Two suicides in Lebanon on Friday, apparently linked to the country's deepening economic downturn, have sparked a new wave of criticism over the government's mishandling of the crisis.

A 61-year-old man committed suicide in the morning on Beirut's Hamra Street, reportedly leaving a death note denouncing "hunger" in condemnation of the dire economic and financial situations in the country.

Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni announced Friday that Lebanon’s negotiations with the International Monetary Fund are “still ongoing.”

“The Fund has asked the negotiating Lebanese delegation to unify its numbers and speed up the execution of the needed reforms,” Wazni’s press office said in a statement.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab has inquired about Hizbullah’s stance on the reports and statements suggesting that the government’s departure is imminent and has been told that his government will stay in the foreseeable future, highly-informed sources said.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab does not intend to resign, because he refuses to “evade his responsibility” and plunge the country into “the unknown,” ministerial sources said.

Tokyo prosecutors said Friday they have filed a request for the extradition of two Americans arrested in the U.S. for allegedly helping Carlos Ghosn, the former chairman of Nissan, flee Japan while he was out on bail.

"We express our deepest gratitude for the cooperation the U.S. authorities have shown to our request," the Tokyo District Prosecutors Office said in a statement.

Association of Banks chief Salim Sfeir on Thursday announced that dollar transactions will soon be carried out “through banks” and not through money exchange shops or the black market.

Lebanese leaders must take tough decisions and the U.S. will work with France and others for a better future for Lebanon, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said on Thursday.

UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Stefano Del Col on Thursday chaired a second special Tripartite meeting since the COVID-19 outbreak with senior officers from the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the Israeli army at a U.N. position in Ras al-Naqoura, UNIFIL said.

Discussions focused on the situation along the Blue Line, air and ground violations as well as other issues within the scope of UNIFIL’s mandate under U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, UNIFIL said in a statement.

A string of top retail shops in Lebanon announced temporary closures on Thursday after the country's currency lost five sixths of its value, triggering sharp price hikes.

Al-Mustaqbal Movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri on Thursday announced that he has his conditions to return as premier, while noting that he is “not negotiating with anyone” over such a move.