Tag Archives: European Union

Peter McCullough Testified To EU Parliament On Vaccine Safety?!

Did Dr. Peter McCullough testify to the EU Parliament on COVID-19 vaccine safety on 13 September 2023?!

Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!

Peter McCullough Testified To EU Parliament On Vaccine Safety?!

People are sharing Twitter (X) and Rumble videos of Dr. Peter McCullough, claiming that he testified about the dangers of COVID-19 vaccines to the EU Parliament on 13 September 2023:

Blake 🔮 : Must Watch: Dr. Peter McCullough Calls For Complete Stop To All COVID Injections – Not Safe For Human Use (9/13/23):

@P_McCulloughMD testifies in the European Parliament to end all COVID vaccinations.

“I submit to you the COVID-19 vaccines and all of their progeny & future boosters are not safe for human use.”

World Council for Health (WCH) : In a session focused on the @WHO, Dr Peter McCullough (@P_McCulloughMD) delivered a powerful speech to the EU Parliament ahead of his upcoming WCH event in Bath, UK with Dr Tess Lawrie on Tuesday.

William Sumner Scott : The EU decided to allow Dr. Peter McCullough to make his presentation of the dangers of the covid – 19 vaccines. Bottom line, do not take any more of them.

America Out Lout : Dr. McCullough delivered a speech to the European Union Parliament on September 13, 2023, in a session dedicated to the World Health Organization and Pandemic response.

Peter McCullough Testified At EU Parliament : What I Discovered

Don’t be surprised if you did not see any EU Parliament announcement about banning COVID-19 vaccines, after Dr. Peter McCullough’s damning testimony to them.

Such a tremendous testimony should have made international news, shouldn’t it? After doing some research, this was what I discovered…

Fact #1 : Hearing Was About New WHO Proposed Rules

Like me, you probably thought that the EU Parliament invited Dr. Peter McCullough to testify about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines.

However, the event was actually billed as an “Expert hearing with Q&A” on “Health & Democracy under WHO’s new proposed rules“.

The new WHO rules they are referring to are really proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) that WHO member states themselves have drafted and negotiated since December 2021.

Fact #2 : It Was Not An Official European Parliament Event

If you check the European Parliament website, you will not find this event listed at all. You also won’t find it in the European Parliament’s list of official events for September 2023:

Hearings : A committee is permitted to organise a hearing with experts, where this is considered essential to its work on a particular subject. No hearings were held in August or September 2023.

Workshops : Workshops are organised by the policy departments and enable members to put questions to and exchange views with experts on subjects associated with parliamentary business or subjects of current interest. No workshops were held in September 2023.

Other Events : All other public events organised as part of committee activities involving external speakers or experts. Only one event was scheduled for September 2023 – the 13th meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group on Europe on 20 September 2023.

As far as I can tell – the Health & Democracy under WHO’s new proposed rules event was not an official European Parliament event. It appears to consist of allotted time for the speakers to speak to the attendees and a livestream from within a European Parliament room, similar to the earlier International COVID Summit III.

Perhaps that was ultimately the purpose of this event – to give those speakers the patina of European Parliamentary approval? Perhaps that was all they wanted.

Fact #3 : The Event Was Held At De Madariaga S7 Room

It took some digging, but I managed to trace the location of this event. It was not held in the grand plenary hall where the 705 Members of the European Parliament meet, of course.

Rather, the Health & Democracy under WHO’s new proposed rules event took place from 2:30 PM until 4:30 PM at the S7 room in the Salvador de Madariaga (SDM) building.

This is a different, secondary building across the river from the main Louise Weiss building, with many rooms available for MEPs to use.

This appears to be a smaller version of the earlier International COVID Summit III event.

Fact #4 : Event Was Hosted By ECR + ID Parliamentary Groups

The Health & Democracy under WHO’s new proposed rules event appears to be sponsored or hosted by several European Parliament Members from the ECR (European Conservatives and Reformists), and the Identity and Democracy (ID) groups.

MEP Christine Anderson, Identity and Democracy – Germany
MEP Mislav Kolakušić, Non-attached Member of the European Parliament – Croatia
MEP Ivan Vilibor Sinčić, Non-attached Member of the European Parliament – Croatia
MEP Cristian Terheş, European Conservatives and Reformists – Romania
MEP Virginie Joron, Identity and Democracy – France

That explains how this event was held within the European Parliament building, even though it was not an official or sanctioned event. This is similar to the earlier International COVID Summit III event.

Obviously, speaking to those five MEPs do not constitute speaking to the European Parliament itself, since 700 other MEPs were not in the room, and it wasn’t even an official event!

On top of that, the event banner shows that they were not there as official representatives of the European Parliament, but as “hosting MEPs”…

Fact #4 : European Parliament Had Plenary Session At That Time

While it may appear that Dr. Peter McCullough and the other people at the event were speaking to the European Parliament itself, the truth is – the European Parliament was in the midst of a 4-day plenary session from 11-14 September 2023.

At the same time that Dr. McCullough was giving his “testimony” in the S7 room in the Salvador de Madariaga building across the river, the European Parliament itself was in the grand plenary hall in the Louise Weiss building for issues like:

Topical debate (Rule 162) – Reviewing the protection status of wolves and other large carnivores in the EU
Presentation by the Council of its position on the draft general budget – 2024 financial year
Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020
Opening of negotiations of an agreement with the United States of America on strengthening international supply chains of critical minerals
Report with recommendations to the Commission on amending the proposed mechanism to resolve legal and administrative obstacles in a cross-border context

Fact #5 : All Hosting MEPs Attended Plenary Session!

The Health & Democracy under WHO’s new proposed rules event was hosted by five MEPs. However, the video does not actually show them present in the McCullough testimony video.

When I checked the attendance register, I was surprised to see that all five MEPs attended the plenary session on 13 September 2023 at the Louise Weiss building across the river!

Christine Anderson
Mislav Kolakušić
Ivan Vilibor Sinčić
Cristian Terheş
Virginie Joron

It is possible that those five MEPs may have taken time off from the plenary session to drop by the unofficial event they hosted. But there is currently no evidence that I can find to show that they were present during Peter McCullough’s testimony.

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EU + Japan Have Secret Agreement To Re-Export Seafood?!

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Is there a secret agreement between the EU and Japan to re-export contaminated seafood to other countries?! Here is what you need to know!

Claim : EU + Japan Have Secret Agreement To Re-Export Seafood!

People are sharing this message on WhatsApp and social media, claiming that there is a secret agreement between the EU and Japan to re-export contaminated seafood to other countries!

There is also a secret agreement between EU and the Japs for the EU to re-export the Jap contaminated sea products to other countries eg China, Asia, the Middle East, etc.

Above exposes that just before the Japanese discharges toxic nuclear wastes into the sea, the EU has decided to abolish the checking on imported (contaminated) Japanese seafood products! It’s clear that in the EU there is corruption and it’s also possible that they will secretly re-export the Japanese products to other countries! Thus China has also decided to suspend seafood imports from a number (12) of EU countries!

Thus, in order to ‘con’ the world, the EU simply re-labelled the Jap contaminated products as EU products and re-export them to other countries outside Europe!

It’s obvious that the Japs are paying EU regularly a considerable amount of bribes ( billions of Euros) for this service!

The greed of the whiteman & the evil Japs know no bounds. Do you want to gamble with the lives of your loved ones by consuming these radioactive products from Japan ❓Switch to local fresh fishes.

No Evidence EU + Japan Have Secret Agreement To Re-Export Seafood!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created by the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛) to scare people into boycotting Japan and Japanese food, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : EU Lifted Final Fukushima Food Import Restrictions

This claim appears to be based on a 13 July 2023 decision by the European Union (EU) to lift its remaining restrictions on food imports from Japan after the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

The EU placed a strict maximum radioactivity level of 100 Bq/kg on food from Japan since June 2011, requiring pre-export testing of food products for radioactivity.

The EU only made this decision after finding that there was not even a single case of non-compliance over 12 years of monitoring food imports from Japan.

No non-compliances at the entry into the Union with those maximum radionuclide levels have been observed at import in the Union since June 2011, providing evidence that the control system put in place and the controls performed by the Japanese authorities are effective.

Let me repeat this – Japan has, not even once, exported any contaminated food items to the EU in the past 12 years.

Fact #2 : EU Progressively Reduced Fukushima Food Import Restrictions

It is also important to point out that the EU has reviewed its food import restrictions on Japan every two years, and has progressively lifted those restrictions .

In its last review on September 2021, the restrictions were only limited to wild mushrooms, some fish species, and wild edible plants from the prefectures of Fukushima, Miyagi,, Gunma, Yamanashi, Yamagata, Iwata, Shizuoka, Ibaraki, Nagano, and Niigata.

In other words, the EU had been progressively lifting food import restrictions on Japan, and only lifted its remaining restrictions on 13 July 2023. It was not like they suddenly lifted all food restrictions on that day.

Fact #3 : China Did Not Suspend EU Seafood Imports

On 24 August 2023, China announced an immediate blanket ban on all seafood imports from Japan. However, the import ban does not affect non-seafood food imports from Japan like vegetables, fruits, or canned food.

There is no evidence that China suspended seafood imports from 12 EU countries over fears of radioactive seafood being re-exported from Japan.

Fact #4 : There Is No Evidence Of Any Secret EU + Japan Re-Export Plan

There is also no evidence at all that the European Union (EU) has any secret plan to re-export contaminated seafood from Japan to other countries.

Of course, you may be thinking – how would I know since this is a secret agreement? Well, where is the evidence there is such a secret agreement?

Did the viral message include any evidence of such an agreement between the EU and Japan? No. So why should YOU believe some random claim circulating on WhatsApp / social media, with zero evidence to back it up?

Fact #5 : EU Seafood Re-Export Plan Not Logical

It is easy to claim that the EU is willing to help the Japanese re-export their contaminated seafood to other countries, but it’s really not logical.

For one thing – it is prohibitively expensive to export all those seafood to any European Union country, for re-export to China, Asia and the Middle East. It would also be quite impossible for EU countries to mask the Japan-native seafood species, and claim that they were caught in Europe!

Finally, such activities would be easily exposed by any importing country simply conducting radioactivity screening of imported food products.

Fact #5 : Japan Seafood Exports Are Only Worth €2.4 Billion

The claim that Japan is paying the EU billions of euros every year to re-export radioactive Japanese seafood is also not logical.

For one thing – the global export value of Japanese seafood in 2022 is only 387 billion yen, or about $2.6 billion / €2.4 billion.

Even if Japan exclusively exports ALL of its seafood to the EU to re-export to unsuspecting countries, it does not make financial sense to pay the EU a “bribe” of billions of euros to export only €2.4 billion worth of seafood!

Fact #7 : This Is Just Fake News About Fukushima

There is no doubt that Japan is facing a LOT of criticism over its release of the Fukushima waste water, even though IAEA and many experts have endorsed the plan.

However, this is just another example of FAKE NEWS being created around the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster. Here are other examples I fact checked earlier:

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Why Did Johnny Depp Faint + Cancel Budapest Concert?!

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Did Johnny Depp faint and cancel his Budapest concert because he was “overexcited” from last night’s party?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Johnny Depp Faint + Cancel Concert From Overexcitation!

People are sharing a Music Mundial article which claims that Johnny Depp fainted in his Budapest hotel, and cancelled the Hollywood Vampires concert that day, because of “overexcitation” from last night’s party!

Here is the viral Music Mundial article. Please feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!

The cause of Johnny Depp’s fainting at a Budapest hotel has been found

The prestigious actor Johnny Depp worried all his fans after he was found unconscious in his hotel room in the Hungarian capital, the actor even had to cancel several of his obligations he had pending with his band, ‘Hollywood Vampires‘, due to his health status. His fans started worrying about his health, and a wave of questions about the situation flooded the social networks.

The news alarmed not only his fans but also the production team that works with him, while also pointing out that Madonna had coicidentially suffered a very similar incident some time ago. However, the real cause of the actor’s unexpected fainting was due to an ‘overexcitation‘ from a party Depp had the night before, according to the Hungarian media reports.

Johnny Depp had spent a very agitated night of partying, involving unhealthy amounts of liquor during multiple hours, and this would have been precisely what lead him to faint. “What we heard was that he was overexcited and could not even leave the hotel, we also heard that they had called a doctor in case his status worsen” said Alice Cooper, one of the members of Johnny Depp’s musical group.

After this incident, which did not become a major situation, the actor and all the members of the band had to cancel a show that had been scheduled to take place in Budapest. The tickets that were bought to the event were reimbursed to the buyers, and though the concert never took place, everyone was glad that the “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor did not have any major problems.

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No Evidence Johnny Depp Fainted + Cancelled Concert From Overexcitation!

This is yet another example of celebrity FAKE NEWS created by Music Mundial to generate page views, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Hollywood Vampires Cancelled Concert At Last Minute

First, let me just give you a quick overview of what happened with Johnny Depp and his celebrity band, Hollywood Vampires, in Budapest.

On July 18, Hollywood Vampires announced that it was forced to cancel the concert just hours before it kicked off:

Due to unforeseen circumstances, The Vampires will be canceling tonight’s show in Budapest.

All tickets (General and VIP, including Meet & Greet) will be refunded in full.

We love and appreciate all of the fans who traveled from near and far to see us rise, and we’re truly sorry.

Sincere apologies, The Hollywood Vampires
Johnny, Alice, Joe, Tommy, Glen, Buck & Chris

Fact #2 : Johnny Depp Was Seen One Hour Before Cancellation

Approximately an hour before The Hollywood Vampires cancelled its concert in Budapest, Johnny Depp was seen walking in public, with a drink in his hand.

Obviously, Johnny Depp did not collapse and faint in his hotel after being “overexcited” from partying last night!

He may have been found unconscious in his room later – this rumour has not yet been confirmed. But if he fainted, it would have been because of some other cause – drinking, substance abuse, etc – after he returned to his hotel; and not because of last night’s excesses.

Ironically, Music Mundial posted the same photos showing Johnny Depp walking with a drink in his hand, essentially refuting its own claim!

Fact #3 : No Evidence For Alice Cooper Quote

There is no evidence that Alice Cooper ever said that Johnny Depp was “overexcited” from a very agitated night of partying. I can find no reference to any such quote by Alice Cooper, but I found a single reference by a blog site euro ES Euro:

“What we heard was that he was overexcited and he couldn’t even leave the hotel. We also heard that they had called a doctor to see if something more serious had happened,” the Blikk tabloid quoted “a person with information about the case” as saying yesterday afternoon.

‘‘Everything was set, the stage was set. It didn’t even occur to us that there might be a problem, especially since the band members had also done a scheduled sound adjustment that afternoon.and. Nobody even thought about the fact that Johnny Depp would not participate, a colleague also installed his microphone, ”a source close to the band explained to the Hungarian medium.

However, that exact quote was never attributed to Alice Cooper. In fact, if Alice Cooper did indeed speak out about Johnny Depp, it would be odd for him to refer to his own band as “they”. He would have said, “we”.

Fact #4 : This Is Just Music Mundial Fake News

Needless to say – Music Mundial offered NO EVIDENCE to back up its claim that Johnny Depp was found unconscious in his hotel because he was “overexcited” from a night of partying.

This appears to be nothing more than yet another example of fake news posted by Music Mundial. Here are examples of Music Mundial fake news that I looked into recently:

Everything Music Mundial posts should be considered as FAKE NEWS, until proven otherwise.

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Rab Wardell : Cause Of Death Was Not Vaccine SADS!

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People are still claiming that Rab Wardell died from vaccine SADS, but that’s not true!

Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!

Updated @ 2023-08-06 : Updated with Rab Wardell’s official cause of death and other new details
Originally posted @ 2022-09-03

Claim : Rab Wardell – Cause Of Death Was COVID-19 Vaccine!

It’s been almost a year since Rab Wardell died suddenly after he won the Scottish MTB XC Championships, but people continue to claim that the cyclist died from the COVID-19 vaccine. Here are just some examples circulating on social media :

rab wardell death read about rab wardell death cause #vaccine #StoptheShots🙀🙀🙀🙀
This is Mountain biker Rab Wardell speaking on TV last night about winning the Scottish championship 2 days ago.
He’s now dead, 37yrs old, “died in his sleep👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

Rab Wardell another victim of the covid vaccine. How about that Fauci ?

RIP Rab. Huge fan. The truth of what the spike proteins from both the virus and the “vaccine” are doing to us is coming out, little by little. Your death will not be in vain. The truth is slowly but surely coming out.

Rab Wardell : Cause Of Death Was Not Vaccine SADS!

It’s becoming tradition for anti-vaccination activists to immediately blame all athlete deaths or injuries on the COVID-19 vaccine.

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created and propagated by anti-vaccination activists, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Rab Wardell Died From Athlete’s Heart

37 year-old Scottish cyclist Rab Wardell died on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 – just two days after winning the Scottish MTB XC Championships, and hours after appearing on BBC Scotland’s The Nine programme to talk about that victory.

Almost immediately, anti-vaccination activists started claiming that he died from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) caused by the COVID-19 vaccine.

The next day, his wife – Katie Archibald – spoke out, explaining that Rab Wardell died from a cardiac arrest he suffered while they were in bed together.

I think you’ve heard that Rab died yesterday morning. I still don’t understand what’s happened; if this is real; why he’d be taken now – so healthy and happy.

He went into cardiac arrest while we were lying in bed. I tried and tried, and the paramedics arrived within minutes, but his heart stopped and they couldn’t bring him back.

Mine stopped with it. I love him so much and need him here with me. I need him here so badly, but he’s gone. I can’t describe this pain.

Almost a year later – on 31 July 2023, Katie revealed Rab Wardell’s official cause of death – hypertrophy of the left ventricle, which is also known as athlete’s heart. She wondered if Wardell might still be alive if he had not returned to elite level competition.

Maybe if he had just stayed being a bit inconsistent, a bit s—…

Fact #2 : Rab Wardell Was Likely Fully-Vaccinated

While there is no direct evidence that Rab Wardell was vaccinated against COVID-19, he travelled a fair bit in 2021 – mostly to Europe and Canada.

The European Union and Canada both require non-residents to be fully-vaccinated. While it is possible to enter with a vaccine exemption, it is far more likely that Rab Wardell was fully-vaccinated.

Fact #3 : Rab Wardell Did Not Get Pericarditis From Vaccine

A number of blogs posted claimed that Rab Wardell suffered a serious adverse event after getting his second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in the summer of 2021, after which he attended a rally in Washington DC to speak up against the vaccine :

Following his second dose of Pfizer’s COVID vaccine last summer, Warner suffered a serious adverse event and was diagnosed with pericarditis. Subsequently, at a rally in Washington DC, he opened up about his experience in front of thousands of rallygoers.

“We were advocating for some acknowledgment and support for people whose lives have been affected by emergency use authorized vaccines.

I hope you can hear my message and understand why I decided to advocate for this cause. It was not something I had planned or wanted to do, but the truth needed to be revealed,” Warner said in an Instagram post.

There are a few problems with that claim.

the quote appears to be referring to someone called Warner, not Wardell.
Rab Wardell never travelled the United States since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
Rab Wardell never said he suffered pericarditis from any COVID-19 vaccine.
I could find no such post on Rab Wardell’s Instagram.

In October 2021, Rab Wardell was in Italy for the Marathon World Championships when he shared that it was the first time he flew overseas since the pandemic began.

After he returned from Italy, he mostly stayed in Scotland and only travelled to Mallorca and London. In other words, he cannot be that “Warner” who spoke out against vaccines in a Washington D.C. rally in the summer of 2021.

Wardell also shared that he contracted COVID-19 in May 2021, but never once mentioned that he suffered from pericarditis when he detailed his last 18 months since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Such an adverse event would have materially affected his training and put him out of action for a few weeks. Yet, he had no issues preparing for the Marathon World Championships.

Fact #4 : No Evidence COVID-19 Vaccines Cause SADS

After billions of doses have been administered, there is still no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cause SADS. In fact, this is a rather ludicrous claim as SADS was first documented in 1977 – long before COVID-19 vaccines were invented!

SADS also occurs at a rate of 0.12 to 0.21 per 100,000 people every single year. In other words, approximately 9,000 to 16,000 people die from SADS every single year, before the COVID-19 vaccines were invented.

Despite what anti-vaccination activists may tell you – SADS is not a new vaccine-related syndrome.

SADS is usually caused by an abnormal heart rhythm that leads to a cardiac arrest. That’s why it can be prevented by implanting a cardioverter-defribillator.

Fact #5 : Vaccine Side Effects Appear Within Hours / Days

Even if Rab Wardell was fully-vaccinated against COVID-19, he would have received all of his doses many months ago.

He cannot possibly have died from a vaccine side effect, because they appear within hours or days, not months later.

Mild side effects like injection site pain, fever, muscle ache, headache, lethargy develop within minutes to hours of the vaccination.

Anaphylaxis develops within minutes, while other severe adverse reactions like myocarditis and VITT develop within days.

The spike proteins produced by the COVID-19 vaccines also do not stick around for months. If these spike proteins are permanent (as antivaxxers claim), we would have lifelong immunity.

Your own immune system will identify the spike proteins as foreign, and destroy them within a matter of days, although some may last for up to a few weeks. This is part of how vaccines teach your immune system to identify the enemy and destroy it.

Fact #6 : Deaths / Injuries From COVID-19 Vaccines Can Be Proven

Despite anti-vaccination activists chalking up celebrity deaths to the vaccine; death or injury from rare vaccine adverse effects like anaphylaxis, myocarditis and VITT can be proven.

Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) from Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines happens within minutes. That’s why people are asked to wait for 15-30 minutes after getting the vaccine. People who get an anaphylactic shock will require an epinephrine shot to quickly relieve it.

Vaccine-induced myocarditis has distinct histopathology findings that are different from typical myocarditis, so a pathologist will be able to determine if the myocarditis was caused by the vaccines or otherwise.

Vaccine-induced Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia (VITT) is very specific to the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. It is also easily differentiated by its unique combination of blood clots in large veins of the brains, abdomen and lungs, together with low platelet counts leading to bleeding tendencies.

Fact #7 : Many Athletes Die Unexpectedly Every Year

What many of us do not realise is that many athletes die unexpectedly every year, and the number has been steadily increasing every year.

This chart from the Maron study shows a progressive rise in sudden death reports of 6% per year, from 1980 to 2006.

In fact, the number of sudden deaths in young and fit athletes more than quadrupled from 1980 to 2006!

This debunks the claim that such a rise in sudden death must be due to the COVID-19 vaccine, which obviously did not exist back then.

Fact #8 : COVID-19 Vaccines Proven Safe + Effective

COVID-19 vaccines underwent massive clinical trials, and were only approved after they were proven to be safe and effective.

In addition, they were constantly monitored after they received their approvals, which picked up rare side effects after they were administered to billions of people.

Anti-vaccination activists have often claimed that those who received the vaccine would die. Yet, the opposite was true – the vaccines are not only safe, they are effective in protecting people from getting hospitalised or dying from COVID-19.

Even prominent antivaxxer Steve Kirsch is healthy and well, despite being fully-vaccinated against COVID-19!

Fact #9 : COVID-19 Vaccine Injury Claims Often Proven False

This is yet another example of anti-vaccination activists abusing athlete deaths / injuries to create and propagate FAKE NEWS about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.

So far, most claims of athlete deaths / injuries due to the COVID-19 vaccine have been proven false.

Will these anti-vaccination activists apologise for lying to you? Nope! They will just move on to the next athlete tragedy…

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

Don’t forget to protect yourself, and your family, by vaccinating against COVID-19!

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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Why Mislav Kolakušić called WHO terrorist organisation!

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Mislav Kolakusic – a Member of the European Parliament, just called WHO a terrorist organisation!

Find out why Kolakusic called WHO a terrorist organisation, and what the facts really are!

Mislav Kolakusic : WHO Is A Terrorist Organisation!

People are sharing video clips on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok which shows Mislav Kolakusic – a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) calling the WHO (World Health Organisation) a terrorist organisation.

The Gateway Pundit also posted an article on Mislav Kolakusic declaring the WHO as a terrorist organisation, which are being shared by anti-vaccination activists and conspiracy theorists.

The MEP said that while voicing his opposition to an upcoming agreement which would allegedly give WHO the “sole authority to declare pandemics and acquire vaccines and drugs”. Here is a transcript of his video.

I would like to briefly make the people aware of the upcoming danger for humanity.

The World Health Organization wants all countries to sign an agreement on handing over the authority to declare a pandemic, procure vaccines, and drugs.

It will be healthier and safer for humanity to sign an agreement with the Colombian drug cartel. They know all about drugs for sure.

During the COVID pandemic, World Health Organization only told lies. It should be declared a terroristic organization.

They lied. That there is a new and unknown virus, that it is possible to make an effective vaccine, that the vaccine is 82% effective, that is protects against serious illness and deaths. That all of course were foolish and lies.

Today, World Health Organisation is more dangerous for humanity than the World Economic Forum. Thank you.

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https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/zln2axoXs58gAHnn.mp4?_=1

Truth : Mislav Kolakusic Is Wrong, WHO Is Not Terrorist Organisation

This is yet another example of MISINFORMATION created and spread by politicians and/or conspiracy theorists / anti-vaccination activists, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : It Was Not A Deep Fake Video

First, let me just point out that this is not a deep fake video. Mislav Kolakusic (Mislav Kolakušić) did indeed call for the WHO to be declared a terrorist organisation.

That video came from his official press conference which he posted on his Twitter account on May 22, 2023. It has been viewed by over 1.1 million people to date.

Fact #2 : Mislav Kolakusic Is A Controversial Politician

Mislav Kolakusic was elected as a Croatian independent Member of the European Parliament (MEP) in May 2019. Since then, he has been a controversial politician.

In January 2022, he compared COVID-19 vaccine mandates with capital punishment, claiming that tens of thousands of people died from vaccines citing data from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). In response, the EMA said that the cited EudraVigilance data was a public, self-reporting system (like VAERS) which require investigation to prove a causal link. Even more damning, the EudraVigilance data did not report deaths, contradicting Kolakusic’s claims.

In March 2022, Kolakusic criticised Canada’s response to vaccine mandate protests, saying that Canada now resembled more like a “dictatorship of the worst kind”.

In October 2022, Kolakusic claimed that there was a lack of disclosure of vaccine ingredients, saying, “no one in the world, except maybe 2 or 3 people, knows what it contains”, and called it “the biggest corruption scandal in the history of mankind”. However, we do know what COVID-19 vaccines contain, and there has not been any evidence of any corruption scandal surrounding any COVID-19 vaccine so far.

Fact #3 : No Evidence WHO Lied About COVID-19 / Vaccines

There is no evidence that the WHO lied about the COVID-19 pandemic or the COVID-19 vaccines. The truth is:

SARS-CoV-2 was a new coronavirus when it was discovered in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and
the COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing deaths and hospitalisation.

In fact, the world has reopened up after many people were vaccinated against COVID-19, preventing massive waves of hospitalisations and deaths.

Mislav Kolakusic notably did not offer any evidence that the WHO lied, when he called for it to be labelled as a terrorist organisation.

Fact #4 : WHO Agreement Was Initiated By World Leaders

Mislav Kolakusic’s claims are based on a WHO agreement which started with not with WHO itself, but its member states, which wanted to amend the existing International Health Regulations to strengthen the world’s preparedness against future global pandemics.

The International Health Regulations (IHR) were first adopted by member states in 1969, empowering the WHO to monitor global diseases. Those regulations have since been revised over the years, including in 2005 – after the SARS outbreak.

On 1 December 2021, world leaders agreed to kickstart the process to draft and negotiate an agreement or convention to “strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response“.

Fact #5 : Recommendations Came From WHO Member States

The proposed recommendations came from WHO member states, and not WHO itself. Among the more than 200 recommendations on how to better prepare for the next pandemic were:

sharing of data and genomic sequences on emerging viruses
a plan for equitable vaccine distribution
a ban on wildlife markets
incentives for reporting new viruses or variants

Fact #6 : Some Countries Don’t Want A Binding Agreement

The European Union has proposed that the changes be adopted as a new treaty, which would be binding. This is perhaps what Mislav Kolakusic was so agitated about, but this was an EU proposal, not a WHO proposal.

The United States, on the other hand, has opposed a binding treaty. India and Brazil are similarly reluctant about adopting a treaty.

The EU proposed the treaty and is its biggest backer, with support from Britain, Indonesia, Kenya and others.

The United States will take part in the talks but has opposed a binding treaty. India and Brazil have also voiced reservations.

With so many member countries involved, securing agreement is likely to be tricky.

Fact #7 : No Country Is Signing Over Its Sovereignty To WHO

The zero draft (PDF download) of the proposed WHO agreement on preparing for future pandemics even addresses the issue of national sovereignty on Article 4 (3):

3. Sovereignty – States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to determine and manage their approach to public health, notably pandemic prevention, preparedness, response and recovery of health systems, pursuant to their own policies and legislation, provided that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to their peoples and other countries. Sovereignty also covers the rights of States over their biological resources.

Anyone who read the zero draft can clearly see that even the “draft” has clarified that no country is signing over its national sovereignty to the WHO.

Fact #8 : WHO DG Dismissed Sovereignty Claim In May 2022

On May 17, 2022, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus dismissed the claim that countries signing up for this new agreement would be giving up their sovereignty.

The accord process is led by Member States with their own Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (called INB), representing all regions of the world. The INB has now started a two-year process that includes global public hearings with all stakeholders. This represents the world’s opportunity to plan together, detect pathogens quicker, share data broadly and collectively respond more effectively to the next diseases X or known pathogens.

Unfortunately, there has been a small minority of groups making misleading statements and purposefully distorting facts.

I want to be crystal clear. WHO’s agenda is public, open and transparent. WHO stands strongly for individual rights. We passionately support everyone’s right to health and we will do everything we can to ensure that that right is realized.

The first ever World Health Assembly, which took place soon after the WHO Constitution entered into force in 1948, was a watershed event in global public health. And like the proposed pandemic preparedness accord, this did not mean WHO usurped nations’ sovereignty; in fact it strengthened countries’ ability to fight diseases together.

WHO is an expression of Member States’ own sovereignty and WHO is entirely what the sovereign 194 Member States want WHO to be.

Every year, these sovereign governments come together at the World Health Assembly to set the health agenda for the world. Individually we can’t beat pandemics; our best chance is together.

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Did US Intentionally Release COVID Virus In Wuhan?!

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Did the US government intentionally release the COVID-19 virus in Wuhan, to trigger a global pandemic so that people will accept vaccines?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : US Intentionally Released COVID Virus In Wuhan!

People are sharing an article by The Standard newspaper in Hong Kong, in which David Martin claimed that the US government intentionally released the COVID-19 virus in Wuhan, to trigger a global pandemic so that people will accept vaccines!

The article is being shared not only by anti-vaccination activists and conspiracy theorists, but also pro-CCP netizens and the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛) as “evidence” that the COVID-19 pandemic was caused by the United States, and not China.

Here is an excerpt from the article. It’s long, so feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!

US ‘intentionally released Covid virus in Wuhan’ EU summit told

The Covid-19 coronavirus was “intentionally released” by the United States in Wuhan, China, with the target to trigger a global pandemic to raise public acceptance of vaccines, a US businessman specializing in patent auditing said.

David Martin, the founding chairman of M Cam asset management company, said at an International Covid Summit organized by the European Parliament in Brussels earlier this month that the US was responsible for the making of both coronaviruses causing the outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome – or SARS – in 2003 and the Covid-19 pandemic in the past three years.

The third edition of the summit featured speakers from anti-lockdown advocates to medical academia to discuss the global pandemic response. The speakers shed light on the possibility that the coronavirus which caused the pandemic was man-made, instead of naturally occurring.

In his speech, Martin said: “The pandemic that we alleged to have happened in the last few years did not happen overnight. In fact, the very specific pandemic using the coronavirus began at a different time.”

He said that in 1965, scientists discovered the coronavirus as a model of a pathogen – an agent that causes disease. They also found out that coronaviruses can be modified.

“Later we started learning how to modify a coronavirus by putting them in animals such as dogs and pigs,” Martin said, adding that such a practice became the basis for US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer’s first coronavirus spike protein vaccine in 1990.

But very soon the medical sector and drug makers found out that the vaccines did not work.

“Because the coronavirus is a malleable model, it mutates,” Martin said. “Every medical publication concluded that coronaviruses escape vaccines because it modifies and mutates too rapidly for a vaccine to be developed.”

In 2002, a university in North Carolina initiated a study to develop an “infectious replication defective,” which Martin interpreted as “a weapon to target individuals, but not have collateral damage.”

Characterizing the project as having “mysteriously preceded SARS by a year,” Martin said the coronavirus that caused the highly deadly infection was not from China and that it was “engineered” instead of naturally occurring.

On Covid-19, Martin said the coronavirus – named as SARS-CoV-2 by the World Health Organization – was poised for human emergence in 2016, with a preview about an “accidental or intentional release of a respiratory coronavirus” from a laboratory in Wuhan.

He said the purpose of the coronavirus “release” was to boost global acceptance on universal vaccination.

Explaining the common concern among the medical industry, Martin said: “Until an infectious crisis is very real, present and at the emergency threshold, it is often largely ignored.

“To sustain the funding base beyond the crisis, we need to increase the public understanding of the need for medical countermeasures, such as the pan-influenza, or pan-coronavirus, vaccine. A key drive is the media and the economics will follow the hype.

“We [pharmaceutical firms] need to use that hype to our advantage to get to the real issue. Investors will respond if they see profit at the end of the process,” he said.

Show less

Truth : US Did Not Release COVID-19 Virus In Wuhan!

This appears to be yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media platforms like TikTok and Twitter, and here are the reasons why!

Fact #1 : International COVID Summit III Was Not Organised By EU Parliament

The article wrongly states that the International COVID Summit III was organised by the European Parliament.

As I explained in my previous article, the International COVID Summit III was not an official EU Parliament event. It appears to be a private conference organised by COVID-19 conspiracy theorists and anti-vaccination activists.

Held in the Anna Lindh room of the European Parliament, it was not an official EU or European Parliament event, and only 5 MEPs attended as “co-hosting members” of the event.

In other words – the speakers at this event was only “testifying” to the few attendees in the room, and to the event’s livestream, not to the European Parliament.

You can read all about the ICS3 in my earlier article, Why International COVID Summit III Criticised Vaccine!

Fact #2 : This Was The First International COVID Summit

The article also wrongly called it the “third edition of the summit”. The first International COVID Summit, and International COVID Summit 2 do not appear to exist!

What actually existed were the Global COVID-19 Summit, and the 2nd Global COVID-19 Summit, but they are both completely unrelated to this International COVID Summit III. Those were official events involving heads of states and governments, as well as heads of international organisations, NGOs, and industries across the world.

So why would this International COVID Summit jump to its “third” iteration, when this was really the first time it was held? Could it be trying to mislead people into thinking that it was the third version of the Global COVID-19 Summit?!

Fact #3 : Coronavirus Was First Isolated In 1930s

David Martin said that the first coronavirus as a model of a pathogen was isolated in 1965. Well, I have no idea what he meant by “as a model of a pathogen”, but that’s wrong on several counts.

first coronavirus sample (IBV) was isolated in 1930s
second coronavirus sample (MHV) was isolated in 1947
third coronavirus sample (B814) was isolated in 1961
fourth coronavirus sample (229-E) was isolated in 1966
all four virus samples were determined to be from same group, and named “coronavirus” in 1967

You can read more about this in my earlier article – Did US + UK Create COVID-19 As Bioweapon?!

Fact #4 : Vaccines Work Even When Virus Mutates

All viruses can mutate when they replicate, just like how all animals evolve through reproduction. Just because a virus mutates does not mean that vaccines stop working.

Vaccines are training programs that teach our immune system how to identify the actual virus, and make its own antibodies against it. It’s like training your army by showing them how the enemy soldiers look like and behave, so they can train and prepare for war.

The vaccines do not stay in your body to fight the COVID-19 virus. They only teach your immune system how to do that, and they do that regardless of whether the virus has mutated or not.

As viruses evolve, they may get better at evading the antibodies that your immune system developed to defeat them. But that doesn’t mean they are immune. The antibodies may not be as effective, but they will still offer some protection, reducing the risk of severe disease and death.

This isn’t just theory. During the pandemic, the first vaccines only targeted the original SARS-CoV-2 virus. But it continued to offer robust protection against the Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants that came after.

Fact #5 : No Evidence US Released COVID-19 Virus In Wuhan

Claims that the US released the COVID-19 in Wuhan to create the pandemic has been circulating since 2020, but until today – there has been ZERO EVIDENCE of that.

Pro-CCP netizens and the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛) accused US soldiers like Maatje Benassi of spreading the COVID-19 virus while participating in the 2019 Military World Games. They even spread a fake video (see below), claiming to show an American soldier spreading the COVID-19 virus in a subway in Wuhan.

However, all of those claims have long been proven to be completely false. More importantly, David Martin himself did not offer any actual evidence that the US released the COVID-19 virus, intentionally or otherwise, in Wuhan.

Fact #6 : Most COVID-19 Vaccines Developed By Foreign Companies

The claim that the US government would create a pandemic to drive demand for vaccines is ludicrous. For one thing – big pharmaceutical companies are public-listed companies, and many are based outside of the United States.

More importantly – most COVID-19 vaccines were developed by foreign companies:

Only the Moderna Spikevax vaccine was developed in the United States
The Pfizer COMIRNATY vaccine was developed by German company, BioNTech
The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine was developed by Oxford University, and AstraZeneca is a UK company.
The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine was developed by Janssen Vaccines in the Netherlands.
The Sinovac, Sinopharm, CanSino COVID-19 vaccines were developed in China.

So the conspiracy theory that the United States created the COVID-19 pandemic for profit is absurd…

Fact #7 : Vaccines Are Cheaper Than Cures

I should also point out that prevention is always better and CHEAPER than the cure. Vaccines may seem expensive, and a way for Big Pharma to make billions of dollars. But vaccines are still better and CHEAPER than the cures.

Vaccines prevent you from developing severe COVID-19, thus negating your need to be hospitalised – which is expensive. Sure, Big Pharma now has drugs to treat COVID-19, like PAXLOVID, but they are much more expensive.

When it comes to dollars and common sense, vaccines are cheaper and better because they prevent hospitalisation. Big Pharma would make far more money selling you everything from expensive new drugs like PAXLOVID, or machines and drugs to keep you alive in the ICU!

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Why International COVID Summit III Criticised Vaccine!

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Find out why the International COVID Summit III held at the European Parliament criticised the COVID-19 vaccines!

International COVID Summit III Is Official EU Parliament Event?!

People are sharing TikTok and Rumble videos of the International COVID Summit III, claiming that it is an official European Parliament conference criticising COVID-19 measures like lockdowns and vaccines!

FLCCC Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Pierre Kory, presents “The Global War on Ivermectin” to the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium on day one of the International COVID Summit III.

International Covid Summit III – part 1 – European Parliament, Brussels 05.03.2023
International Covid Summit III – part 2 – European Parliament, Brussels 05.03.2023

EU Parliament COVID Conference Slams Pandemic Response

Speakers did not rule out the possibility that the pandemic was orchestrated by powerful outside actors, with various medical professionals from across Europe describing their first-hand experiences of negative health effects from vaccines.

International COVID Summit III : What Is That Really?!

Don’t be surprised if you never heard of the International COVID Summit III, especially when it’s been labelled as an official conference organised by the European Parliament!

Even I never heard of it, but after doing some research, this was what I discovered…

Fact #1 : This Was The First International COVID Summit

Interestingly, this conference was called International COVID Summit III, but I could find no reference to the two previous two conferences – the first International COVID Summit, and International COVID Summit 2 do not appear to exist!

What actually existed were the Global COVID-19 Summit, which was held on September 22, 2021; and the 2nd Global COVID-19 Summit which was held on 12 May 2022.

Both Global COVID-19 Summit 1 and 2 involved heads of states and governments, as well as heads of international organisations, NGOs, and industries across the world. There does not appear to be a third Global COVID-19 Summit yet.

Fact #2 : It Was Not An Official European Parliament Event

It is easy to see why people would believe the claim that the International COVID Summit III was an official European Parliament event. The videos and screenshots show a liberal use of the European Parliament logo, and accompanying statements suggest the same.

However, if you check the European Parliament website, you will not find International COVID Summit III listed at all. You also won’t find it in the European Parliament’s list of official events for May 2023:

Hearings : A committee is permitted to organise a hearing with experts, where this is considered essential to its work on a particular subject.

In May 2023, only one hearing was scheduled and has not yet occurred – Public Hearing on “Legal Migration; the skills and talent package”.

No workshops were held, or are scheduled for May 2023.

Other Events : All other public events organised as part of committee activities involving external speakers or experts.

There are two events scheduled for May 2023 – both on 23 May 2023. The first is called “LIBE to hold exchanges with two data protection authorities“. The second is “Exchange of views on the migrant shipwreck off to the Italian coasts“.

As far as I can tell – the International COVID Summit III was not an official European Parliament event.

Fact #3 : The Summit Was Held In Room PHS 1A2

It took some digging, but I managed to trace the location of this event. It was not held in the grand plenary hall where the 705 Members of the European Parliament meet, of course.

Rather, the International COVID Summit III took place in Room PHS 1A2 in the Paul-Henri SPAAK building – one of the many rooms available for MEPs to use.

Interestingly, this room (officially Room 1A002) was named as the Anna Lindh Room in September 2003, in honour of Sweden’s murdered foreign minister.

Fact #4 : The Summit Was Hosted By ECR + ID Parliamentary Groups

The International COVID Summit III appears to be sponsored by several European Parliament Members from the ECR (European Conservatives and Reformists), and the Identity and Democracy (ID) groups.

That explains how this “summit” or “conference” was held within the European Parliament building, even though it was not an official or sanctioned event.

From the event itinerary, it appears that just five European Parliament Members attended the International COVID Summit III:

MR. IVAN VILIBOR SINČIĆ, Non-attached Member of the European Parliament – CROATIA
MRS. FRANCESCA DONATO, Non-attached Member of the European Parliament – ITALY
MR. MISLAV KOLAKUŠIĆ, Non-attached Member of the European Parliament – CROATIA
MRS. CHRISTINE ANDERSON, Identity and Democracy – GERMANY
MR. CRISTIAN TERHEȘ, European Conservatives and Reformists – ROMANIA

Obviously, speaking to those five MEPs do not constitute speaking to the European Parliament itself, since 700 other MEPs were not in the room, and it wasn’t even an official event!

On top of that, the event banner shows that they were not there as official representatives of the European Parliament, but as “co-hosting members” of the event…

Fact #5 : It Was All Talk, No Action

The International COVID Summit ran for about 9 hours, from 9 AM until 6 PM, and featured a long list of the usual suspects. But despite many of them giving bombastic testimony, the summit / conference ultimately resulted in nothing.

