Did an Indian company called Nagarjuna Cement mock the September 11 attack in its controversial advertisement?! Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Nagarjuna Cement mocks September 11 attack in viral video!
People are sharing a video which purportedly shows a controversial advertisement by Nagarjuna Cement mocking the September 11, 2001 attack on the United States.
The viral video shows an airliner flying into a tall building and bouncing off it, instead of exploding. The airplane then reverses and goes around the building, suggesting that the building was simply too hard to take down.
Translated : his cement is impressive, and the airplane head is also very hard 😂 #fyp #viral #recommended #didn’t expect that #India
Circulating on WhatsApp : India Cement advertisement that upset USA. 🤣
印度水泥广告 美国人震怒！
President-Elect Togo : This Indian ad is saying if you used their cement, 9/11 wouldn’t have happened
Remington 870 : Indian commercial showing how strong Indian cement is compared to U.S. that, 9/11 could never happen if built with Indian materials. 9/11 suggest U.S does tofu construction, no other countries building would collapse this easily.
Truth : Nagarjuna Cement did not create video mock September 11 attack!
This is yet another example of fake news circulating on TikTok, YouTube, and social media platforms, and here are the reasons why…
Nagarjuna Cement did not create that 9/11 attack advertisement
First, let me just point out that Nagarjuna Cement did not create any viral advertisement mocking the September 11 attack on one of the World Trade Center towers.
If that was really the case, it would have been reported widely by media outlets all over the world. Yet, there has been no legitimate news report of any Nagarjuna Cement advertisement mocking the 9/11 attacks.
Nagarjuna Cement refuted claims it created the video
Nagarjuna Cement itself publicly refuted (archive) the claim that it created the video as an advertisement on its account on X (formerly Twitter) on 20 March 2024:
Kind Attn: For the past few days this meme has been circulated on social media platforms.We would like everyone to know that we have nothing to do with this content or the creator and we wish to report the illegal usage of our copyrighted/trademark brand logo and our ad content.
The viral Nagarjuna Cement advertisement mocking the September 11 attack on the Twin Towers was actually created from two separate video clips.
The first 5 seconds was taken from a 3D animation of an airliner bouncing off a World Trade Center tower, with the bonk sound effect, that was created by animator Wraysque and posted on YouTube on 20 February 2024.
When someone mentioned to Wraqsque that the video was being used in the Nagarjuna Cement video, he/she said:
lmao,,, i dont think they ever mentioned my channel on their vid, glad u found my channel, here is a cookie
The second part was taken from the last 13 seconds of an actual Nagarjuna advertisement that was posted on YouTube more than 3 years ago – on 13 May 2021.
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Was Celine Dion forced to attend her son’s wedding in a wheelchair after suffering from Stiff Person Syndrome?! Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!
Updated @ 2024-09-13 : Added new video, and updates. Originally posted @ 2023-04-13
Claim : Celine Dion attended her son’s wedding in a wheelchair!
People are sharing videos on YouTube, TikTok and social media platforms, which claim to show Celine Dion attending her son’s wedding in a wheelchair, after being diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome.
It’s just so heart breaking to watch !!
Singer Celine Dion attending her son’s wedding, she was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition known as stiff-person syndrome.
A reminder that health is the most important aspect of life…..
shishillah : Celine Dion gets up from her wheelchair to dance with her son
christfm993 : So pathetic. Everything in Life is temporary. The famous successful singer Celine Dion can no longer walk nor lift any part of her body.
Truth : Celine Dion did not attend her son’s wedding in a wheelchair!
This is yet another example of fake news created to go viral on YouTube, TikTok and social media platforms, and here are the reasons why…
Celine Dion revealed her diagnosis in December 2022
First, let’s start with a quick recap on Celine Dion’s Stiff Person Syndrome diagnosis.
Celine Dion (born Céline Marie Claudette Dion on 30 March, 1968) announced in an emotional video on 8 December 2022, that she had been struggling with health issues for a long time.
She did not mention how long ago she started experiencing muscle spasms, but they became so “severe and persistent” that on 19 October 2021, she delayed her Las Vegas residency. Then on 15 January 2022, she was forced to cancel the US and Canadian concerts from 9 March to 22 April 2022.
It was only recently that the muscle spasms Celine Dion was suffering from was diagnosed as Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) – a rare neurological disorder with features of an autoimmune disease.
I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time. And it’s been really difficult for me to face these challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through.
Recently I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder called Stiff Person Syndrome which affects something like one-in-a-million people.
While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what’s been causing all of the spasms I’ve been having.
Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to.
That lady was Kathy Poirier, not Celine Dion
The lady in the wheelchair was not Celine Dion, but a 55 year-old mother called Kathy Poirier from Florida.
Kathy Poirier suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. It is a progressive nervous system disease that causes a loss of muscle control.
When her 28 year-old son, Zak Poirier, married Anja d’Adesky, 27, on 9 April 2022, she had already lost the ability to walk, and arrived in a wheelchair.
The viral videos were edited to show Celine Dion (really Kathy Poirier) being lifted to hug her son who tears up, before she is placed back on her wheelchair.
In the real video, Kathy actually danced with her son on his wedding day! In his now-deleted Instagram post, Zak explained:
My Mom was diagnosed with ALS shortly before I graduated law school. Since that time, I’ve watched her bravely fight her diagnosis and challenge the odds against her.
Despite not being able to stand on her own, my Mom and I shared a dance at my wedding. She inspires me every day to be humble, kind and selfless. Love you Mom.
On that day, Zak and his two brothers escorted her to the dance floor for the mother-son dance. The three brothers then lifted her off the wheelchair.
With his brothers holding her upright, Kathy Poirier was able to dance with Zak that day. Her sons then lowered her back onto her wheelchair while their guests gave them a standing ovation.
Their wedding planner, Root to Stems also posted a video on Instagram, which went viral last year.
Celine Dion can still stand and walk
Just to be clear, Celine Dion is not suffering from ALS, but from SPS – Stiff Person Syndrome.
As of September 2024, Celine Dion is able to stand and walk on her own, as well as sing and act. In fact, she just finished a commercial for L’Oréal Paris.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Do you now need ETA – Electronic Travel Authorisation – to travel to the UK?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Updated @ 2024-09-12 Originally posted @ 2023-09-02
Claim : You now need ETA to travel to the UK!
A video clip called New UK travel requirements has gone viral on WhatsApp and social media. It warns that people who travel to the UK on or after 15 November 2023, must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
This has led some people who already booked their flights to the UK to panic, as they were not aware of such requirements.
Here is what you need to know about the UK ETA programme, and what countries are affected.
UK ETA video is genuine
First, I would like to point out that the video is genuine, and was originally posted by the UK Home Office on 9 March 2023.
It appears to have been edited and shared by Homely Stay UK on WhatsApp and social media, where it was shared without context, leading to mass panic.
UK will soon require ETA for non-visa travellers
The warning is, of course, true – the United Kingdom will soon require non-visa travellers to apply and pay for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
The ETA scheme is part of the UK’s plan to fully digitise its borders by 2025. But note that the ETA only applies to travellers who currently do NOT require a visa to travel to the UK.
An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will soon be a requirement for people who do not need a visa to come to the UK. It will give you permission to travel to the UK, and it will be electronically linked to your passport.
You’ll need an ETA to:
come to the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or study
come to the UK for up to 3 months on the Creative Worker visa concession
What the video does not reveal is that only travellers from Qatar must have an ETA to travel to the UK from 15 November 2023 onwards.
No other country is affected by this 15 November 2023 deadline, only Qatar. So stop panicking!
If you’re from another country : You do not need to apply for an ETA now. More nationalities will be added to the scheme later.
Even if you are a resident of Qatar, there is no need to panic – you can only apply for an ETA from 25 October 2023 onwards.
UK will roll-out ETA through 2024-2025
The United Kingdom will slowly roll out its ETA programme throughout 2024-2025.
From 22 February 2024 onwards, travellers from these six countries in the Middle East will need an ETA to travel to the UK:
Bahrain
Jordan
Kuwait
Oman
Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
Even travellers from these countries do not need to apply until 1 February 2024 onwards.
All non-visa travellers from all other countries will need an ETA by 2025. On 10 September 2024, the UK government finally revealed its schedule for 83 new countries to apply for ETA in 2025.
Each traveller will require his or her own ETA, including children and babies. Each ETA will cost £10 per applicant.
How long does each ETA last?
Your ETA will last for 2 years, and can use it to make multiple visits to the UK. However, you should know that having an ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK.
In addition, the ETA is not transferrable to a new / renewed passport. If your passport expires in less than 2 years, you will need to get a new ETA for your new / renewed passport.
You will need to take and upload a photo of the passport you will use to travel to the UK, and scan your face. You will also need to take and upload a photo of yourself, and answer some questions.
You will then have to pay for your UK ETA application using a credit card, a debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
Please note that you will need to complete your UK ETA application within 20 minutes, or it will time out and you will need to start the whole process over again.
You will usually get a decision within 3 working days, but there may be delays if the UK government needs to make further checks
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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Truth : US did not attack + bomb all 26 countries since WW2!
This is yet another example of propaganda created and/or promoted by the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛) and/or pro-CCP netizens, and here are the reasons why…
Let me start by pointing out that the video isn’t accurate. The United States did not attack and bomb all those 26 countries.
The list also lacks context for any bombing that might have occurred, making it look like the US was being the aggressor, attacking those countries without reason.
Let’s go through the list of countries in the video, and provide you with the necessary facts and context:
Cuba (true) : On 15 April 1961, eight B-26 bombers attacked Cuban airfields to support the Bay of Pigs Invasion by Cuban exiles. There was the only airstrike, and no civilians were targeted.
Dominican Republic (false) : The US intervened in the Dominican Civil War of 1965, but never bombed the country as it was defending the military-installed government against a coup.
