Analysis: Giving warships, funding a naval base – China’s gestures to Cambodia raise eyebrows over regional intent

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Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea as it is depicted in its so-called nine-dash column, but it has never fully defined what it means. This statement contradicts the sea says of Malaysia, Vietnam, and other Southeast Asian countries.

It would be impossible for China to work from Ream from a defense and military standpoint, according to Dr. Abdul Rahman of the Lowy Institute, from a position of authority in regional waters like the South China Sea or the Strait of Malacca.

” China has already built a number of military installations in the South China Sea, the majority of which were constructed using synthetic territories. These foundations, serving as local launchpads, may play a far more important role than the Ream marine base”, he said.

” Furthermore, the Ream naval base is just 30 miles from a grouping of Taiwanese military services. China conducting military operations there would not make sense because it could endanger sensitive information or make the Asian able to obstruct or prevent its ships.

According to Dr. Abuza from the National War College, China’s wider goal in using the bottom in Ream is to stop the formation of a unified local entrance against its regional states in the South China Sea.

” China’s presence that allows it to focus on Vietnam, which has overlapping states with Beijing in the contested waters”, he explained. ” Moreover, it reinforces China’s supremacy over Cambodia, making the country extremely reliant on Beijing- not just economically, but physically as well”.

China is Cambodia’s largest bilateral donation, merchant, trader, and trading partner, according to an ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute working papers published in March 2023.

With a diplomatic free trade agreement that became effective at the beginning of 2022, China strengthened its place as one of Cambodia’s essential trading partners. The pact eliminates tariffs on 97 % of Cambodian exports to China and 97 % of Chinese exports to China.

Over the past five decades, Cambodia’s exports to China had grown at an annual charge of 10.2 per share, rising from US$ 1 billion in 2017 to US$ 1.63 billion in 2022, according to state data.

China has also greatly invested in Cambodia’s system, including airports, streets, and private improvements such as hotels and casinos.

Data strong Seasia Stats reports that Cambodia is the fourth-largest victim of Foreign aid in Southeast Asia, receiving US$ 17.7 billion by 2024, behind Indonesia, Vietnam and Laos. This includes monetary assistance, financial projects, and building initiatives.

RAISING THE REGIONAL TEMPERATURE?

Experts are divided on whether growing defense ties between China and Cambodia may cause conflicts in the area. Some believe so- mainly with Vietnam, and to a lesser degree, Thailand.

Dr. Abdul Rahman noted that given the ongoing conflicts in the South China Sea, Hanoi may be particularly concerned that China is using Cambodia as a proper tool to impose pressure on its southwestern border.

” Taiwanese leaders view the construction of air defense services at Ream as a significant security threat, especially if it is managed by China,” Ream authorities said. Any applied air surveillance radar could help Chinese military personnel follow Asian aircraft as they travel through southern Vietnam, according to Dr. Abdul Rahman.

China could finally pose a danger to Vietnam from both the north and the south, combined with the prospect of Chinese naval vessels operating from Ream.

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Marriage Equality Bill becomes law

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praised as “monumental” step toward equal rights as aristocratic confirmation confirmed

PUBLISHED: 24 Sep 2024 at 22: 35

His Majesty the King has approved the Marriage Equality Bill, making Thailand the fourth nation in Asia to recognize same-sex unions after Taiwan and Nepal.

The law will become effective on January 22, 2025, 120 days after it was published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday, enabling same-sex couples to commence officially registering their unions.

” The legislation is a huge step towards equal rights in Thailand”, Waaddao Anne Chumaporn, the leader of Bangkok Pride, said on Tuesday.

On January 22, she intends to hold a large marriage for more than a thousand LGBTQ lovers in Bangkok.

The bill’s ultimate reading was approved by the Senate in June, the climax of protesters ‘ efforts for more than 20 years. An overwhelming preponderance of politicians in the lower house voted in favor of it.

The decision was welcomed at the time, with LGBT rights activists claiming that it would establish Thai rule over wedding equality in Southeast Asia.

The rules on union today uses gender-neutral words in place of “men”, “women”, “husbands” and “wives”, and also provides adoption and estate rights to same-sex couples.

