Tag Archives: Video

China Used Hot Drinks + Steam To Kill COVID-19?

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The Sun FM video on how China used hot drinks and steam to kill COVID-19 keeps getting shared on WhatsApp.

Find out why it’s so popular, and what the FACTS really are!

 

Sun FM : China Used Hot Drinks + Steam To Kill COVID-19!

In an effort to leverage off the “hot topic” of COVID-19 in the early days, Sun FM – an Indian radio station that is related to Sun TV – created and released a video that went viral.

The video went viral on Facebook and WhatsApp, because Sun FM made a lot of incredible claims :

  1. No one dies of COVID-19 in China
  2. The Chinese don’t seek medical attention even if they get COVID-19
  3. The Chinese controlled COVID-19 by :
    a) drinking hot water 6 times a day
    b) drinking hot milk + tea 4 times a day
    c) inhaling steam as often as possible
  4. By consuming hot drinks and inhaling steam for 4 days, they are cured of COVID-19 on the 5th day.
  5. The PCR test will turn up negative.
  6. Medicine cannot totally cure COVID-19, but the heat can.

They then end the video, asking people to share the video, and telling them “Our interest is your safety”.

 

China Used Hot Drinks + Steam To Kill COVID-19? BULLSHIT!

When we first saw Sun FM release this video in mid-2020, it was obvious they were just making it up. The whole video was utter BULLSHIT.

Nothing in it is remotely true. And they had the gall to claim that their interest is your safety. BULLSHIT!

Fact #1 : Many People Died Of COVID-19 In China!

As of January 2021, China reported 90,329 cases of COVID-19, of which 4,636 people died.

That is a very high mortality rate of 5.13%! Basically – 1 out of every 20 COVID-19 patients in China died.

Fact #2 : Chinese Hospitals Were Full!

COVID-19 spread so rapidly in China that their hospitals quickly filled up. Pictures and video showed people crowding hospitals, desperate to find help.

China quickly built two makeshift hospitals – Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) and Huoshenshan (Fire God Mountain).

So urgent was their need that they built the Huoshenshan Hospital in just 10 days!

Fact #3 : Hot Drinks Won’t Prevent COVID-19

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is a respiratory virus, which means it primarily infects you through your respiratory system, and to a lesser extent – through your eyes.

Therefore, drinking hot water and drinks, even coffee or tea, have absolutely NO EFFECT on the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Fact #4 : SARS-CoV-2 Does Not Hang Around For 4 Days

After you inhale the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it will IMMEDIATELY infect and hijack your cells to replicate.

It takes a few days before it infects enough cells, and your body recognises and reacts to the threat, for symptoms to show.

But that doesn’t mean they are on a holiday in your nose, giving you four days to kill them with steam, before finally infecting you!

Fact #5 : Inhaling Steam Is Dangerous + Won’t Kill Virus

Inhaling steam will NOT weaken or kill any virus in your nose. Inhaling hot steam at 60°C to 70°C can cause burn damage to your nose.

In fact, Dr. Satyanarayana Mysore, the HOD of Pulmonology at Manipal Hospitals reported seeing many cases of scalded airways and worsening asthma due to steam inhalation in March, April and May 2020.

Recommended : Can Inhaling Steam + Supplements Prevent COVID-19?

Fact #6 : China Never Used Steaming To Cure COVID-19!

China succeeded in clamping down on the COVID-19 pandemic, by

Not once did the Chinese ever recommend, or even practiced, the use of steam inhalation to treat COVID-19.

Fact #7 : There Are Now Vaccines!

We have to point this out, because this viral message is still spreading, and people actually believe Sun FM’s fake video.

Multiple COVID-19 vaccines have now been approved, and administered worldwide. So make sure you get vaccinated against COVID-19 ASAP!

 

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No More Dimsum : Why It Lasted Less Than 5 Years!

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It’s the end for Dimsum, after Star Media Group management announced their decision to shut it down!

Find out what just happened, and why it lasted less than 5 years!

 

Dimsum Calls It Quits, After Less Than 5 years!

After less than 5 years, Star Media Group is calling it quits in the VOD (Video On Demand) subscription business.

On 6 April 2021, they announced that they would shut down Dimsum Entertainment by 30 September 2021.

This decision came after the media group appointed Alex Yeow Wai Saw as CEO on 1 March 2021, and Tan Sri Chor Chee Heung as independent and non-executive chairman on 15 March 2021.

 

Why Did Dimsum Fail?

Officially, a strategic review by its new key management team apparently identified new opportunities for the group to explore.

Chief marketing officer Lam Swee Kim said that while it was a difficult decision to end this chapter, “we are excited to explore promising new ventures in the near future”.

What’s left unsaid is that in the last 4+ years, Dimsum had very little mindshare, even though it offers free viewing, supported by ads.

It focused on Asian content, which is also the focus on iflix and iQIYI (both of which are more established) as well as Viu.

But people who wanted to watch Chinese shows would stick with iQIYI, while those who wanted Korean shows would use Viu. iflix had better luck with ASEAN content.

And with Disney+ coming to Malaysia very soon – the launch was slated for 31 March 2021, but got delayed at the last minute – the writing was on the wall.

Granted, Disney+ would be competing mainly with Netflix and Apple TV+, but most Malaysians can hardly afford multiple streaming services.

If given the option between paying for Disney+ and paying for Dimsum VIP, the choice seems obvious.

The new management team probably “understood” that they would see subscribers shifting to the free offering, and decided to cut losses.

Honestly, we doubt many people would notice them leaving… there are simply too many alternative options offering the same or similar Asian content.

 

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Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-12 : Portable Laser Projection TV!

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Epson just launched their EpiqVision Mini EF-12 portable laser projection TV!

Take a look at its key features, and find out if this is what you have been looking for!

 

Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-12 : Portable Laser Projection TV!

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-12 is a compact and lightweight laser projector that allows you to enjoy a cinema experience at home, at up to 150-inches in display!

Built around the Epson 3LCD Technology, the EpiqVision Mini EF-12 offers Full HD resolution at 1000 lumens of brightness!

Low Maintenance Cost

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-12 uses a laser light source with a rated lifespan of 20,000 hours.

Epson says that with 5 hours of daily use, that gives you more than 10 years of enjoyment, with little to no maintenance costs.

Epson Online Meetings (Powered By Zoom)

The EpiqVision Mini EF-12 is Zoom-ready, allowing you to quickly conduct online video conferencing without additional software.

Android TV + Chromecast Built-In

With Android TV built-in, this laser projector lets you stream movies, shows and games from Google Play, YouTube and other sources.

You can also cast your favourite entertainment app or game using Chromecast from any Android or iOS device, Windows or Mac computer!

Bluetooth Yamaha Speaker

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-12 has a Yamaha speaker built-in, which also works as a standalone Bluetooth speaker for your mobile devices!

Automatic Setup

Thanks to its built-in camera, it automatically adjusts the necessary horizontal and vertical keystone correction, screen distortion and focus level!

 

Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-12 : Price + Availability!

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-12 is available in mid-April 2021, with a retail price of RM 4,980 (about US$1,202 / £873 / A$1,576 / S$1,617).

Here are online purchase options in other countries :

 

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MySejahtera : How To Register Dependents For Vaccine!

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MySejahtera now has a COVID-19 vaccine registration option for dependents, so you can sign up family members who do not have a smartphone!

Find out how to register your dependents for their FREE vaccine against COVID-19, using MySejahtera!

 

MySejahtera Adds Vaccine Registration For Dependents!

On 19 March 2021, the Malaysia Ministry of Health released MySejahtera 1.0.30 for iOS and Android devices, which adds COVID-19 vaccine registration option for dependents.

You can now register your dependents through the MySejahtera Vaccination Module!

Complete your own registration, and register your dependents who do not have their own smartphones into your app.

*Note: A dependent can only be tied to one MySejahtera account for vaccination registration purposes

However, please note that you can only register dependents who are 18 years or older for the COVID-19 vaccine programme.

Currently, vaccination is not being offered to those who are younger than 18 years of age.

 

MySejahtera : How To Register Dependents For Vaccine!

Here is our video guide on how to register for COVID-19 vaccination for your dependents using MySejahtera.

It’s the same process, whether you are using an Apple iPhone, or an Android smartphone.

Don’t worry about making mistakes. You can redo the registration, to correct for mistakes.

For those who prefer pictures and text, here is our step-by-step pictorial guide :

  1. Make sure you update to MySejahtera 1.0.30 or later before you proceed.
  2. Open MySejahtera.
  3. Tap on the Close button on the upper right corner of the default Check-in screen.
  4. You should see the MySejahtera main screen, and it should show you a new COVID-19 Vaccination option.

  1. Tap on the COVID-19 Vaccination option and it will show you this information display.
  2. Tap on the second option – Add Vaccine Dependent.

  1. You will be shown a screen with your registered dependents.
  2. If you did not add any dependents yet, you can do so by tapping on the Add Vaccination Dependent option at the bottom.
    Otherwise, skip to Step 12.

  1. Key in your dependent’s details – Full name, Relationship with you, NRIC / Passport number, Age, Gender, Current Address and Post Code, and State.
  2. Check the details and tap Save when you are done.

  1. Your newly-added dependent will now appear in the list of dependents.

  1. Tap on the Add as vaccine dependent option of the dependent you wish to register.
  2. You will be asked to confirm that you have the authority to manage the vaccination process for your dependent.
    You are also asked to note that once this dependent is registered to your MySejahtera account, he/she cannot be registered for the COVID-19 vaccine programme with a different MySejahtera account.
  3. Tap on Yes, Proceed to proceed with the registration.

  1. You will be asked to verify your dependent’s name and MyKad / Passport number; as well as confirm that he/she is over 18 years old.
    Technically, it should state 18 years old and older, because the COVID-19 vaccine programme is open to those who are 18 years of age too.
  2. If you notice any mistake, tap Edit to change the name and IC / Passport number.
  3. Otherwise, tap the I confirm that my dependent is over 18 years old check box, and tap Submit.

  1. You will be asked to answer four simple questions, to determine whether you should be classed under Phase 2 or Phase 3 of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program, as well as your location.
  2. The address search option may not work. If that happens, tap on the Location finder to let MySejahtera use your GPS location.

  1. Please BE HONEST in this assessment. It will, after all, be verified by the Ministry of Health.When it comes to Question no. 2 – Do you have any comorbities? – that refers to any medical condition you have that may put you at greater risk of dying from COVID-19.For your reference, this includes :
    • Diabetes mellitus
    • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
    • Heart disease
    • Asthma
    • Cancer
    • Chronic lung disease
    • Kidney disease
    • Liver disease
    • Stroke
    • Low Immunity (Immunocompromised)
    • Obesity
    • Others

  1. Once you are done, tap Submit, and your dependent will have a green checkmark next to it.
  2. If you made any mistake, you can tap on Remove vaccine dependent, and begin the process all over again, from Step 12.

Then all you have to do is wait for the Malaysia Ministry of Health to contact you when it is your dependent’s turn to be vaccinated against COVID-19!

 

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YouTube Content ID Abuse By FUGA Aggregation?

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Is FUGA Aggregation committing YouTube Content ID abuse by claiming copyright for music that was provided FREE years ago?

Let’s take a look at what’s going on recently!

