Lebanon has long been dependent on remittances, mostly due to its significant global diaspora. With over $6.5 billion received in 2023 alone, there exists a critical need for effective financial services that can accommodate both banked and unbanked individuals. Suyool is already partly addressing these needs, offering an advanced digital wallet designed to facilitate both local and international payments, while also promoting financial inclusion for unbanked Lebanese residents.

Through the new partnership, Suyool will now gain access to TerraPay’s expansive network, which spans over 144 receiving countries and 210 sending countries. In total, the platform supports 3.7 billion mobile wallets, 7.5 billion bank accounts, and a staggering 12 billion cards. The integration will enable Suyool to expand its remittance capabilities, ensuring reliable and accessible financial services.

Mr. Arz El Murr, Founder & CEO of Suyool, highlighted the value of the partnership: “By collaborating with TerraPay, we can enhance our services to meet the evolving needs of our customers. This partnership will enable us to offer faster, more secure transactions, helping to close the financial gap for many in Lebanon”.

Remittance pathways into Lebanon remain strong, particularly from the USA, Europe, and Gulf Coast Countries, playing a vital role in supporting Lebanese families who rely on funds from abroad. With around 20% of Lebanon’s population currently unbanked, Suyool is well-positioned to step in with its easy-to-use mobile finance app.

Also Read: A Guide To Digital Payment Methods In The Middle East

Ambar Sur, Founder & CEO of TerraPay, expressed excitement about the alliance, noting: “This partnership extends TerraPay’s reach in Lebanon, where there is high demand for effective remittance services. Together with Suyool, we aim to drive financial inclusion and deliver trustworthy payment options for everyone. This partnership also coincides with the launch of our Wallet Interoperability Council, which aims to improve connectivity and interoperability for cross-border transactions, including remittances and merchant payments using wallets”.

The TerraPay-Suyool collaboration marks a significant turning point in the country’s development of a more robust financial ecosystem by offering seamless, reliable, and secure global money transfers to Lebanon.

The post TerraPay & Suyool Offer Fast, Secure Money Transfers To Lebanon appeared first on Tech Magazine.

By yesterday evening (Tuesday, September 17), the New York Times had reported that Israel was to blame for the attacks, stating: “Israel carried out its operation against Hezbollah on Tuesday by hiding explosive material within a new batch of Taiwanese-made pagers imported into Lebanon, according to American and other officials briefed on the operation”.

Israel's Mossad spy agency planted explosives inside 5,000 pagers imported by Lebanese group Hezbollah months before Tuesday's detonations, a senior Lebanese security source and another source told @Reuters https://t.co/8m4tTa4BSQ pic.twitter.com/O78WXLWUHp

— Reuters (@Reuters) September 18, 2024

Reuters also reported that it had gained information from a “senior Lebanese security source” and “another source” that Hezbollah had imported 5,000 pagers from Taiwanese manufacturer Gold Apollo. However, at some point in the supply chain, the units were intercepted and replaced with modified versions carrying explosives. The source also claimed that Israel’s Mossad spy agency was responsible, adding around three grams of high-explosive material inside the casing of each device.

The Importance Of Pagers To Hezbollah

As we have seen in both the Ukraine war and in places such as Afghanistan, smartphone communications can be deadly, as they’re relatively easy to intercept and give away the exact location of the person operating them.

For that reason, groups waging asymmetric warfare prefer to use low-tech communication methods such as hand-delivered letters or, in this case, old-school devices like pagers.

Reuters sources said 3,000 pagers exploded after 15:00 local time after being triggered by receiving a coded message. According to the New York Times, the message “appeared as though it was coming from Hezbollah’s leadership”.

Also Read: The Top 10 Worst Cyberattacks In The Middle East Revealed

Videos of the exploding pagers have already spread like wildfire across news networks and social media platforms. One shows a man at a store checkout looking down to view his pager before it explodes, pushing him backwards. Another CCTV video from a market shows a man sustaining injuries after one of the modified devices explodes in his bag.

