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.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea on Tuesday attended the handover ceremony of a Seagrave Triple Fire Engine from the City of Los Angeles to Lebanon's General Directorate of Civil Defense.

The 55,000-pound vehicle will be based at the Mar Mikhail Civil Defense Fire Station and will provide emergency-response capabilities for a community of over 200,000 residents.

Mount Lebanon Attorney General Judge Ghada Aoun on Tuesday issued a subpoena for Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, LBCI television reported.

“The subpoena was referred to the State Security agency for implementation, after Salameh failed to show up for the third time for interrogation in the lawsuit filed by the People Want to Reform the System group,” the TV network added.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati traveled Tuesday to Ankara on an official visit to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The Lebanese delegation includes 8 Lebanese ministers and Miqati's diplomatic advisor Boutros Assaker.

The Elsie Initiative Fund for Women in Peace Operations (EIF) has announced that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is the first U.N. field mission to receive funding to create an enabling and inclusive environment for women peacekeepers.

The EIF was jointly established by the U.N. and Canada in 2019 with its secretariat within U.N. Women. The EIF, a U.N. trust fund, is funded by Member States. USD $30 million have been raised thus far.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Monday accused the Free Patriotic Movement and Hizbullah of seeking to postpone the parliamentary elections scheduled for May.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Monday hailed “the special achievement made by Lebanese security forces, especially the Intelligence Branch (of the Internal Security Forces) for busting a spy network working for the Israeli enemy inside Lebanon.”

“Once again, we salute and applaud the Lebanese security forces and their vigilant eyes for protecting Lebanon’s security and immunizing its civil peace,” Berri added.

Cabinet approved Monday an increase of social contributions for the public sector and for social welfare institutions, while no agreement was reached regarding the electricity treasury loan and the customs dollar.

A social contribution of 75% of the salary basis will be given for the public sector, as well as the pensioners.