Guatemala (false) : The US armed, funded, and trained Guatemalan rebels in deposing democratically-elected President Jacobo Árbenz, and installing the military dictatorship of Carlos Castillo Armas. However, the US did not bomb Guatemala during the coup.
El Salvador (false) : The US did not bomb El Salvador as it was supporting the government of El Salvador against the communist FMLN groups in the Salvadoran Civil War of 1979 to 1992.
Nicaragua (false) : The US funded and aided the Contras in its campaign to topple the Sandinista Administration. However, it never bombed Nicaragua.
Panama (true) : The US invaded Panama in December 1989 to depose and arrest General Manuel Noriega for racketeering and drug trafficking, and restoring Panamanian democracy. Its bombing was limited to military targets – F-117A Nighthawks, for example, dropped a 2,000 pound bomb between two Panama Defense Force (PDF) barracks at Rio Hata.
Grenada (true) : The US and six Caribbean nations invaded Grenada in 1983 after receiving a formal appeal for assistance from the Organisation of Easter Caribbean States, which received an appeal of assistance from the Governor-General of Grenada Paul Scoon, after the Prime Minister of Granada, Maurice Bishop, was arrested and executed by the Revolutionary Military Council. Bombing by airstrikes and artillery was limited to military targets, although US Navy A-7s accidentally bombed a mental hospital, killing 18 people.
Peru (false) : The US never bombed Peru.
Congo (false) : The US supported the Democratic Republic of the Congo, together with the United Nations, but it never bombed the Congo.
Libya (true) : The United States bombed Libya on 15 April 1986 in retaliation for the West Berlin discotheque bombing. The airstrikes targeted military assets like the Bab al-Azizia Barracks, and the Murat Sidi Bilal training camp for naval commandos.
In 2011, NATO forces including the US, bombed Libya as part of its military intervention, under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 (UNSCR 1973) during the First Libyan Civil War. Since then, the US has continued to bomb terrorist camps in Libya.
Libyan people celebrating attack on Muammar Qaddafi’s main military compound in Tripoli, August 23, 2011 Photo credit : AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini
Somalia (true) : The US has conducted airstrikes and drone strikes against al-Shabaab militants in support of the Federal Government of Somalia since 2016. To be clear – these bombings were conducted with the agreement, and coordination, of the government of Somalia.
Sudan (true) : On 20 August 1998, the US Navy launched cruise missiles at the al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Khartoum, Sudan, on bad intelligence which suggested it may be used in VX nerve gas manufacturing, and had financial ties between the factory and Osama bin Laden.
Serbia (true) : NATO forces, including the US, launched airstrikes against the then Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1999, to stop the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Albanians. Yugoslav President Milošević was later indicted for war crimes (like Russian President Vladimir Putin).
Bosnia (true) : NATO forces, including the US, launched airstrikes to support United Nations Protection Force protecting safe areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina against the Army of Republic Srpska. The United Nations requested NATO assistance to support its efforts to prevent a genocide in 1995.
Lebanon (false) : The US did not bomb Lebanon, because it intervened in the 1958 Lebanon crisis at the request of President Camille Chamoun. Together with Lebanese government forces, American troops successfully occupied the Port of Beirut and Beirut International Airport. After the crisis ended three months later, the United States withdrew.
Iran (false) : While the US has arguably conducted clandestine operations against Iran, it has not actually bombed Iran. Even when Iran shot down a US drone in June 2019, the US did not retaliate militarily.
Iraq (true) : In 1991, 42 countries including the United States, launched airstrikes against Iraq, during the liberation of Kuwait.
In 2003, the US, UK, Australia, Poland, and Iraqi rebels invaded Iraq to oust Prime Minister Saddam Hussein. Massive airstrikes allowed the coalition to conclude major combat operations in less than a month.
Kuwait (false) : In 1991, 42 countries including the United States, launched airstrikes and artillery bombardments against Iraqi forces during the liberation of Kuwait. However, I chalk this as false, as they were not targeting Kuwait.
Syria (true) : Since 2014, the US, UK, France, Jordan, Turkey, Canada, Australia and other countries have been launching airstrikes against the Islamic State and al-Nusra Front forces inside Syria.
Afghanistan (true) : The US, UK, Canada, and other countries, bombed and invaded Taliban-ruled Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks on the United States.
Vietnam (true) : The US conducted extensive bombing of North Vietnam after attacks by North Vietnamese guerrillas, and North Vietnam attacked South Vietnam in a massive Easter Offensive in 1972.
Laos (true) : The US dropped 260 million bombs on Laos, to try and cut North Vietnam’s logistical trail known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Cambodia (true) : The US dropped 214 tons of bombs on Cambodia from 1965 to 1968, in attacks on the sanctuaries and base areas of North Vietnamese and Viet Gong forces during the Vietnam War.
Indonesia (true) : Despite President Eisenhower’s orders that no Americans be involved, the CIA bombed Indonesia’s outer islands on 19 April 1958, during its failed attempt to overthrow the Sukarno government.
North Korea (true) : The US, as part of the United Nations Command, carried out an extensive bombing campaign of North Korea during the Korean War of 1950-1953, which started after North Korean troops attacked South Korea on 25 June 1950.
This is really nothing more than yet another example of propaganda created or promoted by the infamous Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛), and/or pro-CCP netizens. Here are some other examples I fact-checked recently:
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did the US flag hilariously fall at the 2024 Paris Olympics?! Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : US flag hilariously fell at the 2024 Paris Olympics!
Some people are sharing a video on WhatsApp, TikTok, Douyin and X (formerly Twitter), which suggests that the US flag hilariously fell at the 2024 Olympics, causing people to laugh and applaud!
Translated : After taking too many performance enhancers, the flag itself felt embarrassed and didn’t want to stay up. The audience cheered and rejoiced…
Overlay on video : 看到最后有国旗掉落后观众的反应！
Translated : See the audience’s reaction after the flag fell at the end
Truth : US flag did not fall at the 2024 Paris Olympics!
This is yet another example of fake news about the 2024 Paris Olympics, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : US flag did not fall at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Let me start by quickly pointing out that the US flag did not fall, or fly away, at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
If that actually happened, it would have been reported by the mainstream media, or shared widely on social media. Yet, there has been no legitimate media reporting of such an incident. Neither has there been any major outcry on social media.
In fact, this video appears to be only shared by Chinese netizens on Douyin (China’s version of TikTok), or on Western platforms like WhatsApp, TikTok, and X (formerly known as Twitter).
Fact #2 : Viral video was recorded in 2012 Olympics
The viral video is genuine, but it was not recorded in France, during the 2024 Paris Olympics. It was actually recorded at the 2012 London Olympics on 4 August 2012 – 12 years ago.
The incident occurred after American tennis star Serena Williams defeated Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova, thus winning the Olympic singles gold medal. As the flags of the United States, Russia, and Belarus (whose Viktoria Azarenka won the bronze medal) were being raised, the strong wind blew the US flag off its metal pole, and it fell on to the crowd below.
As US media outlet NPR reported at that time, Olympic staffers quickly retrieved the American flag, which was later carried around with Serena Williams as the medalists walked to each side of the court to pose for photos.
Fact #3 : Chinese netizens appear to share this video every 4 years
Even though this video was recorded 12 years ago, Chinese netizens appear to repost it at every Olympic Games – apparently to suggest that the American flag was falling at each Olympic Games.
For example, just 3 years ago, Chinese netizens shared the same video, claiming that it showed the US flag falling at the last Olympics in Tokyo:
Tokyo Olympics, the US national flag fell down. The US’s luck has come to an end. Everyone applauded. The one who hates the American most is actually the Japanese.
It is very likely that Chinese netizens will share this same video in 2028, claiming that the US flag fell down at the Los Angeles Olympics.
Interestingly, some of these Chinese netizens are sharing this video on Western platforms that are banned in China. It would suggest that they have Chinese government permission to use those banned platforms, or VPNs (which are essentially outlawed for personal use in China).
Fact #4 : This Is Just CCP Propaganda
Ultimately, this appears to be nothing more than than yet another example of propaganda created or promoted by the infamous Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛), and/or pro-CCP netizens. Here are some other examples I fact-checked recently:
As always, please be skeptical whenever you see such videos circulating on WhatsApp or social media platforms.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did the Western media try to drug Pan Zhanle after he won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics?! Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Western media tried to drug Pan Zhanle at 2024 Olympics!
This message has gone viral on WhatsApp and Douyin, claiming that the Western media tried to drug Chinese star swimmer Pan Zhanle after he won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics!
Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle won the gold medal in the men’s 100m freestyle yesterday with a world record-breaking 46.40 seconds, beating his Western opponents. Just after the game, a Western media person enthusiastically offered Pan Zhanle water to drink; fortunately, Pan Zhanle’s coach found it and stopped him in time. Later, the Chinese team detected doping in the water!
What does this mean? This means that if Pan Zhanle accidentally drank the water handed over by the Western media, and was summoned for a urine test later, he would definitely be found to contain doping in his urine! That means Pan Zhanle has no excuses, not only will his gold medal in the final be revoked, he will even face the misfortune of being banned by the International Swimming Federation for a long time!
Think about it, Western media, athletes and those evil leaders, in order to stop China’s progress, are simply unscrupulous to the point of being outrageous! Hateful! Shameful! Hateful!
Translation : Western media enthusiastically offered water to Pan Zhanle to drink. Pan Zhanle’s coach found out and stopped him in time. Later, excitement was detected in the water. Only the United States and other countries can do such despicable means.
Truth : Western media did not try to drug Pan Zhanle at 2024 Olympics!
This is yet another example of fake news circulating on WhatsApp, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : No one tried to drug Pan Zhanle at 2024 Olympics!
Let me just start by quickly pointing out that no one tried to sabotage Pan Zhanle with a glass or bottle of water containing drugs.
