Prime Minister Hassan Diab on Saturday described reports on the government’s intention to resign as “fake news”, affirming ongoing government efforts to “alleviate the suffering of Lebanese citizens” in light of a crunching economic crisis.

Lebanon resumed negotiations with the International Monetary Fund in “unfavorable” atmospheres for the international lender, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Saturday.

Lebanon on Friday confirmed 71 more COVID-19 cases, recording a relatively high tally for the small country for the second consecutive day.

In its daily statement, the Health Ministry said 67 of the cases were recorded among residents and only four among expats who arrived in the country in recent days.

Dozens of Lebanese protesters held a raucous anti-U.S. rally outside the fortified American Embassy in Awkar on Friday, denouncing what they said was Washington's "interference" in Lebanon's affairs while some chanted in support of Iran-backed Hizbullah.

The crowd, made up of mostly young men who support Hizbullah and allied political parties, hurled stones at riot police near the embassy, from which they were separated by layers of barbed wire. Some protesters tried to remove the wire, at which point they were sprayed with water cannons.

The U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon on Friday announced that it will issue its long-awaited verdict in the case of ex-PM Rafik Hariri’s assassination on August 7.

“The Trial Chamber of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) issued a scheduling order today for the public pronouncement of the Judgment in the Ayyash et al. case (STL-11-01) in a public session on Friday 7 August 2020 at 11.00 AM (C.E.T),” the STL said in a statement.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea on Friday held talks with Prime Minister Hassan Diab at the Grand Serail.

Shea left without making a statement but media reports said the meeting was lengthy and that Diab asked the ambassador to continue the talks over a lunch banquet.

The Information Office of the Lebanese Presidency issued a statement on Friday stressing that President Michel Aoun has a “constitutional right to revoke any law that violates the constitution.”

The Health Ministry said on Friday that fourteen passengers who arrived in Beirut on July 8 tested positive for coronavirus.

Foreign Minister Nasif emphasized that talks have been launched with European countries to open their airports to flights coming from Lebanon, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

Negotiations between Lebanon and the International Monetary Fund for a bailout plan are set to resume on Friday after a reported “hiatus” over the government's failure to enforce reforms, a condition to provide economic assistance, media reports said on Friday.