The Marriage Equality Bill will be one of the most gender-inclusive legislation, according to Vitit Muntarbhorn, a respected international human rights professional and legal professor.” It will amend around 60 to 70 parts of the Civil and Commercial Codes,” she said at a new website.

He said that around 50 other rules, such as the Surrogacy Bill, Gender Recognition Bill, employment-related costs, and welfare-related expenses, need to be amended to ensure equitable and inclusive constitutional protections for LGBTQ communities in Thailand.

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Prabowo’s diplomatic dreams must balance economic realities – Asia Times

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Prabowo Subianto may take over as president of Indonesia next month, and there is growing hope that the soldier-turned-politician will play a more confrontational role for the country on a global scale.

While Prabowo’s aspirations for a prospective dramatic change in Indonesia’s diplomacy signal a potential dramatic change, any strategic change must be wisely balanced in light of the nation’s numerous pressing domestic economic issues.

It will be crucial to give foreign policies and initiatives a emphasizing in order to ensure that Indonesia’s people receive tangible benefits from a more activist politics.

Prabowo’s aspirations for a foreign policy, which were made known by his political appearances as defense minister, are now a major departure from Joko Widodo, who tended to adopt a cautious and pragmatic approach that emphasizes the preservation of stable international relations.

Many people anticipate that Prabowo does play a more significant role in shaping Indonesia’s world position and position. His initiatives to day, not least a proposed Ukraine harmony plan calling for a demilitarized zone and UN referendum, demonstrate a desire to uplift Indonesia’s international standing.

His high-profile visits to France, Turkey and Russia, however, underscore his ambition to develop ties with vital world powers on all sides of deepening political divides and position Indonesia as a popular, if not essential, middle-ground player and also possible mediator.

This proactive approach probably aligns with growing expectations for thick powers like Indonesia, the world’s fourth-largest nation and Southeast Asia’s largest economy, to enjoy a larger role in global management.

With the world’s “non-aligned” past and current decision against joining the BRICS gathering, increasingly seen as an anti-Western alliance led by China and Russia, it is well-positioned to stake out natural terrain on the international stage. &nbsp,

Indeed, Indonesia’s ability to bridge geopolitical divisions will likely increase its influence within important multilateral organizations like the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN ).

Prabowo will also need to use his globalist diplomacy to achieve economic success. These include the establishment of strategic international partnerships, targeted infrastructure and education investments, and a commitment to industrial diversification driven by FDI.

His diplomatic contacts with nations like France and Turkey could, for instance, attract FDI to sectors like manufacturing and renewable energy.

On the other hand, strengthening bilateral relations with Russia and China could improve trade and infrastructure collaboration, giving Indonesia the tools and resources it need for economic modernization.

By aligning foreign policy with domestic imperatives, Prabowo is well-placed to diversify Indonesia’s economic partnerships and reduce dependence on any single global power. This diversification would help protect the nation from external shocks and strengthen its standing as a negotiating partner on a global scale.

Prabowo must ensure that his international engagements are pursued in Indonesia in order to benefit ordinary Indonesians in ways that are not only based on their diplomatic value but also because they are intrinsically linked to improving their livelihoods, thereby enabling them to profit from globalization.

While Prabowo’s foreign policy initiatives have generally received a favorable response from Indonesians, his administration must also set realistic expectations to counteract the enthusiasm.

To be sure, Indonesia’s ascent to a major player on the global stage will take time. The immediate focus of Prabowo’s diplomacy, thus, should remain on addressing domestic challenges and improving the economy.

This integrated strategy will not only augment Indonesia’s global power and influence but also safeguard its long-term economic prosperity, all the while building Prabowo’s stature as a respected global statesman.

Former Indonesian Foreign Ministry diplomat Simon Hutagalung He graduated from the City University of New York with his master’s degree in political science and comparative politics. The views expressed here are his own.