 

YouTube Content ID Abuse : What Is It?

Content ID abuse is a constant problem with YouTube, with copyright holders given almost complete control over what is “rightfully theirs”.

Copyright holders use the YouTube Content ID system to identify videos that contain material that belongs to them. They then have the right to :

  • file a copyright claim, to monetise your video
  • take down your video, which slaps your channel with a copyright strike

There are many problems with the Content ID system which opens it to abuse :

  • copyright holders can “take over” and monetise your video even if their content is used in a small segment, or recorded incidentally (background music, for example).
  • copyright holders do not need to prove that they own the copyright to the content they are disputing, which leads to false claims.
  • the 3 strikes rule makes it easy for unscrupulous copyright holders to extort money from YouTube channels to withdraw a copyright strike

Even the BBC highlighted the problem in 2019, sharing how a copyright holder used the YouTube copyright strike feature to extort money, while others are using the copyright claim option to unfairly take over the monetisation of videos created by other people.

 

YouTube Content ID Abuse By FUGA Aggregation?

Now, we come to the recent aggressive Content ID action by FUGA Aggregation over a piece of music called Funky Dream by Fine Haters.

Since October 2018, we have been using a free piece of background music called Clean Sheets by Trout Recording, that was provided as royalty-free music by the Facebook Sound Collection.

Obviously, we never had a single copyright claim for this music.

But starting from 10 March 2021, we started receiving copyright claims by FUGA Aggregation for our videos that used Clean Sheets.

In just 8 days, they issued 14 copyright claims for videos using Clean Sheets, claiming that it was music called Funky Dream by Fine Haters.

Naturally, we disputed their claim, stating that the music was actually Clean Sheets by Trout Recording, and even shared the link to the Facebook Sound Collection where FUGA can check our claims.

So we were really surprised when FUGA “reviewed” our dispute, and rejected it, stating that their claim was “still valid”.

So we did a quick search of Funky Dream, Fine Haters and Kobb Records, and found this video posted on YouTube on 6 March 2021 – just before FUGA started shooting out those copyright claims.

The Funky Dream music was attributed to Fine Haters, and released on 20 February 2021, and was published by Kobb Records.

Amazingly, it was a longer copy of Trout Recording’s Clean Sheets, which was undated but definitely posted in 2018 or earlier. You can download Clean Sheets, and listen for yourself here.

We cannot find any information on the musician or band known as Fine Haters, or the publisher, Kobb Records.

On the other hand, Trout Recording has both a Facebook page and a website.

 

Why We Believe This Is Content ID Abuse By FUGA

Now, both Funky Dream and Clean Sheets sound identical, so Content ID was accurate in this instance.

However, who actually owns the copyright to Funky Dream / Clean Sheets? Trout Recording or Fine Haters?

I definitely believe that Trout Recording would have a better claim, since they released Clean Sheets in 2018, if not much earlier.

But why did FUGA reject our explanation, even though we shared the evidence with them?

The YouTube copyright claim system does not require FUGA to offer us an explanation, so there’s no way to know.

At this point in time, YouTube gave us the option of appealing or replacing the song, neither of which actually works :

  • appealing gives FUGA the right to issue a takedown (with a copyright strike) if they disagree
  • replacing the music destroys the video, because it would overwrite the voice-over

So, like probably 99% of other content creators who get stuck like this – between the Devil and the deep blue sea – the best option is probably to :

  • replace the music even though it destroys the video and voice-over, just to deny FUGA the right to unfairly monetise the video.
  • edit and repost a modified video with different background music.

This is extra work that we will have to do for each and every video that uses Clean Sheets, even though it was provided as royalty-free music years ago, and there is evidence that Funky Dream is just a copy of Clean Sheets.

Ultimately, this is yet another example of how the YouTube Content ID system is being abused…

 

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US Tax : How Much YouTube Income Will You Lose?

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YouTube will soon withhold up to 30% of income from non-US creators as tax for the United States!

Find out whether you will be double-taxed, and how much income non-US YouTube creators will lose!

 

YouTube To Tax Non-US Creator Income By Up To 30%!

On 10 March 2021, YouTube creators started getting this email :

We’re reaching out because Google will be required to deduct U.S. taxes from payments to creators outside of the U.S. later this year (as early as June 2021). Over the next few weeks, we’ll be asking you to submit your tax info in AdSense to determine the correct amount of taxes to deduct, if any apply. If your tax info isn’t provided by May 31, 2021, Google may be required to deduct up to 24% of your total earnings worldwide.

Yes, the alert says that up to 24% of your total worldwide earnings may be deducted, but the actual deduction could be as high as 30%.

It all depends on which bracket you fall into :

Those Who Submit US Tax Info

  • Foreign creators : 24% to 30% withholding tax, unless your country has a tax treaty with the US.
  • US creators : 0% withholding tax, because they have to pay taxes on their total income

Those Who Do NOT Submit US Tax Info

  • Business account (Foreign) : 30% withholding tax of US earnings
  • Business account (US Resident) : 24% of total worldwide earnings
  • Individual account (Foreign + US) : 24% of total worldwide earnings

This change only impacts the earnings of non-US YouTube creators, since US creators are already paying taxes on their income.

 

Why Are Non-US Residents Getting Taxed On US Income?

You may not be a US citizen or resident, but the US government requires income generated in the US to be taxed.

Since they cannot tax your income like they would an actual US resident, they require companies to withhold a portion of your US income as tax.

The general idea is that as long as you make money in the US, or from US residents, you must pay tax on that income.

 

Does This Mean Non-US Residents Will Be Double-Taxed?

Check the latest IRS list of countries with income tax treaties with the United States.

Unless your country has a Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) with the United States, yes, you will end up getting double taxed – by the US government and your own government.

Since YouTube will withhold part of your income, the double taxation impact is somewhat lessened because you will only pay your country’s income tax on what’s left over.

That is scant consolation because you are still getting double-taxed, and will end up with considerably less income.

 

How Much Tax Will Non-US YouTube Creators Have To Pay?

How much income non-US YouTube creators will lose depend on four factors :

  • whether they file their US tax info,
  • whether their country has a double tax treaty with the US,
  • whether they are an individual or a company, and
  • how much income they get from US viewers

YouTube shared a hypothetical example, but it is overly optimistic – assuming only 10% US traffic.

So we came up with our own scenarios of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% US traffic. For simplicity, we eliminated ”discounts” eligible to countries with US tax treaties.

This table we created shows the maximum US withholding tax you have to pay, with a monthly YouTube income of US$1,000.

Tax Deducted From
$1000 Income		 % of US Traffic
25% 50% 75% 100%
Did not submit tax info
(24% worldwide)		 $240 $240 $240 $240
Individual with Tax Info
(24% US income)		 $60 $120 $180 $240
Business with Tax Info
(30% US income)		 $75 $150 $225 $300

And this table shows how much income you will receive, after deducting the US tax, from a YouTube income of US$1,000.

Income Per $1,000
After Tax Deduction		 % of US Traffic
25% 50% 75% 100%
Did not submit tax info
(24% worldwide)		 $760 $760 $760 $760
Individual with Tax Info
(24% US income)		 $940 $880 $820 $760
Business with Tax Info
(30% US income)		 $925 $850 $775 $700

There is no doubt that this is a massive tax that is going to cut deeply into the income of every non-US YouTube channel, because it is a non-progressive flat tax, with no deductions.

 

What Can You Do About This US Tax By YouTube?

This withholding tax is going to irk a lot of YouTubers who have never stepped foot in the US, or received any benefit from the US government.

More so for non-US creators in countries without a double tax treaty with the US, because they would get double-taxed.

YouTube creators may be incentivised to target non-US viewers by producing more localised content, but ultimately, US traffic still pays the best. So we don’t see shifting focus away from US viewers as a good strategy.

Unfortunately, there is nothing anyone can do but bite down and bear the pain, on top of what has already been a terrible 2020 and 2021.

But if you are ever in the US and get some shit about being a foreigner, I suppose you can send them this smackdown, “I have every right to be here! I pay taxes too!“.

 

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Fake COVID Vaccination With Syringe / Needle Switch?

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Did doctors fake COVID-19 vaccination on TV by switching the syringe or needle, so that politicians and dignitaries are not harmed by the dangerous vaccine?

Find out what’s going on, and what the FACTS really are!

 

Claim : Fake COVID Vaccination With Syringe / Needle Switch?

Right after the historic first COVID-19 vaccination in Malaysia, conspiracy theorists and anti-vaxxers immediately pounced on the video as evidence of fraud.

They are claiming that the Prime Minister of Malaysia did not actually get injected with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, and it was all just a show.

Their evidence? Screenshots showing that the nurse used a syringe with a blue needle to extract the vaccine, but the Prime Minister was injected with a syringe with an orange needle!

Suara Rakyat even posted about this, with helpful infographics, asking (with our English translation) :

Draw using BLUE syringe
Injected using AMBER syringe?
Hopefully, the government especially the MINISTER OF HEALTH MALAYSIA Adham Baba explains to the people and country, why there is a change in the syringe when the COVID-19 vaccine was injected into Muhyiddin (the Prime Minister).
Does the COVID-19 vaccine injection process in Malaysia really require two different syringes?

Sedut guna picagari BIRU,
Suntik pakai picagari AMBER ?
Harap pihak kerajaan terutamanya MENTERI KESIHATAN MALAYSIA Adham Baba jelaskan kpd rakyat & negara, kenapa ada perbezaan picagari semasa proses suntikan vaksin COVID-19 terhadap Muhyiddin?
Adakah proses suntikan vaksin COVID-19 di Malaysia mmg perlukan dua picagari yg berbeza?

Many people have expressed their confusion and curiosity to us, asking :

  • Is it true they switched the needle or syringe?
  • Why did they switch the syringe or needle?
  • What’s the difference between the two colours?
  • Was it just a show? A fake vaccination?

Let’s check out what the facts really are!

 

They Did NOT Fake COVID Vaccination With Needle / Syringe Switch

First, let us clearly state that there is no evidence they faked the COVID-19 vaccination with a needle or syringe switch.

Here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : It Is SOP To Switch Needles

It is standard operating procedure to switch needles during ANY vaccination.

A needle is used to draw the vaccine from the vial, and it is replaced with a different needle before the vaccine is injected.

Why? For a couple of reasons :

  • a larger bore needle can be used to better draw the vaccine from the vial
  • a smaller bore needle can be used to inject the vaccine with less pain
  • the first needle will be blunted when inserted into the vial, and will have residue on the tip
  • using a fresh needle to administer the vaccine ensures that the tip is sharp and residue-free, for less pain

The process was the same for the Prime Minister, as it was for the Director-General of Health and the other four people, who were the first to be vaccinated in Malaysia.

Fact #2 : A Fake Vaccination Would Not Require A Switch

If they wanted to fake the vaccination for show, they would not bother to switch the needles.

After all, the vial does not even need to contain the vaccine, just saline. It would have made for more compelling TV.

The very fact that they followed SOP to switch needles before administering the vaccine shows that this really isn’t a fake vaccination.

Fact #3 : Orange Is ISO Code For 25 Gauge Hypodermic Needle

Orange (or amber) is the ISO colour code for the 25 gauge hypodermic needle, while Blue is the ISO colour code for the 23 gauge hypodermic needle.

