UN: Arab economies to shrink by 5.7% amid virus fallout

BEIRUT (AP) — A U.N. report says the coronavirus pandemic will exact a heavy toll on Arab countries, causing an economic contraction of 5.7% this year, pushing millions into poverty and compounding the suffering of those affected by armed conflict. The report by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia expects some Arab economies to shrink by up to 13%, amounting to an overall loss for the region of $152 billion. Another 14.3 million people are expected to be pushed into poverty