis to keep the local chocolate industry afloat.

Saudi Arabia to allow limited umrah pilgrimage beginning Oct. 4

After a seven-month suspension, Saudi Arabia will allow Muslim pilgrims to perform umrah in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

Jordan sets single-day record for coronavirus cases

Jordan's Health Ministry reported 643 new cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of infections to more than 5,600.

The photo shows a physical imitation of a Bitcoin in Dortmund, western Germany, on January 27, 2020. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP) (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)

Egyptians turn to Bitcoin amid coronavirus crisis

Soaring prices of cryptocurrencies, most notably Bitcoin, are tempting many unemployed Egyptians seeking to achieve quick gains, amid fears of Bitcoin being exploited to finance terrorism or illegal trade.

Jordan to imprison, fine people who hold large gatherings

The Hashemite Kingdom is in the midst of a COVID-19 outbreak after earlier success fighting the virus.

Supplies to tackle the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic donated by the Qatar Fund for Development are loaded onto a Qatar Airways flight to Kigali in Rwanda at Doha's Hamad International Airport, on April 28, 2020. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP) (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Qatar Airways resumes Amman flights

Jordan reopened its airport to international flights this month after delays related to COVID-19.

OPEC+ pressures Iraq, UAE to further cut oil production

Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members held a virtual meeting with Russia and other allied oil producers today to discuss the continuing low price of oil amid the COVID-19 pandemic.