If that actually occurred, it would have been a major scandal. The Chinese contingent and the IOC would have lodged a police report, and launched a major investigation into who did it and why. There would have been extensive coverage all over the world, and in particular, by the Chinese media.
Even Pan Zhanle, who isn’t shy about throwing about controversial claims, never said he was almost drugged by anyone. Neither did the Chinese Olympics team, who would have been furious about such an attempt.
Yet, there has been no coverage by any reputable media outlet, not even in China. Heck, there hasn’t even been any outrage amongst Chinese netizens over this terrible crime. That’s because it never happened. The story was completely fabricated!
Fact #2 : There was no evidence of any attempt to drug Pan Zhanle
The entire event was not only recorded and streamed on live TV, there were thousands of people watching Pan Zhanle win his gold medal, and then receive it on the podium with Kyle Chalmers of Australia and David Popovici of Romania.
If someone actually tried to drug him right after he won his gold medal, it would have been recorded by the many cameras at the Paris La Defense Arena, or witnessed by the Chinese and Olympic officials there. Yet, there is no photo of the Western media member who offered Pan Zhanle the drugged water?
What about the drugged water that Pan Zhanle almost consumed? If it existed, it would have been tested, and the Chinese contingent and IOC made aware of its contents. Yet, there is not even a photo of that glass or bottle of water, never mind an actual test report of its contents!
The Chinese swimming contingent has come under additional scrutiny at the 2024 Paris Olympics, due to the 2021 doping scandal in which 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) before the Tokyo Olympics.
While the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accept the Chinese explanation that the swimmers ate contaminated food at their hotel, it raised questions of its impartiality and whether Chinese swimmers were competing fairly.
As such, Chinese swimmers like Pan Zhanle were subjected to more stringent testing in Paris. Pan Zhanle pointed out that he took 21 doping tests from May to July, before the Paris Olympics.
I cooperated with all the testing procedures and stayed confident that I am competing fair and clean.
Unlike other Chinese swimmers, he didn’t gripe about the additional tests, saying that he didn’t feel that “there was any difference or influence (on his performance)”.
In other words, it would be quite impossible for Pan Zhanle to suddenly test positive for drugs right after winning his gold medal. It would have been picked up days, weeks, and months earlier.
I should also point out that Pan Zhanle was not part of the 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) in 2021, before the Tokyo Olympics.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did Israel use WhatsApp to locate Ismail Haniyeh before killing him with a drone-fired missile?! Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Israel used WhatsApp to locate + kill Ismail Haniyeh
Some people are claiming or suggesting that Israel used WhatsApp to locate Ismail Haniyeh before killing him with a drone-fired missile!
Megatron : 🇮🇱🇮🇷 Israeli intelligence managed to identify Hamas politburo chief using WhatsApp messenger*
He was f**king using an app owned by Meta, which has a Jewish boss. Madness.
Lebanese journalist Elia Manier spoke about it. She explained that with the help of spy software embedded in the phone, the house where Hania was located was discovered, and then a rocket attack was launched from the drone.
S.L. Kanthan :Hamas leader was killed by WhatsApp 😳
Apparently, Mossad installed spyware on Ismail Haniyeh’s phone via a WhatsApp message.
The spyware sent his location to Israel, which used a drone to launch a missile.
According to Lebanese journalist Elia Manier, Israeli intelligence installed spyware on Haniyeh’s phone via a WhatsApp message. The spyware made it possible to detect the exact location of the house where the Hamas leader was located and launch a missile strike on it from a drone.
Manier claims that the malware is identical to the Pegasus smartphone hacking virus, which is developed and sold under license by the Israeli company NSO Group. It allows you to access messages, photos, location data and even control the phone’s camera and microphone without the user’s knowledge.
Earlier, Israelis wrote that a rocket was fired at the apartment where the Hamas leader was sleeping.
No evidence Israel used WhatsApp to locate + kill Ismail Haniyeh
This is yet another example of fake news circulating on social media, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Elia Manier does not exist
Many of these claims referred to female Lebanese journalist Elia Manier as the source. However, there is no Lebanese journalist called Elia Manier, male or female.
The truth is – it was Elijah J. Magnier – a Brussels-based war correspondent who made that claim. Magnier, as far as I can tell, isn’t Lebanese. Magnier is also male with he/him pronouns.
If these people cannot even get the name, gender, and nationality of their source correct, how trustworthy do you think they are???
Fact #2 : WhatsApp message to Ismail Haniyeh is fake
Some people are sharing a screenshot of a WhatsApp message which was purportedly used to install spyware in Ismail Haniyeh’s smartphone, which appears to be an iPhone.
While we have no idea whether Ismail Haniyeh actually uses an Apple iPhone – “evil” American product and all that, this WhatsApp screenshot is most definitely fake, because:
WhatsApp does not show the person’s profile photo in the chat. Instead, the video and call icons are on the upper right corner of the chat.
The back button does not have a Chats label. Depending on the version of WhatsApp being used, it is either empty, or shows the number of chats with unread messages (e.g. 34)
If the unknown sender was the Mossad trying to trick Ismail Haniyeh into opening the message, they would not likely message him in English, and so casually at that – “Hey what’s up, you arrived yet?“
On top of that, no one actually explained how they came by that screenshot. They certainly did not get it from Elijah Magnier, or the non-existent Elia Manier.
Did the Mossad published it publicly? Obviously, not. Did they obtain it from a Mossad insider? They didn’t say. Did they hack it from Ismail Haniyeh’s smartphone, which would have been blown to bits? That would be quite a feat…
What is certain is – that WhatsApp screenshot is fake, and the actual person who made the claim, Elijah Magnier, did not post it on his X account.
Fact #3 : Magnier never said Ismail Haniyeh was killed by a missile
On 31 July 2024, Elijah J. Magnier claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that Israel used WhatsApp to introduce spyware into Ismail Haniyeh’s smartphone, exposing his location.
#Israel’s Use of Spying Software to Target #Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh:
Israel reportedly planted sophisticated spyware through a WhatsApp message sent to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. This software allowed Israeli intelligence to localize his exact position within his apartment. Subsequently, Haniyeh was assassinated following a conversation he had with his son, during which his location was pinpointed.
The spyware in question is believed to be similar to the notorious Pegasus software developed by the Israeli cyber-intelligence firm NSO Group. Pegasus has the capability to infiltrate smartphones, allowing the operator to access messages, photos, and location data, and even control the phone’s camera and microphone without the user’s knowledge.
Such advanced technology enables real-time surveillance and precise targeting, making it an invaluable tool for intelligence operations. The successful use of this spyware highlights the ongoing cyber warfare tactics employed in modern conflicts, showcasing how digital tools are increasingly pivotal in gathering intelligence and executing targeted strikes.
Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination underscores the effectiveness of these methods and the lengths to which state actors will go to neutralize perceived threats. This incident also raises significant concerns about privacy and the potential misuse of such powerful surveillance tools for illegal activities and assassinations.
As you can see, Magnier did not claim that Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated by a missile fired by a drone. So where are those people getting their information from, since their actual “source” never made that claim???
Fact #4 : Ismail Haniyeh was allegedly killed by a pre-planted bomb
In fact, The New York Times just published an investigation, in which five Middle Eastern officials confirmed that Ismail Haniyeh was killed by a bomb that was smuggled into the Tehran guesthouse where he stayed, approximately two months earlier.
The bomb was then remotely detonated once it was confirmed that Haniyeh was inside his room. That’s why the blast only killed Ismail Haniyeh and his bodyguard, who were staying in the same room, but did not kill people in the adjoining rooms. A missile would have caused far more catastrophic damage.
Two Iranian officials who were briefed on the attack, confirmed that the explosion took place inside Ismail Haniyeh’s room, and the initial investigation showed that the explosives were placed there sometime in advance.
Yet again, those who claimed that Ismail Haniyeh was killed by a missile or rocket fired by an Israeli drone never provided any evidence.
Fact #5 : Elijah Magnier did not provide any evidence / source
While Magnier’s allegations that a WhatsApp message was used to deliver spyware is plausible, he did not actually provide any evidence to back up those claims. In fact, he didn’t even mention his source(s), or whether he managed to verify their account.
Now, I’m not saying that he should name his sources, but at least he should mention them – two senior Iranian officials, or a Mossad hacker, for example, so we have an idea of how credible his sources might be. Or whether he was able to independently confirm their account from a different source.
Magnier may or may not prove to be right, but those viral messages claiming that a Lebanese journalist called Elia Manier confirmed that Ismail Haniyeh was killed by a missile fired by a drone after being located by spyware installed using a WhatsApp message are definitely fake news.
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Can the magnetic field of a lift cause an e-bike battery to catch fire?! Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Magnetic field in lift caused e-bike battery to catch fire!
People are sharing a video of a man who was burned to death when his e-bike battery caught fire, claiming that it was caused by the magnetic field generated when the lift doors closed!
On WhatsApp and LinkedIn : 🙏🙏🙏He took the e-bike battery into lift. When lift door closed electro-charge of the battery turn the hole lift into a magnetic field. 😪😪
Possible of the battery get damaged before. Becarefull not to carry large rechargeable batteries in lift.
On WhatsApp : 🙏🙏🙏Apek bawa e-bike battery masuk lift. Bila lift tutup electro-charge of the battery turn the whole lift into a magnetic battery. 😪😪
Translated : 🙏🙏🙏 Old man brought e-bike battery into the lift. When the lift doors closed the electro-charge of the battery turn the whole lift into a magnetic battery. 😪😪
Note : As the full video is gruesome and can be traumatising, I’m only posting shorter version of the video below, which is sufficient to convey what happened in the lift.
Truth : Lift / magnetic field did not cause e-bike battery to catch fire!
This is yet another example of fake news being propagated online, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Video Was Recorded In China In 2021
Let me start by pointing out that this video isn’t new, as some have suggested. The incident was recorded in Guangzhou, China, on Friday, 8 October 2021 (source).
