Denmark's Noma restaurant was named best in the world for a second year running Monday in an international poll dominated by European establishments but with new entries from China, Peru and Russia.

The Copenhagen restaurant of chef Rene Redzepi was voted number one in the S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants 2011, a list compiled by more than 800 international restaurant industry experts for Britain's Restaurant Magazine.

Turmoil in Japan could spell higher costs and choppy sales for U.S. firms, according to a survey of trade economists published Monday, showing jitters and uncertainty about impact of the crisis.

Businesses can expect to see a significant spillover from the triple disaster this year and next, but with the impact varying vastly from sector to sector, according to a survey by the National Association for Business Economics.

Caretaker Finance Minister Raya al-Hassan participated in the joint semi-annual gathering of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund held in Washington, the National News Agency said Monday.

As part of her meetings last week, the minister held talks with Deputy Managing Director of the World Bank Nemat Shafik and officials from IMF’s Middle East and North Africa department, NNA said. She briefed them on the Lebanese macro-finance situation and discussed with them the Arab revolutions and their dramatic effects on the economy.

Seven of the world's leading economies including China and the United States faced deep scrutiny over fiscal and financial imbalances Saturday as the G20 group announced a new framework for assessing potential risks to the global economy.

A Group of 20 delegation member told Agence France Presse the seven "included the G5" -- the United States, France, Britain, Japan and Germany -- and "two big emerging countries," suggesting China and India.

The price of gold reached a record high close to $1,480 an ounce in trading Friday with investors piling into the safe-haven precious metal amid spikes to global inflation and fresh Eurozone debt worries.

Gold struck an all-time peak of $1,479.35 an ounce in early Asian trade, beating the previous high reached Monday by just over a dollar.

Sony said Thursday it was considering having all its employees in Japan take two-week summer vacations to save energy, amid power shortages in the aftermath of the March 11 disasters.

By shutting down offices, air conditioners, elevators, and other facilities, the electronics giant believes it could save up to 25 percent of the power it normally consumes during the peak summer months, said a Sony spokesman.

Adviser to the Chairman of Bank Audi Freddie Baz has assured that the regional turmoil will not have a strong impact on the Lebanese banking sector, since it has one of “the best democratic systems in the region.”

“We can say that Lebanon is still in better shape than many countries in the region,” Baz said during an interview with The Daily Star newspaper published Thursday.

Tokyo stocks closed higher Wednesday on a weaker yen, after shares dipped in and out of positive territory amid caution over the unfolding impact of the March 11 disasters, dealers said.

The Nikkei 225 index added 85.92 points, or 0.90 percent, to 9,641.18. The Topix added 6.08 points, or 0.73 percent, to 844.59.

The U.S. embassy in Lebanon invited local secondary teachers on Wednesday to apply for a scholarship to develop expertise in their subject areas, enhance their teaching skills and increase their knowledge of the United States.

The International Leaders in Education Program (ILEP) consists of a semester-long (January-June 2012) academic program at a U.S. university followed by an eight-week internship at a secondary school, said a press release issued by the embassy.

A Morgan Stanley fund sold seven European hotels, including the Carlton in Cannes, to Lebanese businessman Toufic Aboukhater for about 450 million euros ($643 million), a source said.

Aboukhater closed the purchase deal with Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund on Monday, the source said.