The post Exploding Pagers Kill 12 & Injure Thousands In Lebanon & Syria appeared first on Tech Magazine.

However, although the country has plenty of potential to shine on the world stage, so far, financial backers and venture capital firms have been slow to invest.

To that end, the leading online source for all things Lebanon, 961, has decided to take action. The result is a new Investor Club where financial backers can support Lebanese startups, helping to reduce unemployment and ignite the growth of a clean economy.

For as little as $50, investors can be part of a close-knit club that will allow them to back vetted, high-potential, home-grown Lebanese founders.

Here are some of the opportunities that the 961 Investor Club is offering local startups:

• Tech & Digitalization: Innovations that drive digital transformation.
• Solving Day-to-Day Problems: Practical solutions to improve day-to-day life.
• Proven Startups Looking to Grow: Established local companies aiming to scale.
• Companies Looking to Expand Abroad: Businesses preparing to enter new markets.
• Taking Concepts/Franchises Abroad: Growing Lebanese brands globally.

Startups based abroad may be eligible for funding, but they’ll need to pass specific criteria. For example, companies must demonstrate potential for significant growth, maintain and keep a sizable team in Lebanon, and prioritize Lebanese hires wherever possible.

Also Read: Top 10 Best Freelance Platforms In The Middle East

In addition to the ever-popular tech startups, investors will also be able to back local restaurants, food trucks, nightlife venues, retail outlets, and franchises.

Experts will rigorously vet all businesses before they are presented to the 961 Investor Club, and members can choose to invest in whatever opportunities interest them most.

How To Join

Head over to the 961 website and fill out the form to join the club and be part of a private WhatsApp group. Alternatively, if you’re one of the Lebanese startups looking for a funding opportunity for your business, you can apply here.

The post New Club Allows You To Invest In Lebanese Startups For Just $50 appeared first on Tech Magazine.

The new AI President’s deep learning algorithm was fed over 90 years of impartial journalism from AnNahar’s archive stretching back to the 1930s. The AI leader analyzes not only historical data but also current events and is able to formulate solutions for all manner of political, legal, and governmental questions. By tapping into such a vast knowledge base, Lebanon’s AI President will have a deep understanding of the country’s past, as well as an unbiased take on the challenges the nation faces going forward.

The new AI President was unveiled in a recent live broadcast. Nayla Tueni, editor-in-chief of AnNahar Newspaper conducted an interview with the digital leader, asking relevant questions about the current state of Lebanon, and how to fix the country’s difficult political situation. AnNahar has also converted its print newspaper to focus entirely on the new president’s guidance on issues spanning everything from the economy to sustainability and the environment.

Also Read: Abu Dhabi To Develop $1 Billion eSports Island Facility

After the interview, Nayla Tueni commented: “As Lebanese people, and especially at AnNahar, we refuse to sit back and allow things to go on as they have. To not have a president for this long is unacceptable and has impacted the country negatively. If the parliament will not do its job to elect a president, then the people will bring to Lebanon a president”.

The AI President will soon be accessible to everyone at OurPresident.ai, Users will be able to ask questions in a similar manner to the likes of ChatGPT and Google Gemini. It is also understood that government officials will also use the tool to help devise new directives.

The post Lebanese Newspaper Builds AI President To Beat Political Crisis appeared first on Tech Magazine.

Lebanon’s Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ali Hamieh, addressed the public the following day, expressing a commitment to uncovering the perpetrators of the incident and reassuring the public that the airport remained fully operational.

Meanwhile, Fadi El-Hassan, Director General of Civil Aviation, reported that the issues with the airport’s screens had been resolved, and normal functionality had been restored across passenger terminals, including arrival and departure halls.

Despite these developments, official statements from Lebanese authorities regarding the incident were yet to be released, as investigations continued under the oversight of the Lebanese security services, as confirmed by Minister Ali Hamieh.