In addition, the victim was a 28 year-old man whose surname was Chen. He was not an old or middle-aged man, as some netizens are claiming.
Chen was seriously burnt in that fire, and tragically died 28 days later after succumbing to his injuries.
Fact #2 : Lifts Do Not Generate Magnetic Fields
Now, I should point out that lifts or elevators do not generate massive magnetic fields, as suggested by the wild claims circulating on the Internet.
In fact, most lifts are constructed of conductive metals like steel, and act like a Faraday cage that block electromagnetic fields. That’s why your mobile phone signal is impaired, or gets cut off, whenever you enter a lift.
Fact #3 : Lithium Ion Batteries Do Not Generate Magnetic Fields
Like your mobile phone, or your electric vehicle, e-bikes use lithium ion batteries, which have high energy density. But regardless of the technology used, batteries do not have magnetic fields by themselves.
Batteries can be used to generate an electromagnetic field. You may recall learning how to create your own electromagnet in school, using nothing more than a coil of insulated wire around an iron nail.
However, an e-bike battery being carried into a lift won’t do that, because it’s not connected to anything. So it is simply impossible for the ebike’s lithium ion battery to “react” with the lift to create some kind of magnetic field.
If lithium ion batteries can “react” with lifts to create an electromagnetic field that triggers a fire or explosion, it would have happened to millions of people who bring their phones, laptops, tablets and other battery-powered devices into lifts every day, across the world!
There is really no reason for people to invent stories about this tragic event. Lithium ion batteries can and do catch fire. While this is relatively rare, the risk is serious because lithium ion batteries are energy-dense and highly flammable.
That’s why airlines forbid passengers from checking in any device with lithium-ion batteries, and limit the capacity of power banks that you can bring onboard. In addition, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) forbids the lithium ion batteries from being transported as cargo on passenger aircraft.
Generally, lithium ion batteries are at risk of catching fire, if they were improperly manufactured, overcharged or charged using non-compliant equipment, exposed to extreme heat, physically abused, or short-circuited.
Fact #5 :It Appears To Be Battery Thermal Runaway
Some (unverified) reports claimed that Chen was charging the e-bike battery at home when it overheated, which was why he took it downstairs to cool down. That is plausible as he can be seen pressing the lowest button for the ground floor in the video.
In any case, prior reporting confirms that the video shows a thermal runaway of a lithium ion battery that tragically killed Chen, because it occurred in an enclosed space. It would have been quite a different outcome if the e-bike battery caught fire just a few seconds earlier.
If Chen was not in the elevator / lift at that time, he would have been able to escape death or serious injury by throwing the battery away from him, or simply running away from the burning battery.
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Were the Grand Hyatt Erawan murder victims poisoned by rival drug lords?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Updated @ 2024-07-20 : Added new details, and photos Originally posted @ 2024-07-19
Claim : Rival Drug Lords Poisoned Grand Hyatt Erawan Victims!
People are sharing an “article” on WhatsApp, which claims that the Grand Hyatt Erawan murder victims were rival drug lords!
It is really long, so feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
Interesting insights into the Bangkok tragedy.
DRUGS!
The Hidden World of Bangkok’s Drug Lords: A Riveting Tale of Poison and Power
In an unexpected twist that reads like a gripping crime thriller, the recent tragic deaths of six individuals at Bangkok’s Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel have unveiled a hidden underworld of drug cartels and ruthless rivalries. Contrary to initial reports of a shooting, it has now been confirmed that these six individuals, all of whom were either Vietnamese Americans or Vietnamese nationals, fell victim to a sophisticated poisoning orchestrated by their rivals.
The victims, three men and three women, were discovered by hotel staff in their opulent suite, leading to a swift and intense police investigation. As details emerged, a shocking narrative of deceit and power struggles within the international drug trade began to unfold.
### The Victims: High-Profile Figures in the Drug Trade
The deceased were not ordinary tourists but prominent figures in a vast drug syndicate operating across Southeast Asia and beyond. Among them was Minh Nguyen, a notorious Vietnamese American who had long evaded law enforcement. Known for his ruthless tactics and immense wealth, Minh was rumored to be the brains behind one of the most sophisticated drug trafficking operations in the region.
Accompanying Minh were his close associates and enforcers, including his trusted lieutenant, Linh Tran, and his financial mastermind, Bao Le. The women, Ha Pham, Mai Vu, and Lan Huynh, played crucial roles in the syndicate, managing logistics, money laundering, and communications.
### The Rivals: A Calculated Strike
Preliminary investigations suggest that this mass poisoning was a meticulously planned attack by a rival cartel, seeking to dismantle Minh’s empire and seize control of the lucrative drug routes. Sources indicate that a deadly toxin was discreetly introduced into their food or drinks during a seemingly innocuous business dinner.
The rival cartel, led by the enigmatic and elusive figure known only as “The Serpent,” has been vying for dominance in the drug trade for years. This calculated strike at the Grand Hyatt Erawan appears to be The Serpent’s most audacious move yet, signaling a new era of brutal power struggles in the criminal underworld.
### The Tour Guide: A Crucial Witness
Amid the chaos and tragedy, a sole survivor has emerged as a key figure in unraveling the mystery. An unsuspecting tour guide, hired to provide the group with local insights, miraculously escaped the poisoning. Now under protective custody, the tour guide has become an invaluable witness, offering crucial information about the group’s movements and interactions leading up to the fatal evening.
The tour guide’s testimony has shed light on the intricate web of deceit and betrayal that characterized the final hours of Minh and his associates. According to his account, the group seemed tense and on edge, frequently looking over their shoulders and speaking in hushed tones. His observations have provided investigators with critical clues about the possible involvement of hotel staff and other external collaborators in the poisoning plot.
### The Aftermath: Chaos and Retaliation
The brazen attack has sent shockwaves through the drug trafficking networks in Southeast Asia. In the wake of the deaths, Minh’s syndicate has been thrown into disarray, with rival factions scrambling for control. Violence has erupted in several key territories as former allies turn on each other, and law enforcement agencies are bracing for an unprecedented wave of criminal activity.
Thai authorities, in collaboration with international law enforcement, are now on high alert, launching a massive manhunt for The Serpent and his operatives. The poisoning has not only exposed the extent of criminal infiltration into high society but also highlighted the dangerous lengths to which these cartels will go to maintain their dominance.
Bangkok, a city known for its vibrant nightlife and bustling streets, is now shrouded in a sense of unease. The Grand Hyatt Erawan, once a symbol of luxury and elegance, has become a stark reminder of the dark forces lurking beneath the surface. As police intensify their investigation, the city’s residents and tourists are left wondering how deep the criminal connections run and what the future holds for the once peaceful metropolis.
Truth : Rival Drug Lords Did Not Poison Grand Hyatt Erawan Victims!
This is yet another example of fake news circulating on WhatsApp, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Grand Hyatt Erawan Victims Have Different Names
Let me start by pointing out that six victims who died in the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel in Bangkok, have completely different names from what was mentioned in the viral WhatsApp article.
The article claimed that these were the victims – Minh Nguyen, Linh Tran, Bao Le, Ha Pham, Mai Vu, and Lan Huynh.
The Thai authorities have officially identified the victims as Sherine Chong, Thi Nguyen Phuong, Thi Nguyen Phuong Lan, Dinh Tran Phi, Hong Pham Thanh, and Hung Dang Van.
As you can see, the viral WhatsApp article didn’t even get a single name correct!
Fact #2 : There Is No Drug Lord Called Minh Nguyen
There is no also Vietnamese American drug lord called Minh Nguyen operating in the Southeast Asian region, with a trusted lieutenant called Linh Tran, and a financial mastermind called Bao Le.
The only Vietnamese American called Minh Nguyen who was involved in the drug trade was a small-time dealer who was arrested in September 2006 for distributing Ecstasy, and sentenced to 21 months in prison.
Fact #3 : There Is No Drug Lord Called The Serpent
Unsurprisingly, there is also no drug lord operating in Southeast Asia called The Serpent.
Thai police investigating the case believe that it was a murder-suicide committed by one of the victims – Sherine Chong, who laced cups of tea with cyanide. Tests confirmed the presence of cyanide in a tea flask and six tea cups, as well as the bodies of the six victims.
The group ordered food and English tea to be delivered to their room on the 5th floor of the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel. When the hotel staff arrived with the food, only Sherine Chong was present. They offered to brew and serve the tea, but Chong allegedly declined and said that she would take care of it.
Shortly after that, CCTV footage showed all six members of the group gathering outside the room, and then entering. That would be the last time they were seen alive. According to Noppasin Poonsawat, the deputy commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau:
It all started after 13:57 [on Monday], after the hotel staff brought six teacups, a milk pot and two flasks into the room. We found cyanide on the six cups. According to CCTV, there was no one else – apart from the six members of the group – going inside the room, and none of them were seen coming out, after 14:17.
After the group of six people entered the room, no other visitors were seen entering the room, and no one was observed leaving either. The door remained locked.
The six victims were only found dead the next day, on late Tuesday afternoon, when they were found by the housekeeping staff after they were late to check out.
The plates of food they ordered appeared to be untouched, and still sealed in cling wrap film. Only the tea appeared to have been consumed.
The police ruled out a mass suicide, as some of the victims made future arrangements for their trip, and they were not grouped together when they died. Four bodies were in the living room, two were in the bedroom, with two of the victims appearing to be reaching for the door but collapsed before they could.
Fact #5 : Murder-Suicide Related To Investment Debt Dispute
Police interviews with relatives of the deceased indicated that the murder-suicide is likely due to disputes over an investment project in Japan.
As Major General Theeradet Thumsuthee, head of the Bangkok Metropolitan Police Bureau’s investigation unit, explained:
The case likely stems from debt issues. There is no other possibility. The perpetrator is among the six deceased because they were the only ones who entered the room. There was no one else.
