Latest news with #Mansouri
Morocco World
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Algerian ‘Jabaroot' Group Behind CNSS Breach Attacks Moroccan Property Registry
Doha – The Moroccan National Agency for Land Conservation, Cadastre and Cartography (ANCFCC) has become the latest victim of a major cyberattack claimed by 'Jabaroot,' the same hacker group behind April's CNSS breach. The group, which identifies itself as Algerian, announced the attack on Monday, allegedly resulting in the theft and subsequent leak of thousands of sensitive property documents. According to claims the group made on their Telegram channel, the hackers have exfiltrated and released what they describe as 'a massive amount of sensitive data' from ANCFCC's databases. The leaked information reportedly includes 10,000 property ownership certificates out of a total database of more than 10 million land titles. The compromised data allegedly contains cadastral information, property owner identities, real estate references, and various personal and administrative documents. These include approximately 20,000 various documents such as sales deeds, civil status documents, copies of ID cards, passports, and banking documents, amounting to approximately 4 terabytes of data. This cyberattack comes approximately two months after the same group claimed responsibility for hacking the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) database in April. That intrusion exposed personal data of nearly 2 million Moroccan employees across approximately 500,000 businesses registered with the CNSS. Immediately following that earlier breach, the land registry agency had temporarily suspended access to its online platform on April 14—particularly the service dedicated to notaries—and decided to close the platform entirely to all professionals and users, reverting to paper-based filing and in-person payments at physical counters using the old method. The agency had then urged all professionals—including notaries, lawyers, and users—to go directly to land registry agencies to process their filings and payments in person until further notice. An 'unjustified intervention' The Jabaroot group has justified this attack as a direct response to what they call 'Moroccan media's false propaganda' regarding rumors about France freezing assets belonging to high-ranking Algerian officials. 'These political tensions only concern France and Algeria,' the group stated, describing the alleged propaganda as 'an unjustified intervention and an opportunistic way to attack Algeria again on the international stage.' Some of the first documents published on the Telegram channel reportedly involve real estate transactions by high-profile Moroccan public figures. The hackers specifically claim to have released sensitive documents belonging to senior Moroccan officials, including what they allege are documents of Mohamed Yassine Mansouri, the director general of foreign intelligence. The group has made serious allegations that 'while the Moroccan people suffer from poverty and deprivation in various forms, Mansouri spent more than MAD 3.5 million ($350,000) between 2022 and 2023, and established companies in his daughter's name.' At the time of reporting, ANCFCC has not yet officially addressed the origin of these alleged leaks or the authenticity of the circulated documents. It remains unclear whether the method of intrusion into the land registry database is identical to the one used against the CNSS. Tags: Algerian hackersancfcccyberattack
LBCI
20-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Education Minister Karami condemns Israeli strike Near Mansouri school, urges protection of educational institutions
Education Minister Rima Karami condemned the Israeli strike that targeted a motorcycle near the public school in Mansouri, in the Tyre district of South Lebanon, which caused injuries in the area. The Directorate of Basic Education at the ministry coordinated with the regional education office, issued instructions to close the school, and oversaw the process of handing students over to their families. Minister Karami contacted the school principal and inquired about the safety of the students, teachers, and administrative staff following what she described as a brutal attack. She called on the United Nations and influential countries around the world to "pressure Israel to stop its brutal assaults on innocent civilians and to spare schools and educational institutions from attacks that do not distinguish between a school, a street, or a home."
LBCI
20-05-2025
- Health
- LBCI
Lebanon's Health Ministry says nine wounded in updated toll from airstrike on Mansouri
Lebanon's Health Ministry announced that nine people were wounded in the updated toll of the Israeli airstrike that targeted the town of Mansouri in South Lebanon.
National News
04-04-2025
- Business
- National News
Karim Saiid assumes governorship of Lebanese Central Bank as Mansouri highlights key reforms
NNA - During the handover ceremony at the Lebanese Central Bank, Acting Governor Wassim Mansouri congratulated incoming Governor, Karim Saiid, expressing confidence that 'the central bank is in trustworthy hands.' Mansouri emphasized the historic decision to halt state financing, grounded in the Monetary and Credit Law, citing public interest as the sole driver behind BDL's policies. He noted the shutdown of the Sayrafa platform despite risks to the exchange rate, crediting monetary coordination with the government for containing inflation. Moreover, Mansouri announced a rise in BDL's foreign currency reserves, an audit of the gold holdings, and the full cleanup of the central bank's balance sheet, including the dismantling of financial engineering remnants. He stressed the need for a comprehensive government-endorsed deposit recovery plan and confirmed the restoration of relations with correspondent banks, distancing BDL and Lebanon's banking sector from FATF's grey list. In his remarks, Governor Karim Saiid praised the central bank's staff for ensuring continuity during Lebanon's crisis. He pledged full adherence to the constitution and banking regulations, urging the recapitalization of commercial banks and their contribution to deposit repayments. He also called for restructuring the sector and restoring public trust through legal financial channels, combating illicit finance, and requiring banks to boost capital or consider mergers. Saiid concluded by announcing a shift in the Central Bank's public communication strategy, stating the bank will now adopt a 'silent observer' role, limiting its outreach to official statements and economic reports.
Asharq Al-Awsat
25-03-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Lebanese Central Bank Rejects Proposals to Invest Gold Reserves
The sharp rise in the market value of Lebanon's gold reserves has sparked renewed debate over their potential use to support the country's financial recovery. However, the central bank remains firm in its stance against any move to liquidate or invest the reserves, citing strict legal restrictions and the risks of mismanagement. A senior financial official, speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, acknowledged the significance of these discussions, particularly as the central bank's updated figures estimate Lebanon's gold holdings at around $28 billion. However, he emphasized that before considering any new policies, a full qualitative audit of the reserves is necessary to determine their exact value, weight, and historical origins. Lebanon officially holds approximately 286.8 tons of gold, or 9.25 million ounces. This reserve was accumulated under the 1963 Monetary and Credit Law to back the Lebanese lira. Currently, two-thirds of the gold is stored securely at the central bank in Beirut, while the remaining third is held at Fort Knox in the United States. Despite the growing interest in leveraging this asset, Lebanese law strictly prohibits any direct or indirect transaction involving the gold. Law No. 42 of 1986 mandates that any sale, leasing, or investment of the reserves must receive explicit approval from Parliament. Acting Central Bank Governor Dr. Wassim Mansouri has reaffirmed this restriction, stating unequivocally: 'No matter what happens, I will not sign off on moving even a gram of gold.' Mansouri also highlighted the dangers of using reserves irresponsibly. Before Lebanon's financial collapse in late 2019, the central bank held around $33 billion in foreign currency reserves, while gold reserves were valued at $16 billion. The cash reserves were largely depleted through unsustainable subsidy programs, leaving only $8.5 billion today. 'We lost one and a half times the value of our gold, and it didn't solve anything. The idea of using gold is simply not an option,' he said. While some policymakers argue that investing the gold could generate much-needed revenue, financial experts warn that without proper governance, such a move could lead to further mismanagement. Instead, they stress the need for deeper economic and institutional reforms. A key priority is securing an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to ensure financial discipline, transparency, and oversight. Any decision regarding the gold reserves would require parliamentary approval and a clear, well-justified plan. However, financial experts argue that Lebanon already possesses vast state-owned assets that, if managed properly, could help close the country's estimated $72 billion financial gap. These assets include coastal and riverfront properties, 850 million square meters of state-owned land, high-value real estate in Beirut and other cities, as well as key infrastructure such as electricity, water, telecommunications, ports, and transport networks. Many of these resources remain underutilized due to corruption and inefficiency.