Because it was not an official European Parliament meeting or event, it had absolutely zero effect. The summit organisers did not even think of asking the attendees to pass a motion or action plan of any kind.

From what I can tell – the entire “summit” consisted of allotted time for the speakers to speak to the attendees and a livestream, from within a European Parliament room.

Perhaps that was ultimately the purpose of this event – to give those speakers the patina of European Parliamentary approval? Perhaps that was all they needed. After all, people are already claiming on social media that those speakers were testifying to the European Parliament.

But if you made it this far, you already know that this is not true at all. Sadly, most people will not know that.

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OPPO Shuts Down Its Zeku Chip Design Division!

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OPPO just gave up on its custom chip aspirations, and has abruptly down its Zeku chip design division!

OPPO Shuts Down Its Zeku Chip Design Division!

OPPO has finally given up on its custom chip aspirations! The Chinese smartphone brand is shutting down its Zeku chip design division, which it established only a few years ago.

OPPO announced the decision abruptly in a short statement, and said that “the company will properly arrange related matters and continue to deliver great products and service to users worldwide“.

Due to the uncertainties in the global economy and the smartphone industry, we have to make difficult adjustments for long-term development. Therefore, the company has decided to cease the operation of Zeku.

This decision comes after rumours swirled that OPPO is preparing to withdraw from France, and even the whole of Europe by 30 June 2023. OPPO had earlier pulled its phones from Germany due to a legal spat with Nokia in 2022, and now OPPO France employees and partners claim that they were told to stop selling OPPO phones.

While OPPO finished Q1 2023 on a strong note – as the world’s 4th largest smartphone brand, its total shipments dropped 8%. That is better than the industry average – the global smartphone market shrank by 13% that quarter. It appears that OPPO believes global demand for smartphones will continue to be weak for quite some time to come…

Recommended : How To Link Multiple Phones On WhatsApp!

What Zeku Did For OPPO : A Short History

Zeku started in 2019 by designing co-processors for imaging and other components in OPPO smartphones, but have not been able to develop a full SoC. Its biggest success was, arguably, the MariSilicon X neural processing unit (NPU) which it introduced in December 2021.

Finalised after three years of research and development, the OPPO MariSiliconX was fabricated on the 6 nm process technology. It was designed as a dedicated imaging NPU, to accelerate AI noise reduction algorithms, and deliver greater dynamic range and better colour reproduction.

That NPU has been used in many OPPO flagship smartphones, including the latest OPPO Find N2 Flip. After that, Zeku introduced MariSilicon Y in late 2022 – a wireless audio SoC.

Despite Zeku not being able to deliver a full mobile SoC, OPPO was expected to invest more in chip design, both as a way to differentiate from other brands, as well as a way to avoid getting cut off chip supplies due to rising US-China tensions.

So the decision came as a surprise, especially when Zeku was still looking to hire more than 100 positions a month ago on LinkedIn!

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Did US Send Nuclear AEGIS Missiles To Ukraine?!

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Did the United States just send nuclear capable AEGIS missiles to Ukraine?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : US Sent Nuclear Capable AEGIS Missiles To Ukraine!

US Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently claimed that the US government sent nuclear capable AEGIS missiles to Ukraine!

In 2019 actor and comedian Volodymyr Zelensky ran as the peace candidate winning the Ukrainian presidency with 70% of the vote. As Benjamin Abelow observes in his brilliant book, “How the West Brought War to Ukraine,” Zelensky almost certainly could have avoided the 2022 war with Russia simply by uttering five words — “I will not join NATO.”

But pressured by NeoCons in the Biden White House, and by violent fascist elements within the Ukrainian government, Zelensky integrated his army with NATO’s and allowed the U.S. to place nuclear-capable Aegis missile launchers along Ukraine’s 1,200-mile border with Russia.

These were provocations that senior U.S. diplomats like post-WWII foreign policy architect George Kennan, former U.S. Defense Secretary Bill Perry, and former U.S. ambassador to Moscow Jack Matlock had long described as “red lines” for Russian leadership. Let’s face it, the Neocons wanted this war with Russia, just as they wanted war with Iraq.

He followed up by explaining that it’s because the AEGIS system is compatible with Tomahawk missiles which carry nuclear warheads.

The Aegis system advertises its tubes as compatible with Tomahawk missles which carry hydrogen bomb warheads with explosive power 10x the size of the Hiroshima bomb.

Truth : US Did Not Send Nuclear AEGIS Missiles To Ukraine!

This is another example of MISINFORMATION shared by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : AEGIS Is An Anti-Ballistic Missile System

Let me begin by pointing out that AEGIS is a missile defence system that is designed to defend against short to intermediate-range ballistic missiles.

In other words, AEGIS is not an offensive weapon. It is a defensive surface-to-air missile (SAM) system.

Fact #2 : AEGIS Is Not Nuclear Capable

As a defensive missile system, there is no need for AEGIS missiles to be nuclear-capable. Hence, there are no nuclear-capable AEGIS missiles or AEGIS missile launchers.

It is ludicrous for any missile defence system to use nuclear-tipped missiles since they would necessarily intercept incoming ballistic missiles in mid-flight.

The resulting explosion would cause massive destruction to the ground below, which would likely be in the territory of the defending country!

Fact #3 : There Are No AEGIS Missile Systems In Ukraine

AEGIS missile systems are complex and require extensive training, and are only deployed by American and NATO forces. They are also primarily based on ships, although NATO decided to develop the land-based AEGIS Ashore in 2014.

The first AEGIS Ashore site was deployed operationally in Deveselu, Romania, in 2016, while the second site was opened in Redzikowo in Poland, in 2022. There are no other AEGIS Ashore systems in the world, and certainly none in the Ukraine.

It takes many years to develop an AEGIS Ashore site. Even if the US government decided to setup an AEGIS Ashore site in Ukraine today, it wouldn’t be operational for many more years to come!

Note : The AEGIS Ashore facility is behind Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This launcher to his left is the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) launcher that was emplaced during AEGIS Ashore construction.

Fact #4 : AEGIS Is Not Compatible With Tomahawk

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. seems to be confusing the AEGIS missile system, with the Tomahawk cruise missile. They are both different systems. The AEGIS missile defence system is not compatible with the Tomahawk cruise missile system.

What he does not appear to understand is that ships that carry the AEGIS systems (AEGIS ships) use the Mark 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) which was upgraded to be backward compatible with other missiles. This allows the ships to use a standard canister launching system for different missiles.

Originally, the Mk 41 VLS was designed to fire the RIM-66 Standard missile used by the AEGIS system. But for greater flexibility, the launching system was upgraded to accommodate the larger canister used by Tomahawk missiles. The current Mk 41 VLS now accommodates a variety of different missiles:

RIM-66 Standard
RIM-67 Standard
RIM-161 Standard Missile 3
RIM-174 Standard ERAM
RGM-109 Tomahawk
RUM-139 VL-ASROC
RIM-7 Sea Sparrow
RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM)
Joint Strike Missile

While the launcher itself supports different missiles (which are stored in their own containers), the actual systems controlling those missiles are different. An AEGIS system for example, cannot fire Tomahawk missiles out of Mk 41 VLS launchers.

Fact #5 : There Are No Operational Nuclear Tomahawk Missiles

It is true that Tomahawk cruise missiles were originally designed to accept nuclear warheads, but they were withdrawn long ago, and are no longer in service:

BGM-109A Tomahawk Land Attack Missile – Nuclear (TLAM-N) had a W80 nuclear warhead, but was retired from service by 2013.
BGM-109G Ground Launched Cruise Missile (GLCM) had a W84 nuclear warhead, but was withdrawn from service in 1991 to comply with the INF Treaty.

There are currently no Tomahawk missiles with nuclear warheads in active service. So the claim that US deployed nuclear-capable Tomahawk missiles anywhere is nonsense.

Fact #6 : There Are Easier Ways To Attack Russia With Missiles

With heavy fighting on the frontlines in Ukraine, it doesn’t make sense for the US to deploy Tomahawk missiles, nuclear capable or otherwise, in that country.

For one thing, it would be taken as casus belli by Russia. Even if it chose not to escalate the war, it is easier for Russia to attack the AEGIS / Tomahawk missile launchers in Ukraine.

But more importantly, there are easier ways to hit Russia with Tomahawk missiles than deploying them in Ukraine, where Russian forces (including air defences) are deployed in great numbers.

It would be far easier and safer for the United States / NATO to attack Moscow (for example) using Tomahawk or other missiles deployed in Latvia or Estonia, which are both NATO members.

Fact #7 : Robert F. Kennedy Jr Admitted He Was Wrong

Almost a week after he made those false claims, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. finally admitted that he was wrong. But even his correction reasserted the false claim that Russian fears of AEGIS precipitated the 2023 invasion of Ukraine.

Latvia and Estonia are NATO members, where AEGIS Ashore missile systems can potentially be installed, and Tomahawk systems deployed. Attacking Ukraine, which is not a NATO member, does not change that calculus.

This only goes to show how ill-prepared he is to be Commander-in-Chief of the United States.

ERRATA: Apologies for my earlier tweet reporting that the U.S. had installed nuclear-capable Aegis Missile systems in Ukraine. This was incorrect. The U.S. installed the Aegis batteries in Romania and Poland.

According to former top NATO military planner Col. Douglas Macgregor and historian Benjamin Abelow, the Russian government’s fear that the U.S. was about to install the same systems in Ukraine was one of several national security anxieties that motivated Russia’s 2022 invasion.

Russia had been deeply concerned that new U.S. missile systems, deployed as close as 400 miles from Moscow, could increase the chance that, in a crisis, the U.S. might believe it could carry out a decapitating preemptive first strike.

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Did Switzerland Just Stop All COVID-19 Vaccinations?!

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Did Switzerland just order a stop to all COVID-19 vaccinations?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Switzerland Stops All COVID-19 Vaccinations!

People are sharing an article by Report24, as evidence that Switzerland has stopped all COVID-19 vaccinations:

@USMortality : Switzerland stops the Covid vaccinations: All vaccination recommendations have been withdrawn, doctors can only administer the controversial vaccines in individual cases under certain conditions – but then bear the risk of liability for vaccination damage.

Robert W Malone, MD : “News from the Front Lines Switzerland bans the COVID vaccines, Spike protein kills brain cells, AAPS updates, Twitter at war with Sbstck.”

Robert W Malone, MD : This is big news! “Switzerland stops the Covid vaccinations: All vaccination recommendations have been withdrawn””

PeterSweden : BOMBSHELL NEWS🚨🚨🚨

Switzerland is STOPPING the covid shots except under special circumstances.

And doctors will now be held LIABLE for injuries from giving it to patients.

Here is a machine translated excerpt from the really long German article, so feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!

BREAKING: Switzerland withdraws all Covid vaccination recommendations

Switzerland stops the Covid vaccinations: All vaccination recommendations have been withdrawn, doctors can only administer the controversial vaccines in individual cases under certain conditions – but then bear the risk of liability for vaccination damage. When will countries like Germany and Austria follow this example?

Vaccination is only possible in individual cases… However, no vaccination recommendation for risk patients is explicitly given here.

In the case of the valid non-recommendation, this essentially means that there is no longer a positive benefit-risk ratio for any Covid vaccination.

The new recommendations also have consequences for liability. The person vaccinating – i.e. generally the doctor – can be held liable if he has violated the duty of care. In this context, it is pointed out that the same rules regarding patient information apply to the Covid vaccination as to all other vaccinations.

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Truth : Switzerland Did Not Stop All COVID-19 Vaccinations!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS by anti-vaccination activists, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Swiss COVID-19 Recommendations Are Available In 4 Languages

First, let me point out that the latest COVID-19 vaccination recommendations by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH / BAG) are available in both English and German, as well as French and Italian.

So there is no reason to rely on the German article posted by Report24, because you can directly read what the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health actually said.

Fact #2 : Switzerland Does Not Recommend Vaccination For Spring + Summer 2023

In its latest COVID-19 vaccination recommendations, the FOPH does not recommend COVID-19 vaccination for spring / summer 2023, because:

nearly everyone (98%) in Switzerland has protection against COVID-19 from vaccination and/or having contracted and recovered from COVID-19,
the virus is likely to circulate less in spring / summer 2023, and
the current virus variants cause rather mild illness

However, that recommendation may change if “a wave of infection were to emerge in spring / summer 2023“.

In addition, it has not made any recommendation for autumn 2023, because that depends on the situation later in the year – whether there is a new variant or wave of infection.

It makes sense for Switzerland to stop recommending COVID-19 vaccination. After all, it had already achieved herd immunity with 98% of its population already protected through a combination of vaccination and prior infections.

Fact #3 : Switzerland Did Not Stop All COVID-19 Vaccinations

While Switzerland no longer recommends COVID-19 vaccination for the next six months, it did not actually order a stop to all COVID-19 vaccinations.

In fact, the FOPH pointed out that “vaccination may be wise in individual cases, as it improves protection against developing severe COVID-19 for several months” and that the advice “applies regardless of the number of vaccinations” already received.

The FOPH also maintained its advice on vaccination timing and vaccine type to be used:

Vaccination Timing

The COVID-19 vaccination can be given from 6 months after the last COVID-19 vaccination or from 6 months after a known coronavirus infection. Other vaccinations with inactivated vaccines can also be administered before, at the same time as or after a COVID-19 vaccination.

Vaccine

We advise you to get vaccinated with a bivalent (i.e. variant-adapted) mRNA vaccine or with the protein-based Novavax vaccine. Which vaccine(s) you have previously received is of no importance here. Monovalent mRNA vaccines continue to provide good protection against severe COVID-19 with possible hospitalisation.

Please note: If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have a severely weakened immune system, you should get yourself vaccinated with an mRNA vaccine.

Fact #4 : Not Recommended Vaccination At Own Cost + Own Risk

Because the FOPH no longer recommends COVID-19 vaccinations for spring / summer 2023, people who want to get vaccinated without a recommendation (for travel purposes, for example) will have to pay for the vaccine that was previously provided for free.

In addition, the COVID-19 vaccination will be given without subsidiary liability protection by the federal government.

Fact #5 : Recommended Vaccination Remains Free + Protected

However, if a doctor recommends that you receive the COVID-19 vaccine because you are considered “high risk”, it will be provided free of charge, and covered by compulsory health insurance.

In addition, such recommended COVID-19 vaccination will continue to be covered by subsidiary liability protection by the federal government.

The federal government can only pay compensation for vaccination damages for vaccinations recommended or ordered by the authorities. However, the federal government will only pay compensation for damages that are not otherwise covered (subsidiary liability).

In other words, a person suffering damages is only entitled to compensation if the damage has not already been covered, for example, by the vaccine manufacturer (product liability), the person administering the vaccination (medical liability) or by social or private insurance.

Fact #6 : COVID-19 Vaccination Is Not Off-Label Use

The new changes in COVID-19 vaccine recommendation does not mean that COVID-19 vaccinations are now “off-label”, because they don’t change the authorisation of those recommended / approved vaccines:

Here are the latest approved COVID-19 vaccines in Switzerland (as of 9 April 2023):

Pfizer Comirnaty

Monovalent for 12 years and above : 5-year authorisation since 27 March 2023
Monovalent 5 to 11 years : 5-year authorisation since 27 March 2023
Bivalent for 18 years and above : Temporary authorisation since 10 October 2022

Moderna Spikevax

Monovalent for 18 years and above : Temporary authorisation since 12 January 2021
Monovalent for 12 years and above : Temporary authorisation since 9 August 2021
Monovalent booster dose : Temporary authorisation since 26 October 2021
Monovalent for 6-11 years : Temporary authorisation since 13 May 2022
First bivalent vaccine : Temporary authorisation since 29 August 2022
Second bivalent vaccine : Unlimited authorisation since 8 March 2023

Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine

Vaccine for 18 years and above : Temporary authorisation since 22 March 2021
Booster dose : Temporary authorisation since 27 December 2021

Nuvaxovid COVID-19 Vaccine

Vaccine for 18 years and above : Temporary authorisation since 12 April 2022
Vaccine for 12-18 years and booster dose : Temporary authorisation since 2 September 2022

Fact #7 : There Is No Change In Doctor Liability

The new changes in COVID-19 vaccine recommendation do not mean that doctors “have to be liable for the vaccination“.

Based on the FOPH document (PDF download) on COVID-19 vaccination strategy (November 29, 2022), the doctor’s liability in vaccinating people against COVID-19 is no different from any other medical procedure or vaccination.

The liability of the doctor in a private practice or in a private hospital is assessed according to the Swiss Code of Obligations, in particular according to the regulations of the contract law (comparable requirements apply in a public hospital, but the liability is based on the cantonal state liability law).

The same rules regarding patient information apply to the Covid-19 vaccination as to all other vaccinations. Only if the duty of care has been violated and the other liability requirements are met (namely in the contractual relationship: breach of contract, adequate causal connection, fault and in the case of state liability: unlawfulness and adequate causal connection) can the vaccination center or the person vaccinating be held liable.

Ultimately, the cantonal authorities and courts have to decide whether and to what extent there could be a breach of the duty of care that could give rise to liability.

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Viral Photo Of Luxembourg PM + His Wife Is FAKE!

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The viral photo of the Luxembourg Prime Minister and his wife is FAKE!

Here is what you need to know about that viral photo!

Updated @ 2023-03-20 : Updated with some additional details
First published @ 2022-05-20

Claim : This Is Luxembourg PM Xavier Bettel + His Wife!

People have been sharing this viral photo since 2019, but it is going viral again in pro-Russia and pro-CCP groups.

Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel arriving for a function with his wife, Gauthier Destenay.

卢森堡总理和他妖艳的妻子，留着胡子穿着鱼尾裙，很fashion，你觉得呢？

The Prime Minister of Luxembourg and his coquettish wife, with beards and fishtail skirts, are very fashionable, what do you think?

卢森堡首相贝泰尔携”夫人”昨天抵京，开始对华访问。这是全球首个首相同性恋, 可拭目以待！！

Luxembourg Prime Minister Bettel arrived in Beijing yesterday with his “Madame” and started his visit to China. This is the world’s first gay prime minister Can wait and see! !

Truth : Viral Photo Of Luxembourg PM + His Wife Is FAKE!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS designed to disparage the LGBT community and/or European / NATO leaders.

The very fact that this claim was resurrected from 2019, after Europe heavily sanctioned Russia for invading Ukraine, tells us that this is hardly coincidental.

It then went viral again in March 2023, right after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In any case, here are the reasons why this is NOT a photo of the Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, or his wife.

Fact #1 : Xavier Bettel Is Married To Gauthier Destenay

Xavier Bettel is Luxembourg’s first openly gay Prime Minister, and he married his partner, Gauthier Destenay, a Belgian architect.

Bettel and Destenay had been civil partners since 2010, but was able to marry each other on 15 May 2015 – a year after the Luxembourg Parliament approved same-sex marriage.

Here are real photos of Luxembourg Prime Minister Bettel (right) with his partner, at their town hall wedding.

Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, right, puts his hand around the shoulder of his partner Gauthier Destenay after their marriage at the town hall in Luxembourg, on Friday, May 15, 2015. The marriage comes one year after the parliament approved legislation to turn Luxembourg into an increasing number of countries allowing for same-sex marriages. Bettel and Destenay have been civil partners since 2010. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Fact #2 : That Was Photo Of Conchita Wurst + Andre Karsai

The viral photo is actually of famous Austrian singer and drag queen, Conchita Wurst, and her business manager and the executive director of her company, Andre Karsai.

Conchita is actually the drag queen persona of Thomas Neuwirth, with a fictional backstory – Conchita was born in the mountains of Colombia, and married to French burlesque dancer Jacques Patriaque (Neuwirth’s actual friend)

He says this Conchita Wurst persona is similar to Beyoncé’s Sasha Fierce alter-ego, and uses it as a way to protect his private life.

Neuwirth is gay but not a trans woman. He uses the he/him pronouns when referring to himself, but uses she/her to describe his Conchita Wurst character.

Conchita Wurst is best known for winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2014. She also had a cameo in the 2020 movie, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.

Here is an interesting fact about the character’s name. Conchita is a Spanish slang word for vagina, while Wurst is a German slang word for penis. So Conchita Wurst literally means vagina penis!

In 2019, Neuwirth introduced a new mononymous persona called WURST, which would allow for a “more masculine expression”.

Fact #3 : That Photo Was Taken At 2019 Vienna Opera Ball

The viral photo was taken at the Vienna Opera Ball that took place 28 February, 2019, by Jeff Mangione of Kurier magazine. Here is Conchita Wurst with the Austrian Minister of Justice, Dr. Josef Moser.

And this was her Instagram post at Wiener Opernball 2019 :

Fact #4 : Luxembourg PM Bettel Visited China Twice

As Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Bettel paid two official visits to China :

11-14 June 2017 : Bettel visited China together with two ministers.
27-28 March 2019 : Bettel visited China to witness the signing of several bilateral agreements, and to speak at the Boao Forum for Asia.

There is no evidence that his partner, Destenay, ever accompanied him on his trips to China.

Just in case Chinese netizens are “confused”, let me be clear – that viral photo was not taken in China during Bettel’s official visit.

Here is an actual picture from Bettel’s official visit to China in 2017.

This photo is being circulated in pro-Russia and pro-CCP groups, as a way to both disparage LGBTQ people and EU / NATO leaders during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Please help us fight such fake news – SHARE this fact check out, and SUPPORT our work!

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Does CGTN Video Prove US Blew Up Nord Stream?!