Investigators said that the deceased were a mix of borrowers, lenders, and guarantors. Vietnamese nationals Thi Nguyen Phuong, 46, and her husband, Hong Pham Thanh, 49, apparently invested about 10 million Thai bahts ($278,000/£214,000) with Sherine Chong and a Vietnamese woman to build a hospital in Japan.
When that project did not progress, the investors filed a lawsuit. The six individuals were scheduled to meet in court in two weeks, but Sherine Chong invited them to negotiate before the court date. Initially, they planned to meet in Japan, but later decided to meet in Bangkok instead due to visa issues.
There is also no evidence that the deceased were involved in the trafficking or sale of narcotics.
Husband and wife Hong Pham Thanh and Thi Nguyen Phuong, for example, ran a construction company in Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Dinh Tran Phi is a famous Vietnamese make-up artist who goes by the name Phua Gia Gia, and has been in the beauty industry for almost 20 years. He appeared to be in Bangkok working for Sherine Chong.
Finally, Thi Nguyen Phuong Lan was apparently asked by Sherine Chong to act as a intermediary in the negotiations over the investment.
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Did a massive tornado and hailstorm destroy power lines and buildings in Nilai today?! Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Tornado + Hailstorm Destroy Power Lines + Buildings In Nilai!
People are sharing a video clip on WhatsApp, claiming that it shows a massive tornado and hailstones destroying power lines and buildings in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, earlier today!
今早大约9-10在汝来发生真够力。 This happened in Nilai around 9-10 this morning.
This morning around 9-10, a real power incident occurred in Nilai. Today Nilai around 10 morning.
This is yet another example of fake news circulating on WhatsApp, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Nilai Was Not Hit By Tornado Or Hailstones Today!
Let me start by pointing out that Nilai in Negeri Sembilan was not hit by any tornado or hailstones today – Sunday, 30 June 2024.
If that happened, it would not only have been reported widely by the mainstream media in Malaysia, it would have been covered extensively on social media.
Yet, there has been no coverage by the mainstream media, or any mention of such a tragedy on social media. That’s because it was all made up!
Fact #2 : It Was A Compilation Of Videos From China!
I analysed the video and found that it was a collection of three unrelated videos – a tornado video, a hailstorm video, and another unrelated hailstorm video.
The only connection between the three videos was that they were all recorded on the same day – 27 April 2024… in China!
None of the three video clips in the viral video was recorded in Nilai, Malaysia.
Fact #3 : Tornado Video Was Recorded In Guangdong
I traced the video of the tornado destroying power lines to a Category EF2 tornado with 178 to 217 km/h winds that hit Zhongluotan Town in the Baiyun District of Guangdong Province in China.
In addition, the video was not recorded in the morning, as the viral messages claim. It was recorded at approximately 3 PM on 27 April 2024 (source).
That tornado killed 5 people, and injured 33 people. It also damaged 141 factory buildings, although no residential houses collapsed in that tragedy.
Fact #4 : First Hailstorm Video Was Recorded In Guangxi
The hailstorm video is unrelated to the tornado video, with some people claiming that it was recorded in Guangxi, China (example), while others claim it was recorded in the village of Mawlynrei, in Meghalaya, India (example).
However, I was able to confirm the source of the video as @yangyubin1998 who posted the video on X (formerly Twitter) on 27 April 2024 (archive):
Hail in Guangdong and Guangxi, China these two days
Needless to say – that video clip was not recorded in Nilai, Malaysia.
Fact #5 : Second Hailstorm Video Was Recorded In Guangzhou
The second hailstorm video was recorded on 27 April 2024, but in a different province in China. It was most definitely not recorded in Nilai, Malaysia.
Specifically, the video clip was recorded at the Zhuchun Market in the Zengcheng District of Guangzhou, China.
According to a witness that day, Mr. Huang, who runs a shop in the market, the hailstones were as big as a fist, with a diameter of more than 10 centimetres.
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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Truth : China Did Not Airdrop Food Aid To Palestinians In Gaza!
This is yet another example of fake news created and/or promoted by the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛) and/or pro-CCP netizens, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : China Never Airdropped Food Aid To Gaza
Let me start by pointing out that China never air-dropped any food aid to feed hungry Palestinians in Gaza.
So far, nine countries air-dropped food and other supplies into Gaza – Jordan, the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, France, Indonesia, the Netherlands, and Egypt.
China never took part in any airdrop of humanitarian aid into any Palestinian territory, never mind Gaza.
Fact #2 : Video Shows Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
The example video above does not show the Y-20 cargo transport aircraft, which is used by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). Instead, it shows a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, which is commonly used by the United States and NATO countries.
Obviously, the PLAAF does not own or use any Boeing C-17 aircraft, so it is impossible for anyone to claim that those planes belonged to China.
Instead of showing China air-dropping food and other essential supplies to Palestinians in Gaza, the videos actually show American or British C-17 Globemaster III aircraft dropping supplies.
To be fair – China provided some aid – initially just 100 million yuan ($13.8 million) in aid.
But at the end of May 2024, President Xi Jinping announced that China would contribute an additional 500 million yuan ($68.96 million) in emergency humanitarian assistance, as well as $3 million in funds to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
Fact #4 : Chinese Aid Is Disproportionally Small
However, it must be noted that Chinese aid is disproportionally small to its importance and economic strength.
Even when fully realised, Chinese aid is less than $86 million – just 7% of what the United Nations estimated in January 2024 that the Palestinians would require – some $1.2 billion in aid. It also pales in comparison to what other countries have sent to Gaza.
The Americans, for example, provided $180 million to Gaza through USAID by February 2024. In addition, the US military not only air-dropped supplies, it also built a temporary pier which cost $320 million to deliver more than a million pounds of aid (source) before it broke apart at the end of May, and had to be towed away for repairs.
Even smaller countries are contributing far more aid to Gaza than China. The UAE, for example, contributed 25% of all foreign aid to Gaza!
While credit should be given to China for the aid it promised, the contribution is far less than what the viral videos make it appear.
This is really nothing more than yet another example of Chinese propaganda created or promoted by the infamous Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛), and/or pro-CCP netizens. Here is just the latest dozen I fact-checked:
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Is the Malaysian government giving every citizen extra RM1000 through the Bantuan Tambahan financial aid?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out why it’s just a scam!
Bantuan Tambahan RM1000 Scam Alert!
People are sharing links to WhatsApp and Telegram groups that purportedly offer RM1000 in extra financial aid from the Malaysian government! Here are the messages, with our English translation in bold.
Bantuan RM1000 telah dikreditkan dalam MyKad bermula hari ini.
Bantuan kerajaan melalui MyKad ini telah dilaksanakan sejak bulan May 2024.
The domain used by this scam website is quite new, and was registered only on 25 October 2023. But more importantly, its ownership is hidden – a common way for scammers and other criminals to avoid being identified.
Fact #3 : This Scam Targets Your Telegram Account!
I investigated the link, and it appears to be a phishing website based on the STR 2024 scam that I debunked earlier this year.
The scam websites, on the other hand, will ask you to submit your full name, and your mobile number.
They will send an OTP to your Telegram account, and ask you to key in the OTP to their website. This will allow them to hijack and take over your Telegram account.
To protect your Telegram account from such hijacking, please make sure you turn on Two-Step Verification!
Even if you don’t have a Telegram account, the scammers now have access to your full name and mobile number, which they can use in future scam attacks.
Fact #3 : STR 2024 Does Not Give RM1,000 Per Month
To help the hardcore poor handle the high inflation in 2024, the Malaysia Ministry of Finance announced an increase in the amount of STR cash aid.
However, even with the increased STR 2024 cash aid, you won’t receive RM1,000 per month. That’s just insane. Here is what the government is giving for STR 2024, in quarterly payments:
Qualifying
Categories
STR 2024 Cash Aid
Household Income
≤ RM2,500
No Children : RM1,000
1-2 Children : RM1,500
3-4 Children : RM2,000
≥5 Children : RM2,500
Household Income
RM2,500 – RM5,000
No Children : RM500
1-2 Children : RM750
3-4 Children : RM1,000
≥5 Children : RM1,250
Senior (Single)
≤ RM5,000
RM600
Single
≤ RM2,500
RM350
As you can see, only the hardcore poor will get RM1,000, or more. If you are middle class, or well-to-do, you rightly will not qualify for this financial aid!
Do NOT click on the links, and do NOT share them with your family and friends!
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Truth : “Dead” Crisis Actor Was NOT Caught Waking Up On Ukrainian TV!
This is yet another example of anti-Ukrainian fake news, apparently created and distributed by pro-China activists.
Fact #1 : TV Broadcast Was In German
The video has the chyron, WIEN: DEMO GEGEN KLIMAPOLITIK, with one individual holding a sign that said “Aktuell Klimapolitik Nicht“.
Those are German words, not Ukrainian or Russian; and the reporter was speaking in German.
This is one of the reasons why I believe this to be a Chinese effort at misinformation, rather than Russian.
Russians would not waste their time with this video, because they know that most Europeans would be able to identify the German language even if they don’t understand it.
Fact #2 : oe24TV Is Austrian, Not Ukrainian
The video identifies the reporter as Marvin Bergauer of oe24TV – a TV channel that belongs to Österreich.
Österreich, which literally means Austria, is an Austrian newspaper that publishes in the German language.
Fact #3 : Video Was About A Climate Change Protest
The video was actually about a climate change protest in Vienna, as these English translations will tell you :
WIEN: DEMO GEGEN KLIMAPOLITIK = Vienna: Demo against climate policy
Aktuell Klimapolitik Nicht = No to the current climate policy
The “dead bodies” were not crisis actors, but 49 protesters in body bags outside the Federal Chancellery in Vienna. This was what oe24 reporter, Marvin Bergauer, was saying in German :
No greenhouse gas and reduction targets in Austria for 400 days. That is the official title of this event here, this demonstration.
