High-speed Starlink internet is set to come to Lebanon after the government granted a licence to the Elon Musk-owned satellite network.
The service could upgrade internet access in a country often affected by power cuts and unstable telecoms. Starlink is already available in parts of the Middle East, including Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Jordan.
Talks on expanding to Lebanon have been taking place for months and ministers agreed to grant a licence at a cabinet meeting on Thursday, Information Minister Paul Morcos said.
Mr Musk, whose company SpaceX company runs the Starlink satellites, spoke to Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun in June and "expressed interest" in entering the country's internet sector.
Starlink executive, Sam Turner, had previously pitched the service to Mr Aoun as a way to "positively impact the work of industrial, commercial, banking and educational institutions, as well as government departments and institutions”.
Satellite internet is an alternative to mobile and fibreoptic connections. Damage to a Red Sea cable led to internet speeds slowing to a crawl in parts of the Middle East last weekend. Starlink services were interrupted by power cuts in July and August.
More than 8,000 Starlink satellites operate about 550km above the Earth. The company says its services are pending regulatory approval in the UAE.
Mr Musk, the world's richest man, was a major backer of US President Donald Trump during his 2024 election campaign. He led a major cost-cutting initiative known as the Department of Government Efficiency before leaving his role amid a public fallout with Mr Trump.
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Pakistan 482
Australia 30/0 (13 ov)
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Manchester United 6 (McTominay 2', 3'; Fernandes 20', 70' pen; Lindelof 37'; James 65')
Leeds United 2 (Cooper 41'; Dallas 73')
Man of the match: Scott McTominay (Manchester United)
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Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
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Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:
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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