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Does a viral CGTN video show how the US government blew up the Nord Stream gas pipelines?!

Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : CGTN Video Shows How US Blew Up Nord Stream Pipelines!

People are sharing a CGTN video that claims to show how the US government blew up the Nord Stream gas pipelines.

Here is a transcript of the video which I will share in two parts below, but feel free to skip to the next section for the facts.

How they blew up Nord Stream

On February 24, 2022, the Ukrainian crisis erupted. Before and after that, the U.S. politicians have repeatedly threatened an attack on the Nord Stream pipeline.

US President Joe Biden : If Russia invades Ukraine, Nord Stream will cease to exist.

US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland : If Russia invades Ukraine, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward.

119 days prior to the Nord Stream explosions, several members of the task force, allegedly led by U.S. President National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, flew to Norway to find a suitable place to plant explosives under the pipeline.

116 days prior to the Nord Stream explosions, a U.S. aircraft carrier has arrived in the Baltic Sea to participate in NATO’s annual naval exercise Baltops-22.

113 days prior to the Nord Stream explosions, the Baltops-22 military exercise has begun. The manoeuvres continued in the Baltic Sea for 13 days.

During the exercise, the U.S. planes regularly circled over the sites of future gas pipeline explosions. The minimum flight altitude was less than 600 meters.

Underwater explosive placement training was performed during the military drills in the water area near the gas pipelines.

103 days prior to the Nord Stream explosions, presumably, a group of Americans in plain clothes arrived at the exercise site by helicopter, and met with the Vice Admiral of the Sixth Fleet of the U.S. Navy, as well as a group of men in plain clothes.

The Americans then went on a deep dive. They placed the C4 explosive on pipes with a protective concrete coating. The operation lasted six hours.

24 days prior to the Nord Stream explosions, U.S. Navy helicopters circled the sites of future pipeline explosions.

On the day of the explosions, a P8 reconnaissance plane allegedly flew over the Baltic Sea and dropped a hydroacoustic buoy that detonated C4 explosives on the gas pipelines.

The explosive destroyed three out of the four gas pipelines. Methane from the pipelines began to spread across the surface of the water. The operator of Nord Streams [sic] estimates that the repair work will cost more than $500 million and take at least a year.

However, due to the U.S. and Western sanctions, the repair of the Nord Streams [sic] is not yet possible. The longer the repairs are delayed, the more difficult they will be.

4 days after the explosions at Nord Streams, Anthony [sic] Blinken said, “This is also a great opportunity to end Europe’s energy dependence on Russia once and for all.

148 days after the explosions at Nord Streams, on February 21, 2023, at Russia’s request, the UN Security Council held a meeting on the North [sic] Streams explosions where a heated debate about the incident and its investigations erupted.

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Here is Part 2 of the CGTN video that claims to show HOW the United States blew up the Nord Stream pipelines!

Read my fact check : https://t.co/d0GHPsm2tM #TechARP #CGTN #China #Russia #Ukraine #UkraineWar #NordStream #SeymourHersh #Conspiracy #Facts #FactsMatter #FactCheck pic.twitter.com/PJ86b2aYvn

— Dr. Adrian Wong (@AdrianTechARP) March 10, 2023

No Evidence CGTN Video Shows How US Blew Up Nord Stream Pipelines!

This is yet another example of Chinese propaganda, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : CGTN Is An Official Chinese State Media Outlet

China Global Television Network (CGTN) is a state-run and -funded news channel owned by Chinese state broadcaster China Central Television, and controlled by the Central Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

While it portrays itself as offering an alternative view of world affairs, it is known as a vital Chinese government propaganda outlet, with its accuracy often questioned.

Even here at Tech ARP, I have personally fact checked CGTN on several occasions.

Fact #2 : CGTN Video Is Based On Seymour Hersh’s Claims

The CGTN video appears to be based entirely on claims by American journalist, Seymour Myron Hersh, and does not offer anything new to add to the story.

Fact #3 : CGTN Video + Seymour Hersh Offered No Actual Evidence

Like Seymour Hersh’s Substack article, the CGTN video is loud and dramatic. Quite unlike the Nord Stream explosions that took place underwater.

However, if you actually analyse both the CGTN video and/or Seymour Hersh’s article, you have to ask – where actually is the evidence?

Seymour Hersh himself based his article on a single anonymous source. Even more concerning, no one else has been able to corroborate his claims more than 5 weeks later.

The viral CGTN video just repeats whatever Seymour Hersh claimed, without offering any evidence. It is important to note that this video was created by what is ostensibly a news organisation that is supposed to verify the facts before publishing.

Fact #4 : Seymour Hersh Claims Are In Dispute

The US government has naturally disputed Seymour Hersh’s claims, calling his article “utterly false and complete fiction”.

What’s concerning to me, as a common person, though is that some of Hersh’s claims are suspect and easily fact checked. Take for example, his claims that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was a committed anti-communist who had been cooperating with US intelligence since the Vietnam War.

It would be quite a feat for Stoltenberg to work with US intelligence during the Vietnam War since he was born in 1959, and would have been only 4-16 years old at that time! Stoltenberg was also pro-Communist as a young teen, and opposed US involvement in the Vietnam War by participating in protest rallies against the US embassy in Oslo.

Seymour Hersh’s claim that an Alta-class minesweeper was used in BALTOPS 2022 is also in dispute. Joe Galvin, OSINT editor of The Outlaw Ocean Project, showed that no Alta-class minesweepers were in the area at that time!

Hersh’s claim that the explosions were triggered by a sonobuoy dropped by a Norwegian P-8 Poseidon aircraft is also in dispute. Norway has five P-8 Poseidon aircraft, but none of them were seen in the area on the day of the explosion – September 26, 2022.

A US Navy P-8 aircraft was spotted in the area, but that aircraft only arrived 90 minutes after the first blast occurred! So it could not have been the P-8 aircraft that triggered the explosions as Hersh claimed.

Fact #5 : Both Nord Stream 1 + 2 Were Not Operational

It is true that both US Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden were against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, and President Biden threatened to “end Nord Stream” if Russian invaded Ukraine.

However, Nord Stream 2 never became operational, after Germany suspended its certification on 22 February 2022 – two days before Russia invaded Ukraine.

More importantly, Russia cut or interrupted gas supplies on Nord Stream 1, before shutting it down completely in the months following its invasion of Ukraine:

June 2022 : Russia cut Nord Stream 1 gas supply by 75%.
July 2022 : Russia shut down Nord Stream 1 for 10 days. It reopened at 12.5% of normal capacity.
August 2022 : Russia shut down Nord Stream 1 completely.

Both Nord Stream pipelines had long ceased to supply Europe with gas, long before explosions tore holes in them. There is simply no advantage for the Americans to destroy two pipelines that were no longer supplying Europe with gas.

Fact #6 : Europe Refused To Resume Gas Supply

Only three of the four gas pipelines were destroyed by the explosions, with Pipe B of Nord Stream 2 surviving. Russia offered to resume gas supply to Europe, which was promptly declined.

The refusal shows that Europe itself is eager to wean itself off Russian gas, and not because of earlier US threats to “end Nord Stream”.

The Americans did not have to destroy the Nord Stream pipelines, because Russia’s own actions in disrupting gas supplies and invading Ukraine already did that for them.

Fact #7 : Many Countries Had Plausible Reasons To Destroy Nord Stream

As far as plausible reasons go, many countries had plausible reasons to destroy the Nord Stream pipelines:

US : To prevent allies in Europe from being held hostage by their reliance on cheap Russian gas.
UK : To encourage allies in Europe to support Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion.
Russia : To stop supplying Europe without breaking its gas supply contracts, and/or to divide Europe.
Ukraine : To unite Europe against Russia.

While motive is important, it is not evidence that a country has committed the crime. There has to be actual evidence that the US / UK / Russia / Ukraine did it.

Regardless of what CGTN or Seymour Hersh may claim, there is simply no conclusive evidence YET that any of those countries are responsible for the destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines.

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Is WHO Planning To Take Control Of Internet?!

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Is the WHO (World Health Organization) planning to take control of the Internet, for the “benefit of humanity”?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : WHO Plans To Take Control Of Internet!

People are sharing an article by NewsPunch, which claims that the WHO (World Health Organization) is planning to take control of the Internet, for the “benefit of humanity”!

Here is an excerpt of the very long article, so please feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!

WHO Moves Forward With Plans To Take Total Control of the Internet ‘For the Benefit of Humanity’

The World Health Organization (WHO) this week held a meeting to advance the international pandemic treaty — a legally binding instrument that will grant the global health agency total control over the internet to censor anything it deems to be “false, misleading, misinformation or disinformation”.

Specifically, WHO member states are instructed to “tackle false, misleading, misinformation or disinformation, including through promotion of international cooperation” and manage “infodemics…through effective channels, including social media.” Infodemics is a term that the WHO uses to describe “too much information including false or misleading information in digital and physical environments during a disease outbreak.”

Additionally, Article 16 (“Whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches at the national level”) recommends that WHO member states collaborate with non-state actors and the private sector when carrying out their obligations under the treaty.

As the treaty has progressed, it has faced increased political pushback from elected officials in member states, with US Republican Senators recently introducing a bill that would require the treaty to be approved by two-thirds of the Senate.

But despite this pushback, the Biden administration committed to the international pandemic treaty on the first day of the recent WHO meeting.

And the WHO is continuing to discuss the treaty and plan for its future. The global health agency has another meeting to discuss the treaty scheduled for April 3 to April 6, plans to present the treaty to its decision-making body, the World Health Assembly (WHA), in May, and hopes to finalize the treaty by May 2024.

The WHO intends to adopt the treaty under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution through an international lawmaking process where a group of mostly unelected diplomats vote on the treaty.

If the treaty passes, WHO member states will be required to “raise financial resources for effective implementation” of the treaty and commit to allocating at least 5% of their annual health expenditure to “pandemic prevention, preparedness, response and health systems recovery.” Additionally, the treaty tells member states to commit an undisclosed amount of their gross domestic product (GDP) to “international cooperation and assistance on pandemic prevention, preparedness, response and health systems recovery.” This equates to billions of dollars in annual expenditure for many WHO member states and hundreds of billions of dollars per annum for some.

This WHO push to crack down on speech via this international pandemic treaty is being made in tandem with another WHO effort that targets “misinformation” and “disinformation” — proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005).

Like the treaty, these proposed amendments will be legally binding under international law if finalized. The amendments include provisions for the WHO to “counter misinformation and disinformation” at “the global level” and to develop member states’ capacities to gain “leverage of communication channels to communicate the risk, countering misinformation and dis-information.”

In a report that was released alongside the proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR), the WHO suggested it would use its new misinformation and disinformation targeting powers to go after content that could “undermine public trust in health agencies and impede public confidence in, and compliance with, governmental or WHO guidance.” It also called for “a balance between ensuring more accurate scientific information on one hand and freedom of speech and the press on the other.”

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Truth : WHO Is NOT Planning To Take Over Internet!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS about the World Health Organization – WHO, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : NewsPunch Is A Fake News Website

Like Real Raw News, NewPunch is a FAKE NEWS website that capitalises on making shocking but fake stories to generate page views and money.

It was founded as Your News Wire in 2014, before being rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news spread on Facebook that year.

Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should NEVER share anything from NewsPunch. Here are some of its fake stories that I personally debunked earlier:

Fact #2 : WHO Member States Want To Better Prepare For Future Pandemics

This claim is based on WHO member state discussions in 2022, to amend existing International Health Regulations to strengthen the world’s preparedness against future global pandemics.

On 1 December 2021, world leaders agreed to kickstart the process to draft and negotiate an agreement or convention to “strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response“.

The proposed recommendations came from WHO member states, and not WHO itself. Among the more than 200 recommendations on how to better prepare for the next pandemic were:

sharing of data and genomic sequences on emerging viruses
a plan for equitable vaccine distribution
a ban on wildlife markets
incentives for reporting new viruses or variants

In other words – this agreement is being formulated by WHO member states, and not the WHO itself.

Fact #3 : WHO Is Not Planning To Control Internet

If you read the zero draft of the proposed WHO agreement, you will realise that the WHO is not planning to control the Internet. This is explicitly stated in Article 17, which refers to “Parties” that are the member states.

The Parties commit to increase science, public health and pandemic literacy in the population, as well as access to information on pandemics and their effects, and tackle false, misleading, misinformation or disinformation, including through promotion of international cooperation.

As you can see, under the agreement, each individual country will commit to increase KNOWLEDGE about science and public health, as well as combat “false, misleading, misinformation or disinformation”.

Not only does the article clearly state that it is up to each country (not the WHO) to implement its policies, it does not mention anything about controlling the Internet.

The only people who need to worry about Article 17 of this proposed WHO agreement are those who peddle “false, misleading, misinformation or disinformation”.

Fact #4 : No One Can “Take Over” The Internet

The Internet is not some kind of organisation that the WHO can “take over”, even if it wants to. The Internet is a global system of networks, literally a “network of networks” connecting the networks in each country to each other.

Until today, there is no centralised control of the Internet – no one sets the rules or policies, or even technical implementations. It is up to each country to adopt its own policies, although to ensure interoperability, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) manages the domain name system (DNS), while the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) helps to standardise and improve technical aspects of the Internet.

Due to its autonomous nature, no one can control the Internet, never mind take over control. Individual countries and organisations can control its own networks, limiting or filtering access as they wish, but they cannot do so for other networks.

Fact #4 : Many Countries Do NOT Want A Binding Treaty

The claim that this is a binding treaty is, currently, false.

While the European Union, Britain, Indonesia and Kenya have proposed that the changes be adopted in the form of a binding treaty, the United States, India and Brazil opposed that idea.

The EU proposed the treaty and is its biggest backer, with support from Britain, Indonesia, Kenya and others.

The United States will take part in the talks but has opposed a binding treaty. India and Brazil have also voiced reservations.

With so many member countries involved, securing agreement is likely to be tricky.

Fact #6 : Future WHO Agreement May Not Be Binding

If you download and read the zero draft, you will realise that the WHO is still calling it a “convention, agreement, or other international instruments“, clearly showing that member countries have not decided whether they want it to be binding or otherwise.

In the third point noted on the very first page of the draft, it was even pointed out that this is just a draft that is being used for “commencing negotiations“, and that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed“.

The INB (Intergovernmental Negotiating Body) further agreed that the zero draft would be considered at its fourth meeting as a basis for commencing negotiations at that meeting, it being understood that the zero draft will be without prejudice to the position of any delegation and following the principle that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”.

So it is ludicrous for anyone who read the first page of the zero draft to claim that this is a binding treaty.

Fact #7 : WHO Agreement Must Be Ratified By Member Countries

The claim that the proposed WHO agreement will be voted on by “mostly unelected diplomats” is nonsense.

First of all, the agreement was drafted and amended by member countries themselves. The WHO is only facilitating this agreement. It is not the one creating the agreement.

Secondly, even after member countries agree on a final WHO agreement, it must be approved and adopted by each individual country. This is clearly stated in Article 33(1) with my emphasis in bold:

The WHO CA+ shall be subject to ratification, acceptance, approval or accession by States, and to formal confirmation or accession by regional economic integration organizations. It shall be open for accession from the day after the date on which the WHO CA+ is closed for signature. Instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval, formal confirmation or accession shall be deposited with the Depositary.

Fact #8 : All Treaties Require US Senate Ratification

The move by Republican Senators to introduce a bill that would require the WHO treaty to be approved by two-thirds of the Senate is nothing more than political drama, because it is already the law of the land.

The US Constitution gives the Senate the sole power to approve, by a two-thirds vote or more, all international treaties (binding agreements) negotiated by the executive branch.

[The President] shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur;

In other words, the bill by Republican senators is irrelevant political theatre. If the WHO agreement is a binding treaty, the US Constitution already requires two-thirds of the US Senate to ratify it.

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Apple MFI plan to limit speed, power on USB-C leaked!

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Apple may be planning to limit data transfer and charging speed on USB-C ports used in its devices, by introducing MFI certification!

Earlier : Apple Forced To Adopt USB-C Port!

Apple has been hesitant about moving to the superior USB-C port for years, limiting it to Mac computers and iPad tablets.

The 12-inch MacBook was the first Mac computer to get USB-C in 2015, while the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro tablets made the switch from Lighting to USB-C in 2018. However, Apple stubbornly refused to migrate its iPhones to USB-C.

The choice to stick with their proprietary Lightning port was taken out of their hands on October 4, 2022, when the European Parliament voted decisively to adopt the USB-C (USB Type C) port as the new standard for all portable devices.

By the end of 2024, all portable devices sold in the EU must come with a USB-C charging port. This directive is more or less directed at Apple, which is the only brand that continues to use its own proprietary Lighting connector.

Apple MFI plan to limit speed, power on USB-C leaked!

Now that the EU is firmly forcing everyone to use USB-C, Apple will start using the USB Type C port in its upcoming iPhone 15 models.

However, Apple apparently isn’t going to give up its lucrative side gig of selling its users MFI (Made for iPhone) cables and accessories at exorbitant prices.

According to ShrimpApplePro, who accurately leaked on the iPhone 14, Apple will introduce MFI for its USB-C cables and accessories.

And even worse – cables that lack MFI certification will have their data and charging speeds limited.

Yeah usb-c with MFI is happening

Foxconn already in mass production accessories like EarPods and cables

Cables w no MFI will be software limited in data and charging speed

MFI-certified cables have a small authenticator chip to verify that they are “certified” to work with Apple devices. If you use cables that lack this authenticator chip, you will get the “This accessory is not supported” warning on your Apple device.

Apple gets paid for every authenticator chip, so MFI cables and accessories are priced at a premium, even if they work just as well as non-MFI cables and accessories.

Apple is already expected to limit the iPhone 15 base model, and iPhone 15 Plus, to USB 2.0 data transfer speeds of up to 480 Mbps (60 MB/s), while Pro models will get the much higher transfer rates of 20 Gbps (USB-C 3.2) or even 40 Gbps (Thunderbolt 3).

People may not bat an eye at Apple limiting data transfer speeds to differentiate their Pro models from the non-Pro models, but limiting battery recharging speeds for non-MFI cables should ruffle some feathers. After all, there is technically no good reason why Apple cannot allow their devices to benefit from faster charging using non-MFI cables.

Naturally, Apple benefits financially from introducing MFI for USB-C. It will force Apple users to pay the notorious “Apple tax” on top of the “Apple premium” they paid for their Apple devices.

Imagine if Apple introduces MFI for USB-C and phases that in for future Mac computers and iPad tablets, as well as the upcoming iPhone 15 smartphones. Even those who have been happily using regular, non-MFI USB-C cables will have to switch them to MFI cables, and for what?

There is really no discernible benefit for Apple users to use MFI-certified cables over regular USB-C cables. It’s not like they will give your Apple devices magical powers. If there is any reduction in transfer rate or charging speed, it will only happen because Apple intentionally chose to make it so.

Of course, this leak may turn out to be true, and Apple may not be quite so evil as to foist the MFI tax on its loyal users. But I fear that Apple believes its users are more loyal than discerning, and will yet again, quietly pay for MFI cables just because Apple said so.

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Is Biden Admin signing over US sovereignty to WHO?!

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Is the Biden Administration negotiating to sign over US sovereignty to the World Health Organization (WHO)?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Biden Admin Is Going To Sign Over US Sovereignty To WHO!

People are sharing an article by The Epoch Times, which claims that the Biden Administration is negotiating a deal to give WHO authority over US pandemic policies!

Here is an excerpt of the very long article, so please feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!

The Biden administration is preparing to sign up the United States to a “legally binding” accord with the World Health Organization (WHO) that would give the Geneva-based United Nations health agency the authority to dictate America’s policies during a pandemic.

Despite widespread criticism of the WHO’s response to the COVID pandemic, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra joined with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in September 2022 to announce “the U.S.-WHO Strategic Dialogue.” Together, they developed a “platform to maximize the longstanding U.S.–WHO partnership, and to protect and promote the health of all people around the globe, including the American people.”

These discussions and others spawned the “zero draft” (pdf) of a pandemic treaty, published on Feb. 1, which now seeks ratification by all 194 WHO member states. A meeting of the WHO’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Body is scheduled for Feb. 27 to work out the final terms, which members will then sign.

Written under the banner of “the world together equitably,” the zero draft grants the WHO the power to declare and manage a global pandemic emergency. Once a health emergency is declared, all signatories, including the United States, would submit to the authority of the WHO regarding treatments, government regulations such as lockdowns and vaccine mandates, global supply chains, and monitoring and surveillance of populations.

Centralized Pandemic Response

“They want to see a centralized, vaccine-and-medication-based response, and a very restrictive response in terms of controlling populations,” David Bell, a public health physician and former WHO staffer specializing in epidemic policy, told The Epoch Times. “They get to decide what is a health emergency, and they are putting in place a surveillance mechanism that will ensure that there are potential emergencies to declare.”

The WHO pandemic treaty is part of a two-track effort, coinciding with an initiative by the World Health Assembly to create new global pandemic regulations that would also supersede the laws of member states. The World Health Assembly is the rule-making body of the WHO, comprised of representatives from the member states.

“Both [initiatives] are fatally dangerous,” Francis Boyle, professor of international law at the University of Illinois College of Law, told The Epoch Times. “Either one or both would set up a worldwide medical police state under the control of the WHO, and in particular WHO Director-General Tedros.

“If either one or both of these go through, Tedros or his successor will be able to issue orders that will go all the way down the pipe to your primary care physicians.”