It was organised by Fridays For Future… Here you can also see this protest action, which is somewhat macabre. Forty-nine people are lying here on the ground to represent the climate deaths.
Fact #4 : Video Was Taken Before Russian Invasion Of Ukraine
This video was recorded on 4 February 2022 – 20 days before Russia invaded Ukraine.
You can confirm this in the official oe24TV broadcast page for this protest, as well as this tweet by the Fridays for Future group in Vienna.
— Fridays For Future Wien – #DontFuelWar (@ViennaForFuture) February 4, 2022
Fact #5 : Video Was Also Misused By COVID-19 Deniers
This video was also misused earlier by COVID-19 deniers who claimed that these are crisis actors in Germany who pretended to be dead COVID-19 patients.
They were sharing it as evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic was staged or planned, and that people did not actually die from it.
This video was already circulating in the West since 9 February 2022, so it would be really peculiar for Russian disinformation teams to reuse it.
This would suggest that the video is being used by Chinese disinformation efforts unfamiliar to its earlier circulation in the West.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The photo used in this scam was actually taken from a website posting about the 2023 Ramadhan aid given by Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (Mаjlіѕ Agаmа Iѕlаm Wilayah Pеrѕеkutuаn, MAIWP).
In its official announcement, MAIWP gave a special one-off RM500 Ramadan financial aid on 27 March 2023. However, this financial aid was limited to existing recipients of monthly financial aid from MAIWP.
Not only was this one-time financial aid limited to 2023, there was no application, and the money was automatically given to eligible recipients.
Ramadan 1444H assistance to recipients of monthly financial assistance.
RM500 One Off
The distribution of aid will be implemented in stages on March 27, 2023 (Monday) corresponding to 5 Ramadan 1444H.
MAIWP wishes you a happy fasting.
Bantuan Ramadan 1444H kepada penerima bantuan kewangan bulanan.
RM500 One Off
Penyaluran bantuan akan dilaksanakan secara berperingkat bermuda 27 Mac 2023M (Isnin) bersamaan 5 Ramadan 1444H.
I investigated one of the links, and it appears to be a phishing website registered in Indonesia, using the domain “madani2024.my.id” that was created on 29 February 2024.
This phishing website attempts to trick you into giving up your Telegram account access, by asking for:
your phone number
your Telegram account password
your Telegram OTP
Once the scammers have that information, they can take over your Telegram account, which can then be used to scam
It is likely that the other scammers may try to steal your WhatsApp account, and/or trick you into giving up your bank account login details.
Do NOT click on the links, and do NOT share them with your family and friends!
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Will the rare April 8 solar eclipse last for 3-5 days?! Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Rare April 8 Solar Eclipse Will Last For 3-5 Days!
People are sharing a TikTok video which claims that the rare solar eclipse of April 8, 2024, will cause total darkness for 3-5 days! Here is a transcript of the viral video:
April 8, 2024
3 days of darkness will occur when the earth passes through the photon belt. This is as the earth enters and passes through this belt. There will be no sunlight nor moonlight on the earth’s surface.
Photons are electromagnetic particles that travel at the speed of light and will act as a barrier or temporary shield around the earth preventing the light of the sun or the stars from passing through it.
This is expected to last 72 hours or 5 days. There are no breaks or periods of light during the three days, only darkness.
Recommendations. Stock up on food, water, candles, other essential items. All sunlight will be blocked, and solar panels will not generate energy. Stay at home and avoid travelling for safety reasons.
The sunlight will return on the Earth, marking the beginning of the golden age.
Truth : Rare April 8 Solar Eclipse Will Last For 7.5 Minutes!
This appears to be yet another example of fake news circulating on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : April 8 Solar Eclipse Will Only Last 7.5 Minutes
Let me start by simply pointing out that the April 8 solar eclipse will not last 3 days as claimed by the viral video. It will only last 7.5 minutes.
Even though it’s only 7.5 minutes long, that is actually an incredibly long period of total darkness, and a very rare event. The last one happening in 1973, and next one will not happen again until 2150.
Fact #2 : April 8 Solar Eclipse Mainly Affects North America
The April 8 solar eclipse does not encompass the entire globe, but mostly North America – covering Canada, United States, and Canada. Hence, some of the media are calling it the Great American Eclipse.
Even then, only a tiny strip of North America will be covered by path of the total solar eclipse. The rest of North America will be covered by varying degrees of darkness, as shown by the map below.
There will be a partial solar eclipse of some parts of Europe, Central America, South America, and Oceania. But the rest of the world is not affected by the April 8 solar eclipse.
The Photon belt does not exist. It is a pseudoscientific myth based on the belief that Earth will soon pass through an immense ring of photos orbiting the Pleiades star cluster, or more specifically – its largest star, Alcyone. Hence, its alternate name – The Rings of Alcyone.
As the myth goes, after Earth passes through this photon belt, the world will end, or humanity will be elevated to a higher plane of existence. This idea was first described in 1950 by German scientist Paul Otto Hesse. However, it has never been shown to be remotely plausible, never mind actually proven.
In any case, the Pleiades cluster is over 400 light years away, so it is impossible for any photon belt surrounding it to affect Earth. In addition, the Pleiades cluster currently moving away from Earth.
Fact #4 : Photons Cannot Block Photons
Now, I’m no physicist, but as far as I know, photons cannot block other photons. So it would be impossible for a photon belt (if one did exist) to block sunlight and starlight from reaching Earth.
Photons are massless particles of electromagnetic energy. Visible light, for example, generates photons, and as you can tell, light does not get cancelled if two people shine a torchlight at each other!
Similarly, heat (thermal energy) also produces photons through thermal radiation and light. But as you well know – placing two lit candles next to each other won’t block the amount of light or heat each candle produces!
In short – even if Earth passes through a band of photons, sunlight and starlight will continue to shine on us.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Does the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) ban free speech in Malaysia?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Updated @ 2024-04-02 : Updated after claim went viral again Originally posted @ 2023-07-03
Claim : News Sharing Banned By POTA / Prevention of Terrorism Act
This warning about the Prevention of Terrorism Act / POTA keeps going viral in WhatsApp, and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Here is the original warning in Malay, and our English translation in bold):
No more sharing of news posting after this.
” AKTA POTA YANG TELAH DILULUSKAN MALAM TADI DI PARLIMEN…
THE POTA ACT WAS APPROVED LAST NIGHT IN PARLIAMENT…
Akta Pencegahan Keganasan (POTA) 2015 yang telah diluluskan Dewan Rakyat boleh dikenakan kpd PENGHASUT PEMBENCI KERAJAAN dilaman2 sosial spti Whatsapp, FB, Tweeter, Blog, dsb. Polis akan menahan mana-mana penyebar Fitnah Kepada Pemimpin Negara termasuk yg mengubahuai gambar pemimpin negara bagi mewujud dan menanam kebencian di kalangan rakyat! Tahanan POTA minima selama 2 tahun. Tidak boleh dicabar di semua Mahkamah. Pusat Tahanan di sebuah Pulau berkeluasan 1000 Ekar di Utara Sabah telah bersedia menanti penghuninya selepas OPS POTA 2015 dilancarkan tidak lama lagi.
The Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) 2015 which has been approved by the Dewan Rakyat can be applied to inciters who hate the GOVERNMENT on social media such as Whatsapp, FB, Tweeter, Blog, etc.The police will arrest any person who spreads defamation against national leaders, including those who alter the image of national leaders to create and instill hatred among the people!Minimum POTA detention for 2 years.Cannot be challenged in all Courts.The Detention Center on a 1000 Acre Island in the North of Sabah is ready to await its residents after the OPS POTA 2015 is launched soon.
Hati-hatilah ye…
Be careful…
Even if you just cut and paste, you can be charged for distribution and dissemination. So please take extreme careful.
Attention all Chat Groups ;
Please STOP immediately from circulating any sensitive issues.
Malaysian government has “Passed the Amendment” to the Sedition Act few days ago.
Please note that it’s an offence now to “propagate” any material that is deemed to be of “seditious tendency”. It’s heavier fine and jail term 20 years.
Be careful what you send in social media.Also note that intent is not necessary for sedition.
That means you can’t say you didn’t intend to spread or send the material to cause disharmony or cause anyone feelings to be hurt.
U may want to forward this msg to anyone who is unaware of this law.
Truth : News Sharing NOT Banned By POTA / Prevention of Terrorism Act!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp, and social media platforms, and here are the reasons why!
Fact #1 : Prevention of Terrorism Act Was Passed In 2015
First, I should point out that this is really old fake news that started in April 2015, and keeps recirculating every few years.
The Prevention of Terrorism Act / POTA 2015 (Akta Pencegahan Keganasan 2015) was passed by the Malaysian government on 7 April 2015, and coincided with the arrest of seventeen suspected militants who were allegedly involved in a terror plot in Kuala Lumpur.
Fact #2 : POTA 2015 Targets Terrorism, Not Politics
POTA 2015 is not meant to target any healthy discussion of politics or political issues in Malaysia. Rather, it’s meant to tackle the threat of terrorism in Malaysia:
To prevent the conduct or support for acts of violence involving terrorist organisation of a foreign country.
To ensure that individual involved in terrorist activities do not escape legislative action.
To ensure that Malaysia’s citizens and its security are not threatened by those involved in militant activities.
Fact #3 : POTA 2015 Does Not Ban Free Speech
POTA 2015 does not target people who share news on WhatsApp or social media, even if it’s of sensitive issues. It targets people who are engaged in acts of terrorism, not people who are spreading fake news or criticisms of the government.
Hence, POTA 2015 cannot be used to block people who from sharing this POTA 2015 fake news, which is why the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) had to ask people to stop sharing the fake news, instead of just locking them up!
