Turkey announces strictest lockdown so far as virus surges
ISTANBUL — Turkey’s president has announced the country's strictest pandemic restrictions so far, closing businesses and schools and limiting travel for nearly three weeks...
Survey: Business economists more optimistic about US growth
WASHINGTON — The accelerated rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, along with the Biden administration's rescue aid policies, have brightened the outlook for the U.S. economy...
Lebanon thwarts attempt to smuggle 69 Syrians to Cyprus
BEIRUT — Lebanese troops aborted early Sunday an attempt to smuggle dozens of Syrian migrants to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, the military said....
Bitcoin millionaire puts money on Greens in German election
BERLIN — A German software developer who made a fortune from bitcoin has given the environmentalist Green Party one of the biggest political donations...
Lebanon farmers union calls on Saudi to repeal produce ban
BEIRUT — Lebanon’s farmers union described as “arbitrary and unjust” the decision by Saudi Arabia to ban Lebanese produce from going through the kingdom...
UK sees budget deficit rise to highest rate since 1946
LONDON — Britain has seen its budget deficit rise during the coronavirus pandemic to its highest level since the year after the end of...
Saudi bans Lebanese produce because of drug smuggling
BEIRUT — Saudi Arabia will ban Lebanese fruits and vegetables entering the kingdom or passing through it because those shipments have been increasingly used...
America’s gas-fueled vehicles imperil Biden’s climate goals
DETROIT — For President Joe Biden to reach his ambitious goal of slashing America’s greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, huge reductions would...
Honda to phase out gas-powered cars by 2040 in N. America
NEW YORK — Japanese automaker Honda said Friday that it plans to phase out all of its gasoline-powered vehicles in North America by 2040,...
Greece closer to investment grade with ratings upgrade
Greece moved closer to investment grade late Friday after Standard & Poor’s upgraded its sovereign rating for the debt-strapped country by one notch to...