Economics and Policy The United Nations appealed for a record $6.5bn for Syria and its neighbours on Monday to help 16 million people, many of them hungry or homeless victims of a conflict that has lasted 33 months with no end in sight. More from Reuters New car sales in Lebanon are forecast to decrease in 2014 as the country’s deteriorating economic situation reduced the number of imported cars registered by 6 percent in the first 11 months of 2013, the Association of Automobile Importers has said. More from The Daily Star Qatar’s economy is likely to grow 6.0 per cent this year, slightly faster than previously expected, partly because of higher gas production, the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics has said. More from Reuters The authorities in Egypt have had an unfortunate start in their attempt to publicise next month's referendum on a new draft
