Author: Antony Dunn

Dubai-based telecommunications company, du, has been announced as the Telecommunication Partner for the prestigious Arab Media Forum 2023. The forum, scheduled for September 26 and 27, 2023, is under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

As the Telecommunication Partner, du will enhance the experience of forum attendees by providing unparalleled connectivity services. Leveraging du’s world-leading network, participants will enjoy high-speed and reliable connectivity for seamless streaming, sharing experiences, and active engagement in the diverse showcases and events.

Adel Al Raees, Head of Corporate Communication at du, expressed the company’s commitment to delivering exceptional digital experiences at prestigious events like the Arab Media Forum 2023. Recognizing the importance of connectivity in the media industry, du aims to foster collaboration and innovation among professionals. With cutting-edge technologies, their solutions will empower every participant, enabling digital transformation and driving excellence in the industry.

The Arab Media Forum is an influential platform for local and international media figures, professionals, journalists, and thought leaders in the Middle East. It provides a unique opportunity for industry stakeholders to engage in substantive conversations and discuss the current trends and challenges in the media industry.

du, operating under the umbrella of Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), plays a vital role in the UAE’s economic, social, and digital transformation. They thrive on digitally innovating the telecom experience and are dedicated to driving connectivity, continuity, and growth across consumer and enterprise segments. With a focus on providing state-of-the-art infrastructure, ICT solutions, secure data solutions, and home entertainment, du is shaping the future of communication for a more connected tomorrow.

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) has held discussions with telecommunication companies (telcos) regarding preparations for the possibility of floods as the monsoon season approaches. The aim of these discussions is to ensure that there are no interruptions in communication services during floods.

Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital, Teo Nie Ching, stated that the ministry will mobilize the Information Department to provide first-hand information to affected residents during a flood. The goal is to evacuate them to safer places as quickly as possible. Collaborating with telcos, the ministry is determined to prevent any communication breakdowns during such times, ensuring that rescue efforts can be carried out smoothly.

Teo affirmed that the ministry is prepared for floods and encouraged users to report any disruptions in telecommunication services in their areas. She mentioned that no complaints regarding communication service interruptions in flood-affected areas have been received so far. However, the ministry will continue working closely with telcos to prevent such occurrences from happening.

According to reports, as of this morning, a total of 299 people are currently taking shelter in four flood relief centers located in Perak, Sabah, and Sarawak.

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) in Malaysia has held discussions with telecommunication companies (telcos) to ensure preparedness for potential floods during the upcoming monsoon season. The ministry’s role is to prevent communication service interruption in the event of flooding.

Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital, Teo Nie Ching, emphasized the importance of providing prompt information to affected residents and facilitating their evacuation to safer locations. The Information Department will be mobilized to deliver on-the-ground updates, while collaborations with telcos will ensure communication continuity, enabling efficient rescue and assistance operations.

Teo assured users that the ministry is ready for potential flooding incidents. She encouraged individuals to report any disruptions in telecommunication services in their areas. To date, no complaints have been received regarding communication interruptions in flood-affected regions. Nevertheless, the ministry will work closely with telcos to prevent such occurrences.

Recent reports indicate that 299 people are currently seeking shelter in four flood relief centers situated in Perak, Sabah, and Sarawak.

In addition to her role as Deputy Minister, Teo is also the National DAP Women’s Leader. She expressed her commitment to engaging with the youth in all states to gather their perspectives on relevant issues. This effort aims to create a platform for the youth to voice their concerns openly.

Teo’s election as the new DAP Women’s Leader took place during the 2023 DAP Women’s National Congress on September 9. She succeeded Chong Eng, who served in this position for 22 years. Chong was elected as an advisor to the DAP Women’s National Executive Committee for the 2023-2026 term.