Physician Meryl Nass told The Epoch Times: “If these rules go through as currently drafted, I, as a doctor, will be told what I am allowed to give a patient and what I am prohibited from giving a patient, whenever the WHO declares a public health emergency. So they can tell you you’re getting remdesivir, but you can’t have hydroxychloroquine or ivermectin. What they’re also saying is they believe in equity, which means everybody in the world gets vaccinated, whether or not you need it, whether or not you’re already immune.”

Regarding medical treatments, the accord would require member nations to “monitor and regulate against substandard and falsified pandemic-related products.” Based on previous WHO and Biden administration policy, this would likely include forcing populations to take newly developed vaccines, while preventing doctors from prescribing nonvaccine treatments or medicines.

Circumventing Senate, Constitution?

A key question surrounding the accord is whether the Biden administration can bind the United States to treaties and agreements without Senate consent, which is required under the Constitution. The zero draft concedes that, per international law, treaties between countries must be ratified by national legislatures, thus respecting the right of their citizens to consent.

However, the draft also includes a clause that the accord will go into effect on a “provisional” basis as soon as it’s signed by delegates to the WHO and would, therefore, be legally binding on members without being ratified by legislatures.

“Whoever drafted this clause knew as much about U.S. constitutional law and international law as I did, and deliberately drafted it to circumvent the power of the Senate to give its advice and consent to treaties, to provisionally bring it into force immediately upon signature,” Boyle said. In addition, “the Biden administration will take the position that this is an international executive agreement that the president can conclude of his own accord without approval by Congress and is binding on the United States of America, including all state and local democratically elected officials, governors, attorney generals, and health officials.”

There are several U.S. Supreme Court decisions that may support the Biden administration’s position. They include State of Missouri v. Holland, in which the Supreme Court ruled that treaties supersede state laws, while other decisions, such as United States v. Belmont, ruled that executive agreements without Senate consent can be legally binding, with the force of treaties.

There are parallels between the WHO pandemic accord and a recent Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) global tax agreement, which the Biden administration signed on to, although Republicans say has “no path forward” to legislative approval. In the OECD agreement, punitive terms are built in that allow foreign countries to punish American companies if the deal isn’t ratified by the United States.

As with the OECD tax agreement, administration officials are attempting to appeal to international organizations to impose policies that have been rejected by America’s voters. Under the U.S. Constitution, health care doesn’t fall under the authority of the federal government; it’s the domain of the states. The Biden administration found this to be an unwelcome impediment to its attempts to impose vaccine and mask mandates on Americans when courts ruled that federal agencies didn’t have the authority to do so.

“To circumvent that, they went to the WHO, for either the regulations or the treaty, to get around domestic opposition,” Boyle said.

According to the zero draft, signatories would agree to “strengthen the capacity and performance of national regulatory authorities and increase the harmonization of regulatory requirements at the international and regional level.” They will also implement a “whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach at the national level” that will include national governments, local governments, and private companies.

The zero draft stated that the new accord is necessary because of “the catastrophic failure of the international community in showing solidarity and equity in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.”

A report from the WHO’s Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (pdf) characterized the WHO’s performance as a “toxic cocktail” of bad decisions. Co-Chair Ellen Johnson Sirleaf told the BBC it was due to “a myriad of failures, gaps, and delays.” The solutions proposed by that report, however, didn’t suggest more local autonomy or diversified decision-making, but rather greater centralization, more power, and more money for the WHO.

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Truth : Biden Admin Is NOT Going To Sign Over US Sovereignty To WHO!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS about the Biden Administration, and the WHO, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : WHO Member States Want To Better Prepare For Future Pandemics

This claim is based on WHO member state discussions in 2022, to amend existing International Health Regulations to strengthen the world’s preparedness against future global pandemics.

On 1 December 2021, world leaders agreed to kickstart the process to draft and negotiate an agreement or convention to “strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response“.

Fact #2 : Recommendations Came From WHO Member States

The proposed recommendations came from WHO member states, and not WHO itself. Among the more than 200 recommendations on how to better prepare for the next pandemic were:

sharing of data and genomic sequences on emerging viruses
a plan for equitable vaccine distribution
a ban on wildlife markets
incentives for reporting new viruses or variants

Fact #3 : Biden Administration Does Not Want A Binding Agreement

The European Union proposed that the changes be adopted in the form of a new treaty, a measure backed by Britain, Indonesia and Kenya, among other countries.

Despite what people are claiming on social media, the United States has opposed a binding treaty. India and Brazil are similarly reluctant about adopting a treaty.

The EU proposed the treaty and is its biggest backer, with support from Britain, Indonesia, Kenya and others.

The United States will take part in the talks but has opposed a binding treaty. India and Brazil have also voiced reservations.

With so many member countries involved, securing agreement is likely to be tricky.

Fact #4 : Future WHO Agreement May Not Be Binding

The zero draft of the proposed WHO agreement on preparing for future pandemics was released on 1 February 2023, and was the focus of the article by The Epoch Times.

So it is ludicrous for anyone who read the first page of the zero draft to claim that the Biden Administration is planning to sign away US sovereignty to the WHO.

Fact #5 : Zero Draft Specifically Addressed Sovereignty

The zero draft of the proposed WHO agreement on preparing for future pandemics even addresses the issue of national sovereignty on Article 4 (3):

Anyone who read the zero draft can clearly see that even the “draft” has clarified that no country is signing over its national sovereignty to the WHO.

Fact #6 : WHO DG Dismissed Sovereignty Claim In May 2022

On May 17, 2022, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus dismissed the claim that countries signing up for this new agreement would be giving up their sovereignty.

Unfortunately, there has been a small minority of groups making misleading statements and purposefully distorting facts.

WHO is an expression of Member States’ own sovereignty and WHO is entirely what the sovereign 194 Member States want WHO to be.

Every year, these sovereign governments come together at the World Health Assembly to set the health agenda for the world. Individually we can’t beat pandemics; our best chance is together.

Fact #6 : WHO Treaty Cannot Bypass US Senate Ratification

The claim that the Biden Administration is using the WHO treaty to bypass US senate ratification is nonsense.

The US Constitution gives the Senate the sole power to approve, by a two-thirds vote or more, all international treaties (binding agreements) negotiated by the executive branch.

[The President] shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur;

In other words, the Biden Administration can negotiate any agreement it wants with other WHO member countries, but it must still seek ratification by the two-thirds of the US Senate.

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Is This President Macron Dancing With His Wife 30 Years Ago?!

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Take a look at the viral video of President Macron with his dancing teacher who became his wife, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : This Was President Macron With His Dancing Teacher / Wife 30 Years Ago!

People are sharing this video which claims to show a young Emmanuel Macron dancing with his teacher, who would end up becoming his current wife, Brigette Macron.

This is a 30 year old Television clip. This video is interesting not only because of the dance sequence, but because, this young boy is the current president of France, & the Lady dancer, his teacher …. is his current wife …Interesting!!! Isn’t it? 🤷‍🤷‍♀ 🤷‍🤷‍♀ 🤔🤔🤔🤔

https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/President-Emmanuel-Macron-and-wife-dancing-fact-check.mp4?_=2

Truth : That Was Not President Macron With His Dancing Teacher / Wife!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Brigitte Did Not Teach Macron Dancing

Brigitte Auzière (born Brigitte Marie-Claude Trogneux on 13 April 1953) first met Emmanuel Macron at the La Providence High School in 1998, when she was a 40 year-old teacher, and he was a 15 year-old student and a classmate of her daughter, Laurence.

She was not his dancing teacher, but taught him literature and was in charge of the theatre class that he attended. Brigitte divorced her husband, André-Louis Auzière, in January 2006 and married Macron in October 2007.

Fact #2 : Brigitte + Emmanuel Macron Never Participated In Dance Contests

As far as I can tell – Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron never participated in any dancing contest.

So it would be quite impossible for them to appear in a dance competition 30 years ago.

Fact #3 : Viral Video Was Recorded In 2016

The viral video, which people claimed was Emmanuel Macron dancing with his teacher Brigitte, was not recorded 30 years ago.

It was posted on the SYTYCD (So You Think You Can Dance) YouTube channel on 6 September 2017, but featured on another YouTube channel on 13 July 2016.

Fact #4 : Music Was From 2014

You can also date the video using the music. It was certainly not 30 years old, but a much more recent – Toca Toca (Radio Edit) by Fly Project was published on YouTube on 14 May 2014.

Fact #5 : Viral Video Is Of Jenna Johnson + Jake Monreal

The viral video does not show Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron dancing in a competition.

The two dancers are Jenna Johnson and Jake Monreal, who were competing in “So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation” on July 11, 2016.

The YouTube video had the title “So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation – Jenna and Jake’s Ballroom Performance“.

In that video, Jenna and Jake performed a Cha Cha routine which was choreographed by Jean Marc Genereux, to “Toca Toca (Radio Edit)“.

Fact #6 : Jenna Johnson Is A Professional Dancer

Jenna Johnson (born April 12, 1994) is an American professional dance and choreographer, who was one of the mentors in that dance competition.

She competed with Jake Monreal in 2016, and made it to the Top 8 before elimination on August 1, 2016. She returned to the show in Season 14 to mentor Kiki Nyemchek, and made it to Top 4.

Fact #7 : Jake Monreal Is A Professional Dancer

Jake Monreal (born September 24, 2003) is now a 19 year-old professional dancer, who began dancing at the age of 10. At that time the video was recorded, he was just 12 years old.

Jake would become a professional dancer for Dancing with the Stars Junior in 2018.

Fact #8 : Just Another Example Of Fake News About Politicians

This is just another example of fake news created about politicians, and shared on WhatsApp and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Here are some other examples I fact checked:

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Did Leaked Data Show Pfizer Vaccine Would Kill?!

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Did leaked data show that Pfizer knew that its COVID-19 vaccine would kill people who took it?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Leaked Data Show Pfizer Knew Vaccine Would Kill!

People have been sharing a photo of The Irish Light newspaper, which claims that leaked data showed that Pfizer knew that its COVID-19 vaccine would kill people who took it!

It’s a long article, so feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!

Pfizer knew their vaccine would kill

Leaked data shows shocking number of fatalities and side effects now officially associated with covid shots

THE documents were leaked due to a cyber attack on the European Medicines Agency (EMA) website. More than 40 megabytes of classified information from the agency’s revlew were published on the dark web. and several Journalists including the BMJ were sent coples of the leak by anonvmous senders.

The documents have proved to be shocking due to the sheer amount of side ellects that are now ollicially associaled with the ‘vaccine*. Most alarmingly, there were at least 1,223 deaths reported in the first 28 days following the shot.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had previously agreed to withhold the documents and their shocking revelations from the public for 75 years.

The HSE, moda and the government continually state that the vaccines are ‘safe and effective’ and those that had renorted vaccine-related injuries were oflen accused of making false correlations or imagining their symptoms.

However, the Pfizer documents paint a very different picture. They list thousands of side effeets that occurred at an alarming rate which were as a direct result of taking the experimental genetac injection.

These side effects included noat-fatal conditions such as eccema, blisters, asthma. low sperm counts and fertility problems.

Other more serious side ellects included, but were not limited to: auto-immine disorders; blindness: diabetes: berpes: heart problems such as myocardite; divroid disorders: neurological condations such as multiple sclerosis; sexures; epilepsy; narcolepsy and Guillain-Bame Syndrome. Also, inllammatory bowel disease, relapsing diseases, dcalness and even tongue biting.

While it has been approved for use in pregnant women, it is also known to cause pregnancy complications, including many spontaneous abortions.

One of the many issues it causes is anaphylactoid syndrome of pregnancy or ASP for short. ASP is a fatal discase for mothers and is among the leading causes of maternal mortality.

Symploms include anciety, confusion. shortness of breath, severe bleeding and death. Therefore, there is a high risk for pregnant women taking the covid “vaccine’.

The Pfizer document also list various blood disorders, Crohn’s disease, and liver failure as side effects. Blood clotting was another issue reported from the ‘vaccine’ trials.

One of the most telling side effects of this covid-19 injection is… covid-19. Proponents often argue that despite the possible side effects associated with some of the covid shots, they at least prevent people from dying from covid-19.

The problem is that the ‘vaccine’ actually causes people to develop the disease. In other words, it is contributing to the mumber of cases. It also lists covid-19 associated pneumonia as a side effect.

Some may argue that all of these side ellects are only associated with the Pfizer shot.

However, death and serious injuries have been present and publicly acknowledged with all of die manubcturers’ shots.

Research developed by Edinburgh University showed that almost 350 Brits have been struck down with a separate rare clotting disorder afler getting the AstraZeneca vaccine.

These blood clots cause minor bruising around the body and can leave some with a purple-dotted rash.

The Moderna vaccine has been assoctaled with heart problems such as mvocarditis and pericarditis. The list of adverse reactions also includes inflammation, fainting and breathing difficulties.

Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) listed on page 2 has also revealed that both covid-19 deaths and cases were worse in vaccinated people, particularly those over the age of 18

The data in the table is clear: the chances of developing covid-19 increases significantly following subsequent ‘booster jabs.

This is broadly in line with the information contained in the Mizer document, which stated that vaccine side effects cause covid-19 and respiratory illnesses.

Coupled with the fact that ONS data recently revealed that covid deaths were much lwer than previously thought, the risks of taking the vaccine seem to greatly outweigh the risks of not doing so.

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Truth : Leaked Data Did Not Show Pfizer Vaccine Is Dangerous!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created and propagated by anti-vaccination activists, and here are the reasons why!

Fact #1 : The Irish Light Is An Anti-Vaccination Newspaper

While many anti-vaccination activists are promoting the article as coming from an Irish newspaper, The Irish Light is a self-printed newspaper that was launched in August 2021 by two former journalists turned COVID conspiracy theorists – Gemma O’Doherty and John Waters.

Gemma O’Doherty previously worked for the Irish Independent newspaper, while John Waters used to work for The Irish Times.

Unlike regular newspapers which delivers news content, The Irish Light focuses on questioning the effectiveness of vaccines, the COVID pandemic, and other far-right ideas.

Fact #2 : EMA Cyberattack Occurred In January 2021

The Irish Light published their article called “Pfizer knew their vaccine would kill” in April 2022, as part of their 10th issue.

However, the cyber attack on the European Medicines Agency (EMA) it referred to occurred more than a year ago – in January 2021.

Fact #3 : EMA-Pfizer Data Was Leaked To Journalists + Dark Web

More than 40 MB of data was stolen in the EMA cyberattack and released on the dark web, and leaked to several journalists, including from The BMJ and academics worldwide.

The leaked data consisted of confidential documents on the Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccine candidate (later known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COMIRNATY COVID-19 vaccine), which included “internal / confidential email correspondence from November, relating to evaluation processes for COVID-19 vaccines“.

Fact #4 : Leaked Documents Was About Quality Of Early Vaccine Batches

The BMJ reviewed the leaked documents, and found that they showed that regulators at the EMA had concerns about the quality of some early commercial batches of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

An email dated 23 November 2020 showed that a high-ranking EMA official complained that Pfizer was not producing its COVID-19 vaccines to the expected specifications.

Specifically, the level of intact mRNA dropped from about 78% in the clinical batches to 55% in the proposed commercial batches. Nothing in the leaked documents referred to safety issues, or side effects.

Fact #5 : Leaked EMA-Pfizer Data Was Tampered Before Release

On 15 January 2021, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced that their investigation showed that some of the leaked data was tampered by the hackers before being released.

Some of the correspondence has been manipulated by the perpetrators prior to publication in a way which could undermine trust in vaccines.

The BMJ was criticised for reviewing the leaked documents without first verifying their authenticity and accuracy.

EMA states that the information was partially doctored, and that the perpetrators selected and aggregated data from different users and added additional headings.

It is unclear to us why a respected journal chose to present unverifiable information, in the process damaging an institution that has worked for 25 years in a transparent and successful manner.

Fact #6 : Leaked Documents Showed EMA Regulation At Work

While anti-vaccination activists framed the leak as evidence of collusion between EMA and Pfizer, they actually show that EMA regulators were doing their jobs.

EMA did not cover up the quality issue, but filed two “major objections” with Pfizer, together with a host of other questions it wanted Pfizer to address.

On 25 November 2020, one of the leaked emails showed that Pfizer had already brought up the level of mRNA in their COVID-19 vaccine lots.

The latest lots indicate that % intact RNA are back at around 70-75%, which leaves us cautiously optimistic that additional data could address the issue.

Ultimately, the EMA authorised the vaccine on 21 December 2020, nothing that “the quality of this medicinal product, submitted in the emergency context of the current (covid-19) pandemic, is considered to be sufficiently consistent and acceptable.”

Fact #7 : FDA Never Agreed To Withhold Pfizer Documents For 75 Years

The claim that the US FDA earlier agreed to withhold documents on the Pfizer vaccine for 75 years was debunked months earlier – in December 2021.

The US FDA never asked or agreed to withhold Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine documents for 75 years. That was merely the “interpretation” of Aaron Siri – the lawyer for PHMPT (Public Health and Medical Professionals for Transparency) – the group requesting the data that the FDA used to licence the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Fact #8 : Pfizer Documents Did Not Reveal Thousands Of Side Effects

The claim that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine documents revealed that it had thousands of side effects was debunked in March 2022.

The Pfizer document was publicly released on 17 November 2021, but it took antivaxxers more than 3 months to “discover” the list of 1,291 adverse events of special interest (AESI).

However, the AESI list was not a list of vaccine side effects. It was a list of “adverse events” that must be reported for further investigation.

It was also a generic list, which includes irrelevant adverse events like manufacturing and lab test issues, and even product availability and supply issues, as well as other diseases like MERS and chickenpox.

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EU Orders All Brands To Use USB-C, Including Apple!

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It’s official – the EU has ordered all brands to standardise on the USB-C connector for all mobile chargers, including Apple!

EU Orders All Brands To Use USB-C, Including Apple!

On Tuesday, October 4, 2022, the European Parliament voted decisively in favour of adopting the USB-C (USB Type C) port as the new standard for all portable devices.

The directive passed with an overwhelming vote of 602 MEPs in favour, and just 13 against (with 8 abstentions), and now heads to the EU Council for the formality of a final approval.

Once the Council signs off on the directive, it will enter into force 20 days after publication in the EU’s Official Journal. Member states will then have 12 months to transpose the new directive, and another 12 months after that transposition period, to apply the new rules.

Once these new rules are enforced, consumers will be able to use and share chargers since all portable devices use the same charging port.

The EU expects the directive to greatly reduce e-waste, and help consumers save up to €250 million a year on purchasing chargers of different standards.

In the EU, chargers alone account for about 11,000 tonnes of e-waste every year. So this directive will help to cut down on the environmental impact of disposing of so many old or unused chargers.

Details Of EU Directive On USB-C Standardisation

Here is my quick round-up of the new EU directive on standardising portable devices and laptops on the USB Type C charging port.

All Devices Must Come With USB-C Charging Port

What this means is that by the end of 2024, all portable devices sold in the EU must come with a USB Type C charging port.

Regardless of their manufacturer, all new mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, earbuds and laptops that are rechargeable via a wired cable, operating with a power delivery of up to 100 Watts, will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C port.

Small devices like smartwatches and health trackers that cannot fit a USB-C port are exempted from this requirement.

This directive is more or less directed at Apple which persists in using its own proprietary Lighting connector for its devices – everything from iPhone, iPad, AirPods and even its wireless keyboard and mouse.

The only way for Apple to get around this is to switch their new devices to wireless charging before the end of 2024.

All Devices Must Support USB-C Fast Charging Standards

Also important is the fact that the EU is going to force all brands to adopt USB-C fast charging standards.

While the legislation won’t stop manufacturers from implementing special fast charging capabilities, it will ensure that their chargers and devices support USB-C fast charging standards as a minimum.

All devices that support fast charging will now have the same charging speed, allowing users to charge their devices at the same speed with any compatible charger.

USB-C Mandate To Extend To Laptops In 2026

On top of that, the directive also requires laptops to standardise on the USB Type C charging port by spring 2026.

This new directive will not please Apple MacBook users who just celebrated the return of the MagSafe connector, but it will be a great advantage for consumers.

Once enforced, everyone will be able to use their laptop’s USB-C charger to also recharge their other devices, because they all have the same USB Type port!

Dedicated Labels

The directive also requires brands to use dedicated labels to help consumers decide if their existing chargers will support their new devices, or if they need to purchase a new charger.

This will hopefully prevent consumers from being hoodwinked into purchasing a new charger with every new device, when their existing chargers will work just as well.

Dedicated labels will inform consumers about the charging characteristics of new devices, making it easier for them to see whether their existing chargers are compatible.

Buyers will also be able to make an informed choice about whether or not to purchase a new charging device with a new product.

Wireless Charging To Be Standardised Too

The directive also commanded the European Commission to tackle wireless charging interoperability by the end of 2024.

It highlighted the risk of brands using proprietary wireless charging technologies to “lock in” users, replicating what Apple did with its Lightning connector for wired charging.

Like with wired charging, the EU wants wireless charging to be interoperable as well.

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Did Dillon Quirke Die From Vaccine SADS?!

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Did 24 year-old hurling star, Dillon Quirke, die from vaccine-induced Sudden Adult Death Syndrome?!

Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Dillon Quirke Died From Vaccine-Induced SADS!

Right after news broke that 24 year-old hurling star Dillon Quirke collapsed during a game and died, people started claiming that his death was caused by the COVID-19 vaccine.

