McDonald's reported higher first-quarter profits on Thursday, led by strength in the United States and some overseas venues that offset weakness in other markets due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.

The United Nations on Wednesday clarified its recruitment procedures, after media reports said some individuals in Lebanon have impersonated U.N. staff members in order to scam citizens.

CORRECTS story dated April 27 to say OPEC+ agreed on progressive production increases sted of cuts in headline and first para.

Saudi Arabia is in talks to sell one percent of oil giant Aramco to a foreign energy firm, the kingdom's crown prince said in a television interview broadcast Tuesday.

European and Asian markets were mixed on Tuesday ahead of a big week of key events including the Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting, Joe Biden's State of the Union address and earnings from tech titans.

A Lebanon-made electric car has been launched, the first time the small country has manufactured an automobile, despite struggling amid a dire economic crisis with frequent power cuts.

The red sports car -- named "Quds Rise", using the Arabic name of Jerusalem -- is the project of Lebanese-born Palestinian businessman Jihad Mohammed.

Lebanon's farmers union has described as "arbitrary and unjust" the decision by Saudi Arabia to ban Lebanese produce from going through the kingdom over drug smuggling allegations, calling for it be repealed.

The ban, ordered by the kingdom's Interior Ministry and due to take effect Sunday, is a major blow to the Lebanese economy, already reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis.

The eurozone economic recovery accelerated in April despite coronavirus restrictions as business activity grew at its fastest pace since the summer thanks to a manufacturing boom, a key survey said Friday.

Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday said Germany must return to its fiscal discipline when the coronavirus pandemic is over, underlining her commitment to a constitutionally-enshrined no-new debt rule.

Germany's finance minister on Thursday denied responsibility for the collapse of payments firm Wirecard in a parliamentary inquiry that will also put Chancellor Angela Merkel in the hot seat.