Prime Minister Saad Hariri has asked High Relief Commission chief Maj. Gen. Mohammed Kheir to intervene after a number of Lebanese workers in Kazakhstan were brutally beaten over an “Instagram picture.”

After Moody’s credit analysis of Lebanon that drew controversy, Economy Minister Mansour Bteish said Moody’s warning is part of its job and that Lebanon abides by its commitments.

Industry Minister Wael Abu Faour of the Progressive Socialist Party affirmed on Saturday that ties between his party and al-Mustaqbal Movement will restore “stability and steadfastness” after what he said was temporary tension.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri met at the Center House with the World Bank Vice President for Middle East and North Africa Ferid Belhaj, accompanied by the Bank’s Regional Director for the Mashreq, Saroj Kumar Jha.

The Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Lebanon, Hamad Al-Shamsi, underlined mutual interests between Lebanon and the UAE, noting firm political relations between the two countries, the National News Agency said on Friday.

Qatar has reportedly bought Lebanese treasury bonds in a planned investment in Lebanese debt, Bloomberg News Agency said.

U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield is expected in Beirut on Tuesday to resume talks on the demarcation of maritime and land border between Lebanon and Israel, thwarting doubts the talks have faltered, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

After Moody’s Investor Service report that Lebanon risks debt rescheduling despite budget, it has been noted that the report was rather “analytical” and did not classify the country, al-Joumhouria daily said on Friday.

Financial sources who spoke on condition of anonymity told the daily: “Moody's report is rather analytical and did not credit rate Lebanon. Rating will take place over the next two months by Moody's and Fitch Ratings during a planned visit to Lebanon to assess the economic and financial situation and publish the credit opinion on the 2018 results, and on the draft budget for 2019.

An Islamic State group militant involved in “dozens of terrorist attacks” in Lebanon has been arrested, the army said on Thursday.

“The Intelligence Directorate has arrested the terrorist Hussein Ahmed al-Hujeiri who belongs to the Daesh group and is wanted on multiple arrest warrants,” the military said in a statement.

Two Syrians were handed jail sentences on Thursday on charges of involvement in acts of terror, the National News Agency reported.

“The Military Court sentenced the Syrian Abdul Azim al-Mghayzel to three years' hard labor and the Syrian Kamal Ghannoum to a year in prison,” NNA said.