The head of the Russian-annexed Ukrainian region of Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, has implemented a curfew, as stated in a decree published on Sunday. The curfew prohibits civilians from being present on the streets and public areas between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. on Mondays-Fridays. The decree also prohibits assemblies, rallies, demonstrations, and other mass events in the Russia-controlled parts of the Donetsk region, unless approved by the Operational Headquarters for Military Threat Response in the Donetsk People’s Republic.

Pushilin’s decree, signed on September 18, also includes measures like the censorship of postal mail and messages transmitted via telecommunication systems, as well as monitoring telephone conversations. Additionally, the order involves the establishment of checkpoints and security posts at the borders with the Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions.

The implementation of the curfew and other measures by Pushilin, who was installed by Russia, has raised concerns about restrictions on civil liberties and freedom of movement within Donetsk. The Russian annexation of the region has already faced international condemnation, and these recent steps could further escalate tensions between Ukraine and Russia.

It is important to note that the information provided is based on the Reuters report, and further updates and developments on the situation may arise in the future.

Anterix Inc (ATEX) has been identified as one of the leading companies in the Telecom Services industry, according to InvestorsObserver. With an overall rating of 58, ATEX scores higher than 58 percent of all stocks. In addition, it achieved a score of 82 in the Telecom Services industry, positioning it above 82 percent of Telecom Services stocks. The Telecom Services industry is currently ranked 85 out of 148 industries.

Understanding these ratings can be helpful for investors seeking to make informed investment decisions. InvestorsObserver provides eight unique metrics to evaluate industries and the best-performing stocks within those industries. A score of 58 means that ATEX ranks higher than 58 percent of all stocks.

These scores not only aid in understanding, but they also enable easy comparison between stocks. Investors can identify the best stock within an industry or determine which sector boasts the highest average score. The overall score is a combination of technical and fundamental factors, serving as a useful starting point for stock analysis. However, it is important to consider other factors in addition to the headline number before making any investment decisions, as different traders and investors may have different goals.

Anterix Inc (ATEX) stock is currently trading at $32.76 as of 10:00 AM on Friday, September 22. This reflects a gain of $3.08, or 10.38%, from the previous closing price of $29.68. The stock has seen a trading range of $30.82 to $32.92 so far on this day. The trading volume has been relatively light, with 140,174 shares traded compared to the average volume of 234,393 shares.

To get a comprehensive stock report on Anterix Inc (ATEX), click here.

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A prominent Egyptian opposition politician, Ahmed Altantawy, was repeatedly targeted with spyware after announcing his bid for the presidency. Security researchers from Citizen Lab and Google’s Threat Analysis Group discovered the malware, which includes a smartphone-infecting software, and believe that the Egyptian authorities were behind the hacking attempts.

The malware, named Predator spyware, was found to have attempted to infect Altantawy’s smartphone through various methods. The first attempt involved configuring his phone’s connection to the Vodafone Egypt mobile network to automatically infect it with Predator spyware when he visited certain websites that didn’t use a secure HTTPS protocol. However, this attempt failed as Altantawy had enabled “lockdown mode” on his iPhone, a recommended security measure for individuals at high risk.

Another attempt involved sending Altantawy links via SMS and WhatsApp messages that, if clicked on, would have infected his phone with Predator spyware. Once infected, the spyware allows the attacker to eavesdrop on conversations and steal data.

Citizen Lab has expressed “high confidence” that the Egyptian government was behind the hacking attempts. The fact that Egypt is a known customer of Cytrox, the company that develops Predator spyware, and that the spyware was delivered via network injection from within Egypt, supports this conclusion.

Altantawy, a former journalist, announced his candidacy in March to challenge the current president, Abdel Fatah el-Sissi, in the 2024 elections. His candidacy has been met with harassment, prompting him to seek assistance from Citizen Lab to analyze his phone for potential spyware infection. Altantawy believes that the hacking attempts were politically motivated and aimed at surveilling him and potentially finding compromising material to discredit him.