So the nurse was merely following the correct SOP of drawing the vaccine using the larger bore 23 G blue needle, and replacing it with the smaller bore 25 G orange needle to inject into the Prime Minister’s arm.

The colour code chart shared by Suara Rakyat is not of the ISO standard. It could be something manufacturers used prior to IOS standardisation, or for non-sterile / non-medical needles.

Fact #4 : 15 Gauge Needle Not Used For Intramuscular Injection

This is a picture of a 15 gauge arteriovenous fistula needle. Can you see just how large it is?

Not only does it look conspicuously much larger than the needle going into the Prime Minister’s arm, you can tell that it would have been a painful experience!

That’s why 15 gauge needles are NOT used for intramuscular injections. In fact, the most common needle used for intramuscular injections is the orange 25 gauge needle.

Such large bore needles are only used for dialysis or IV transfusions, to allow for high flow rates.

Fact #5 : Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Is Safe

The only reason to fake this vaccination is if the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is unsafe.

The REALITY is that, as of 25 February 2021, more than 218 million doses of this Comirnaty vaccine (codenamed BNT162b2) had been administered across 99 countries.

And it has been proven safe with inconsequential side effects for the vast majority of people.

So there is simply no reason for anyone to fake a vaccination with this particular COVID-19 vaccine.

 

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CNN Reporter Caught Faking Chinese Translation On TV?

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Did a CNN reporter get caught lying on live TV about what a Chinese man really said?

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

 

CNN Reporter Caught Faking Chinese Translation On TV?

A video clip showing a CNN reporter lying about what a Chinese man said on live TV is going viral, together with this message :

All he said was, “I just finished dinner with friends and want to catch up on my texts.”
If you know Mandarin, you can see how CNN can make up their news.
I can’t believe CNN will go this low.

In the video, the CNN reporter is seen asking a Chinese man why he’s drinking by himself.

The man replied (in Chinese) that he just had dinner with friends and was now, just taking a look at his phone.

But the CNN reporter told the CNN anchor a completely different story,

“Jesus, you can see by the look on his face. This man told me that his family had been taken away, that his brother’s sick, and he can’t get out.”

“And the only thing that’s left to do is drink. And really, I can’t blame him. Poor guy.”

 

No, The CNN Reporter Was Not Faking Chinese Translation Because…

… the truth is this video was edited, and is being used as Chinese propaganda.

In this video, we will show you why this video is NOT real, and is just another piece of Chinese propaganda.

The viral video clip is really a 29 second segment of a much longer video that runs 4 minutes and 19 seconds.

The original video was created by a UK student living in China, who calls himself Comerad James.

He stated clearly in his original video that he wanted to show how easy it was to make fake news.

Anyone watching his video can see that it was intentionally satirical, with the title CNN Global Bullcast, and his nickname there – Comerad James.

You can even see that both the CNN anchor and the CNN reporter are the same person – Comerad James himself.

And note that he even put in all sorts of Easter eggs – GME (GameStop) share price rising 9999%, and chyrons about public alcoholism spiralling out of control because Chinese citizens are giving up hope.

Comerad James created this video to satirise the “lack of integrity” of CNN and BBC in covering news on China.

Ironically, his video ended up being edited and used by Chinese propagandists to malign CNN’s integrity. So much for “integrity”.

The truth is major news organisations like CNN have fact-checkers and native speakers. Such a broadcast would have been caught very quickly, and they would have apologised for it.

If they didn’t, news of this would spread like wildfire and CNN would have been justifiably castigated online. Not just by Chinese citizens and Sinophiles, but also by other media outlets and the public in general.

On the other hand, Chinese propaganda outlets masquerading as news agencies like CGTN have never apologised or corrected themselves, even after they were caught lying.

Heck, the Chinese Foreign Ministry themselves lied publicly to back up CGTN’s false claims.

When you see such videos, THINK TWICE before forwarding them. You could be helping to propagate Chinese fake news / propaganda.

But feel free to share them with us, so we can fact-check them.

 

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J&T Express Worker Strike Over Pay Cut Clarified!

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Viral videos have surfaced, allegedly showing J&T Express workers on strike over a pay cut!

Take a look at the videos, and find out what really happened!

 

J&T Express Worker Strike Over Pay Cut?

Several videos have surfaced, allegedly showing J&T Express workers on strike over a pay cut.

One of them, in particular, showed J&T Express workers shouting, with one worker standing on a conveyor belt throwing parcels.

According to various netizens, the J&T Express workers were angry and on strike, because their commissions were cut.

The other videos showed what appears to be a J&T fulfilment centre full of undelivered parcels with no one in sight. They appear to be genuine, with J&T logo on some of the parcels.

Coincidentally or not, Muhammad Syazwan Samat just received this brand new PC case from J&T Express.

And one family received their package wrapped in pink underwear!

Recommended : Only In Malaysia : Package Wrapped In Underwear!

J&T Express confirmed the incident, and clarified that it was a misunderstanding by several workers who did not understand their year-end bonus plan.

J&T Express in Perak then shared a video of seven workers saying that they did not strike, and apologising for abusing the packages.

On the other hand, this internal memo showed that J&T introduced a new, lower commission rate for their delivery dispatchers from 1 February 2021 onwards.

 

J&T Express On Viral Video Of Worker Strike

On 7 February 2021, J&T Express finally issued a statement about these viral videos :

The recent viral case which has been circulated on social media regarding “J&T Deducts Employee Wages Incident” that caused the dissatisfaction among employees with violent sorting behaviour, which has attracted the attention and discussion of the public, inside and outside the industry.

First of all, we express our deepest apologies to all Malaysians. Everyone’s opinions and suggestions are truly accepted and adopted by the company. In order to ensure the stability of our employees and to give the public a true accountability, we take this opportunity to clarify the truth to the public today.

“Deduction of Employee Wages Incident”:

J&T has been fully committed to localisation development, continuously improving employee compensation and benefits, and promoting the development of Malaysia’s social economy and E-commerce Industry. We have been committed to building a complete compensation and benefits system to increase employee benefits.

J&T has given employees year-end bonuses after comprehensive consideration, in accordance with the bonus rules and regulations, and in accordance with the Malaysian Labour Law, full bonuses are paid to employees who have worked for a year.

For employees who have worked for less than a year, bonuses are paid according to the length of working time without prejudice.

Unfortunately, certain employees are not clear about the bonus payment scheme which led to violent sorting of packages on February 4th, inciting some employees to make collective disturbances, and posting the videos to social media.

Our Perak state management has immediately handled and clarified the incident. On February 5th, the employees had resumed their normal working status and actively sorted and processed the packages of customers.

As for the fact that J&T deducts employee wages, we clarify that J&T will not deduct or owe employees a penny of wages, and hereby declare that we are willing to accept the supervision and inspection by the public and institutions.

 

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Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra : Dual Zoom + Audio Zoom Review

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The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra boasts a new Dual Zoom capability, as well as Audio Zoom, for improved video recording.

Take a look at our 1080p and 4K video samples, and find out how well they really work in real life!

 

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra : Dual Zoom + Audio Zoom

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra comes with an improved quad-camera system, that consists of :

  • a 108 MP main camera, with an f/1.8 aperture
  • a 12 MP ultra-wide camera, with an f/2.2 aperture
  • a 10 MP telephoto camera, with an f/2.4 aperture, and 3X optical zoom, and
  • a 10 MP periscope telephoto camera, with an f/4.9 aperture, and 10X optical zoom

For the first time, it has two 10 MP telephoto cameras – one with 3X optical zoom, and a periscope camera with 10X optical zoom.

The Dual Zoom capability refers to the ability to smoothly switch from the 3X telephoto camera, to the 10X periscope camera, with AI-enhanced Super Resolution to deliver sharper, stabilised video.

Its Audio Zoom capability isn’t new, having been first introduced in the Galaxy S10 series. It uses the triple microphones to change the range of sound captured as you “zoom” into the action. This lets you “focus” on the subject that you are recording, and reducing ambient noise.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra also comes with other improvements like :

  • Improved 8K Snap, that lets you capture clear images from your 8K video footage
  • Super Steady video now supports 60 fps video recording
  • Single Take lets you capture a variety of still and video formats with a single tap.
    It is now enhanced with new pro-style settings like Highlight Video and Dynamic Slow-Mo
  • New Director’s View that lets you see, switch and select the best shot… LIVE!

The Galaxy S21 Ultra is also the first Samsung smartphone to allow you to shoot in 4K at 60 fps on all front and rear cameras!

 

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra : Dual Zoom + Audio Zoom Examined!

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra can zoom at up to 20X while recording 1080p video at up to 60 fps, and 4K video at up to 30 fps.

So we recorded a series of handheld video clips in both 1080p at 60 fps, and 4K at 30 fps, to test its Dual Zoom and Audio Zoom capabilities.

By default, the Samsung Camera app offers zoom presets of 0.6X, 1.0X, 3.0X and 10X.

You can use pinch-to-zoom further, or you can do a long press on any of the presets to get access to a wider range of zoom presets – 0.6X, 1.0X, 2.0X, 4.0X, 10X and 20X.

Dual Zoom + Audio Zoom @ 1080p (60 fps)

At 1080p, handheld image stabilisation was very good, except at 20X zoom where you can see some visible handshake.

That said, the handshake at 20X is really quite minimal, compared to older stabilised cameras and even worse, unstabilised cameras!

The best test of Audio Zoom can be heard in the Chinese New Year concourse clip. Notice how the music from the concourse gets louder as we zoom in, and fade out as we zoom out.

Dual Zoom + Audio Zoom @ 4K (30 fps)

At 4K, handheld image stabilisation was very good at up to 4X, and pretty good at 10X. At 20X zoom, there was visible handshake, but it was really quite acceptable.

Of course, for best image quality, you should stick to 10X zoom. 20X at 4K looks a little blur, so the extra resolution at 4K doesn’t help at all.

Another good example of Audio Zoom is at the playground. Even though it’s empty, the bird chirps get louder as we zoom in, and fade out as we zoom out.

 

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra : Dual Zoom + Audio Zoom Verdict!

Dual Zoom is just a fancy name for the ability to switch between the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s two telephoto lenses.

Naturally, you want to use the 3X telephoto camera with its much wider aperture, and only switch to the 10X periscope lens with its narrower aperture when you need the extra reach.

Its AI-enhanced Super Resolution feature enhances image quality in the zoom gap between 3X optical zoom and 10X optical zoom.

While most people are not aware of Audio Zoom, it can greatly enhance the overall audio quality of the video, by focusing on subject in focus.

Thanks to these two features, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra arguably delivers the best video recording capabilities for a smartphone today.

 

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra : Where To Buy?

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra comes in three variants globally, with these prices :

  • 12 GB + 128 GB : US$1199.99 / £1149 / A$1849
  • 12 GB + 256 GB : US$1249.99 / £1199 / A$1949 / S$1798 / RM5299
  • 16 GB + 512 GB : US$1379.99 / £1329 / A$2149 / S$1998 / RM5899

There are only two colour options though – Phantom Silver and Phantom Black.

Here are some online purchase / pre-order options :

 

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Is Genting Highlands Closed Over Many COVID-19 Cases?

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Did Genting Highlands just get shut down after many of their employees tested positive for COVID-19?