As of now, no information has surfaced regarding the compromise of airport data, such as flight details, passenger records, or other sensitive information. However, technical experts at SMEX, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing digital human rights across West Asia and North Africa, say that the severity of the cyberattack reveals clues on the motives behind it.

Also Read: The Largest Data Breaches In The Middle East

Members of SMEX’s technical team raised concerns about the cyber breach, stating, “If the perpetrators were able to manipulate screen content and disrupt the Baggage Handling System (BHS), it indicates the possible presence of malware within the compromised system”.

SMEX’s technical experts have also outlined several conceivable scenarios for the attack:

• The breach may have originated from the airport’s internal network, possibly involving the installation of malicious software by an individual with insider access to the airport’s systems.
• Another possibility is the compromise of an employee’s device through social engineering or a phishing attack, typically delivered via email or other deceptive means.
• An employee with privileged system access might have been coerced or manipulated through blackmail, bribery, or threats, facilitating unauthorized entry into the airport’s systems.

Lebanese authorities have yet to pinpoint the root cause of the airport cyberattack, leaving room for speculation about potential sources, which may include internal, external, or even governmental actors.

The post Beirut Airport Cybersecurity Incident: How It Unfolded appeared first on Tech Magazine.

Now, with the Israel-Hamas conflict threatening to spill over into neighboring regions, Lebanon’s already patchy internet connectivity could become even worse, with telecommunications usually one of the first pieces of infrastructure to be targeted during an attack.

To address these problems and provide enhanced connectivity, Lebanon’s Ministry of Telecommunications has explored Elon Musk’s Starlink system, which relies on 3,200 satellites, negating the need for fixed wires and other paraphernalia.

Caretaker Minister of Telecommunications Johnny Corm thinks that Starlink could be the key to solving Lebanon’s internet woes, explaining that “The ministry will grant licenses to companies that will sell this system to individuals through the Ministry of Telecom. We will not have to pay anything,” in response to questions about how such a partnership would work.

Although expensive for individuals, Starlink would allow businesses to expand their operations with faster and more reliable internet connections. In addition, the SpaceX service would enable Lebanon to better connect to the global digital economy.

Also Read: The Largest Data Breaches In The Middle East

However, there are downsides to the satellite-based system. One of the major obstacles is cost, as the technology is much more expensive than traditional cables or fiber optics solutions. Additionally, the satellite signal could be disrupted by bad weather or other natural causes. Finally, the government would need to establish regulations to ensure the service complies with global standards.

Nevertheless, where the Lebanese government has historically been unable to meet citizens’ needs for reliable internet, Starlink has the potential to make a difference and provide a welcome boost to the Lebanese economy in the process.

The post Starlink In Lebanon: An End To Lebanon’s Internet Nightmare? appeared first on Tech Magazine.

So far, scheduled flights have not been affected by heightened regional tensions, despite Palestinian militants from Hamas clashing with IDF forces in what is now the deadliest conflict since 2006.

A spokesperson from MEA said the planes had been moved to Istanbul airport over the weekend and would remain there for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, the remaining 19 aircraft in the fleet are operating normally.

Middle East Airlines staff are also on standby to implement an emergency plan to move the rest of the airliners if the situation worsens.

Also Read: eVTOL Gives Glimpse Into The Future Of Personal Air Travel

“It’s a plan in case of an emergency. God willing, we won’t need it,” explained the MEA spokesperson.

Back in 2006, the Lebanese carrier diverted all its planes from Beirut airport at the start of the month-long 2006 war, which was responsible for the deaths of 1,200 Lebanese citizens. The airport was later bombed, rendering it inoperable.

The post MEA Reserves 5 Aircraft In Turkey As Conflict Precaution appeared first on Tech Magazine.

“Cycling is one of the healthiest, most environmentally friendly, and financially accessible modes of city commuting. It is 18 times less polluting than driving a car and offers freedom of movement, reduces stress, and fulfills the daily physical activity required to live a healthy lifestyle,” explains Joyce Hamadeh, head of communications at Wave Bike.

