In response to growing food security needs in Lebanon, the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing nearly $64 million in additional humanitarian assistance to help feed vulnerable people in Lebanon.

"Lebanon is facing increased food insecurity amid the country’s ongoing economic crisis, as well as prolonged impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the August 2020 Beirut port blast," The U.S Embassy in Beirut said.

The Lebanese pound reached 25,000 against the dollar on Thursday, after having been relatively stable in the past months following a central bank circular that had allowed banks to buy dollar banknotes from the BDL.

The central bank intervention in January had led to a major recovery of the Lebanese lira value as it strengthened to around 20,000 after it had reached a low of 34,000.

Judge Nicolas Mansour issued Thursday an arrest warrant against Raja Salameh, the brother of Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, after questioning him.

Mount Lebanon Prosecutor Judge Ghada Aoun had ordered last week the detention of the businessman Raja Salameh, after questioning him for several hours.

The European Union's executive arm proposed Wednesday that all natural gas storage facilities in the 27-nation bloc are topped up to at least 80% capacity for next winter as it seeks to reduce its reliance on Russian energy in the future.

On the eve of a two-day summit of EU leaders, the European Commission said the bloc must quickly revamp its energy policy before next winter and another price crisis leaves millions of EU citizens with bills they cannot pay.

The Egyptian pound slipped further against the dollar on Wednesday, after Egypt's Central Bank raised its main interest rate and devalued the local currency by 14%.

The moves by the Central Bank of Egypt were meant to combat inflationary waves triggered by the coronavirus pandemic and Russia's war in Ukraine, which hiked oil prices to record highs.

Raja Salameh, the detained brother of Central Bank chief Riad Salameh, was questioned Tuesday by Financial Attorney General Judge Jean Tannous over the file of the brokerage firm that he owns, Forry Associates Ltd, al-Jadeed TV said.

The TV network added that Salameh was not interrogated by Mount Lebanon First Examining Magistrate Nicolas Mansour due to the Covid-19 infection of a judicial clerk at Mt. Lebanon’s investigations department.

Conflicting reports emerged Tuesday on whether a court of appeals has ordered the removal of red wax seals from the assets of Fransabank.

"The reports saying the seals have been removed from Fransabank's assets are baseless and the Court of Appeals' ruling prevents the removal of the seals, contrary to what is being rumored," the United for Lebanon activist group said.

President Michel Aoun on Monday called, from Rome, for setting up a Vatican-sponsored Lebanon support fund and for boosting aid programs for Lebanon, the Presidency said.

The head of the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization, Qu Dongyu, and the head of the U.N.’s World Food Program, David Beasley, both said that Aoun’s suggestion will be taken into consideration, the Presidency added.

The world's top-selling automaker Toyota said Friday it will halt operations on the majority of its Japanese production lines for three days as parts supply is hit by a recent powerful earthquake.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on European leaders Monday to cease all trade with Russia in an effort to pressure Moscow to halt its nearly month-long military assault on his country.