Find out what’s going on, and what the facts really are!

 

Genting Highlands : Closed Over Many COVID-19 Cases?

On 6 January 2021, we received a video taken inside First World Hotel in Genting Highlands, together with this message :

Genting Highland just 25 minutes ago was found that some few Customers are having Covid-19 and all was Stop the whole Casino of Genting Highlands, too

Customers are Not allowed to return back and all are detained for further Quarantine for (10) days because of this Dangerous Various Covid-19 !!……………….

Even all Genting Highlands Casino’s Staff all must Quarantine for (10) days………. And all Casino in Genting Highlands are Not allowed to Operate in between these (14) days………

https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/First-World-Hotel-COVID-19-Quarantine.mp4?_=1

The video appears to show Genting Highlands casino employees waiting to be quarantined after being identified as close contacts of COVID-19 patients.

The lady recording the video claimed that someone at the (staff) canteen was infected, so those who came into contact had to quarantine for 10 days.

She was being quarantined because she was seen in the CCTV packing food from the canteen. She also complained that she had to wait a long time in the queue.

 

Genting Highlands : Not Closed Over COVID-19 Cases, Yet

The video is genuine, but the message attached to it is false. Here are the facts…

Fact #1 : This Video Was Shot On 5 January 2021

According to someone working at Genting Highlands, the video is genuine, and was shot on 5 January 2021.

Fact #2 : That Was A Check-In Line For Employees

At the 9th and 10th second of the video (right screenshot below), you can see the sign saying “Check In At Counter  – EMPLOYEES“.

So it does indeed look like employees are lining to check in for their quarantine at the First World Hotel.

Fact #3 : The Shorter Quarantine Period Is Correct

Malaysia reduced the quarantine period from 14-days to just 10 days from 14 December 2020 onwards.

Fact #4 : Several Workers At Staff Canteen Positive For COVID-19

On 7 January 2021, Resorts World Genting confirmed that several workers at their staff canteen were positive for COVID-19.

They were isolated, and employees who had been to the canteen were asked to be “accommodated separately for a certain period” – a quarantine, in other words.

However, they did not reveal how many workers were infected, and how many were quarantined.

Fact #5 : Genting Highlands Is Still Open

Despite a number of employees testing positive, and what looks like a large number of employees quarantined, Genting Highlands remains open to the public.

The staff canteens are not accessible to the public, and have been “thoroughly sanitised and disinfected“.

They also sanitised and disinfected the areas frequented by the affected workers.

 

Resorts World Genting : Official Statement On COVID-19 Cases

Here is Resorts World Genting’s official statement on the COVID-19 exposure at their resort.

7 January 2021

Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 at Genting Highlands

In early January, several workers at our staff canteens were tested RTK-Antigen positive. The affected workers were detected during our regular health and safety screening and were immediately isolated. Contact tracing is in progress and for precaution, we have asked some employees who have been to these canteens, be accommodated separately for a certain period. Meanwhile, we have reported the matter to the Ministry of Health (MOH) and will work closely with the authority to address this.

We have thoroughly sanitised and disinfected the staff canteens as well as any areas frequented by the workers. These canteens are not accessible to the public.

We assure everyone that SOPs are in place and will be continuously reviewed and enhanced to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all in Resorts World Genting. The resort remains open to the public.

We will continue to take the necessary precautionary measures as the health and safety of all our guests and employees have always been our utmost priority. We kindly advise everyone to remain vigilant and adhere to the SOPs issued by the government. This includes wearing a face mask, observing physical distancing, and adopting good personal hygiene practices at all times.

 

COVID-19 : How To Keep Safe During CMCO!

Here are a few simple steps to stay safe :

Recommended : Soap vs Sanitiser : Which Works Better Against COVID-19?
Recommended : Surgical Mask : How To CORRECTLY Wear + Remove!
Recommended : COVID-19 Food Safety : Fruits, Vegetables, Takeouts

 

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Nokia 3.4 Camera New Year Failure : How To Fix It?

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Nokia 3.4 users received a New Year surprise, when its camera stopped working from New Year 2021 onwards!

Find out what happened, and the two workarounds you can try!

 

Nokia 3.4 Camera Started Crashing On New Year 2021!

Many Nokia 3.4 users are complaining that their camera stopped working around New Year 2021 – either on the eve – 31 December 2020, or New Year’s Day – 1 January 2021.

Specifically, the Nokia camera app would crash within a second of opening it. Those who managed to take a shot before it crashed would only get a photo of a grey square.

Like the camera failures affecting the Nokia 8.3 5G, the problem partly due to the recent firmware updates, but the problem only manifested around New Year 2021.

In fact, it will affect brand new Nokia 3.4 phones that were sold and opened up on and after 1 January 2021.

 

Nokia 3.4 Camera New Year Bug Workarounds

Restarting the phone won’t help, and even a soft reset or hard reset won’t work.

It appears that the Nokia 3.4 camera malfunction is a date bug (like the famous Y2K or Millennium Bug) affecting their Camera app version 97.10.1400.01.

Nokia says they are working on a fix, but until they release a working update, here are two ways to fix the Nokia 3.4 camera failure.

Use A Third-Party App

The Nokia 3.4 camera is still functioning – it’s just their Camera app that’s broken.

So you can use a messaging app like WhatsApp or Telegram to take photos and videos.

However, you may not get the full resolution or quality since these apps use a much lower photo and video resolution to reduce file size.

The best option is to use a third-party camera app like Open Camera or the Google Camera port.

Change The Date

Another way is to change the date on your affected Nokia smartphone :

  1. Go to Settings > System > Date & time
  2. Turn off Network-Provided Date & Time.
  3. Change the date to either :
    a) 30 December 2020 or earlier
    b) 2 January 2021 or later

After that, the Nokia camera app will run properly. But it won’t do to keep running with the wrong date.

  1. Open and then close the Camera app
  2. Go to Settings > System > Date & time
  3. Turn on Network-Provided Date & Time.

This should let you use the Nokia 3.4 smartphone with the proper date, and a usable camera app, albeit with Scene Detection disabled.

 

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Nokia 8.3 Camera New Year Failure : How To Fix It!

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Nokia 8.3 5G users received a New Year surprise, when its camera stopped working from New Year 2021 onwards.

Find out what happened, and the two workarounds you can try!

 

Nokia 8.3 5G Camera Crashes On New Year 2021!

Many Nokia 8.3 5G users are complaining that their camera stopped working on around New Year 2021 – either on the eve – 31 December 2020, or New Year’s Day – 1 January 2021.

Specifically, the Nokia camera app would crash within a second of opening it. Those who managed to take a shot before it crashed would only get a photo of a grey square.

At first, they thought it might have been the October or December 2020 update, but oddly enough – the camera only failed on either on 31 December 2020, or 1 January 2021.

Two different people also reported that they bought the Nokia 8.3 5G on 31 December 2020 and 1 January 2021, and the camera on both phones didn’t work either.

Restarting the phone or soft-resetting it won’t work. Even a hard reset that a German user, Gabriel Steinecker, tried did NOT work.

Eventually, it was discovered that the Nokia 8.3 5G’s physical camera was working fine. It was the Nokia camera app that did not work. Third party apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, for example, could still take photos and videos.

 

Nokia 8.3 5G Camera New Year Bug Workarounds

The Nokia 8.3 5G camera malfunction seems to be a date bug (like the famous Y2K or Millennium Bug) affecting their Camera app version 97.10.1400.01.

In fact, it could be affecting more than just Nokia 8.3 5G users. The problem also affects the Nokia 3.4 smartphone.

Nokia says they are working on a fix, but until they release a working update, here are two ways to fix the Nokia 4.3 camera failure.

Use A Third-Party App

The Nokia 8.3 5G camera is still functioning – it’s just their Camera app that’s broken.

So you can use a messaging app like WhatsApp or Telegram to take photos and videos.

However, you may not get the full resolution or quality since these apps use a much lower photo and video resolution to reduce file size.

The best option is to use a third-party camera app like Open Camera or the Google Camera port.

Change The Date

Another way is to change the date on your affected Nokia smartphone :

  1. Go to Settings > System > Date & time
  2. Turn off Network-Provided Date & Time.
  3. Change the date to either :
    a) 30 December 2020 or earlier
    b) 2 January 2021 or later

After that, the Nokia camera app will run properly. But it won’t do to keep running with the wrong date.

  1. Open the Camera app and go to its Settings
  2. Disable Scene Detection
  3. Close the Camera app
  4. Go to Settings > System > Date & time
  5. Turn on Network-Provided Date & Time.

This should let you use the Nokia 8.3 smartphone with the proper date, and a usable camera app, albeit with Scene Detection disabled.

 

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How Fast Can You Type On The Galaxy Tab S7 Keyboard?

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The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+ come with a Book Cover with an integrated kickstand, S Pen compartment and keyboard.

While most tablets offer keyboard options, you will be surprised at just how fast you can actually type on the Galaxy Tab S7 keyboard! Take a look…

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Keyboard : What Is It?

The Samsung Book Cover Keyboard is an accessory for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+ tablets.

It protects the tablet from damage, and comes with an integrated kickstand, S Pen compartment and keyboard.

Its two-piece design transforms your Galaxy Tab S7 or Tab S7+ tablet into a laptop, that quickly turns into a tablet whenever you want.

It is available for both Galaxy Tab S7 models. They only differ in their sizes (prices as of 14 December 2020):

Samsung Book Cover Keyboard for Galaxy Tab S7+

Samsung Book Cover Keyboard for Galaxy Tab S7

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Keyboard : How Fast Can You Type On It?

To showcase how fast you can type on the Book Cover Keyboard, Samsung brought in expert stenographer Jongheon Im.

Stenographers are trained to type as fast as a person speaks, so they need to be very fast!

In this video, Im is asked to transcribe a minute of speech on two regular keyboards, and then on the Galaxy Tab S7+ with the Book Cover Keyboard.

While Im is most comfortable with the special stenography keyboard, she felt that it was more comfortable to type on the Book Cover Keyboard, than an actual laptop keyboard.

In the end, she managed to type at around 700 strokes per minute on the Book Cover Keyboard, compared to 670 strokes on a laptop keyboard.

Frankly, most of us would expect to type faster on a laptop keyboard than a tablet keyboard… but as our review pointed out – the Book Cover Keyboard is really nice to type on, especially with its 26% larger keycaps and 18.3 mm key pitch.

We highly recommend it for anyone who purchases the Galaxy Tab S7 or Galaxy Tab S7+ tablet.

 

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Did China Create This Amazing Female Dancing Robot?

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Did China create this amazing female dancing robot for a dance show in Shanghai?

Watch the viral video for yourself, and find out what the FACTS really are!

 

Did China Create This Amazing Dancing Robot?

Here is the video that countless people have been sharing on social media and even on YouTube. It is often paired with a short explanation in (broken) English.

Can u believe that this female dancer is robot ? The dance was held in Shanghai n it lasted only 5 minutes but the queue was 4hrs n cost 499 Yuan!

It has surpassed Japan in complexity, and saw its perfect facial expressions. Send this video to everyone to watch, let us enjoy together…

 

Amazing Female Dancing Robot : The Truth

The agility and grace of this female dancing robot, and its facial expressions, are incredible.