Even then, people continue to share this fake news about POTA 2015 for the last 7 years on WhatsApp and social media…
Of course, if necessary, the police can use the long-existing Penal Code, and Sedition Act 1948 to prosecute people who share fake news, but that’s another story.
On June 11, 2015, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) publicly posted a long debunking of this viral POTA 2015 warning, calling it “fake news”. Here is the English translation:
PLEASE DON’T SHARE FAKE NEWS ABOUT POTA!!!
✅POTA or Prevention of Terrorism Act (Prevention of Terrorism Act) was not enacted to deal with the issue of incitement but the issue of terrorist activity which the issue of this activity has been enshrined in other substantive laws including Chapter VI and Chapter VIA in the Penal Code.
✅POTA also applies when these terrorist activities involve entities that have been listed in Sections 66B and 66C of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds from Illegal Activities (AMLATFAPUA) Act 2001.
The allegation that this POTA will be used to incite GOVERNMENT HATERS on social media or those who modify the image of national leaders to create and instill hatred among the people is absolutely FALSE. POTA is to deal with TERROR and NOT SEDIMENT.
POTA also cannot be used to detain someone just because of his political beliefs or activities. However, if the party/member/follower of a political party is involved in terrorist activities, then POTA is applicable.
✅The POTA Act prevents before the terrorist activities are carried out. Do you want to see KLCC & KLIA blown up by terrorists, before action is taken? Do you want your children to be involved in terrorist activities, then when the rice has become porridge, new actions are taken? This is because in cases of terrorism, the evidence obtained is in the form of intelligence and most of these evidences are difficult to bring to Court due to the refusal of witnesses to appear in Court to give evidence.
✅This Act is preventive in nature where the Minister’s executive power to impose punishment has been transferred to the Terrorism Prevention Board appointed by the Yang DiPertua Agong (YDPA). The members of the Board are made up of those who have at least 15 years of experience in the field of law.
✅The decision of this Board can be challenged by Judicial Review.
✅ Advocates are allowed to be present when evidence is taken by the Inquiry Officer (IO) appointed by YDPA and the IO must not be a PDRM member/officer.
✅POTA Detention Orders can be challenged, therefore the allegation that POTA Detention Orders cannot be challenged is completely untrue.
✅This Detention Order must also be taken to another Advisory Board as provided for in Article 151 of the Federal Constitution.
✅Considering that POTA is a preventive law, the detainees will undergo a Special Rehabilitation Module that has been designed to neutralize their understanding of extemism, which modules emphasize religious aspects (according to the detainee’s religion), moral and spiritual aspects as well as family relationship issues which family members prisoners are also involved in giving encouragement to the prisoners to successfully continue the neutralization process.
✅It should be remembered that this prevention law is a prevention and not a punitive law. The information about the detention center on a 1000 acre island in the north of Sabah is not true. This is not like the Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco Bay that held the notorious criminal Al-Capone. Instead, the detainees will be placed in a Special Detention Center.
POTA vs ISA
✅POTA or the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 is a preventive law enacted by the Government to deal with any individual or group that commits acts of violence.
✅ This act is not to punish but to detain as prevention and further restore through the Rehabilitation Program organized by the Ministry in collaboration with the police, prisons, Jakim and other Government agencies.
✅POTA is different from ISA because POTA will only be used against terrorists. Can’t be caught randomly.
✅ POTA cannot be equated with ISA. Among the most notable differences are:
▶ Detention Order for ISA is issued by the Minister of Home Affairs whereas POTA is issued by an independent Board whose members are appointed by His Majesty the Yang Di Pertuan Agong. So, for POTA, the minister has no power at all to issue orders or instructions.
▶Before an individual is subject to a Detention Order or Restriction Order, they need to go through a period of detention for police investigation or also called a remand prisoner. The total is 60 days for ISA and POTA. But it is different because the ISA gives full authority to the police to detain directly for 60 days before the Minister issues a Detention or Restriction Order. While POTA needs to be taken to the Magistrate’s Court for the extension of the remand period. So…very different….?
✅One more thing, if ISA, the subject cannot see the family while POTA can see the family or next of kin during the period of detention for police investigation or remand.
✅Finally, for ISA, after a 60-day remand by the police, the Minister will issue an order. As for POTA, it is not the Minister who issues the Order or ‘order’ but an independent Board. In fact, an inquiry officer will conduct an inquiry or investigation to make a ‘recommendation’ whether the subject is involved or not. It should be remembered that the Inquiry Officer cannot be appointed from among the police but they are made up of scheme L officers which is the Law. So it can be seen how transparent this POTA is and there is no issue why this POTA needs to be equated with ISA.
I call for you to spread this explanation instead of false information that can cause annoyance among the community.
DO NOT COPY IF YOU CAN’T PASTE.
DON’T BE POISON IF YOU CAN’T BE A CURE.
It should be noted that spreading false information that can cause public uproar on any social media platform is an offense and can be prosecuted under existing laws including the Sedition Act 1948 and the Penal Code.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Does a viral video show a man being killed after putting out his arm to stop the lift?! Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Man Was Killed After Putting Out His Arm To Stop The Lift!
People are sharing a video on WhatsApp, and social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), claiming that it shows a man who was killed after putting out his arm to stop the lift for a lady.
Never Use Your Hand Or Leg To Hold An Elevator Door Open, The Sensors Might Be Faulty.
DUNMININU : This man used his hand to stop an elevator door, see what happened to him, that woman almost fainted 😭😭
On WhatsApp : Peringatan… jangan sesekali cuba menggunakan tangan atau kaki untuk menghalang atau memberhentikan pergerakan lif. Mungkin sensor lif tersebut telah rosak. Lihat lah akibatnya…. melalui video ini sebagai pengajaran
Warning… never try to use your hands or feet to stop or stop the lift.Maybe the elevator sensor is damaged.See the consequences…. through this video as a lesson
Truth : Man Was Not Killed After Putting Out His Arm To Stop The Lift!
This appears to be yet another example of fake news circulating on WhatsApp and social media platforms, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : This Is A Very Old Video
Let me start by pointing out that this is a very old video, that was originally uploaded to YouTube in 2006 – about 18 years ago!
The original video, called “Hold The Door” is no longer available on YouTube, which removed it for violating its Terms of Service.
Fact #2 : Video Appears To Be Created For A Book Launch
I traced this video to an old YouTube channel called thepowerofnice, appears to be created to promote the launch of the book “The Power of Nice: How to Conquer the Business World with Kindness” (US | UK | AU).
It is likely that the video was a dark comedy skit filmed to show how there are better ways to be nice in the business world.
Fact #3 : Viral Video Appears To Be Edited
The original video is 37 seconds long, but interestingly, the newer version that’s going viral is just 30 seconds long. It appears that someone intentionally edited out the last 7 seconds to make it easier to fool people.
The last 7 seconds not only credit the video to ThePowerOfNice.com website, it also humorously points out that:
Fact #4 : No Legitimate News Report On This Incident
If a man really died, or lost his arm, after putting it out to stop a lift / elevator, it would have been major news and reported worldwide as a warning to everyone.
Yet, there was not even a single legitimate news report on such an incident over the past 18 years. That’s because this never happened.
Fact #5 : Many Signs Video Is Fake
Even without knowing the history and details of this video, a close examination will show several clues why this is a fake video, or rather, a skit:
CCTV recording date is missing the year.
The man absurdly extended his arm way out, when a normal person would simply use their hand, to stop the lift doors from closing.
The man’s torso is curiously not visible even with his arm fully extended.
The lift doors close completely, which would not be possible with the arm blocking them.
Blood appears on the elevator door before the arm is even amputated.
The arm gets amputated before it even hits the top of the elevator door frame.
The amputated arm does not bleed.
Maybe that’s why people are sharing this video at such a low resolution – it is easier to spot these clues in higher resolution videos.
According to Doug Guderian (archive) – an elevator engineer, licensed elevator mechanic, and an owner of an elevator company, lift doors generally won’t trap your hands or arms, unless you put them out when the doors are almost fully closed:
If a limb (an arm or a leg) is fully in the path of an elevator door, the door should reopen from the door sensor. If the sensor fails, the door will try to close, but the force is only enough to possibly bruise the limb. The 1/4 or 1/2 horsepower door motor does not have the strength to cut it in half. The safety code actually requires a maximum force setting of 30 pounds for the door closing. Since the door cannot fully close the doors closed and locked contacts will not make up so the elevator will not move.
Please also note: If you don’t put your hand all the way into the closing door assembly, you may not reach the sensor – it can be as much as 125mm (5 inches) to reach the sensor – your hand can get caught and injured.
Also note: Many of the sensors disable when the door is almost fully closed so that they do not detect the other door, or the strike post and keep indefinitely reopening. If you manage to get your fingers into the door at this point they will also get injured since fingers are not designed to stop a 100kg (220lb) door.
In summary, if you are using your hand to reverse the door, only do it when the door is still far enough open so that you can pull your hand our again if the door does not reverse as expected.
For safety reasons, it’s not a good idea to put out your hand or arm to stop the lift doors from closing. More so when you are actually inside the lift, and can use the door open button to hold it open, or to reopen the closing doors!
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Find out why the viral warning on the new EPF (KWSP) Nominee rules is really fake news, and warn your family and friends!
Claim : New EPF Nominee Rules Will Channel Money To Amanah Raya!
This warning about new EPF (KWSP) Nominee rules has gone viral on WhatsApp recently:
Forward as received
Malaysian pls read:
NEW EPF RULES
If ONE (1) of your Nominees in the EPF Nominees list dies, automatically the whole arrangement (EPF Nominees list) is VOID ..
Meaning if, you only put in One (1) name & unfortunately he/she dies before you – automatically EPF will channel your EPF money to trustee of AMANAH RAYA upon your death.
