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Lebanon Approves Starlink License To Provide Internet Nationwide
The government has finally granted Starlink a license to operate nationwide for business users, with packages starting at $100 a month.
Lebanon has granted Starlink a license to provide services across the country, ending months of negotiations between the government and Elon Musk’s satellite internet provider.
Tony Saad, spokesperson for Telecommunications Minister Charles Hage, confirmed that Starlink established a local entity to secure the license. The service will be limited to companies rather than individuals, with packages starting at $100 per month.
Talks began in early 2025 after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with Sam Turner, Starlink’s Global Director of Licensing and Development. Turner argued satellite connectivity could support sectors including industry, banking, education and government services.
The presidency later disclosed that Aoun spoke directly with Musk by phone, extending an invitation to visit Beirut. Musk reportedly expressed interest in Lebanon’s telecom market and said he would consider travelling when timing allowed. Aoun’s office said the government was prepared to provide the necessary facilitation under the country’s legal and regulatory framework.
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Lebanon has struggled for years with some of the slowest and most expensive internet in the region. High mobile data costs, underinvestment and mismanagement have left infrastructure fragile and businesses reliant on patchy connections. Officials hope Starlink’s entry will give companies more reliable access, though consumer availability remains uncertain.
The license marks a rare step forward for a sector still weakened by corruption and debt.
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OpenAI’s ChatGPT Health Is A Private Space For Health Data
A new health mode lets the popular AI platform tap medical records and fitness apps while walling off sensitive information.
OpenAI has created ChatGPT Health, a separate space inside its chatbot platform for handling medical and wellness data. The opt-in feature starts with a small US cohort before widening out.
Health-related questions have long driven traffic to AI tools. OpenAI says over 230 million people ask ChatGPT about health or insurance each week. The new mode adds personal context to that behavior but stops short of diagnosis or treatment advice.
Users can connect records from participating US providers through b.well and link apps such as Apple Health, MyFitnessPal, Function and Weight Watchers. Some links are US-only, while Apple Health needs iOS. Once connected, ChatGPT can surface patterns in labs, summarize information ahead of a clinic visit or help map diet and exercise choices against past data.
The data sits apart from other chat information. Health has its own memories and does not spill into other conversations. Users can view or delete health memories at any time. OpenAI says this material is not used to train its models.
Security is much heavier in this section too. Health adds isolation and purpose-built encryption on top of the platform’s baseline protections. App connections require explicit permission, and disconnecting cuts the feed immediately.
“ChatGPT Health is another step toward turning ChatGPT into a personal super-assistant that can support you with information and tools to achieve your goals across any part of your life,” wrote Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s applications chief.
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Physicians had input during development, though OpenAI has not detailed how that shaped the end product. The launch follows Health Bench, a dataset released in May to test models on realistic medical cases.
While currently rooted in the US healthcare ecosystem, the approach may draw interest in the Gulf and wider MENA markets as governments push digital health records and patient portals under modernization programs. Adoption will depend on whether users trust an AI assistant with such personal material and whether it fits clinical routines.
For OpenAI, the move marks a cautious step into regulated terrain and signals a shift toward sector-specific uses of generative AI.
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