The less gullible would point out that it is something you would only expect from a real human being, and they would be right.

Fact #1 : That Is A Video Of A WDSF Competition

That is actually a video clip from the 2018 World Dance Sport Federation Championship in Lithuania.

The initials WDSF (World Dance Sport Federation) can be seen, together with the recording date at the upper left corner of the video.

Fact #2 : The Dance Only Lasted A Minute

The dance in the video only lasted just over a minute, even though the accompanying fake message claimed it lasted for 5 minutes.

Fact #3 : Those Are Lithuanian Dance Champions

Both dancers are very human. In fact, they are Lithuanian dance champions Ieva Zukauskaite (female), and Evaldas Sodeika (male).

Fact #4 : 499 Yuan Was The Entry Price To Shanghai Disneyland

The fake story claimed that the ticket to watch this performance costs 499 Yuan – about US$73 / £55 / RM303. That would be ridiculously exorbitant for a short dance.

In truth, that was “copied” from the two earlier hoaxes (here and here) about robot dancers at the Shanghai Disneyland.

Even that was not accurate, because 499 Yuan was the cost of an entry ticket to the Shanghai Disneyland when it first opened in February 2016.

Since 6 June 2018, it has been priced at 399 Yuan (off-peak), 575 Yuan (peak) and 665 Yuan (peak holiday).

 

Why Would Someone Create This Fake Story?

With China’s aggressive foreign stance in recent years, it is not uncommon to see such fake stories being created and shared.

Some believe it’s part of a concerted attempt to burnish China’s image overseas.

Others believe the many fake stories are being created to drown out the negative coverage of China’s controversial Belt and Road Initiative, and their aggressive moves in the South China Sea.

Whatever the reasons may be, it is our duty as global citizens to stop the proliferation of such fake stories.

Please share this fact check with your friends, so they know the truth!

 

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Watch : Arecibo Telescope Before & During The Collapse!

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The catastrophic collapse of the Arecibo telescope on 1 December 2020 was captured by a control tower camera and a drone.

Take a look at the just-released footage, and find out what it showed!

 

Arecibo Telescope : A Brief History

The Arecibo Telescope is a 305 meter wide radio telescope, with a steerable receiver hanging 150 meters over the spherical reflector dish.

Built over a natural sinkhole, it was completed in November 1963 and was the world’s largest single-aperture telescope for 53 years.

Culturally, the Arecibo Telescope is famous for the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) program, and being featured in the 1995 James Bond film, Goldeneye; and the 1997 sci-fi film, Contact.

Scientifically, the Arecibo Telescope allowed for numerous discoveries in astronomy :

  • discovered the first binary pulsar in 1974, for which Hulse and Taylor won their 1993 Nobel Prize in Physics
  • produced first radar maps of the surface of Venus in 1981
  • discovered the first millisecond pulsar (PSR 1937+21) in 1982
  • discovered ice at the north and south poles of Mercury in 1992
  • discovered the first ever exoplanet in 1992
  • discovering the first ever repeating fast radio burst (FRB) in 2016

 

Arecibo Telescope : Scheduled For Decommissioning

The Arecibo Telescope was damaged by hurricanes and storms over the years, as well as budget cuts.

The end came when an auxiliary support cable for the hanging platform broke on 10 August 2020, causing a 30 metre gash in the reflector dish.

Before a new cable could be installed, one of the two main support cables broke on 7 November 2020, shattering part of the dish.

On 17 November 2020, the National Science Foundation announced that it was impossible to repair the Arecibo telescope, and it will be recommissioned instead.

Unfortunately, before that could happen, the remaining support cables failed, and the hanging platform collapsed into the dish on 1 December 2020.

 

Watch : Arecibo Telescope Before & During The Collapse!

The National Science Foundation just released footage of the Arecibo telescope, before and during the collapse.

The footage was captured by a video camera from the control tower (Tower 12), and a drone inspecting the cables at the top of Tower 4.

Here is how the National Science Foundation described the footage of the collapse :

This video, that starts with a view of the top of Tower 4, was taken from the vantage point of an Arecibo Observatory drone, utilized for monitoring the condition of Tower 4 support cables.

Four cables are seen in the center of this video. The top cable does not support the telescope platform, but instead supports the catwalk described in the narrative for the previous video. The three lower cables are, from left to right, M4-1, M4-2, and M4-3.

Note that a number of individual wire strands of the M4-1 and M4-2 cables are noticeably broken at the beginning of this video. The M4-3 cable does not appear to have any broken wires at the beginning of this video.

The first indication of the coming failure is the breaking of another M4-2 wire, accompanied by a puff of “smoke” and chips of paint flying away from the surface of the cable. Four seconds later the entire M4-2 cable appears to disintegrate.

The failure of M4-2 is followed a fraction of a second later by the demise of M4-1, followed a fraction of a second later by the failure of M4-3.

The drone operator then swings the drone around to view the reflector dish and fallen platform, azimuth arm, Gregorian dome and the falling cables and catwalk.

The top section of Tower 12, near the Visitor Center, can be seen tumbling down the hill to the left of the operations building. The Tower 12 backstay cables that connect the top of Tower 12 to the ground cause damage behind Tower 12, well away from the edge of the telescope dish.

According to the NSF’s initial findings, the top section of all three support towers broke off, and both the 900-ton hanging instrument platform and its support cables fell onto the dish.

The observatory’s learning center sustained significant damage from the falling cables, although fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.

This is what the Arecibo telescope looked like, after the hanging platform crashed into the reflector dish below.

 

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Fact Check : CMCO / PKPB Extended To 31 December 2020?

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Was the CMCO / PKPB lockdown extended until 31 December 2020 by Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin?

Find out what’s going on, and what the FACTS really are!

 

Claim : CMCO / PKPB Extended To 31 December 2020!

The viral claim consisted of a video of Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, with the message:

CMCO extended until 31/12

In the video, the Prime Minister appeared to announce that the CMCO / PKPB lockdown would be extended until 31 December 2020.

However, he was not talking about the CMCO / PKPB lockdown… so we placed the FALSE overlay to prevent further abuse.

 

No, CMCO / PKPB Was Not Extended To 31 December 2020

The video does indeed show Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announcing the extension of the lockdown to 31 December 2020.

However, this video was recorded much earlier, on 28 August 2020, when he announced the extension of the PKPP / RCMO to 31 December 2020, not PKPB / CMCO.

You can see RMCO (Recovery Movement Control Order) or PKPP (Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan Pemulihan) mentioned in the screenshot below.

The Malaysian Prime Minister is expected to announce an extension of the CMCO / PKPB lockdown later this week.

But the extension is expected to be for an additional 2 weeks – from 7 December until 20 December, not until 31 December 2020.

However, nothing is certain until the official announcement is made.

This is the second fake news about a lockdown extension today, after the PKPD / EMCO extension hoax.

 

RMCO / PKPP vs CMCO / PKPB : What’s The Difference?

Recovery MCO (RMCO or PKPP) is the most lenient form of lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, with greater liberalisation of the economy :

  1. Interstate travel is permitted, except to areas under Enhanced MCO (EMCO) or administrative restrictions.
  2. Barbers and hair salons are allowed to reopen, subject to SOP.
  3. Beauty parlours and nail salons are allowed to reopen, subject to SOP.
  4. Museums are allowed to reopen.
  5. Busking (indoor) and filming activities will be allowed.
  6. Meetings and workshops will be allowed.
  7. Morning / evening / night markets are allowed.
  8. Hawker stalls are allowed.
  9. Recreational fishing and commercial fisheries will be allowed.
  10. Gyms and snooker halls will be allowed.
  11. Non-contact sports like bowling, badminton, archery and shooting will be allowed.
  12. Outdoor group sports like kayaking and cycling will be allowed.
  13. Indoor sports like snooker, yoga, aerobics will be allowed.
  14. Malaysia’s borders remain closed, but local tourism will be allowed.
  15. Religious activities, like Hari Raya Aidiladha celebrations, will be allowed, subject to JAKIM’s SOP
  16. Schools will be reopened in stages throughout the RMCO, based on advice from the Ministry of Education.
  17. Places of worship will be allowed to reopen, subject to SOP
  18. Normal business operating hours to resume, with social distancing, hand washing, face masks.

The current Conditional MCO (CMCO or PKPB) is less lenient, limiting interstate travel only for work and business purposes only, among other limitations :

  • Only two persons from each household are allowed to go out to purchase food supplies or daily necessities.
  • Only two persons from each household are allowed to dine-in at any restaurant / cafe.
  • No one is allowed to enter or leave the areas under CMCO lockdown.
  • Interstate travel is forbidden, except for work, economic or industrial purposes.
  • Supermarkets, shopping malls and retail stores are allowed, between 6 AM and 12 AM.
  • Restaurants, food stores, food trucks, hawkers, food courts, food stalls, food kiosks, groceries and convenience stores are allowed to open from 6 AM until 12 AM.
  • All public and private schools, institutions of higher learning, vocational training institutes, kindergartens, day care centres, tahfiz centres, public parks and recreation centres must close.
  • All seminars, workshops, courses, training, conferences, lectures and MICE (Meeting, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) are forbidden.
  • All domestic tourism activities that cross into or out of the CMCO areas are forbidden.

For more details, please see Peninsular Malaysia : Official CMCO / PKPB SOP!

 

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Fact Check : Amazing Robot Dancers At Shanghai Disneyland!

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Did China create these amazing robot dancers at the Shanghai Disneyland, beating even the Japanese?

Watch the viral clip for yourself, and find out what the FACTS really are!

 

Claim : China Created Classic Robot Dancers At Shanghai Disneyland!

Here is the video that countless people have been sharing on social media and even on YouTube. It is often paired with a short explanation in (broken) English.

This classic dance is only created in China and broadcast in Shanghai Disneyland. They are not female dance artists, but all robots made in China.

The performance time is only about 5 minutes, but the ticket queue time takes 4 hours , The ticket price is 499 yuan.

It has surpassed Japan in complexity, and saw its perfect facial expressions. Send this video to everyone to watch, let us enjoy together…

 

Classic Robot Dancers At Shanghai Disneyland : The Truth

The agility and grace of these classic robot dancers at Shanghai Disneyland is amazing.

The less gullible would point out that it is something you would only expect from professional human dancers, and they would be right.

Fact #1 : That Is A Video Of A CBDF Competition

That is actually a video clip from one of the many competitions organised and broadcast by the CBDF (Chinese Ballroom Dance Federation).

Although we cannot ascertain who the dancers are, you can see the CBDF logo in the background, at 4:06 and 4:41.

No robot made today can match their agility and grace.

Fact #2 : 499 Yuan Was The Entry Price To Shanghai Disneyland

The fake story claimed that the ticket to watch this performance costs 499 Yuan – about US$73 / £55 / RM303. That would be ridiculously exorbitant for a single show.

In truth, that was the cost of an entry ticket to the Shanghai Disneyland when it first opened in February 2016.

Since 6 June 2018, it has been priced at 399 Yuan (off-peak), 575 Yuan (peak) and 665 Yuan (peak holiday).

Fact #3 : Disneyland Does Not Charge Extra To Watch Certain Shows

Anyone who has been to Disneyland knows that the entry fee is pricey. That’s because it covers all rides and shows inside Disneyland.