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OMS Group allocates US0 mil  for investments in Global Cable Systems and Terrestrial Infrastructure

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  • Following KKR’s funding in OMS in 2023, the money was allocated.
  • Will partner telecoms providers to enhance system, change capex into green operating expenses

OMS Group allocates US$300 mil  for investments in Global Cable Systems and Terrestrial Infrastructure

OMS Group, a global leader in integrated telecommunications infrastructure solutions, announced that it has set aside US$ 300 million ( RM1.25 billion ) for investments to expand its submarine cable systems and terrestrial infrastructure. According to the business, this capital allocation comes after KKR invested in OMS Group in 2023.

The funding will help the group expand its network and offer businesses and organizations with important connectivity infrastructure. The company hopes to improve connectivity between crucial regions and encourage the expansion of modern technologies by expanding its submarine cable networks and earth infrastructure.

Ronnie Lim, party CEO at OMS Group, said,” Our funding is a direct reaction to the growing demands of the global digital habitat. The growth of data areas, cloud solutions, and the higher consumption rates of existing wire systems have created an urgent need to develop our system. As part of this vision, we aim to be a one-stop shop for client needs across subsea, Cable Landing Stations ( CLS), and terrestrial networks, starting with the Asean region”.

This integrated approach will facilitate access to our extensive services while even laying the foundation for our development into the larger APAC market, ensuring that we can satisfy the diverse and expanding needs of our clients in this dynamic environment.

Utilizing its long-term investment capital to aid them in transitioning capital expenditures into green operating costs, OMS Group will work with telecom providers to progress crucial infrastructure. The group is positioned to deliver strong digital backbone and scalable submarine cable solutions, which are essential for regional digital transformation. The investment includes developing uplink system from Constructors to data centers, which will further strengthen its “platformization” approach.

” Our move to guide asset ownership of submarine cable networks and CLS is in line with our goal to improve global connection, particularly in Asia. This purchase is in line with our goal of expanding the world’s system of telecommunications infrastructures and addressing the growing data demand. By incorporating earth downlink into our profile, we aim to offer a complete complement to our existing position in the changing telecommunications landscape, according to Rozaimy Rahman, CEO of Interconnect Managed Services.

With a different fleet of cable ships, barges, and cable docking stations serving the international communications industry, OMS Group is one of the largest separate operators in this sector. The team’s investments include Project MIST, an intra-Asia deepwater cable system stretching 8, 100 miles with a 216 TB ability, connecting Malaysia, India, Singapore, and Thailand through landing points in Chennai and Mumbai. Additionally, LitUp Network, a subsidiary of OMS Group, has developed four CLSs and network support facilities in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, owning dark fibers and licenses to operate network facilities and infrastructure in these countries.

I’m proud to highlight our ongoing investments in vessels, subsea networks, robust terrestrial backhaul systems as we move forward with our company, OMS Group. These initiatives strengthen our commitment to comprehensive connectivity solutions and serve as a crucial backbone for the region’s digital economy. Our clients can rely on our proven experience and infrastructure as we develop to meet their changing needs, according to Lim Soon Foo, chairman of OMS Group.

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A chip-making powerhouse is reborn in Japan – Asia Times

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Japan – In a level of the AI increase days, Japan’s Kokusai Electric is building its first fresh in-country shop in 35 years.

In the markets for Chemical Vapor Deposition ( CVD), Atomic Layer Deposition ( ALD ), and other thermal process and plasma treatment equipment used to create nanoscale thin films for the fabrication of integrated circuits ( ICs ) on silicon wafers, Kokusai squares off against Applied Materials and Tokyo Electron.

Following a successful spin-off from the Hitachi Group led by US private equity firm KKR, the business has since resurrected as a leader in semiconductor manufacturing technology.

Kokusai is significantly smaller than Applied Materials and Tokyo Electron in terms of overall sales, but according to market research firm Gartner, it holds significant market share in its key products, accounting for 34 % of batch CVD in 2023 and 70 % in batch ALD.

Kokusai’s target applications include AI processors and other advanced logic ICs, the high-bandwidth memory ( HBM ) used with AI processors, 3D NAND flash memory and silicon carbide power devices.

” As silicon products have become three-dimensional and more sophisticated in recent years”, Kokusai explains,” the edge of chips has become more difficult. This, in turn, has increased need for very difficult accumulation”.

