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.

U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein is leaning toward cancelling a visit to Beirut to receive the Lebanese response on his proposal regarding the demarcation of the maritime border with Israel, al-Akhbar newspaper said.

The daily said Thursday that Hochstein has asked Lebanese senior leaders to discuss their future proposals, if any, with the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati described Wednesday the Lebanese-Gulf rift as a cloud that will pass.

He said at the start of a Cabinet session that the Kuwaiti and Saudi statements indicate that the "cloud that has engulfed the Lebanon-Gulf relations will soon dissipate."

PM Najib Miqati is reportedly seeking to win the approval of Speaker Nabih Berri, ex-PM Saad Hariri, Hizbullah and Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat for the sacking of State Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat, in order to pave the way for an “uncertain deal” with President Michel Aoun, Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi and Free Patriotic Movement head Jebran Bassil.

The deal would also involve the firing of Higher Judicial Council chief Judge Suheil Abboud, “which would make everyone a winner," al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi slammed Hizbullah Wednesday by accusing the group of dragging Lebanon into several wars.

"If its weapons are against Israel, why is Hizbullah dragging us into wars in other places," al-Rahi asked in a TV interview.

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari is returning to Beirut soon, media reports said Wednesday.

KSA had recalled Bukhari, following a diplomatic rift caused by back-then Information Minister George Kordahi who had described the war in Yemen as an aggression by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Kuwait's Foreign Ministry has welcomed a statement by Prime Minister Najib Miqati regarding Lebanon’s desire to repair its ties with the Gulf.

"We look forward to carry on with the constructive measures aiming at restoring the Lebanon-Gulf ties," the statement said.

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday welcomed a statement issued by Prime Minister Najib Miqati regrading Lebanon’s desire to repair its ties with the kingdom and the other Arab Gulf nations.

In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said it “welcomes the positive points” included in Miqati’s remarks, hoping that will contribute to “restoring Lebanon’s role and standing in the Arab and international arenas.”