I presume the family are looking for a post mortem in the case of tragic hurling star Dillon Quirke Tipperary, who died yest. In light of the noticeable increase of athlete deaths and injuries internationally following the jab, I think this would be prudent. #suddendeaths2022

Magician with a hurl. Devastating news. Can’t help thinking the vaccine was in some way related as there’s been so many similar incidents recently worldwide

it is a jab i am sad to say

No Evidence Dillon Quirke Died From COVID-19 Vaccine!

It’s becoming a tradition for anti-vaccination activists to immediately blame all athlete deaths or injuries on the COVID-19 vaccine.

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created and propagated by anti-vaccination activists, and here are the reasons why… and the current facts that we know so far.

Fact #1 : Dillon Quirke’s Cause Of Death Is Currently Unknown

Dillon Quirke collapsed during a county senior championship game at the Semple Stadium on Friday, August 5, 2022.

His Clonoulty-Rossmore teammates, and his opponents Kilruane MacDonaghs, quickly came to his aid.

He received medical attention on the field, before being sent to the Tipperary University Hospital where he later died.

This was the official statement by the Tipperary Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) :

Tipperary GAA extends its heartfelt and sincere sympathies to Dan, Hazel, Shannon, Kellie and the extended Quirke family. Also, to the Clonoulty Rossmore GAA Club and his teammates on the sad and tragic passing of Clonoulty Rossmore and Tipperary hurler Dillon Quirke.

Dillon became ill during Friday evenings County Senior Hurling Championship game between Clonoulty Rossmore and Kilruane MacDonaghs in Semple Stadium and was taken to Tipperary University Hospital in Clonmel where he passed away.

You will note that they did not mention any cause of death. Dillon Quirke’s cause of death is currently unknown.

That does not mean he died from “a vaccine injury” or “vaccine side effects”. It means – no one knows why Dillion Quirke died suddenly during a hurling game.

Until an autopsy is performed and his family reveals his cause of death, anyone who claims that Dillon Quirke died of this cause or that cause is lying to you.

Fact #2 : Dillon Quirke Had Heart Problems For Years

Dillon Quirke had heart problems for years, before the COVID-19 vaccines were invented.

In 2018, Quirke took a break from hurling after he contracted viral myocarditis. As he explained himself :

I had a virus called myocarditis last year and that took a lot out of me so I had to take three or four months off, I wasn’t allowed to do a thing.

I took last year off and I got back in with the club and it was nice to get a call by Liam Sheedy this year and I just wanted to give it my best shot.

The lining of your heart gets swollen, it comes under stress, it can often happen when your immune system is low.

I collapsed at home one day after work and I went down to hospital and after a good few tests, they eventually found out what was the problem.

I had to take away physical contact, no training for three months. I just wasn’t able to catch up so I thought it was best to take a break for the year.

Even after he came back to hurling, he collapsed again after just three months on the field. And when he got back with the team again, he developed shingles.

I collapsed and then I came back after three months and I collapsed again and was taken off in the ambulance again.

That’s why I had to take a break. When I came back then with the club, I got shingles.

My immune system was very low. The doc is very good as well so he keeps track. I still do tests but it’s all 100 per cent now.

Fact #3 : Unknown If Dillon Quirke Was Vaccinated

It is currently unknown if Dillon Quirke was vaccinated against COVID-19, so it would be wrong for anyone to claim that he died from COVID-19 vaccine side effects.

For all we know – he may not even be vaccinated! The COVID-19 vaccine is not mandatory in Ireland, despite what anti-vaccination activists may claim.

Fact #4 : Vaccine Side Effects Appear Within Hours / Days

Even if Dillon Quirke was vaccinated against COVID-19, he would have received all of his doses many months ago.

He cannot possibly have died from a vaccine side effect, because they appear within hours or days, not months later.

Mild side effects like injection site pain, fever, muscle ache, headache, lethargy develop within minutes to hours of the vaccination.

Anaphylaxis develops within minutes, while other severe adverse reactions like myocarditis and VITT develop within days.

The spike proteins produced by the COVID-19 vaccines also do not stick around for months. If these spike proteins are permanent (as antivaxxers claim), we would have lifelong immunity.

Fact #5 : Many Athletes Die Unexpectedly Every Year

What many of us do not realise is that many athletes die unexpectedly every year, and the number has been steadily increasing every year.

This chart from the Maron study shows a progressive rise in sudden death reports of 6% per year, from 1980 to 2006.

In fact, the number of sudden deaths in young and fit athletes more than quadrupled from 1980 to 2006!

This debunks the claim that such a rise in sudden death must be due to the COVID-19 vaccine, which obviously did not exist back then.

Fact #6 : Deaths / Injuries From COVID-19 Vaccines Can Be Proven

Despite anti-vaccination activists chalking up celebrity deaths to the vaccine; death or injury from rare vaccine adverse effects like anaphylaxis, myocarditis and VITT can be proven.

Fact #7 : COVID-19 Vaccines Proven Safe + Effective

COVID-19 vaccines underwent massive clinical trials, and were only approved after they were proven to be safe and effective.

In addition, they were constantly monitored after they received their approvals, which picked up rare side effects after they were administered to billions of people.

Even prominent antivaxxer Steve Kirsch is healthy and well, despite being fully-vaccinated against COVID-19!

Fact #8 : Claims Of Athletes Dying From COVID-19 Vaccine Proven False

This is yet another example of anti-vaccination activists abusing athlete deaths / injuries to create and propagate FAKE NEWS about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.

So far, claims of athlete deaths / injuries due to the COVID-19 vaccine have been proven false at every instance.

Will these anti-vaccination activists apologise for lying to you? Nope! They will just move on to the next athlete tragedy…

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

Don’t forget to protect yourself, and your family, by vaccinating against COVID-19!

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did Germany admit 1 in 5000 vaccine shots cause serious effects?!

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Did Germany just admit that 1 in 5,000 vaccine shots cause “serious side effects”?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Germany Admits 1 in 5,000 Vaccine Shots Cause Serious Effects!

Anti-vaccination activists are sharing a screenshot of a Facebook post, or a CHD article claiming that Germany just admitted that 1 in 5,000 vaccine shots cause “serious side effects”!

Here is what The Children’s Health Defense (CHD) wrote about this shocking claim. It’s rather long, so feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!

‘Stunning’: 1 in 5,000 COVID Shots Caused ‘Serious Side Effects,’ German Health Officials Admit

The German Federal Ministry of Health on Wednesday posted a “stunning tweet” admitting 1 of every 5,000 COVID-19 vaccinations caused “serious side effects.” The data included 5,862 reports of suspected adverse reactions in children and adolescents.

The German Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) on Wednesday posted a “stunning tweet” admitting 1 of every 5,000 COVID-19 vaccinations cause “serious side effects.”

Although likely an “underestimation” due to voluntary reporting, according to Alex Berenson, the admission implies almost 300,000 Americans and Europeans have experienced a severe adverse event after receiving a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine.

Translated, the tweet says, “One in 5000 people is affected by a serious side effect after a COVID19 vaccination. If you suspect an adverse reaction, get medical attention and report your symptoms to @PEI_Germany.”

The Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI), which uses the handle “@PEI-Germany” is Germany’s federal institute for vaccines and biomedical drugs.

The figure came from a PEI safety report summarizing suspected cases of side effects and vaccination complications that were reported to PEI between Dec. 27, 2020, when Germany launched its vaccination campaign, and March 31, 2022.

During that time, 172,062,925 vaccinations were administered in Germany — of those, 17.1% were Spikevax, 7.4% were AstraZeneca, 2.1% were Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) and 0.1% were Novavax.

During the same time period, PEI received 296,233 reports of suspected side effects. The reporting rate was 1.7 per 1,000 vaccine doses for all vaccines combined and 0.2 serious reaction reports per 1,000 doses.

So, the 1 in 5,000 people experiencing a serious reaction is actually 1 in 5,000 doses.

PEI on Thursday corrected its tweet to reflect accurate numbers. According to @PEI_Germany, “the reporting rate for serious reactions is 0.2 reports per 1,000 vaccine doses,” the Tweet read.

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Germany Did NOT Admit 1 in 5,000 Vaccine Shots Cause Serious Effects!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created by anti-vaccination activists and The Children’s Health Defense (CHD) to scare people from protecting themselves against COVID-19, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Germany Never Said That

It is interesting to note that the CHD and anti-vaccination activists posted screenshots of the post by the German Federal Ministry of Health (Bundesministerium für Gesundheit), but not links to the tweet or Facebook post.

If you check the actual tweet or Facebook post and do a machine translation, you would realise that German health officials never said any of that.

For your convenience, here was what the German Federal Ministry of Health posted, machine translated into English :

0,2 Verdachtsmeldungen pro 1.000 Impfdosen beträgt die Melderate ans Paul-Ehrlich-Institut für schwerwiegende Reaktionen. Sollten Sie den Verdacht auf Nebenwirkungen haben, holen Sie sich ärztliche Hilfe und melden Sie Ihre Symptome: nebenwirkungen.bund.de/nw/DE/home/home_node.html

The reporting rate to the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut for serious reactions is 0.2 suspected reports per 1,000 vaccine doses. If you suspect side effects, get medical help and report your symptoms: side effects.bund.de/nw/DE/home/home_node.html

As you can see, German health officials never said that 1 in 5,000 vaccine shots in Germany caused severe side effects.

They only said that the Paul-Ehrlich Institute is receiving about 1 report of suspected serious reaction for every 5,000 vaccine doses.

Hence, they are advising people to report any side effects they may encounter and seek medical help if necessary.

Note the word “suspected”. Just because there is a report, does not mean it is an actual side effect of the COVID-19 vaccines. These reports have to be investigated.

Fact #2 : German Poster Never Said That Either

Even the German poster that the CHD and anti-vaccination activists shared, did not say that either.

Verdacht auf Nebenwirkungen durch die Corona-Schutzimpfung?
Wenden Sie sich an Ihre Ärztin oder Ihren Art und melden Sie Ire Symptome dem Paul-Ehrlich-Institutmithilfe de COVID-19-Meldeformulars.

Do you suspect side effects from the coronavirus vaccination?
Contact your doctor or nurse and report your symptoms to the Paul Ehrlich Institute using the COVID-19 reporting form.

This is pretty much what most governments around the world are doing – asking people who believe that they are experiencing side effects from their COVID-19 vaccinations to report them.

This not only disproves what the CHD and anti-vaccination activists claimed, it also shows that there is no cover-up, and that Germany (like many other countries) are interested to find out if the COVID-19 vaccine can indeed cause serious side effects.

Fact #3 : German Health Officials Clarified What They Meant

On July 21 – a day after their post went viral on Facebook and Twitter – German health officials clarified that the report rate of 0.2 in 1,000 vaccine doses referred to “all reports of suspected side effects to the Paul Ehrlich Institute“.

They also stated that those reports have not been verified, and no causal connection with the vaccination has been established.

Die Melderate bezieht sich auf alle Verdachtsmeldungen, d. h. ein ursächlicher Zusammenhang mit der Impfung ist mit der Verdachtsmeldung noch nicht bestätigt, es wird erstmal ein zeitlicher Zusammenhang festgestellt.

The report rate refers to all suspicious reports, i.e. a causal connection with the vaccination has not yet been confirmed with the report of suspicion, a time connection is first established.

Fact #4 : German Health Officials Say Serious Side Effect Risks Are Very Low

The German Federal Ministry of Health also stated in their clarification that the risk of a serious side effect from COVID-19 vaccination in Germany is “very low“.

Das Risiko einer schwerwiegenden Nebenwirkung nach einer COVID-19-Impfung ist sehr gering.

The risk of a serious side-effect following a COVID-19 vaccine is very low.

Fact #5 : Pharmacovigilance Data Is Unverified

In their article, CHD lists the number of reported side effects as a way to scare people into believing that the COVID-19 vaccines are dangerous.

What they don’t want you to know is that – these reports are unverified. While the German system isn’t as open to abuse like VAERS, or the UK Yellow Card system, they include reports that have nothing to do with the vaccine.

All pharmacovigilance databases that collect such reports warn that their data and reports cannot be considered evidence of any kind, because :

they may contain duplicated information and/or reports
the reported event may be caused by an illness, like a COVID-19 infection for example,
the reported event may be caused by a different drug taken by the patient at the same time
they have not been assessed by health authorities to ascertain if it’s even “biologically plausible”

CHD is deliberately misleading you by quoting these reports, because they have not even been confirmed to be caused by COVID-19 vaccines.

Fact #6 : COVID-19 Vaccines Greatly Reduce Hospitalisation + Death

What the CHD and anti-vaccination activists don’t want you to know is that – the vaccines have been proven to greatly reduce hospitalisation and death from COVID-19.

In Germany, RKI stats show that even as COVID-19 infections rates surged, vaccinated people were far less likely to be hospitalised from COVID-19, compared to the unvaccinated.

Fact #7 : COVID-19 Vaccines Proven Safe + Effective

COVID-19 vaccines underwent massive clinical trials, and were only approved after they were proven to be safe and effective.

In addition, they were constantly monitored after they received their approvals, which picked up rare side effects after they were administered to billions of people.

Even prominent antivaxxer Steve Kirsch is healthy and well, despite being fully-vaccinated against COVID-19!

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

And please protect yourself, and your family, by vaccinating against COVID-19!

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Is Interpol Investigating Klaus Schwab For Genocide?!

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Is Interpol investigating World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab for crimes against humanity, and genocide?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Interpol Is Investigating Klaus Schwab For Genocide!

Vancouver Times followed up with their Dr. Tedros arrest story, with a story claiming that Interpol is now investigating World Economic Forum (WEF) founder Klaus Schwab for crimes against humanity and genocide!

It’s a long post, so feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!

Klaus Schwab, head of the WEF, is under investigation for mass murder (genocide) and crimes against humanity, according to several sources at Interpol. Schwab faces the death penalty if he is charged and convicted.

Schwab was picked up by Interpol’s radar after he became clear he was using a combination of kickbacks and extortion to pull strings in countries around the world. Schwab is accused of giving the order to Trudeau to murder the Canadian population with deadly, untested vaccines.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the WHO recently arrived in Holland, after being charged with crimes against humanity and genocide. He was caught trying to travel to Africa with a bag full of cash and expensive jewelry. He is expected to plead not guilty, and is in the process of hiring a lawyer.

Agents at Intepol confirmed with Vancouver Times that there is a parallel investigation into Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau as well as Microsoft founder / fake doctor Bill Gates. Both are suspected of engaging in mass murder and crimes against humanity.

The mainstream media and big tech want to hide the truth. Beat them at their own game by sharing this article!

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Truth : Interpol Is Not Investigating Klaus Schwab For Genocide!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created by Vancouver Times to generate page views and money from gullible people.

Fact #1 : Vancouver Times Is A Fake News Website

Vancouver Times is a “content aggregator” (copy and paste) website that is known for creating fake news to generate more page views and money.

To look legitimate, they copy and paste news from legitimate news organisations. To drive traffic, they create fake news, sometimes masked as “satire”.

To give themselves a veneer of deniability, they label themselves as a “satire website” in their About Us section.

Vancouver Times is the most trusted source for satire on the West Coast. We write satirical stories about issues that affect conservatives.

Here are some of their fake news that we debunked :

Fact #2 : Interpol Is Not Investigating Klaus Schwab

Just in case you are wondering, INTERPOL is not investigating Klaus Schwab. And no, Vancouver Times did not score an exclusive interview with INTERPOL agents.

INTERPOL would never discuss an active case with the media, and certainly not a copy + paste website like Vancouver Times.

It’s Vancouver Times’ signature disinformation move – claiming to have exclusive sources. It’s nothing but bullshit.

Fact #3 : INTERPOL Has No Jurisdiction In Any Country

INTERPOL is an international organisation that facilitates police cooperation between different countries.

It acts as a liaison between police organisations, and does NOT have any jurisdiction in any country.

INTERPOL does NOT the power to arrest or charge anyone of any crime in any country around the world.

Investigation, arrest and prosecution of any crime is conducted by the individual country’s police force, not INTERPOL.

Fact #4 : There Is No Death Penalty In Switzerland

Switzerland abolished the death penalty for most capital offences in 1942, and the remaining capital offences in 1992.

So Klaus Schwab most definitely does NOT face the death penalty, regardless of whatever crime he is accused of.

Fact #5 : Bill Gates + Klaus Schwab Were “Arrested” Before

To bait conspiracy theorists and anti-vaccination activists into sharing their fake news, Vancouver Times falsely claimed that both Bill Gates and Klaus Schwab are under investigation, and could soon be arrested.

They were both falsely claimed to have been arrested last year, by the infamous Conservative Beaver – a fake news website like Vancouver Times.

There are so many similarities between Conservative Beaver and Vancouver Times that it is possible that they were created by the same people.

Fact #6 : Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus Was Not Arrested For Genocide

Vancouver Times made up the fake story that INTERPOL arrested Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus for crimes against humanity.

That never happened. They only created that story to drive traffic to their website, which must not be doing well despite their prolific copying and pasting of other people’s articles.

Fact #7 : WEF Has No Powers / Jurisdiction In Canada

The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an independent NGO and lobbying organisation based in Switzerland.

It has no powers or jurisdiction over healthcare policies in Canada, which incidentally does not have a vaccine mandate, despite what anti-vaccination activists claim.

Vancouver Times made up the false claim that Klaus Schwab ordered Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to force the COVID-19 vaccines on Canadians, to bait anti-vaccination activists into sharing their fake story.

Fact #8 : There Is No Such Thing As A Publication Ban

Vancouver Times likes to use the “media blackout” claim, to explain why you can’t find any reputable media outlet reporting on INTERPOL’s investigation of Klaus Schwab.

That’s utter and complete bullshit. No one – not a judge, not even the Swiss government – can control the worldwide media, or prevent anyone from writing about his arrest.

You can also be sure that even if the mainstream media refused to run the story, it would have been reported by many other websites and bloggers.

Yet, not a single blogger or online website published their account of this incredible story? That’s because IT NEVER HAPPENED…

Fact #9 : Mainstream Media + Big Tech Would Have Loved The Hype

Vancouver Times is gaslighting you about how mainstream media and Big Tech want to hide the “truth” about INTERPOL’s (non-existent) investigation of Klaus Schwab.

They would all loved such shocking news, because it would have driven tons of traffic and engagement to their websites / platforms.

In fact, that was precisely why Vancouver Times created the fake story – to drive traffic, for the ad money.

Everything that Vancouver Times publishes should be regarded as FAKE NEWS, until proven otherwise.

Please help us fight fake news websites like Vancouver Times – SHARE this fact check out, and SUPPORT our work!

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did EU Torture + Kill Hundreds Of African Refugees?!

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Did the European Union torture and kill hundreds of African refugees?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : The EU Tortured + Killed Hundreds Of African Refugees!

The Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛) and pro-CCP (Chinese Communist Party) netizens are sharing a picture of African refugees apparently lying dead, together with this message.

This is massacre within NATO and European Union borders. African immigrants are being tortured and killed in numbers to prevent them from seeking refuge in Europe. This is not for Ukrainians. Do you remember how they treated Arabs and other Asians? Recorded 100 deaths yesterday alone.

For those who condemn Russian actions to restore equality and humanity across the globe let them think again.
Please share it widely and quickly before the West (read the WORST) remove this video from their Facebook.

Truth : The EU Did Not Torture + Kill Hundreds Of African Refugees!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created by the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛), and shared by pro-CCP netizens and websites, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : The Incident Happened In Africa, Not Europe

The viral photo was not taken in Europe, but in Morocco, Africa, of what is now known as the 2022 Melilla Incident.

The 2022 Melilla Incident occurred on Moroccan soil, at the border fence separating Morocco from the autonomous Spanish city of Melilla.

Fact #2 : 2,000 Migrants Attacked The Border Fence

On June 24, 2022, about 2,000 African migrants attacked and tried to break through the Melilla border fence.

Security forces from both Morocco and Spain tried to disperse them, but ended up fighting them for two hours.

Fact #3 : Hundreds Of Migrants Did Not Die

The wumao claim that hundreds of refugees died is easily proven false.

Several refugees died in the stampede when they stepped on each other while trying to flee, while five fell and died trying to scale the fence. In the end…

At least 37 migrants died
At least 63 migrants were injured
Two Moroccan gendarmes (police officers) were killed
140 Moroccan officers were wounded, five seriously
49 Spanish Civil Guards were lightly injured

The wumao intentionally used a picture that shows most of the migrants lying down, instead of other pictures that show them sitting down after being detained.

While it may look like the migrants are dead, they are very much alive. If you look closely at the viral photo, you can see some of them sitting up.

Fact #4 : Individuals In The Photo Were Detained, Not Killed / Tortured

The wumao took the picture from Association Marocaine des Droits Humains – Section Nador (AMDH Nador), and edited out their watermark, so you cannot find the original post.

They did that to avoid people finding out that the migrants in the viral picture were not killed or tortured, from the AMDH Nador’s post :

They are currently in custody at Nador central police station. Given the large number of detained migrants and the heavy charges they may face prosecution, AMDH Nador wishes to mobilize more lawyers to defend them and ensure fair trials.

Unfortunately for them, I managed to trace the source of the viral photo, although the Rafah / Pafah Orient bus in the photo threw me off for a while.

Fact #5 : Moroccan Authorities Were Responsible

The wumao also did not want you to find out that it was the Moroccan authorities that were responsible for tackling the refugees that day.

If you traced the photo also posted a video showing part of the migrants’ effort to storm the Melilla border fence, in which they stated that the Spanish authorities just “quietly observed” the Moroccan authorities at work :

The video that shows it all. At the moment when the Moroccan authorities were playing the role of gendarme by prohibiting asylum seekers from arriving in Melilla using very violent practices, the Spanish authorities crossed their arms and quietly observed that they getting the dirty job done.