You only need to pay for food and drinks, and arcade games. Or if you opt to purchase Disney Fastpasses (Fastpass, FastPass+, MaxPass) to bypass long queues at popular rides or shows.

Otherwise, all rides and shows are free to enjoy once you enter Disneyland.

 

Why Would Someone Create This Fake Story?

With China’s aggressive foreign stance in recent years, it is not uncommon to see such fake stories being created and shared.

Some believe it’s part of a concerted attempt to burnish China’s image overseas.

Others believe the many fake stories are being created to drown out the negative coverage of China’s controversial Belt and Road Initiative, and their aggressive moves in the South China Sea.

Whatever the reasons may be, it is our duty as global citizens to stop the proliferation of such fake stories.

Please share this debunking with your friends, so they know the truth!

 

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AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT Preview : RDNA 2 In Action!

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We have been playing around with the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT and here is our preview of the first RDNA 2 graphics card!

Take a look at our unboxing and hands-on videos, as well as the Radeon RX 6800 XT in action!

 

AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT : A Quick Primer!

The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is one of three Radeon RX 6000 series graphics cards. Based on the new AMD RDNA 2 architecture, they offer these key features :

  • AMD Infinity Cache – a large 128 MB data cache that dramatically reduces memory latency and power consumption.
  • AMD Smart Access Memory – offers the Ryzen 5000 series processor greater access to its GDDR6 graphics memory for better gaming performance.
  • DirectX 12 Ultimate – offering support for the next-generation games with DirectX Raytracing and Variable Rate Shading.
  • New Ray Accelerator – delivers real-time lighting, shadow and reflection realism through DirectX Raytracing.
  • Variable Rate Sharing (VRS) – dynamically reduces shading rate for better performance at little to no loss in image quality.
  • DirectStorage Support – delivers faster load times and high-quality textures in the future.

 

AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT : Price + Availability

The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT has a RRP of US$649, and will be available for sale starting 18 November 2020.

Custom boards will be available from brands like ASRock, ASUS, Gigabyte starting in November 2020.

 

AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT : Specifications

This table summarises how the RX 6800 XT compares against the RX 6900 XT and the RX 6800.

Specifications Radeon RX
6900 XT		 Radeon RX
6800 XT		 Radeon RX
6800
Transistors 26.8 billion
Fab Process 7 nm
Die Size 519 mm²
Total Graphics Power 300 W 250 W
Compute Units 80 72 60
Ray Accelerators 80 72 60
Stream Processors 5120 4608 3840
Game Clock 2015 MHz 2015 MHz 1815 MHz
Boost Clock 2250 MHz 2250 MHz 2105 MHz
TFLOPS 23.04 20.74 16.17
TMUs 320 288 240
Max. Texture Rate 720 GT/s 648 GT/s 505 GT/s
ROPs 128 96
Max. Pixel Rate 288 GP/s 202 GP/s
Infinity Cache 128 MB
Graphics Memory 16 GB GDDR6 (16 Gbps)
Bus Width 256-bit
Bandwidth 512 GB/s
PCIe Interface PCIe 4.0 x16

 

Unboxing The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT!

The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT comes in a large and heavy cardboard box. Very heavy duty, with thick foam packaging.

Next Page > Radeon RX 6800 XT Hands-On + In Action!

 

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AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT : Hands-On Experience!

The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is a rather bulky and heavy card, because it comes with a large 2.5-slot cooler with triple axial fans.

Take a closer look at it in our hands-on video, followed by pictures of the card.

It features a die-cast aluminium backplate at the back.

Here you can see its thick heatsink, and how its cooler is designed to suck in air from the front of the card, and exhaust the hot air from the top and the bottom of the card.

It has four display connectors. From left to right : one USB Type C port, two DisplayPort 1.4 ports, and one HDMI 2.1 port.

The card uses up to 300 watts of power, and comes with two 8-pin PCI Express power connectors.

It should work with two 6-pin power cables though – both 8-pin and 6-pin cables deliver 150 watts.

AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT supports PCI Express 4.0, which offers double the bandwidth of PCI Express 3.0.

However, that requires you to use a PCI Express 4.0 motherboard, like the recommended AMD X570 motherboards.

But do not fret if you are on the Intel platform. It is backward-compatible with PCI Express 3.0, and will work just fine with PCIe 3.0 motherboards.

 

AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT : In Action!

Our testbed pairs the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X processor with the ASUS CROSSHAIR VIII Hero (AMD X570) motherboard, with 32 GB of DDR4 memory.

Our benchmark results will be released tomorrow, but in the meantime, you can take a look at the Radeon RX 6800 XT in action, running 3DMark Time Spy Extreme.

Be sure to come back and check our comprehensive review tomorrow, with benchmark results!

 

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Fact Check : Is There Pork In OLDTOWN Curry Mee?

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A video claiming that OLDTOWN White Coffee used pork in their curry mee has gone viral, leading to an official investigation by the authorities!

Find out what happened, and what the FACTS really are!

 

Viral Video : Pork In OLDTOWN Curry Mee?

In the video that went viral on Facebook and WhatsApp, a man accused OLDTOWN White Coffee of using pork in their curry mee.

He pokes at the red-coloured meat, and insists that they put in 5-6 slices of pork.

For our foreign readers who may not understand, pork is haram (forbidden) for Muslims.

 

KPDNHEP Investigates Claims Of Pork In OLDTOWN Curry Mee

The accusation is so serious in Malaysia, that the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) launched an investigation.

Five KPDNHEP Selangor officers inspected the OLDTOWN White Coffee restaurant in Subang Jaya on 13 November 2020, and took samples of the alleged pork used in their curry mee.

Note that this officer is holding a packet of BBQ Chicken, and pointing at its halal stamp.

 

The Truth : There Is NO Pork In OLDTOWN Curry Mee!

Here is the short verdict on the viral video. It’s a FALSE ACCUSATION, and there is NO PORK in OLDTOWN White Coffee’s curry mee.

This is yet another viral video that has been proven to be FALSE, and here are the reasons why…

Reason #1 : JAKIM + KPDNHEP Confirmed The Claim As FALSE

After investigating the claim, both JAKIM and KPDNHEP confirmed that the claim in the video is false.

The meat used was chicken, not pork, as alleged by the man in the video.

JAKIM also warned the public not to make baseless accusations, while OLDTOWN is consulting their lawyers to determine if they should take action against those who made the false accusation.

Reason #2 : Char Siu Is Not Always Pork

It is likely that the man in the video mistook the red-coloured meat as char siu – barbecued pork.

However, char siu versions of other meats like chicken, beef and venison are available for Muslims, and those who prefer not to eat pork.

After all, the char siu seasoning is made from honey, five-spice powder, red fermented bean curd, dark soy sauce, hoisin sauce and red food colouring, and can be applied to most meats.

In fact, OLDTOWN White Coffee uses chicken char siu in their curry mee, which is clearly visible in their product shot :

Reason #3 : OLDTOWN White Coffee Is Halal-Certified

OLDTOWN White Coffee is a chain of halal-certified restaurants. That means they have to abide by these rules :

  1. Equipment used shall be free from najs, does not contain any hazardous materials and results in side effects to the products produced;
  2. Appliances / brushes from animal hair are not allowed;
  3. The arrangement of equipments and goods in the factory shall be neat, tidy and safe;
  4. Workers are not allowed to live in the premise compound. If it is necessary, living quarters for the workers shall be:
    a. having separate entrance to the premise compound;
    b. no direct passage way from the worker’s living quarters to the premise compound; and
    c. there is a control mechanism on the movement in and out of workers.
  5. Non-halal food/ beverages are not allowed to be brought into the premise compound;
  6. The premise shall have an effective control system from premises that process/ prepare non-halal materials;
  7. All central kitchens and outlets for chain restaurants/ franchise/ food court shall apply for halal certification; and
  8. Liquor and materials sourced from liquor is strictly prohibited to be in the halal kitchen and hotel including the storage area.

While it is not necessary for Muslims to eat only from halal-certified restaurants, a valid Halal certificate means they undergo periodic inspections to ensure they follow the rules.

Reason #4 : Chicken Is Much CHEAPER Than Pork

One of our reader, Johari Jeffrey, points out that chicken is much cheaper than pork.

So it wouldn’t make sense for any business to substitute chicken for a more expensive meat like pork.

 

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Was This Driver FINED For Letting His Wife Sit Next To Him?

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A driver was allegedly issued a RM1K fine for letting his wife sit next to him in their car during the CMCO lockdown.

Find out what happened, and if you can really get fined for sitting side-by-side in your car!

 

Claim : This Driver Was FINED For Letting His Wife Sit Next To Him!

A video of a driver being issued a fine has gone viral on WhatsApp, together with this message :

Damn stupid. Silly another case just happened in Melaka. Malim – a husband & wife kena saman bcos wife sitting at front seat next to the husband.

Police says the 2nd person (even your wife) must seat behind. Just got this news from my neighbour who just came back from malim.

People are sharing it as evidence that you can be fined for letting a passenger sit next to you in a car.

 

No, This Driver Was NOT Fined For Letting His Wife Sit Next To Him!

We had earlier debunked two similar hoaxes about people getting fined for sitting side-by-side in a car :

This is yet another hoax, and here are the facts…

Fact #1 : The Driver Was NOT Fined For Letting His Wife Sit Next To Him

The man actually posted on Facebook, claiming that he was issued a summon for letting his wife use her phone :

I was just given a summon by PDRM at Jalan Dato Md Zain. I ask the officer what’s my offence and according to him “Sebelah kiri pakai hphone”.

I said that was my wife using and why issue me summon as I am not using phone. He just said go attend court. I ask for proof and he said all are there when you attend court hearing.

I refuse to sign and the office® can just sign on behalf?

Anyone encounter such issue and what can be done?

 

Fact #2 : The Driver Was Fined For Using A Phone While Driving

The Melaka state police stated that the driver was issued the ticket at about 11:08 AM on 9 November 2020, for using his phone while driving.

The driver protested that it was his wife using the phone, but the police had seen the driver using the phone with his left hand about 250 metres before the roadblock.

Because the driver refused to acknowledge the ticket, the police officer wrote ETT (Enggan Tanda Tangan / Refused To Sign) before handing the ticket to him.

The ticket lists the offence as “PANDU GUNA ALAT KOMUNIKASI” – driving while using a communications device.

Fact #3 : Two Persons Are Allowed In / On A Vehicle

The Malaysian National Security Council (MKN) released three regional SOPs and later an updated SOP for Peninsular Malaysia states under CMCO / PKPB lockdown :

The earlier three SOPs state clearly that two persons per household are allowed to go out together to purchase food and essentials.

The latest Peninsular Malaysia SOP explicitly says that two persons per household are allowed to travel in or on a vehicle.

Note that there is no requirement for the passenger to sit behind the driver. It would have been an absurd and pointless rule anyway, since they are from the same household.

Fact #4 : There Is No Limit On Commercial Vehicles

According to the MKN SOPs, there is no new limit on vehicles carrying goods and providing essential services, including those involved in business and industrial activities.

The number of people in such vehicles are limited to what’s allowed by the commercial vehicle licence.

For example, if a delivery van is licensed for up to 3 people, then 3 people may sit together in that delivery van.

Fact #5 : Taxis + E-hailing Vehicles Are Limited To 2 Passengers

The MKN SOPs limit taxis and e-hailing vehicles to 2 passengers.

