What we know about the Taiwanese firm caught up in Lebanon’s exploding pagers attack
CNN
The deadly simultaneous explosions triggered by hundreds of pagers carried by Hezbollah members in Lebanon have thrust a little-known Taiwanese electronics manufacturer into the global spotlight, after its damaged products were identified in images following the attack.
The deadly simultaneous explosions triggered by hundreds of pagers carried by Hezbollah members in Lebanon have thrust a little-known Taiwanese electronics manufacturer into the global spotlight, after its damaged products were identified in images following the attack. At the non-descript offices of Gold Apollo on the outskirts of the Taiwanese capital on Wednesday, the founder of the company, Hsu Ching-kuang, vehemently denied making the pagers used in the massive assault. Instead, he said the devices were made by a European firm that had licensed his brand. “Of course, I feel like a victim,” Hsu told reporters shortly before police officers arrived to carry out an investigation. “I’ve been going about my own business for 30 years, why am I suddenly roped into this?” Multiple photos from the Tuesday attacks appearing to show damaged pagers bearing the Gold Apollo trademark has heightened scrutiny of the company, especially after the New York Times reported, citing unnamed sources, that Israel hid explosives inside the devices and added a switch in each one, which was later used to detonate them remotely. The production of pagers is highly regulated in Taiwan due to their transmission functions, with authorities conducting regular inspections, a senior Taiwanese security official told CNN on Wednesday. Gold Apollo’s pagers had met all standards and nothing unusual was found, according to the official, who did not provide further details about the inspection. Authorities are additionally looking into the company’s claim that it had outsourced production to Europe, they added.
Nippon Steel is expected to re-file its application for a national security review by American regulators of its $15 billion takeover bid of US Steel, sources familiar with the matter told CNN on Tuesday, buying Japan’s largest steelmaker an additional 90 days to close its acquisition of an American rival after political opposition emerged in an election year.
So far, the attacks that targeted Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah members through their pagers have had devastating consequences. At least nine people, including an eight-year-old girl, were killed, and at least 2,800 were wounded. Over 150 of those injured are in critical condition, according to the Lebanese health minister.