Fact #6 : China Wants To Divert Attention From Xinjiang

The wumao is creating fake news like this, not just to support Russia, but also to divert attention from its oppression of the Uyghur people in Xinjiang.

No, it’s not all kumbaya in Xinjiang, no matter what pro-CCP netizens keep claiming. That’s just Chinese propaganda.

Fact #7 : This Is Chinese Propaganda

This is really nothing more than yet another example of Chinese propaganda created by the infamous Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛).

All of the wumao articles that I looked at so far have proven to be false… at every instance. So please watch out for such false claims.

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Did Tom Jones Collapse From Vaccine Side Effects?!

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Did veteran singer Tom Jones postponed his Budapest show after he collapsed from vaccine side effects?!

Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Tom Jones Collapsed From Vaccine Side Effects!

Right after news broke that Tom Jones postponed his show in Budapest, anti-vaccination activists started claiming that it was because he collapsed from vaccine side effects.

Sir Tom Jones collapses after taking jab in Budapest

Celebrity Tom Jones collapses after second dose of Covid-19 jab

and the latest victim of the jab…tonite Tom Jones has collapsed in Budapest

yes – vaccine development requires a trial period to elapse prior to rollout and apparently thats you.

How do you explain all the collapses? Tom Jones, Carlos Santana and Alan Carr – all this week alone.

Novak Djokovic is fine btw

Tom Jones Did NOT Collapse From Vaccine Side Effects!

It’s becoming a tradition for anti-vaccination activists to immediately blame all celebrity deaths or injuries on the COVID-19 vaccine.

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created and propagated by anti-vaccination activists, and here are the reasons why… and the current facts that we know so far.

Fact #1 : Tom Jones Postponed His Budapest Concert

Tom Jones was scheduled to perform at a concert in Budapest on July 12, 2022, as part of his European and UK tour.

However, he cancelled it at the last minute, and rescheduled the concert of August 16, 2022.

It was that announcement that set off the “firestorm” of claims that he collapsed due for COVID-19 vaccine side effects.

Fact #2 : Tom Jones Had Viral Laryngitis, Not Vaccine Side Effects!

The truth is – Tom Jones did not collapse from vaccine side effects. He had to postpone his concert because he came down with viral laryngitis.

Tom Jones actually explained what really happened in a tweet on the early morning of the next day – Wednesday, July 13, 2022 :

Hello to all concerned: I travelled last night from the UK to Budapest and woke this morning with an uncomfortable throat.

A specialist came to visit and diagnosed ‘viral laryngitis’. He strongly advised postponing this evening’s show and prescribed medication and vocal rest.

I did NOT ‘collapse; anywhere at any time, that is pure rumour. Hopefully the inflammation will calm soon as I am looking forward to continuing my wonderful summer tour.

Unfortunately the show had to be cancelled at the last minute, and for that I am very sorry. However, the show in Budapest has been rescheduled and will take place on August 16. Thanks again for all your kind concern.

Fact #3 : Tom Jones Continued On His Tour Two Days Later

Tom Jones recovered from his viral laryngitis and resumed his tour, with a concert in Luxembourg on July 14, followed by Italy (July 16), and Croatia (July 18).

He will be performing in Germany on July 20, and then return to the UK for two concerts – in Carlisle on July 24 and Scarborough on July 26.

Despite what anti-vaccination activists may claim, Tom Jones is well enough to continue with his tour.

Fact #4 : Tom Jones Was Vaccinated In December 2020

Tom Jones was once of the first to get vaccinated in December 2020, when the first COVID-19 vaccines were administered.

He joked about it on the Jools’s Holland’s Annual Hootenanny Show on Thursday, 31 December 2020 :

I’ve had my jab already. That’s one good thing about being 80, you’re first in line for the jab.

It was fine, it was like getting the flu jab.

Fact #5 : Vaccine Side Effects Appear Within Hours / Days

Tom Jones was fully vaccinated in December 2020, and would have received his booster dose by the end of 2021 – more than 6 months earlier.

He cannot possibly collapse from a vaccine side effect, because they appear within hours or days, not months later.

Mild side effects like injection site pain, fever, muscle ache, headache, lethargy develop within minutes to hours of the vaccination.

Anaphylaxis develops within minutes, while other severe adverse reactions like myocarditis and VITT develop within days.

The spike proteins produced by the COVID-19 vaccines also do not stick around for months. If these spike proteins are permanent (as antivaxxers claim), we would have lifelong immunity.

Fact #6 : Deaths / Injuries From COVID-19 Vaccines Can Be Proven

Despite anti-vaccination activists chalking up celebrity deaths to the vaccine; death or injury from rare vaccine adverse effects like anaphylaxis, myocarditis and VITT can be proven.

Fact #7 : COVID-19 Vaccines Proven Safe + Effective

COVID-19 vaccines underwent massive clinical trials, and were only approved after they were proven to be safe and effective.

In addition, they were constantly monitored after they received their approvals, which picked up rare side effects after they were administered to billions of people.

Even prominent antivaxxer Steve Kirsch is healthy and well, despite being fully-vaccinated against COVID-19!

Fact #8 : Claims Of Celebrities Dying From COVID-19 Vaccine Proven False

This is yet another example of anti-vaccination activists abusing celebrity deaths / injuries to create and propagate FAKE NEWS about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.

So far, claims of celebrity deaths / injuries due to the COVID-19 vaccine have been proven false at every instance.

Will these anti-vaccination activists apologise for lying to you? Nope! They will just move on to the next celebrity tragedy…

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Don’t forget to protect yourself, and your family, by vaccinating against COVID-19!

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did China Reduce 4X More Air Pollution Than US/EU?!

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Did China reduce 4X more dangerous PM2.5 air pollution than the US and Europe?!

Take a look at viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : China Reduced 4X More Air Pollution Than US / EU!

The Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛) and pro-CCP netizens are now promoting the story of how China reduced 4X more air pollution than the US and Europe.

This is based on a Bloomberg article, which declared “China has reduced air pollution nearly as much in seven years as the US did in three decades, helping to bring down average global smog levels in the process“.

Let’s take a closer look at the story, and see what the facts really are!

China Significantly Reduced Air Pollution But Still Far From US / EU Levels

One can readily see why the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛) and pro-CCP netizens are ecstatic about this, and they have the right to be.

That said, they are turning the great progress China has made into a pissing contest with the US and Europe. So let me just set the record straight.

Fact #1 : China Reduced Air Pollution By Almost 40%

First, let me confirm that the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) did indeed report that China successfully reduced dangerous PM2.5 air pollution by almost 40% between 2013 to 2020.

China must be congratulated for making such an incredible improvement, even though its 9% drop from 2019 to 2020 can be attributed to a drastic reduction of economic activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This isn’t just a technical achievement. The reduction in dangerous PM2.5 air pollution is estimated to add 2 years to the life expectancy of the Chinese people.

We should also applaud the Chinese for their very significant contribution to reducing global air pollution – without which, the global average air pollution would have increased, instead of fallen.

Fact #2 : China Air Pollution Was Incredibly High

Now, if the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛) and pro-CCP netizens just celebrated that achievement, I would have celebrated it with them.

However, since they turned it into a pissing contest, I should point out that a big reason for China’s massive reduction was its incredibly bad PM2.5 air pollution.

Back in the early 2000s, air pollution in China grew so bad that the Air Quality Index (AQI) actually exceeded 500 points for the first time in November 2010 – far beyond the index limit of 300!

The US embassy in Beijing at that time labelled it as “crazy bad”, but later amended it to a more diplomatic “beyond index” – a feat that China repeated 3 times in the next year.

Air pollution was so bad the Chinese government asked foreign consulates to stop publishing their own air quality data. But it didn’t matter – even official Beijing data showed readings of up to 700!

It is from these dubious heights that China finally announced their “War Against Pollution”. Their incredible achievement in reducing air pollution was only made possible by the incredible air pollution they created in the first place.

China = national average, BTH = Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, YRD = Yangtze River Delta, PRD = Pearl River Delta

Fact #3 : Air Pollution In China Still High

Despite cutting down air pollution by almost 40% from 2013 to 2020, China still has high amounts of air pollution.

The EPIC chart above shows that the national average for air pollution in China remains above 30 µg/m³ – 6X above the new WHO guidelines.

Fact #4 : Pollution Reduction Partly Due To Lower Economic Activity

The EPIC report noted that 9% of the drop in China’s air pollution was from 2019 to 2020 – when economic activity in China was drastically reduced due to COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.

Without that 9% drop, the reduction in air pollution would be far less impressive, and China would be recording PM2.5 air pollution at about 35 µg/m³.

Fact #5 : US Has Far Lower Air Pollution

The wumao and pro-CCP netizens may cackle at how China managed to cut their air pollution 4X faster than the US, but that is only possible because the US already has relatively low air pollution.

Even though the United States actually increased its air pollution since 2019, its PM2.5 air pollution levels in the US remain 4X lower than China, at around 7.5 µg/m³.

More importantly, air pollution levels in the United States have remained under 13 µg/m³ since 1998 – at least 4X lower than China’s peak of about 53 µg/m³.

Fact #6 : Even Europe Has Far Lower Air Pollution

The wumao and pro-CCP netizens should also be wary about comparing China’s “quick” reduction in air pollution against Europe.

The EU has steadily reduced air pollution from a peak of just 16 µg/m³ to about 11 µg/m³ – just over half as much as China.

In other words – it is harder for Europe to reduce its air pollution levels which are already pretty low.

Fact #7 : US, EU + China Far From Achieving WHO PM2.5 Guideline

Now, let me end by pointing out that the US, the EU and China all FAIL to meet the updated WHO PM2.5 guideline of just 5 µg/m³.

It will take many years for either the US, the EU or China to hit that, and it would require a tremendous amount of political will and investment.

So instead of mocking other countries, can we just focus on reducing dangerous PM2.5 air pollution?

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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US, Canada, Ukraine Voted Against Anti-Nazi Resolution?!

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Find out why the US, Canada and Ukraine repeatedly voted against an anti-Nazi resolution in the United Nations!

Claim : US, Canada, Ukraine Voted Against Anti-Nazi Resolution!

Pro-Russia and pro-CCP netizens, as well as the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛), are claiming that the US, Canada and Ukraine are the only three of four countries to vote against the anti-Nazi resolution in the United Nations.

Here is a recent example, which refers to a 2014 UN Resolution called “Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance“.

Why are the US, Canada, and Ukraine the only three of four countries in the world to vote NO to the UN resolution to combat Nazism and Neo-Nazism? In fact most European countries abstained, while the vast majority of the global south including China, India, Russia voted yes

Note : This photo has often been used as “evidence” that Ukraine and the US are pro-Nazi. The truth is – this is a digitally manipulated photo.

Here’s Why US, Canada, Ukraine Voted Against Anti-Nazi Resolution!

At first glance, it is easy enough to see why pro-Russia and pro-CCP netizens actually believe that the US, Canada and Ukraine are Nazi supporters.

Let’s go through the facts of this UN resolution, and find out why US, Canada and Ukraine voted against an anti-Nazi resolution.

Fact #1 : US, Canada, Ukraine Voted Against Anti-Nazi Resolution

First, let me confirm that the US, Canada and Ukraine did indeed vote No to a 2014 UN resolution called 2014 UN Resolution called “Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance“.

Here was how the voting went :

Total voting membership : 193
Members voting Yes : 132
Members voting No : 4 (US, Canada, Ukraine, Palau)
Members abstaining : 51 (including all EU member states)
Members who did not vote : 6

Fact #2 : This Is Old News From 2014

This is old news from 2014 that is being resurrected due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Russia calls their invasion of Ukraine a “special operation” to “denazify Ukraine”, and they justified it by claiming that Ukraine is full of Nazis.

Hence, pro-Russia and pro-CCP groups, including the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛), have been promoting this story as “evidence” that the US, Canada and Ukraine are pro-Nazi.

Fact #3 : Resolution Was Presented By Russia To Justify Annexation Of Crimea

The 2014 UN resolution was presented by Russia as a way to justify its annexation of Crimea in March 2014.

That was why Ukraine joined the US and Canada in voting against the resolution. All European Union member states abstained en masse from the resolution for the same reason.

Speaking to European Voice before the vote, Lithuania’s foreign minister, Linas Linkevičius, said that “no one should doubt that we are condemning fascism”, but, he continued, “under cover of this condemnation, Russia is pursuing its own agenda”.

It was not that those countries support Nazism or facism. It’s because they do not agree that Russia should use it as a pretext to attack other countries.

Fact #4 : Ukraine First Voted No In 2014

This resolution has actually been presented on a yearly basis since 1980, but Ukraine only started to vote no in 2014, after Russia annexed Crimea.

Their official reason for Ukraine voting No though was because the document did not reflect the crimes of the Stalin regime :

Andrey Tsimbalyuk, Ukraine’s Representative in the UN, said in 2014: “Until Stalinism and neo-Stalinism are judged with the same degree, as Nazism, neo-Nazism and other forms of intolerance, Ukraine will not be able to support this document.”

This is why pro-Russia and pro-CCP netizens only mention the 2014 resolution, but not the earlier versions. That was the first time Ukraine voted against the resolution.

Did Russian annexation of Crimea turn Ukrainians into Nazis? Or did they simply dislike Russia’s use of Nazism to justify their illegal invasion of Ukraine?

Fact #5 : US Voted No To Defend Freedom Of Speech

Thanks to a CCP supporter, Wan Chun Hong, I confirm that United States has voted against each instance of this resolution as far back as 1985.

The United States also abstained from voting for this resolution in the 1980 resolution, together with 17 other countries.

The US reason for voting against the resolution was to defend the freedom of speech. As Nicholas Hill, the Deputy US Representative for ECOSOC explained on November 12, 2021 :

The United States Supreme Court has consistently affirmed the constitutional right to freedom of speech and the rights of peaceful assembly and association, including by avowed Nazis, whose hatred and xenophobia are vile and widely scorned by the American people. We nevertheless firmly defend the constitutional rights of those who exercise their fundamental freedoms to combat intolerance and express strong opposition to the odious Nazi creed and others that espouse similar hatreds.

For these reasons, the United States has voted against each new version of this resolution since 2005 and is, again, compelled to vote “No” on this resolution, and calls on other States to do the same.

Nazism is also far less of a problem today than white nationalism, or Russian and Chinese aggression against their neighbours.

Fact #6 : Israel Voted No At Least Once

CCP supporter, Wan Chun Hong, intended to use the 1985 UN Resolution as evidence that Western countries were really supporters of Nazism.

There is one problem though – two countries voted No against the measure called “Measures to be taken against Nazi, Fascist and neo-Fascist activities and all other forms of totalitarian ideologies and practices based on racial intolerance, hatred and terror“.

One was the United States. The other was Israel. Does Israel voting against that anti-Nazi resolution mean that the Israelis are also pro-Nazis, like the United States?

CCP supporters would like us to believe that, because they think we are idiots.

Fact #7 : Russia Is Using Resolution To Justify Attacks On Neighbours

Russia has been using this resolution to justify its attacks on its neighbours, as Nicholas Hill also pointed out in the same November 12, 2021 explanation :

[T]he United States must once again express opposition to this resolution, a document most notable for its thinly veiled attempts to legitimize Russian disinformation campaigns denigrating neighboring nations and promoting the distorted Soviet narrative of much of contemporary European history, using the cynical guise of halting Nazi glorification.

Here is a list of territories that Russia has occupied so far :

Transnistria : seized from Moldova in 1992
Abkhazia and South Ossetia : seized from Georgia in 2008
Crimea, and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk : seized from Ukraine in 2014
Parts of Donetsk and all of Luhansk : seized from Ukraine in 2022 (ongoing)

This is really nothing more than Russian propaganda to justify their invasions of other countries, reminiscent of what Nazi Germany did in the 1930s.

Russian and Chinese propaganda have also tried to introduce fake claims like NATO had been planning to invade Russia from Ukraine, or that they created COVID-19 in Ukrainian biological labs.

Fact #8 : Russia Colluded With Nazi Germany In World War 2

Russian and Chinese propaganda avoid mentioning how the Soviet Union colluded with Nazi Germany, and was responsible (in part) for starting World War 2 in Europe.

The fascist ideology of Nazi Germany did not gel well with the communist ideology of the Soviet Union, which was why relations between the two countries deteriorated once Hitler came into power.

But the Soviet Union warmed up to the Nazis, and actively colluded with Nazi Germany before and during World War 2… up until Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa.

Multiple commercial agreements provided Nazi Germany with desperately needed raw materials, including oil.
The Soviet Union invaded Poland in partnership with Nazi Germany.
The Soviet Union invaded Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia, just after Germany invaded France, the Netherlands and Belgium.
The Soviet Union tried to join the Axis Pact, which consisted of Nazi Germany, Japan and Italy.

The Soviet Union provided Nazi Germany with the means to avoid the economic blockade, and continue their invasion of Europe.

If Hitler did not make the mistake of invading the Soviet Union, it was likely that Europe would have been divided between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany as per the infamous Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.

In these pictures from 23 August 1939, you can see Soviet Foreign Minister, Vyacheslav Molotov, signing the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact; and Stalin shaking hands with German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop, after signing the pact.

Vyacheslav Molotov signs the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (left), Stalin shaking hands with Ribbentrop after signing the pact (right)

Fact #9 : United States Was Anti-Nazi Long Before Russia

Russian and Chinese propaganda always skim over the inconvenient fact that the United States was anti-Nazi long before Russia.

While Russia was actively colluding with Nazis, and partnering with Nazi Germany in dividing up Central Europe; the United States not only prepared for war against Germany, it shared critical technology with Britain and provided them with tremendous amounts of armaments through the Lend-Lease Act.

Russia would also end up benefiting from the US Lend-Lease Act, which saw the US producing and shipping US$50.1 billion worth of military equipment and supplies (equivalent to US$690 billion in 2020) to Allies.

Fact #10 : United States Prevented Soviet Union’s Collapse

Russian and Chinese propaganda also (intentionally?) forget to point out that it was the United States that helped to prevent the Soviet Union’s collapse during the German invasion in 1941.

It took the German armed forces less than 6 months to advance within 20 miles of the Kremlin. The complete capitulation of Russia was stopped, in part, by a prodigious amount of arms and equipment sent by the United States :

400,000 jeeps & trucks
14,000 airplanes
8,000 tractors
13,000 tanks
1.5 million blankets
15 million pairs of army boots
107,000 tons of cotton
2.7 million tons of petrol products
4.5 million tons of food

Reminiscent of the military aid that Ukraine is now receiving from the United States and other members of NATO, the US Lend-Lease Act supplied the Soviet Union with $11.3 billion ($180 billion in 2020 currency) worth of aid from 1941 to 1945.

Without such large amounts of aid from the United States, it was likely that Russia would today be part of a Greater Nazi Germany, or at least a vassal state of Nazi Germany.

Stalin himself acknowledged the value of American support to his aide and future USSR leader, Nikita Khrushchev, who said :

I would like to tell about some remarks Stalin made and repeated several times when we were “discussing freely” among ourselves. He stated bluntly that if the United States had not helped us, we would not have won the war. If we had had to fight Nazi Germany one on one, we could not have stood up against Germany’s pressure, and we would have lost the war.

We should note that the US helped Russia, even though the US was at that time a neutral country, and Russia was responsible for kicking off World War 2 by colluding with Nazi Germany to invade Central European countries.

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did Dutch Gov Close Farms To Fight Climate Change?!

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Did the Dutch government just close thousands of farms and cattle ranches to fight climate change?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Dutch Government Closed Farms To Fight Climate Change!

People have been sharing videos of angry farmers blocking roads with their tractors, claiming that they are protesting the closure of farms and cattle ranchers by the Dutch government.

Such videos are now being spread in pro-CCP groups as “evidence” of corrupt Western governments, or how Western governments oppress the common people.

28 June 2022
As the Dutch government closed dozens of farms and cattle ranches to reduce nitrogen by 30%.
Angry and hungry farmers blocked the roads nationwide
Corrupt Dutch govt trying to artificially create food shortage.

Following politicians’ decision to close dozens of farms and cattle ranches to reduce nitrogen to comply with absurd EU rules on nitrogen pollution, angry Dutch farmers have issued an ultimatum and are threatening to block the country’s airports, ports and distribution centers.

The Dutch government wants to close 17,000 farms out of 50,000 by 2030 to reduce Nitrogen emissions. Their “leaders” have bought into the climate change hysteria during a time of impending global food shortages. These bozos have a few screws missing.

Truth : Dutch Government Did NOT Close Farms To Fight Climate Change!

These posts appear to be an intentional “misunderstanding” of the facts surrounding these Dutch farmers’ protests.

These protests have been covered extensively, and so have the Dutch government’s proposal. So it seems incredulous that people would continue to lie about this issue.

Fact #1 : Dutch Government Did NOT Close Any Farm / Cattle Ranch

Let’s start with the most basic fact – the Dutch government did not close any farm or cattle ranch. This is complete and utter nonsense.

There are no laws in the Netherlands that would permit the Dutch government to forcibly take over, or shut down, any farm or cattle ranch.

This kind of blatant lie can only perpetuate in the minds of conspiracy nutcases, and Chinese netizens because only authoritarian governments (like the CCP in China) are capable of such actions.

Seizing and closing farms and cattle ranch may be possible for the government in China, but not in the Netherlands.

In fact, the Dutch government has offered BUY OUT (not close) farms near nature reserves.