That means a total of 3 people are allowed in a car, and two of them will definitely be sitting side by side.

So it will not be logical for the police to issue a fine for people sitting side by side in any vehicle.

Fact #6 : No Requirement For A Passenger To Sit Behind The Driver

For the police to issue a fine, it must be specifically forbidden in the CMCO / PKPB SOP for two persons to sit side by side in a vehicle.

There is no such requirement in the CMCO / PKPB SOP, so it is not possible for the police to issue such a fine.

We highly recommend that you check out our other two articles on this never-ending hoax about police issuing fines for sitting side-by-side in a car :

 

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Nikon Malaysia Ceases Operation On 1 January 2021!

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Nikon Malaysia today announced that they were calling it quits, and will shut down on 1 January 2021.

Here is what you need to know about Nikon’s decision to cease having an official presence in Malaysia…

 

Nikon Malaysia Ceases Operation On 1 January 2021!

Nikon (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. today announced that they will cease operations on 1 January 2021, with their last business day on 31 December 2020.

That marks the end of almost 19 years of presence in Malaysia – Nikon Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. was established in April 2001.

The writing has been on the wall for sometime now… the photography market has been hammered by the ubiquitousness of smartphone cameras, and even mirrorless cameras cannot stop the haemorrhage.

As sad as it may be for Nikon users, it comes to no surprise that Nikon Malaysia has decided to call it quits.

 

Two Distributors Take Over Nikon Business In Malaysia

Don’t worry if you are a Nikon fan. They are not leaving you high and dry.

You will still be able to purchase Nikon cameras and lenses, and get your photography gear serviced.

From 1 January 2021 onwards, Nikon business in Malaysia will be handled by two authorised distributors :

 

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Fact Check : Avoiding The Future Plague, The Viral 1956 PSA!

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The 1956 PSA – Avoiding The Future Plague – is going viral on social media for its amazingly prescient look at the world today, and the COVID-19 pandemic!

Take a look at this PSA from the 1950s, and find out if it truly predicted everything from the Internet, social media and COVID-19!

 

The Viral 1956 PSA : Avoiding The Future Plague

Avoiding The Future Plague is purportedly a PSA (Public Service Announcement) from 1956.

It went viral because it was extremely prescient, predicting everything from maglev trains, the Internet, the smartphone, and transatlantic flights.

It even accurately predicts that by 2020, a new virus will arise in Asia and spread across the world.

It also claims that there is a solution, a way to avoid this future plague, but the clip ends with the rest of the footage missing, after an advertisement.

 

Avoiding The Future Plague : The Truth About This Viral PSA

The production quality is very good, but this isn’t an actual PSA from the 1950s. Here are the facts…

Fact #1 : The Video Was Created In February 2020

Avoiding The Future Plague is really a joke video created by the YouTuber, RamsesThePigeon.

He posted the video on 29 February 2020, stating that :

It’s hilarious to look back on what people from the 1950s thought the future would be like!

Also, yes, I only threw this together because I wanted to have a video upload on February 29th.

He even dropped a hint in the beginning – the production date of the video is also February 29.

Fact #2 : It’s A Mash-Up Of Archival Footage

He created it from archival and public domain footage from the 1940s and 1950s, sharing that :

Archival and public domain footage was acquired from Archive.org.

Fact #3 : Doeskin Kitchen Napkins Actually Exist!

Believe it or not, Doeskin Kitchen Napkins actually exist!

And the “sponsor’s message” in the video is a genuine Doeskin advertisement from 1954.

 

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Fact Check : Empty Shops In Johor Bahru Due To COVID?

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A video showing rows of empty shops in Johor Bahru has gone viral, showing how badly the economy has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was also accompanied by a warning that Singaporeans should not visit Johor Bahru because they will be targeted by desperate robbers.

Find out what’s going on, and what the facts really are!

 

Empty Shops In Johor Bahru Due To COVID-19?

In the video, the driver records himself driving past long rows of empty shops. There is no audio commentary, but it is often accompanied by claims that it was recorded in Johor Bahru or Kulai.

One message even warned that Singaporeans should not visit Johor Bahru because they will be targeted by desperate robbers there.

JB very sipeh jialat now …. most shops are advertising for sale or rental. Also, as advised by ICA Officers, even when the border is open to Singapore, Singaporeans shouldn’t rush in becoz there will many broad daylight robberies targeting Singaporeans.

 

Empty Shops In Johor Bahru Due To COVID-19? Bullshit!

Here are the reasons why this is yet another Internet hoax…

Reason #1 : Those Empty Shops Are In Kota Kemuning, Selangor

A close examination of the video will show that there are at least two occupied shops, and the one with the clearest signboard belonged to Optimus Business Solutions.

A quick check on Google Maps will reveal that Optimus Business Solution is located in the IP5 Business Park, Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam, Selangor.

Reason #2 : They Are New Shops @ Sinaria Tropicana Aman

The shops at IP5 Business Park, however, look different from the shops in the video.

Thanks to clues provided by Terrence Chin, we traced the shops to a new development called Sinaria Tropicana Aman, in Kota Kemuning South, Selangor.

The Sinaria Tropicana Aman shops definitely look exactly like those in the video.

We tried to call Optimus Business Solution to find out if they moved to Sinaria Tropicana Aman, but they were uncontactable, possibly due to the CMCO / PKPB lockdown.

Reason #3 : Businesses Need To Exist First To Close Down

Sinaria is a relatively new development that completed in 2019, and here is a Google Street View taken in August 2019.

At that time, it was completely empty, with no operational business. The presence of two RORO (Roll On, Roll Off) bins for renovation / construction waste, suggests that at least some renovation was undergoing.

The video appears to be taken after this Street View shot, with many banners and at least seven operational businesses visible.

This suggests that while uptake has been slow, at least some businesses have moved into Sinaria Tropicana Aman.

We also do not see any old signboards of businesses that have shut down.

If this was an older development blighted by COVID-19, you would see old signboards under the banners.

In other words, the streets were empty not because of COVID-19 lockdowns, but because the development is relatively new during a period of commercial real estate glut.

 

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GoPro HERO 9 Black : A Hands-On Preview!

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GoPro just launched the HERO 9 Black, boasting More Everything! and we managed to check it out up close!

So here is our hands-on preview of the new GoPro HERO 9 Black action camera!

 

GoPro HERO 9 Black : What’s New?

The GoPro HERO 9 Black features a new sensor that deliver 5K video and 20 MP photos, together with HyperSmooth 3.0 video stabilisation, a new front-facing display, a larger rear display, and 30% longer battery life.

To complement the HERO9 Black, GoPro also introduced a number of mods, including a Max Lens Mod, a Max SuperView mod, a Media Mod, a Display Mod and a Light Mod.

 

GoPro HERO 9 Black : Our Hands-On Experience!

We had a short time with the GoPro HERO 9 Black, and here is our quick hands-on experience video!

And here is a summary of the GoPro HERO 9 Black’s key features :

  • New 20 MP image sensor
  • Video Recording Formats : 5K30, 4K60, 2.7K120, 1440p120, 1080p240 and more
  • Photo Resolution : 20 MP maximum
  • 1.4-inch front colour display, with live preview and status modes
  • 2.27-inch rear touch display, with touch zoom
  • 30% longer battery life, with improved cold weather performance
  • Removable, rechargeable battery
  • HyperSmooth 3.0 with in-camera horizon leveling
  • TimeWarp 3.0 featuring Real Speed, and Half Speed
  • 1080p Live Streaming
  • 1080p Webcam Mode
  • Power Tools : HindSight, LiveBurst, Scheduled Capture, Duration Capture
  • SuperPhoto + HDR Night lapse video
  • RAW photos
  • Digital lenses
  • Voice control with 14 commands in 11 languages + 6 accents
  • 3 microphones with advanced wind-noise reduction
  • Stereo + RAW audio
  • Larger speaker for improved audio playback
  • Removable lens cover
  • Built-in folding mounting fingers
  • Rugger + waterproof to 10 meters (33 feet)

 

GoPro HERO 9 Black : New Mods

GoPro is introducing a slew of new mods to complement the HERO 9 Black action camera :

Available in October 2020, the Max Lens Mod adds Max HyperSmooth video stabilisation and low-distortion, ultra-wide Max SuperView at up to 2.7K60 resolution. It also allows for horizon lock no matter how the camera is rotated.

The Media Mod, available starting 16 September 2020, adds these features to the HERO 9 Black :

  • a built-in directional mic with wind suppression
  • 2 cold-shoe mounts (for the Display Mod and Light Mod)
  • weather-resistant construction

The GoPro HERO 9 Black will still support these two existing mods :

The Display Mod adds these features to the HERO 9 Black :

  • a 2-inch flip-up screen for easier vlogging
  • built-in rechargeable battery and micro-HDMI connector

The Light Mod adds these features to the HERO 9 Black :

  • 4 levels of brightness – up to 200 lumens at 1 meter
  • waterproof up to 10 meters (33 feet)
  • built-in rechargeable battery (up to 6 hours)

 

GoPro HERO 9 Black : Price + Availability

The GoPro HERO 9 Black is available for purchase starting today, together with these mods coming soon :

  • HERO9 Black : US$449.99 | £429.99 | A$599 | S$680 | RM2099
  • HERO9 Black Max Lens Mod : US$99.99 | ~£77 | ~A$137 | ~S$136 | ~RM414
  • HERO9 Black Media Mod : US$79.99 | ~£62 | ~A$109 | ~S$109 | ~RM331
  • HERO9 Black Display Mod : US$79.99 | ~£62 | ~A$109 | ~S$109 | RM399
  • HERO9 Black Light Mod : US$49.99 | ~£39 | ~A$68 | ~S$68 | RM249

Here are online purchase options for the GoPro HERO 9 Black :

 

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GoPro HERO 9 Black : Price + Launch Deal in Malaysia!

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GoPro just launched the HERO 9 Black in Malaysia, featuring “more everything” and a slew of new mods!

Here is what you need to know about the new GoPro HERO 9 Black, including its price and availability in Malaysia!

 

GoPro HERO 9 Black : More Everything In Malaysia!

The GoPro HERO 9 Black features a new sensor that deliver 5K video and 20 MP photos, together with HyperSmooth 3.0 video stabilisation, a new front-facing display, a larger rear display, and 30% longer battery life.

To complement the HERO9 Black, GoPro also introduced a number of mods, including a Max Lens Mod, a Max SuperView mod, a Media Mod, a Display Mod and a Light Mod.

Here is a summary of the GoPro HERO 9 Black’s key features :

  • New 20 MP image sensor
  • Video Recording Formats : 5K30, 4K60, 2.7K120, 1440p120, 1080p240 and more
  • Photo Resolution : 20 MP maximum
  • 1.4-inch front colour display, with live preview and status modes
  • 2.27-inch rear touch display, with touch zoom
  • 30% longer battery life, with improved cold weather performance
  • Removable, rechargeable battery
  • HyperSmooth 3.0 with in-camera horizon leveling
  • TimeWarp 3.0 featuring Real Speed, and Half Speed
  • 1080p Live Streaming
  • 1080p Webcam Mode
  • Power Tools : HindSight, LiveBurst, Scheduled Capture, Duration Capture
  • SuperPhoto + HDR Night lapse video
  • RAW photos
  • Digital lenses
  • Voice control with 14 commands in 11 languages + 6 accents
  • 3 microphones with advanced wind-noise reduction
  • Stereo + RAW audio
  • Larger speaker for improved audio playback
  • Removable lens cover
  • Built-in folding mounting fingers
  • Rugger + waterproof to 10 meters (33 feet)

 

GoPro HERO 9 Black : Mods Coming To Malaysia

GoPro is introducing these HERO 9 Black mods to Malaysia, with availability in Q4 2020.