Examples include the continuously increasing number of layers in 3D NAND, the Gate All Around ( GAA ) transistors developed with 3nm process technology, and the Complementary Field-Effect Transistor ( CFET ) architecture being developed by nanoelectronics R&amp, D organization imec for use at process nodes below 1nm, which were all envisioned at the end of the decade.

Kokusai has also established a significant presence in the market for advanced reasoning Circuit thermal processing products, first in Japan and China, and then in Europe and the US. In the past four rooms, just over 50 % of the company’s income were in China.

Graphic: Asia Times

The semiconductor production equipment business started with a single diamond germanium/silicon ingot grabber in 1956, which Kokusai Electric Company, which was established in 1949 as a maker of telecommunications and other electronic equipment, began.

A propagation furnace was created in 1964, and a CVD system was created in 1970 as a result. In 1961, the business was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

In 2000, Kokusai Electric merged with Hitachi Denshi, a maker of film, communications and analyze tools, and Yagi Antenna to shape Hitachi Kokusai Electric, a unified company of digital conglomerate Hitachi Ltd.

With sales and service centers in Taiwan, China, Europe, and the US, Hitachi Kokusai has grown to become a leader in the production of semiconductor production tools. It has also established companies in Japan and South Korea.

However, it was a difficult mashup of three largely related organizations. US merger business KKR seized 24.9 % of Hitachi Kokusai in a contentious deal with different foreign and Chinese investors in 2017 as part of the reform of the Hitachi Group.

Hitachi Kokusai’s semiconductor production equipment department was spun off, taken over by KKR, and renamed Kokusai Electric Corporation in 2018.

Applied Materials and KKR reached an agreement to buy Kokusai in 2019, but that deal fell apart two years later subject to objections from the Chinese competitive regulator.

The Chinese choice made sense because Kokusai’s product line would match Applied Materials ‘ and boost its market focus. If the parties involved in a package have a significant business reputation in the nation, Chinese authorization is necessary.

Kokusai Electric Corporation was listed on the bottom tier of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in October 2023, earning DealWatch’s” IPO of the Year” accolade. ( The 1995 establishment of the DealWatch Awards helped to grow and expand Japan-related capital markets. ) &nbsp,

DealWatch wrote in its assessment of Kokusai that” we cautiously executed the deal in a tough situation with an uncertain business culture and a worsening silicon cycle. This is the first large-scale world IPO in Japan in approximately five years.” We attracted attention from blue-chip outside investors, leading to incredibly strong property value performance”. Kokusai’s IPO price was ¥1, 840, but it jumped more than 30 % on the first day of trading.

By the end of the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2024, KKR owned 43.4 % of Kokusai. In July, KKR sold about half that stake. The most recent shareholder data available shows Qatar Investment Authority at 4.9 %, Applied Materials at 14.7 %, and KKR at 23.2 %.

Since July, Kokusai’s share price has dropped from an all-time high of 5, 940 to 3, 320 yen. Applied Materials made some profit, KKR made some profit, and other investors bought shares in exchange for what it could not have acquired in a takeover. Kokusai has now gotten its independence from KKR after fleeing the Hitachi bureaucracy.

Toyama Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo on the Japan Sea, will now have Kokusai’s new 24 billion yen factory, which will be able to meet its goal of double production capacity in five years, up to March 2026, with twice the efficiency of older facilities. It will also seek to strengthen the company’s R&amp, D capability.

” To make our operations smarter”, Kokusai’s management said,” we plan to systematically introduce cutting-edge technologies, including IT, IoT]Internet of Things], digitalization, data utilization, automation, and even AI”. The beginning of production is expected in October.

Kokusai is also expanding its service and support operations in the US, Europe, India, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, mainland China and Japan.

Its customers include TSMC, Samsung Electronics, Micron Technology, Chinese DRAM maker CXMT, Intel and other leading semiconductor makers. The key to filling up the new factory will be having the necessary equipment to implement their advanced process technologies.