Wave Bike was launched back in 2021, with a $250,000 investment helping the startup tackle Lebanon’s unique traffic dynamics, road systems, and geographic challenges. Now in full operation, Wave Bike’s fleet of 325 bicycles can be hired for as little as $49 per month.

Wave Bike assembles new additions to its fleet using a team of Lebanese mechanics. The bikes are shipped in from Taiwan and are specced with broader tires to navigate poor road surfaces, along with narrow bars for better maneuverability. Meanwhile, electric motors assist communities on inclines, and a handy center stand makes parking straightforward.

Also Read: eVTOL Gives Glimpse Into The Future Of Personal Air Travel

The bikes are offered on a subscription basis, which, according to Joyce Hamze, also includes safety gear: “Wave offers a monthly subscription, meaning every person will receive a bike of his/her own to keep until termination, and it includes maintenance, helmet, and theft insurance”.

Although Wave’s bikes use electric motors, the batteries consume little electricity. They’re also detachable, so can be recharged in a convenient location. Meanwhile, the company also offers an app that allows riders “the chance to discover the friendliest cycling routes while enjoying special features”, including routing, journey tracking, maintenance support, and access to Bike Functions.

The post Wave Bike Is On A Mission To Improve Beirut Commuting appeared first on Tech Magazine.

The report, carried out by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), highlights issues concerning in-air navigation services (ANS) that must be addressed with “utmost urgency”. The problem areas include air-traffic control, navigation, communication, and meteorological services.

ICAO conducts regular audits on the air infrastructure of member states to assess their capability to maintain adequate safety systems.

As a signatory to the Chicago Convention, Lebanon must comply with any prescribed ICAO standards and recommended best practices.

In the event of an immediate safety concern, ICAO can “red flag” a country over any breach of international aviation regulations. Bhutan, Russia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are examples of such states.

While the governments of red-flagged countries are not legally obliged to make changes after a negative audit, the results serve as a warning to inbound airlines and travelers from other nations. In extreme cases, authorities may ban flights originating from offending countries from entering their airspace.

According to the audit, “ATC staff shortage is a serious safety issue for the Beirut Airport, which could have critical repercussions for aviation in Lebanon”.

Also Read: A Guide To Digital Payment Methods In The Middle East

The report stressed it was of “crucial importance” for Lebanon’s civil aviation authorities to begin the “recruitment and retention of appropriately qualified and experienced ATS staff” as “a matter of utmost urgency”.

Another major concern related to an absence of procedures to keep obstacle registries up to date and to verify the functionality of navigation systems. “Lebanon shall ensure that identified safety issues are resolved in a timely manner,” the report demanded.

The lack of air-traffic controllers has long been an issue for Lebanon but has intensified due to the country’s severe economic crisis. The national currency has now lost 97% of its value, pushing 80% of the population below the poverty line.

The post Global Watchdog Flags Multiple Safety Issues At Beirut Airport appeared first on Tech Magazine.

The emergency was confirmed by a spokesman from the Lebanese travel agency Nakhal, which leases the aircraft to Middle East Airlines (MEA). An MEA source also explained that passengers were in no danger and rejected takeoffs are a standard safety practice if a pilot suspects mechanical failure.

Also Read: NASA Chooses Lockheed Martin To Build Nuclear Mars Rocket

“Typically, during a takeoff phase, the captain and co-pilot signal each other when they reach 100 knots (185 km/h) to confirm that their instruments are synchronized. It was probably at this point that they detected the problem with the airspeed indicator, prompting the captain to abort the takeoff,” the pilot explained. “At this speed, braking may have been hard on the passengers, but the risks at this stage are under control”.

The Nakhal spokesman revealed that one person had fainted during the incident, but passengers were otherwise unharmed. Everyone involved was redirected to another flight to complete their journey.

The post Beirut Plane Departure Aborted Due To Technical Difficulties appeared first on Tech Magazine.