Fact #2 : Dutch Farmers Have Been Protesting Since 2019!

What many of these “concerned netizens” (intentionally?) do not tell you is that Dutch farmers have been protesting against such climate change laws since 2019.

Dutch farmers protest in October 2019

Fact #3 : The Government Was Complying With A Court Order

This issue actually started way back in May 2019, the Dutch Administrative Court of the Council of State (the highest administrative body in the Netherlands) ruled that the Dutch government breached EU rules on protecting nature reserves from ammonia and nitrous oxide.

The Dutch Administrative Court suspended permits for all construction projects that pollute the atmosphere with nitrogen compounds, stalling the building of new homes, roads and airport runways… as well as the expansion of dairy, pig and poultry farms.

Fact #4 : Dutch Government Tried Other Measures First

To comply with the court order, the Dutch government tried other measures first.

For example, in 2020, they cut the maximum speed limit on roads in the Netherlands from 130 km/h to just 100 km/h for most of the day, to reduce nitrous oxide emissions.

The government also allocated more money to help farmers reduce emissions from pigs, and changed the composition of animal feed.

Fact #5 : Dutch Farms Produce A Lot Of Pollution

The problem is partly caused by Dutch farmers themselves. Their farms are highly concentrated, with four times more animal biomass per hectare than the EU average.

Dutch agriculture is responsible for 40% of the nitrogen pollution in the Netherlands. The entire construction sector, for example, is only responsible for 0.6% of nitrogen emissions.

Thanks to its large livestock sector, and intensive use of fertiliser, the Netherlands – the world’s second-largest agricultural exporter – is also one of the top greenhouse gas emitters in Europe.

Fact #6 : Only Farms Near Nature Reserves Are In Danger

Depending on their proximity to nature reserves (Natura-2000 areas), Dutch farms will have to reduce their nitrogen emissions by 12% to 70%.

Those located in or close to the Natura-2000 areas will be particularly hard-hit by the new nitrogen limits :

40% of the nitrogen sensitive Natura-2000 areas must be below the critical deposition value (< 255 mole per hectare) in 2025,
50% of the nitrogen sensitive Natura-2000 areas must be below the critical deposition value in 2030, and
74% of the nitrogen sensitive Natura-2000 areas must be below the critical deposition value in 2035.

Fact #7 : Provincial Government To Formulate Emission Reduction Plan

While the Dutch government came up with the plan to reduce nitrogen emissions to meet EU requirements, it is up to the Dutch provinces to develop the necessary measures to hit those targets.

Provincial governments have a year to formulate their own plans, to meet the pollution reduction targets.

Fact #8 : This Is Part Of EU Natura 2000 Conservation Efforts

This isn’t just a Dutch issue, it is actually part of the EU effort to protect the Natura 2000 network of vulnerable and endangered plant and animal habitats.

The Natura 2000 sites cover some 18% of the European Union land area, and 8% of its marine territory.

Fact #9 : Dutch Government Is Financing Agricultural Reforms

To help farmers meet those targets, the Dutch government has earmarked an extra €24.3 billion (about US$25.6 billion) to finance agricultural reforms and their existing buy-out programs.

Farmers who accept the government buy-out program can still open a new farm at a less sensitive location, as long as they substantially reduce nitrogen emissions.

Fact #10 : Protests Are ALLOWED In Real Democracies

What Chinese netizens may not be aware is that protests are not only common, they are allowed in real democracies.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, for example, defended the farmers’ right to protest, but reminded them not to break the law :

Freedom of speech and the right to demonstrate are a vital part of our democratic society, and I will always defend them.

But … it is not acceptable to create dangerous situations, it is not acceptable to intimidate officials, we will never accept that.

With the exception of a few farmers setting bales of hay on fire outside town halls and near roads, and attacking police officers, the majority of farmers have protested the proposed plan peacefully.

So what the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛) and pro-CCP netizens are deriding as chaos, is really just people expressing their real freedom of speech, which includes the right to protest. Try that in China, and see what that gets you.

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Russia Defaults On Foreign Debt For First Time Since 1918!

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Russia has officially defaulted on its foreign debt for the first time since 1918!

Russia Officially Defaults On Foreign Debt!

Russia was due to pay a $100 million interest payment on May 27, 2022; but creditors did not receive it 30 days later.

Russia says they sent the money to the Euroclear bank, which would distribute payments to its creditors. However, those payments were not made – Euroclear wouldn’t say if they were blocked, but would only say that it is adhering to all sanctions.

The US Treasury had earlier decided not to renew the special sanction exemption allowing investors to receive interest payments from Russia, letting it expire on May 25, 2022.

Russia could have paid that interest before the interest payment exemption expired, but opted not to. It has so far managed to make its payments on time, despite sanctions kicking in after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

But after missing that June 26 deadline on Sunday, Russia officially defaulted on that payment – their first foreign debt default since 1918, and their first default of any kind since 1998.

In 1918, Vladimir Lenin refused to pay the outstanding debts of the Russian Empire during the Bolshevik Revolution.
In 1998, the Russian. government was rocked by the rouble crisis, and defaulted on domestic bonds, but managed to pay its foreign debt.

Russia To Pay In Roubles, To Avoid Future Defaults On Foreign Debt

Russia called the default artificial, because it has the money to pay its debts, but sanctions have frozen its foreign currency reserves held abroad.

The Kremlin announced on 23 June 2022, that it would make all future debt payments in roubles through a Russian bank – the National Settlements Depository, even for bonds that are denominated in dollars or other foreign currencies.

The Russian Finance Ministry said that it would offer “the opportunity for subsequent conversion into the original currency” as a way to avoid future debt defaults.

While embarrassing to the country, and would make it expensive or difficult to borrow money in the future, this technical default does not have a significant effect on Russia right now.

For one thing, Russia is already barred by sanctions from borrowing in Western markets. Russia is also not interested in borrowing foreign money, thanks to a healthy influx of money from its sale of oil and gas.

In fact, Russia had been preparing for such an eventuality by paying down its foreign debt since it annexed Crimea in 2014.

All it does at the moment is ensure that Vladimir Putin goes down in history as only the second Russian leader to be responsible for a foreign debt default.

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Travellers To Europe Must Apply + Pay For ETIAS From 2023!

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It’s official – travellers to Europe must start applying and paying for ETIAS from 2023! Here is what you need to know…

Travellers To Europe Must Apply For ETIAS From 2023!

The European Commission has just announced the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) for all travellers to the Schengen States.

Slated to start in May 2023, ETIAS is meant to “identify security, irregular migration or high epidemic risks” amongst visa-exempt travellers.

EU travellers are exempt from ETIAS, and will continue to have freedom of movement throughout the EU, and the freedom to spend as much time as they want in any state in the Schengen zone.

ETIAS will only be obligatory for travellers from countries that currently do not require a visa to travel to the EU – about 60 countries including the US and the UK.

Travellers who currently need a visa to enter the EU will still need to apply for a visa. They will not be allowed to use ETIAS.

How Does ETIAS Work For Travellers To Europe?

Travellers will need to apply for ETIAS through a “largely automated IT system”, with approval granted “within minutes” for about 95% of applicants. But that could drag out to a month for “very exceptional cases”. Those who have their application denied will be allowed to appeal.

While applying for ETIAS will be quicker, done online, and requires no biometric information, there is a cost attached.

Every traveller aged 18 to 70 will need to pay an ETIAS fee of €7 (about US$7.40, £6, A$10.60, S$10.20, RM32.50). It is currently unknown if ETIAS will be free or cheaper for other age groups.

Applicants will be required to submit their data in the online application, which is said to take only “10 minutes” :

Unspecified personal data
Travel document (passport or equivalent document)
Member State of first intended stay
Background questions relating to previous criminal records, presence in conflict zones, orders to leave the territory of a Member State or third countries, return decisions issued.
Identity of the person / company assisting the applicant in the application process (if necessary)

The ETIAS system will automatically check the information provided against several EU databases, and approve or transfer it to ETIAS National Units for manual processing.

Once approved, the ETIAS will be valid for 3 years, or until the expiry date of the passport. So if possible, travellers should definitely renew their passports before applying.

But note that the ETIAS can be revoked at any time, if the conditions for that travel authorisation are no longer met by the applicant.

ETIAS : Selected FAQs

Here are selected FAQs on the European Travel Information and Authorisation System for those who want to learn more.

What is the difference between a Schengen visa and an ETIAS travel authorisation?

The ETIAS authorisation is not a visa. Nationals of visa liberalisation countries will continue to travel the EU without a visa but will simply be required to obtain a travel authorisation via ETIAS prior to their travel. ETIAS will be a simple, fast and visitor-friendly system, which will, in more than 95% of cases, result in a positive answer within a few minutes.

An ETIAS travel authorisation does not reintroduce visa-like obligations. There is no need to go to a consulate to make an application, no biometric data is collected and significantly less information is gathered than during a visa application procedure.

Whereas, as a general rule, a Schengen visa procedure can take up to 15 days, and can in some cases be extended up to 30 or 60 days, the online ETIAS application only takes a few minutes to fill in. Only in very exceptional cases, could the ETIAS procedure take up to 30 days. The validity will be for a period of three years, significantly longer than the validity of a Schengen visa. An ETIAS authorisation will be valid for an unlimited number of entries.

The ETIAS travel authorisation will be a necessary and small procedural step for all visa-exempt travellers which will allow them to avoid bureaucracy and delays when presenting themselves at the borders. ETIAS will fully respect this visa-free status; facilitate the crossing of the Schengen external border; and allow visa free visitors to fully enjoy their status.

What will visa-exempt travellers have to do before their travel?

Travellers will have to complete an online application via a dedicated website or an application for mobile devices. Filling in the application should not take more than 10 minutes and should not require any documentation beyond a travel document (a passport or other equivalent document). In case of an inability to apply (due to age, literacy level, access to and competence on information technology etc.) applications may be submitted by a third person.

An electronic payment of a €7 fee for each application will be required for all applicants between the ages of 18 and 70. The electronic payment methods will take into account technological advancements in the visa-free countries in order to avoid hindering visa-free third country nationals who may not have access to certain payment means.

The automated assessment process will start after the fee collection is confirmed. The vast majority of applicants (expected to be more than 95% of all cases) will be given automated approval which will be communicated to them within minutes of payment. If there is a hit against any of the searched databases or an undecided outcome of the automated process, manual handling of the application will take place by a Central Unit in the European Border and Coast Guard Agency or by a Member State team. This can prolong the response time to the visa-exempt third country national by up to 96 hours. In very exceptional circumstances further information may be asked of applicants and further procedural steps may be necessary, but in all cases a final decision shall be taken within four weeks of their application.

Of the roughly 5% of applications which produce a hit, it is expected that 3-4% will receive a positive decision after ETIAS Central Unit verifies the data, with the remaining 1-2% being transferred to ETIAS National Units for manual processing. After the decision applicants will be given a response by email with a valid travel authorisation, or a justification for the refusal.

What happens if a person has been refused travel authorisation from ETIAS?

If the travel authorisation is refused, the applicant retains the right to appeal. Appeals can be launched in the Member State that has taken the decision on the application and in accordance with the national law of that Member State. The applicant will be informed which national authority is responsible for the processing and decision on his or her travel authorisation, as well as information regarding the procedure to be followed in the event of an appeal. If the traveller considers their treatment to have been unfair, he/she is also given the right to seek redress or request access to the information through the national authority.

What is the validity of an ETIAS travel authorisation?

The validity of the travel authorisation will be three years (or until the expiry date of the travel document).

What are the obligations for the carriers?

Prior to boarding, air and sea carriers, as well as carriers transporting groups overland by coach will have to verify the status of the travel document required for entering the Schengen Area, including the requirement to hold a valid ETIAS travel authorisation. A transitional period is foreseen for carriers transporting groups overland by coach during which it will not be obligatory for them to check the presence of a valid travel authorisation.

What will happen at the border crossing point?

Upon arrival at a Schengen area border crossing point, the border guard will electronically read the travel document data, thereby triggering a query to different databases, including a query to ETIAS in the case of visa-exempt travellers. If there is no valid ETIAS travel authorisation, the border guards will refuse entry and record the traveller and the refusal of entry in the Entry Exit System.

If there is a valid travel authorisation, the border control process will be conducted and the traveller may be authorised to enter the Schengen area if all entry conditions are fulfilled or refused access as provided by the Schengen Border Code.

What databases will be checked by ETIAS?

When verifying and assessing the information submitted by visa-exempt travellers, the system will automatically cross-check each application against:

A. the existing EU information systems:

the Schengen Information System (SIS),
the Visa Information System (VIS),
Europol data,
the Eurodac database (once the Eurodac recast is in place),

B. future EU information systems:

the Entry/Exit System (EES),

C. Interpol databases:

the Interpol Stolen and Lost Travel Document database (SLTD),
the Interpol Travel Documents Associated with Notices database (TDAWN),

D. a dedicated ETIAS watch list and specific risk indicators.

How will ETIAS ensure and guarantee the respect for fundamental rights and data protection?

Personal data recorded in ETIAS will not be kept for longer than is necessary for its purpose. Data shall be stored for:

the period of validity of the travel authorisation or,
five years from the last decision to refuse, revoke or annul the travel authorisation.

The data could be stored for an additional period of no more than three years after the end of the period of validity of the travel authorisation if the applicant freely and explicitly consents to keep his or her data longer. After the expiry of the data retention period, the application file and personal data will be automatically deleted from the ETIAS Central System.

Member States’ law enforcement authorities and Europol will have access to ETIAS, under strictly-defined conditions, for the prevention, detection or investigation of terrorist offences or other serious criminal offences. The designated authorities and Europol should only request access to ETIAS when they have reasonable grounds to believe that such access will substantially help them in carrying out their duties.

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Chipmakers Brace For Noble Gas Shortage, After Russia Cut Supply!

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Chipmakers worldwide are bracing for a noble gas shortage, after Russia cut supplies! Here is what you need to know…

Chipmakers Brace For Noble Gas Shortage, After Russia Cut Supply!

On June 2, 2022, the Russian government issued a decree stating that export of noble gases will be subject to Moscow’s approval until December 31, based on the recommendations of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

This effectively cuts or limits the export of critical noble gases to “unfriendly” countries, and was a direct response to the fifth round of sanctions imposed by the European Union in April.

Russia and Ukraine were leading producers of noble gases since the days of the Soviet Union, and jointly supplied about 30% of the chipmaking industry’s supply of neon gas.

Both countries were closely intertwined in their noble gas supply to the world. Russia produced raw neon gas as a byproduct of its steelworks, and sent it to Ukraine for purification. That ceased with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

How Badly Will Russia Noble Gas Cut Affect Chipmakers?

Noble gases like neon, argon, xenon and helium are critical in the production of microelectronics that power everything from computers to smartphones and cars.

Neon, in particular, plays a critical role in the optical lithographic process used to etch patterns on silicon wafers, creating circuits in semiconductor chips.

The state-of-the-art excimer pulsed laser used to create semiconductors, for example, requires an argon-fluorine-neon mixture, up to 95% of which is made up of exceptionally pure neon gas.

That’s why about 70% of the world’s supply of neon gas (about 540,000 tonnes) is used by the semiconductor industry.

Fortunately, Russia’s decision to cut noble gas supplies may have less impact that they assumed, because chipmakers prepared for such an eventuality.

The semiconductor industry used to rely on Ukraine and Russia for about 80% to 90% of their neon gas supply, but they started diversifying their noble gas supplies after Russia invaded and annexed Crimea in 2014.

Over the last 7-8 years, they managed to cut down their dependence on Ukraine and Russia to about 30%. And the industry generally maintains gas reserves that would last 3-6 months.

China is the main beneficiary of reduced noble gas supply from Russia. Since the war started, Chinese noble gas producers said that their daily order enquiries have jumped 5X to 6X.

For now, the semiconductor industry does not need to reduce production, but the reduced market supply will mean noble gas prices will remain elevated for some time to come.

Needless to say – this will increase the cost of semiconductors, the cost of which will be passed onto consumers.

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Is Monkeypox Outbreak From Lab Strain Made In Ukraine?!

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Is the current monkeypox outbreak from a lab strain made in Ukraine?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Monkeypox Outbreak Is From Lab Strain Made In Ukraine!

People are sharing tweets by a Dr. Benjamin Braddock who claimed that the 2022 monkeypox outbreak is from a “third lab strain” made by the US in Ukraine!

ECDC source tells me that the preliminary analysis of monkeypox indicates that it is “a third lab strain with unknown characteristics” and that there is chatter about this being somehow related to Moscow’s charges against U.S. biological activities in Ukraine.

A Russian-Chinese joint task force has been tasked with establishing: where it originated, whether it is detectable in research conducted by the US in Ukraine, Georgia; whether there is a link to biological research conducted by the US on smallpox in Ukraine.

Main ECDC focus right now is on buying up as much of BN’s vaccine as possible. “They’re buying before they know whether it is even effective against this strain of monkeypox. I wouldn’t be surprised if they skipped testing it’s efficacy altogether.”

Truth : Monkeypox Outbreak Is Not From Lab Strain Made In Ukraine!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS being created and shared by people on social media, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : There Is No Third Lab Strain

The monkeypox virus has two clades, based on where they were commonly found – Congo Basin (Central Africa), and West Africa.

There is no such thing as a third lab strain or species or clade of the monkeypox virus.

Fact #2 : Strain Is A Subset Of Species

While it is impossible to prove what does not exist (Bertrand Russell’s teapot analogy), the claim that there is “a third lab strain” shows that the person creating the fake news does not know the difference between strain, species and clade.

In virology, a clade is technically a group of species that arose from a common ancestor, of which each species may give rise to different strains (sub-species).

Credit : Galaxy Advanced Microbial Diagnostics

If there is a new strain, it would not have been called “a third lab strain”. It would have just been called a new strain.

The introduction of the word “third” implies that the fake news creator believes that clade = strain, which is completely false.

Obviously, the fake news creator does not know much about virology, and is very unlikely to be working at the ECDC.

Fact #3 : 2022 Monkeypox Outbreak From West African Clade

Neither the European Centre for Diseases Prevention and Control (ECDC) or other health authorities like the US CDC has announced the discovery of a new strain or clade of the monkeypox virus.

In fact, the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated on 21 May 2022, that all cases in the 2022 monkeypox outbreaks have been confirmed to involve the “West African clade“.

Fact #4 : No Evidence Current Virus Was Lab Made

Again, it is impossible to prove what does not exist – that the current monkeypox virus was not made in the lab. However, all the evidence points to a natural source of this virus.

Not only is the 2022 monkeypox virus is from an existing clade, genomic sequencing also indicated that this current virus was a close match of the monkeypox virus that were “exported” from Nigeria to the United Kingdom, Israel and Singapore in 2018 and 2019.

In other words – all of the evidence so far point us to a natural variant of an existing monkeypox virus that had already caused several outbreaks in the past.

Fact #5 : US Does Not Have Biological Labs In Ukraine

Braddock is repeating the oft-debunked false claim that the US has biological labs in Ukraine.

The truth is – they are Ukrainian biological laboratories, some of which receive financial and other support from the US, the European Union and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

This is not unique to Ukraine – biological labs in many countries receive similar support from the US, EU and the WHO.

Fact #6 : US Sponsored Biological Threat Reduction In Ukraine

US sponsorship of biological labs in former Soviet Union countries like Ukraine go back decades, and is centred around the Biological Threat Reduction Program.

As the name implies, the program aims to train and equip the partner nation to detect and prevent the threat of infectious diseases, whether they are deliberate, accidental or natural.

The program aims to counter biological threats in a partner country, at the source, before the threat can reach the homeland of impact U.S. Armed Forces or allies.

The program also prevents proliferation by cooperating with partner countries to eliminate their biological weapons, associated materials, and production facilities.

Fact #7 : Biological Labs Are Essential To All Countries

Biological labs do not conduct biological warfare research, because that is banned in 183 countries under the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC).

Instead, they are on the forefront of a country’s biosecurity defences, and are absolutely essential in developing tests and cures (including vaccines) for new and emerging diseases, like the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.

In fact, both Russia and China have a number of biological labs, including the famous Wuhan Institute of Virology, which is located right at the epicentre of the first COVID-19 outbreak.

It is therefore misleading for anyone to demonise biological labs. After all, they are ESSENTIAL to every country’s national security, including their own.

Fact #8 : There Is No Russian-Chinese Task Force

Braddock claimed that a Russian-Chinese task force was formed to find out where the monkeypox outbreaks originated, or whether it is “detectable in research conducted by the US in Ukraine / Georgia”.

Again, it is impossible to prove what does not exist, but we know that this is a false claim because :

Braddock offered no evidence for the formation of such a Russian-Chinese task force.
The 2022 monkeypox outbreak did not affect either Russia or China, so they have no access to any samples.
The US did not conduct any biological research in Ukraine or Georgia.
Smallpox is closely related to monkeypox, but is a completely different virus.

Fact #9 : JYNNEOS Was Tested Against Monkeypox

The monkeypox and smallpox viruses are so closely related that the smallpox vaccine has been used for years to protect against monkeypox and other orthopoxviruses.

The earlier ACAM2000 smallpox vaccine has been largely replaced by the JYNNEOS vaccine (also called Imvamune / Imvanex), which was proven to be at least 85% effective in preventing monkeypox.

In fact, it was licensed in 2019 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the prevention of both smallpox and monkeypox.

And again, the monkeypox virus causing the 2022 outbreak is a close match of the Western Africa clade monkeypox virus that caused the 2018 and 2019 outbreaks.

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please support our work!

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