Follow this writer on&nbsp, X: @ScottFo83517667

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Singapore Red Cross expands Typhoon Yagi, monsoon aid efforts to Myanmar with S,000 contribution

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SINGAPORE: The Singapore Red Cross ( SRC ) is expanding its aid efforts for communities affected by&nbsp, Typhoon Yagi and the southwest monsoon to include Myanmar.

In a media release released on Friday ( Sep 20 ), it stated that” this comes as part of a larger, region-wide effort to assist communities severely impacted across Southeast Asia.”

At least &nbsp, 293 people in Myanmar have been killed by Typhoon Yagi, with state advertising reporting that nearly 270, 000ha of rice paddies and other vegetation had been destroyed by storms.

Additionally, the UN has issued a warning that as many as 630, 000 persons in Myanmar may be in need of support as a result of the typhoon. The harm led the junta to issue a&nbsp, unique appeal for international aid&nbsp, previous weekend.

Almost 6 million children have been impacted by the floods and landslides caused by Typhoon Yagi, according to the UN on September 18.

The SRC will contribute S$ 50, 000 ( US$ 38, 750 ) to support&nbsp, disaster relief efforts in Myanmar, working closely with the Myanmar Red Cross Society.

” This will finance the distribution of food, clean water, health products, and other vital items to the areas hardest hit by the new emergencies”, it said.

SRC will also be sending liquid frames in the upcoming days because it is urgently necessary for safe drinking water.

Following SRC’s earlier pledges of S$ 50, 000 each for humanitarian assistance for Laos and Vietnam, Myanmar receives this help.

The SRC said that its people fundraising appeal will then help relief and recovery work in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.

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Laos seeks Asean’s help with Mekong

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Floods and water safety call out right away

PUBLISHED: 19 Sep 2024 at 04: 59

Saleumxay: Beset by water woes
Saleumxay: Troubled by water troubles

As the area continues to experience more storms, Laos is urging Asean and other partners to work together to address the issue of Mekong River liquid stability and economic concerns.

Speaking at the beginning of the” 2nd Asean-MRC Water Security Dialogue” among Asian member states, Mekong River countries and development partners to discuss ocean safety on Wednesday, Saleumxay Kommasith, Laos ‘ assistant PM and foreign secretary, said the Mekong River is the basis of people’s livelihoods in island Southeast Asia.

It is the source of food manufacturing, electricity generation and tenacious trade and commerce.

He claimed that the Mekong River, which provides 2.6 million tonnes of fish every and feeds the lake, contributes to the area’s food safety.

The Mekong River has been dealing with problems despite its abundance of valuable natural resources because climate change, swift river development, and environmental pressure are all contributing factors.

For instance, residents living along the river have been experiencing rising water levels as a result of Typhoon Yagi, which has flooded numerous areas of the Mekong valley and destroyed people’s lives, house, and social items, Mr. Saleumxay told the website.

It was held under the style” Green Funding for a Connected, Resilient, and Water-Secure Southeast Asia”.

According to Mr. Saleumxay, a situation like this necessitates immediate actions for water security, better preventative measures, including improved risk management and early warning systems, as well as a higher level of preparation.

He argued that Asean-MRC may play a significant role in promoting ocean governance and disaster prevention among member states and protecting local communities in the basin.

Prior to the MRC’s consultation process on a electricity task along the Mekong River, it has served as the main channel for member states to openly share information, knowledge, and timely warning.

We must work together to improve our coordination and collaboration in this context to balance economic growth and environmental concerns. The key to the sustainable use and management of water resources lies in cooperation within the Mekong and beyond, he added.

” Let us keep working together to build a more dependable and secure Asean.”

Bounkham Vorachit, the Laos ‘ Natural Resources and Environment Minister, the head of the Lao National Mekong Committee, and the head of the 2024 MRC Council, stated during her remarks that the Mekong River is a crucial source of energy that supports the nations ‘ development, primarily hydropower and more recently solar, wind, and pumped storage. Beyond its role in energy production, the river and its basin support millions of livelihoods through agriculture, fisheries, and transport.

However, according to Ms. Bounkham, those who live along the Mekong are at risk of climate-related disasters because more frequent typhoons and extreme weather events are brought on by climate change, which results in more flooding and drought, and pose a threat to the area.

