U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea has delivered a speech marking the one-year anniversary of the assassination of prominent Lebanese activist and researcher Lokman Slim.

Below is the full text of the ambassador's speech as delivered during a ceremony commemorating the slain activist:

Cabinet convened Thursday at the Grand Serail to resume the discussion of the 2022 draft budget.

Acting information minister Abbas Halabi said, when the session ended, that all food and medical imports will be exempted from all kinds of fees and charges.

Acting information minister Abbas Halabi said Cabinet has discussed the land transport sector demands, in its session today, Wednesday.

Taxi and public transportation drivers had started on Wednesday a three-day strike to pressure the government to take a decision on improving the conditions of the drivers.

Director General of Economy Ministry Mohammad Abou Haidar raided Wednesday supermarkets in Beirut in order to control prices violations.

Fines were issued against violators.

President Michel Aoun warned Wednesday that every one responsible for the financial disaster will be exposed.

"The game has reached its final stages," Aoun said.

The European Union and the Samir Kassir Foundation launched Wednesday the 17th edition of the “Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press”.

Cabinet convened Wednesday at the Grand Serail to resume the discussion of the 2022 draft budget.

Cabinet discussed the so-called customs dollar but no agreement was reached concerning the LBP to USD exchange rate that will be used to calculate customs on imports. The current rate is 1,500 Lebanese Lira to 1 dollar. The issue will be postponed to another session.

Taxi and public transportation drivers on Wednesday blocked several vital roads across Lebanon amid a crunching economic and financial crisis that has affected all sectors.

The land transport unions had announced a three-day strike to pressure the government, convening today, to take a decision on improving the conditions of the land transport drivers.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Prime Minister Najib Miqati in a meeting in Ankara Tuesday that Turkish firms are ready to “execute infrastructure projects in Lebanon, including the reconstruction of Beirut's port.”

Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh on Tuesday issued a statement saying commercial banks can now purchase Lebanese banknotes in return for cash dollars based on the exchange rate of the Sayrafa platform.

Media reports said banks have in recent days been short on Lebanese pounds and were rationing the amounts given to clients.