The Max Lens Mod adds Max HyperSmooth video stabilisation and low-distortion, ultra-wide Max SuperView at up to 2.7K60 resolution. It also allows for horizon lock no matter how the camera is rotated.

The Media Mod adds these features to the HERO 9 Black :

  • a built-in directional mic with wind suppression
  • 2 cold-shoe mounts (for the Display Mod and Light Mod)
  • weather-resistant construction

The Display Mod adds these features to the HERO 9 Black :

  • a 2-inch flip-up screen for easier vlogging
  • built-in rechargeable battery and micro-HDMI connector

The Light Mod, which is already available, adds these features to the HERO 9 Black :

  • 4 levels of brightness – up to 200 lumens at 1 meter
  • waterproof up to 10 meters (33 feet)
  • built-in rechargeable battery (up to 6 hours)

 

GoPro HERO 9 Black : Price + Launch Deal In Malaysia

The GoPro HERO 9 Black is available for purchase starting today in Malaysia, together with these mods (available Q4 2020) :

  • HERO9 Black : RM2099 (about US$508 / £394 / A$696 / S$691)
  • HERO9 Black Max Lens Mod : TBA (officially US$99.99)
  • HERO9 Black Media Mod : TBA (officially US$79.99)
  • HERO9 Black Display Mod : RM399 (about US$97 / £75 / A$132 / S$131)
  • HERO9 Black Light Mod : RM249 (about US$60 / £47 / A$83 / S$82)

Here are online purchase options for the GoPro HERO 9 Black in Malaysia :

The first 400 customers to purchase the HERO 9 Black in Malaysia will receive :

  • an extra rechargeable battery
  • the chance to win weekly prizes up to RM1000 cash vouchers

 

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YouTube : Shorter Videos Now Eligible For Mid-Roll Ads!

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YouTube just announced that shorter videos will not only be eligible for mid-roll ads, it will be turned on automatically!

 

YouTube Mid-Roll Ads : What Are They?

YouTube mid-roll ads are basically advertisements that load in the middle of a video, rather than at the beginning.

On desktops, you will see a 5 second countdown before a mid-roll ad appears.

On other platforms, you will see yellow markets in the video progress bar where such an ad may show up.

 

YouTube Mid-Roll Ads : What’s Changed?

In the past, YouTube only allowed mid-roll ads to be added to videos longer than 10 minutes.

This encouraged content creators to create longer videos, sometimes unnecessarily extending them to qualify for mid-roll ads.

Starting late July 2020, YouTube will reduce the threshold from 10 minutes to just 8 minutes. All videos longer than 8 minutes will be eligible for mid-roll ads.

On top of that, YouTube will automatically turn mid-roll ads for all qualifying videos, even those that opted out in the past.

By default, YouTube will use machine learning to find the most natural breaks in your videos to add these advertisements, but you can also adjust their placements manually.

Those who prefer not to participate can opt-out in YouTube Studio by 27 July 2020.

 

YouTube Mid-Roll Ads : What Does This Mean?

Content creators will be glad because it means they can better monetise their shorter videos.

On top of that, they are no longer incentivised to unnecessarily extend their videos just to qualify for these advertisements.

For viewers, this should hopefully result in better quality videos, in exchange for mid-roll advertisements that could interrupt your enjoyment of those videos.

But seriously – you can just skip the ads (if you really don’t want to support content creators), or opt for YouTube Premium.

While you are here, do consider subscribing to our YouTube channel! 😀

 

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MeeTime : Free Voice + Video Calls On HUAWEI Devices!

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Apple has FaceTime, and now, HUAWEI has MeeTime, offering FREE video and voice calls.

Find out what features HUAWEI MeeTime offers over its competitors!

 

HUAWEI MeeTime : What Is It?

Like Apple FaceTime, HUAWEI MeeTime is a proprietary video and voice service that FREE video and voice calls, albeit only on their respective devices.

HUAWEI introduced MeeTime in EMUI 10.1, and it currently works with HUAWEI devices like :

But unlike claims of free Internet and calls through BeiDou, MeeTime actually delivers free voice and video calls.

 

HUAWEI MeeTime : Key Features

Of course, you can already make free voice and video calls on other apps, like WhatsApp and Telegram. So let’s find out what features HUAWEI MeeTime offers over their competitors :

Feature #1 : Full HD Quality

HUAWEI MeeTime supports video calling at resolutions of up to 1080p (Full HD) – 1920 x 1080 pixels.

And thanks to built-in optimisations (see below), it can maintain that video resolution even with weak cellular or Wi-Fi reception.

Feature #2 : Screen Sharing

HUAWEI MeeTime has a two-way Screen Sharing function that lets users share their screens while chatting, which can be extremely useful.

For instance, you can use it to share what flights you just found with your partner, without sending it as a separate message, or interrupting the chat.

Feature #3 : Third Party Support

While HUAWEI MeeTime is a proprietary technology limited to HUAWEI devices, they are encouraging third party vendors to integrate their devices. For example :

  • Kandao Meeting 360° : You can connect your HUAWEI device to this Kandao teleconferencing camera to take advantage of its pro-grade features.
  • Drift Ghost Action Cameras : You can connect your HUAWEI smartphone to a Drift Ghost camera strapped to your vehicle to livestream your adventures.

Feature #4 : Network Adaptation

In poor network conditions, HUAWEI MeeTime dynamically adapts to changes in bandwidth, and uses super resolution technology to compensate for the loss of video quality, in real time.

In addition, it uses the Link Turbo technology to dynamically switch between Wi-Fi and LTE to deliver the best possible speeds, without interruption.

Feature #5 : Low Light Adaptation

HUAWEI MeeTime adapts dynamically to low light conditions, using facial recognition technology and other optimisations.

Feature #6 : End-to-End Encryption

In addition to working only on HUAWEI devices, HUAWEI MeeTime requires you to sign-in with a HUAWEI ID.

To assuage concerns of privacy, all calls are encrypted end-to-end by default. This guarantees that no one else can listen into your conversations.

 

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Fact Check : White Cops Arrest Black Man, Finds He’s FBI!

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A video showing white Minnesota police officers arresting a black man, only to discover that he’s really an FBI agent, has gone viral!

Take a look at the shocking video, and find out what the facts REALLY are…

 

White Cops Arrest Black Man, Finds He’s FBI!

People are sharing the shocking video of Minnesota police officers – all white – arresting a black man.

Many claimed that it happened last night, and that the police officers only backed off after they discovered that he was actually an FBI agent!

 

White Cops Arrest Black Man, Finds He’s FBI : The Facts!

While the video is genuine, the stories are completely untrue. Watch the video and our debunking! We will share the facts directly under the video.

Fact #1 : The Man Was Not An FBI Agent

If you watch the video carefully, you will note that the man never once identified himself as an FBI agent.

One of his friends also clarified that he was not an FBI agent, but a paramedic EMT.

Fact #2 : The Incident Happened One Year Ago

The incident involving Atter happened almost exactly a year ago – on 1 June 2019 at 1 AM.

The Rochester police officers thought he looked like someone with a warrant, and released him after they checked his ID and confirmed he wasn’t the person they were looking for.

The City of Rochester issued an official press release confirming this, as well as the fact that Atter was not an FBI agent.

Fact #3 : The OP Never Made Those Claims

The person (@thisisnike1) who released this video on Instagram, specifically did not claim that Atter was an FBI agent, and said that the video was over a year old :

“‪Somethin’ been telling me to hold on to this video over a year now, ok.”

This misleading use of a genuine video follows a slew of similar fake news about the George Floyd protests in the US :

So beware of similar fake posts, because they appear to be part of some disinformation campaign.

 

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Fact Check : George Floyd Protestors Broke Into White House!

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A video claiming to show George Floyd protestors breaking into the White House is going viral. Find out what the facts really are!

 

Claim : George Floyd Protestors Broke Into White House!

A video showing protestors apparently breaking into the White House grounds, and attacking the White House is being shared on social media, with this message :

Protestors already broke inside White House for the first time in American history, gun fire at east gate and some sources said Trump fleed with his family to Kanzas, CIA have emergency meeting in an hour!

We won’t be sharing the video, but here are four screenshots from the video :

Take note of the signboards of the two high-rise building on the left – KeyBank and Chase. This will be important later…

 

George Floyd Protestors Broke Into White House : So Fake, So Lame!

Honestly, this is a very lame fake news attempt, probably by the infamous Chinese 50 Cent Army, because they don’t seem to know much about the United States…

Fact #1 : That Was Not The White House

The creator of this fake news is hoping that you have never seen the White House, which looks like this, and is completely different from the building in the video.

It doesn’t even have a rotunda – the round dome-like structure at the top of the building shown in the video.

Fact #2 : Protestors Cannot Get Close To The White House

It is true that US President Donald Trump, Melania Trump and Barron Trump, were evacuated to the White House bunker.

However, none of the protestors that gathered near the White House actually attempted to get past the barricades, much less attack the White House itself.

From what we can tell, the protestors are being restricted to Lafayette Square, across Pennsylvania Avenue.

Fact #3 : That Was The Ohio Statehouse

The building in the video was the Ohio Statehouse. Note the two high-rise building to its left – KeyBank and Chase. You will see their signboards in the video screenshots above.

Fact #4 : The Video Was Taken On 28 May 2020

The video was taken on 28 May 2020, showing protestors vandalising the Ohio Statehouse.

The damage, according to the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (which is responsible for its upkeep), included :

  • 28 broken windows along the west and south sides of the building
  • damage to the wooden window frames
  • five pole lamps
  • two doors, including the West Rotunda entrance

A few protestors entered the Ohio Statehouse but quickly left.

Fact #5 : No Mainstream Media Reported On A White House Invasion

The video being shared had been recorded days ago, but no mainstream media had reported an invasion of the White House.

You would think that something like this would be major international news… right?

Fact #6 : Trump Wouldn’t Flee To Kansas

Why would US President Donald Trump flee to Kansas, when he loves staying at his estate in Mar-a-Lago in Florida?

The White House also has a bunker built to withstand a nuclear bomb. It would certainly withstand more than a few protestors.

Fact #7 : The CIA Does Not Operate Within The Country

This is the most idiotic part of the claim – that the CIA has an emergency meeting. Why would the CIA be involved with protestors in the United States?

The CIA is a foreign intelligence service that focuses on gathering, processing and analysing intelligence of foreign entities.

The FBI would be the right federal agency to look into crimes committed by these protestors. But generally, they will be handled by state police, not federal law enforcement.

 

Beware Of Other George Floyd Protest Fake News

This fake post about the White House is part of a slew of similar fake news about the George Floyd protests in the US :

So beware of similar fake posts, because they appear to be part of some disinformation campaign.

 

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