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Gold Apollo: Taiwan pager maker stunned by link to Lebanon attacks

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BBC A pager made by Gold Apollo BBC

The search for the originator of the pagers that exploded in Lebanon has taken an unexpected turn, heading in the direction of a Chinese business that few had heard of until this day.

In the blasts that targeted Hezbollah people on Tuesday, which sparked a gepolitical upheaval in the Middle East, at least 12 people were killed and almost 3, 000 were hurt.

Caught in the issue, Chinese firm Gold Apollo’s leader Hsu Ching-Kuang bluntly denied his organization had anything to do with the problems.

Instead, Mr. Hsu has claimed that he gave his trade level to a Hungarian business called BAC Consulting so they could use the name Gold Apollo on their own websites. BBC attempts to contact BAC have so far been fruitless.

” You look at the pictures from Lebanon”, Mr Hsu told investigators outside his firm’s practices on Wednesday. ” They do n’t have any mark saying Made in Taiwan on them, we did not make those pagers”!

The headquarters of Gold Apollo are in a huge new business area in a non-descript district of Taiwan’s money, Taipei.

Except for the two police officers stationed at the gate, who are prepared to ward off the huge bunch of reporters and Television crews squatting around, they appear exactly like any of the thousands of small buying companies and manufacturers that make up the region’s economy.

A clip of little squarish plastic devices with tiny gray LCD screens hangs on the walls of Gold Apollo’s workplace. They are all pagers.

Until this day the bank’s site had a website devoted to each, extolling its values and realities. However, the site went online as soon as information emerged that Gold Apollo was the reported owner of the weapons used in the assaults in Lebanon.

Mr. Hsu claimed that BAC Consulting pagers were used in the problems in Lebanon. He claimed that BAC Consulting and his business had entered into a three-year partnership three years ago.

The cash payments from BAC had been “very strange”, he added. There had been difficulties with the repayments, which had come through the Middle East, he told investigators, but he did not go into details.

First, he said, BAC wanted to buy pagers from Gold Apollo to offer in Europe. However, they came up with a new idea after about a year to create their personal pagers and gave Gold Apollo’s title.

We merely grant the brand’s brand a license, and Gold Apollo never participated in the product’s design or production, according to a statement.

However, the fact that there is now a team from the Taipei investigation bureau working in his office, which also contains a lot of carboard boxes, suggests that the Japanese authorities are not completely at ease.

Joy Chiang / BBC Reporters surround two police officers as they enter the offices of Gold Apollo in Taipei. Joy Chiang / BBC

Nevertheless, Mr Hsu’s statement that his company did n’t make the devices is plausible.

Taiwan’s manufacturing industry is a sizable maze of small businesses, many of which do not really produce the goods they sell. They may have research and design agencies, ownership of the brand name, and the academic house. However, the majority of the genuine production is done overseas in factories in China or Southeast Asia.

Pagers are not exactly cutting-edge systems; there are many businesses all over the world that are capable of producing them.

They are tiny television receivers that can read and display emails, with LED screens. Electric pagers were regarded as the most recent technology in the 1980s and 1990s and were used by tens of millions of people. Businesses used pagers to send brief words messages to subject people before mobile phones.

Joy Chiang / BBC Police officers inside the offices of Gold Apollo in Taipei. Joy Chiang / BBC

However, with the development of the wise phone, pagers have come to the brink of extinction. They are now a market system that hospitals can use to communicate with doctors and nurses even when other conversation lines are hampered.

Beginning in the late 2000s, Gold Apollo began producing additional short-range radios, primarily for restaurants. A round disc that is currently the most popular item the company sells to customers in restaurants and food courts is the company’s most popular product right now. It vibrates and lights off when the order is available.

As a trustworthy voicemail company, it’s possible that Gold Apollo’s model was instrumental in selling the pagers that ended up with Hezbollah.

However, in this remarkable tale, there are still more questions than answers.

Who is or was responsible for BAC Consulting that we are so little aware of?

If Gold Apollo did not produce the pagers used in the invasion in Lebanon, therefore who and where did they do?

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