BEIRUT: Crisis-hit Lebanon yesterday raised fuel prices for the second time in less than a week amid severe rationing spurred by the collapse of a subsidy system that has depleted state coffers. 

PARIS: The OECD warned yesterday of an “uneven” global economic recovery as it lowered its 2021 growth forecasts for the world and the United States while raising the outlook for Europe. 

PARIS: The United States’ decision to lift restrictions on incoming travellers vaccinated against COVID-19 was met with a sigh of a relief by the global airline sector, which has been dealt a body blow by the pandemic. 

KABUL: Merchants in the historic Afghan trading city of Herat fear for their future after being hit by Taleban tax collection and a backlog for goods to clear customs. 

GENEVA: The COVID-19 pandemic sped up the shift of innovation from Europe and North America towards Asia, UN world rankings showed Monday. The Global Innovation Index 2021, from the United Nations’ World Intellectual Property Organization, showed surging performances by South Korea and China.

BEIJING/HONG KONG: The boss of a Shanghai-based property developer lost more than a billion dollars yesterday, as fears over the potential collapse of Chinese real estate giant Evergrande sent panic across Hong Kong trading floors. 

FRANKFURT: The DAX fell 2.6 percent in trading yesterday to its lowest level since July, as market turmoil marred the German blue-chip stock market index’s expansion from 30 to 40 companies. 

OTTAWA: Canada spent hundreds of billions of dollars to aid workers and keep businesses afloat during the pandemic, causing its national debt to soar. But the usually frugal Canadians don’t seem to mind. 

BERLIN: In her apartment in suburban Berlin, Regina Lehmann despairs at the letter from her landlord, a big real estate group: the rent is going up.