The discovery of the spyware has prompted Apple to release operating system updates to patch the associated vulnerabilities. This discovery also adds to the ongoing concerns over the involvement of telecommunications companies operating in Egypt and their potential complicity in these hacking attempts.

It is worth noting that the use of Predator spyware has previously been documented in countries such as Greece, and the U.S. has added its maker, Cytrox, to its blacklist of companies developing surveillance tools that threaten national security.

This incident further emphasizes the need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect individuals at risk of surveillance and hacking, especially those involved in political opposition and activism.

As of September 22, 2023, Chunghwa Telecom has seen a significant 20.0% decrease in its short percent of float since its last report. The company has reported that 277 thousand shares have been sold short, accounting for only 0.04% of all regular shares available for trading. Traders would require an average of 2.57 days to cover their short positions based on the trading volume.

Comparing Chunghwa Telecom to its peer group, it is noteworthy that the company has a lower short interest percentage of 2.36%. This implies that Chunghwa Telecom has a relatively lower level of short interest compared to its industry counterparts. Moreover, the company’s short interest ratio, also known as “days to cover,” stands at 3.7, which is generally considered an acceptable ratio between short interest and trading volume.

However, it is important to highlight that there has been a recent increase in short interest for Chunghwa Telecom, amounting to 5.53%. This indicates a significant decrease in investor sentiment towards the company.

On September 22, 2023, Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) stock showed a steady performance, with a slight increase in value compared to the previous day’s close. The stock opened at $36.31 and had a day’s range of $36.30 to $36.52. The volume for the day was 65,743, slightly below the average volume of 104,974 over the past three months.

CHT, with a market cap of $28.1 billion, is a major player in the communications sector, specifically in telecommunications. Despite a challenging year in terms of earnings growth, with a decline of 4.42% last year, the company has shown promise.

Justice Clarence Thomas, known for advocating the Supreme Court’s precedent of Chevron deference, has recently expressed a change of heart. He admitted that his own decision in the Brand X case, which supported the deference to federal agency expertise, was wrong and added to the “constitutional deficiencies” of Chevron. This unexpected reversal raises questions about what influenced Thomas’s opinion.

One possible factor that may have influenced Thomas is his previously undisclosed involvement with the conservative political organization, the Koch network. Recent reporting by ProPublica reveals that Thomas has attended donor events hosted by the Koch network, including a 2018 event where he was flown in on a private jet and spoke at a private dinner with network donors. This association with the Koch network, which seeks to overturn the Chevron case to limit government overreach, is significant considering the network’s influence in advocacy work and cases before the Supreme Court.

Thomas’s attendance at these events raises ethical concerns, as his failure to report the 2018 trip on his financial disclosure form suggests a lack of transparency. Additionally, Thomas received an extension to file his financial disclosure form for 2022 and has faced scrutiny for failing to disclose luxury trips and real estate purchases paid for by conservative billionaire Harlan Crow. The Koch network’s presence in cases before the Supreme Court adds further weight to the potential conflicts of interest.

Unlike other federal and state judges, Supreme Court justices are not subject to an ethics code, despite growing calls for them to adopt one. This lack of accountability raises concerns about the impartiality and independence of Supreme Court decisions. The Koch network’s ambitious agenda to shape American law, including the goal of overturning Chevron deference, has the potential to significantly impact federal regulations and important issues like climate change.

One particular case, Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, could determine the fate of Chevron deference. This case involves the authority of the National Marine Fisheries Service to make commercial fishing companies pay for monitoring compliance with fishery management plans. The outcome of this case, and potentially the overturning of Chevron deference, could have far-reaching consequences for federal regulations and the balance of power between agencies and the judiciary.

The involvement of justices with financial ties to groups arguing cases before them raises serious concerns about the integrity and fairness of the Supreme Court. While justices have the right to associate with whomever they choose, transparency and adherence to ethical standards are crucial to ensure public trust in the judiciary.