Even though if you have few names in the EPF Nominees list, – the whole arrangement is VOID & none of the individual names left in the EPF Nominees list will get their portion & automatically EPF will channel your EPF money to trustee of AMANAH RAYA upon your death.
Piece of advice – if any of the your Nominees in the EPF Nominees list dies, please do immediately approach the nearest EPF counter & present the Death Certificate of the individual & register your NEW / LATEST Nominee in theEPF Nominees list + NEW / LATEST percentage .
If, you & the other party (maybe spouse) involved in the same misfortune (accident / illness) that caused death to both yourself / spouse please, please alert your siblings / relatives / parents to immediately approach the nearest EPF counter & share the information within 3 days to AVOID all EPF money to be surrendered to trustee of AMANAHRAYA .
Upon surrender to trustee of AMANAH RAYA, your children will have to battle the money thru 3 channels;
Majlis Agama Pejabat Tanah Mahkamah
The normal period via above 3 channels usually takes 2-3 years (except if you have inside/tip top connection) at Amanah Raya.
CHOOI & CO Advocates & Solicitors (Editor: address removed) GEN Tel: (Editor: phone number removed)
Truth : New EPF Nominee Rules Will Not Channel Money To Amanah Raya!
This is yet another example of fake news circulating on WhatsApp, and here are reasons why…
Let me start by pointing out that the Employees Provident Fund (EPF / KWSP) has publicly refuted the viral warning.
The EPF emphasises that the information in the chain email is NOT TRUE.
I will now go through the claims, and share with you what EPF / KWSP has said about those allegations:
Whole EPF Nominee List Is Void When A Nominee Dies?!
False. EPF clearly states that it is not true that your nominee list is deemed void whenever one of your beneficiaries die.
If an EPF member nominates more than one beneficiary, and one of them dies, then only the portion bequeathed to that deceased beneficiary will be invalid.
If the EPF member dies without updating his/her EPF nominee list, the surviving beneficiaries will receive their portions accordingly.
Meanwhile, the portion bequeathed to the deceased beneficiary will be subject to procedures under “EPF savings without nomination”, where the priority for the right to claim shall go to the next of kin or appointed administrator in charge of your estate.
Your EPF Money Goes To Amanah Raya If No Beneficiary?!
False. If an EPF member nominates a single beneficiary, and the beneficiary dies, the nomination is void unless a new beneficiary is nominated. However, if the EPF member dies without nominating a beneficiary (or the sole beneficiary has died), the following conditions apply:
If the member has less than RM25,000 in his/her EPF Account, the initial sum of RM2,500 will be paid to his/her next of kin. The balance will be paid two months after the member’s death.
If the member has more than RM25,000 in his/her EPF Account, the initial sum of RM2,500 will be paid to his/her next of kin. The second payment (not more than RM17,500) will be paid to the next of kin two months after date of death. The balance of the savings will be paid upon submitting the Letter of Administration / Grant of Probate / Distribution Order / Faraid Certificate from estate administrators such as Amanah Raya Berhad or the Court or the Land Office.
For Muslim members, the Faraid Law will apply, in which case the beneficiary will act as an administrator or “wasi” who will be responsible for distributing the savings in accordance to the Faraid Law.
You Must Produce Death Certificate To Change Nomination?!
False. EPF members do not need to produce the death certificate of a deceased beneficiary to change their nomination.
EPF members can change or update their nomination at any time, by completing a new KWSP 4 Form. This will automatically revoke any earlier nomination made.
Family Members Must Go To EPF Counter Within 3 Days?!
False. The family of EPF members who happen to die together with their nominees do not need to go to the EPF counter within 3 days, to prevent their savings from being “surrendered to Amanah Raya”.
EPF will disburse the money as if the EPF member died without nominating a beneficiary (see above).
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Find out how to create, join, or quit the new WhatsApp Voice Chat feature for large groups!
WhatsApp Voice Chat : What Is It?
On 14 November 2023, WhatsApp launched a new Voice Chat feature for large groups of 33 to 256 participants.
Previously, both voice and video calls in groups were limited to 32 participants, so larger groups have to manually choose which users to include under that threshold. That changed with the new Voice Chat feature, which allows larger groups of 33 to 128 participants, albeit still far below the maximum limit of 1,024 members for every WhatsApp group.
Unlike voice calls, group members won’t receive any sound notifications of Voice Chats. Instead, when you start a Voice Chat, group members will see a pop-up window in the chat group. Group members can then choose to join the voice chat, or ignore it.
Please note that WhatsApp Voice Chat is only enabled for large groups with 33 to 256 participants. It will not appear in smaller, or much larger groups.
Here is how you can create a new Voice Chat in your group.
Step 1 : Open the WhatsApp group, in which you wish to start a Voice Chat.
Step 2 : Tap on the Voice Chat option on the upper right corner of the group chat. The icon has a blue audio wavelength symbol.
If you don’t see the Voice Chat icon, that likely means your WhatsApp group is too small (32 or fewer participants), or is much too large (257 or more participants).
Step 3 : A Voice Chat pop-up will appear at the bottom of the screen. Tap on Start voice chat to initiate the voice chat for the entire group.
That’s it! All members in that WhatsApp group will now see a notification about a Voice Chat, which they can join or simply ignore.
Once you wish to end the Voice Chat, simply tap on the red X icon on the pop-up.
As you can see, it’s easy to create a new Voice Chat, and to stop it once you are done.
If you find this guide useful, please share it with your family and friends!
As you can see, it’s easy to join and quit any Voice Chat in your WhatsApp group.
You can also see how the Voice chat option appears like a message in the group, allowing participants to ignore and continue with their posts, and replies.
If you find this guide useful, please share it with your family and friends!
WhatsApp Voice Chat : Some Important Notes
Please take note of these limitations or possible concerns:
Voice chats are only available for groups of 33 to 256 people.
This feature is only available on your primary device.
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Did McDonald’s just lose its legal battle against Jamie Oliver over its toxic pink slime meat?! Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : McDonald’s Loses Legal Battle With Jamie Oliver!
People are claiming on social media that McDonald’s just lost its legal battle against British chef Jamie Oliver over its toxic pink slime meat!
Keep it Real : [McDonald’s loses the legal battle with chef Jamie Oliver, who proved that the food they sell is not fit to be ingested because it is highly toxic.
Chef Jamie Oliver has won a battle against the world’s largest junk food chain. Oliver proving how buyers are made.
Colin Young : Did anyone hear Jamie Oliver took McDonald’s to court last week and winning the case stating their food wasn’t suitable for human consumption
Didn’t think you would but it’s true
Absolutely disgusting 🤮
Amanda RN :🚨 [McDonald’s loses the legal battle with chef Jamie Oliver, who proved that the food they sell is not fit to be ingested because it is highly toxic.
Chef Jamie Oliver has won a battle against the world’s largest junk food chain. Oliver proving how burgers are made.
According to Oliver, the fat parts of meat are “washed” with ammoniac hydrogen and then used in the packaging of the meat “cake” to fill the burger. Before this process, according to the presenter, already this meat was not suitable for human consumption.
Oliver, a radical activist chef, who has waged a war against the food industry, says: We’re talking about meat that would be sold as dog food and after this process it’s served to humans. In addition to the quality of meat, ammonium acid is harmful to health. Oliver says this: “The process of the pink crap”.
What sane human being would put a piece of meat soaked in ammonium hydrogen in the mouth of a child?
In another of his initiatives Oliver has demonstrated how chicken nuggets are made: after selecting the “best parts”, the rest: fat, skin, cartilage, visuals, bones, head, legs, are subjected to a mec split smoothie canica – it’s the euphemism that engineers use in food, and then that blood pink paste is deodorant, bleached, re-refreshed and repainted, dipped in flour and fried melcocha, this is left in usually partially hydrogenated oils, that is, toxins.
The food industry uses ammonium hydrogen as an anti-microbial agent, which allowed McDonald’s to use meat in its burgers, which is not suitable for human consumption.
But even more disturbing is the situation that these substances based on ammonium hydrogen are considered ‘lawful components in the production process’ in the food industry with the blessings of health authorities worldwide. So consumers will never be able to discover what substances they put in our food.
Truth : McDonald’s Did Not Lose Legal Battle With Jamie Oliver!
This is yet another example of fake news circulating on WhatsApp, and social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : There Was No McDonald’s – Jamie Oliver Lawsuit
Let me start by pointing out that there was no legal battle between McDonald’s and Jamie Oliver. McDonald’s did not sue Jamie Oliver, and Jamie Oliver also did not sue McDonald’s.
Fact #2 : Jamie Oliver Did Not Target McDonald’s
Jamie Oliver did not actually target McDonald’s. So there is really no reason for McDonald’s or Jamie Oliver to sue one another.
In the episode of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution that aired on 12 April 2011, Jamie Oliver spoke out against Lean Finely Textured Beef (LFTB), which he derisively referred to as “pink slime”.
Fact #3 : Jamie Oliver Did Not “Discover” Pink Slime
While much has been made about Jamie Oliver’s “battle” against pink slime, he did not create that term, and he wasn’t even amongst the first to speak out against LFTB, which has been sold since 2001.
The term “pink slime” was reportedly coined by USDA microbiologist Gerald Zirstein in a 2002 email to his colleagues. He was, arguably, also the first to criticise LFTB.
I do not consider the stuff to be ground beef, and I consider allowing it in ground beef to be a form of fraudulent labeling.
Michael Moss from The New York Times posted not one article, but at least two articles on the safety of LFTB – on 3 October 2009, and then on 30 December 2009,.
Two years later, ABC News would air a series of reports on LFTB in March 2011. It was only after the extensive coverage by ABC News that Jamie Oliver actually featured LFTB on his show.
Despite its gross sounding name and look, LFTB is simply meat that has been separated from the fat in beef trimmings, and treated with ammonia to kill pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli.
The LFTB technology basically recovers meat that would otherwise be wasted and thrown away. Think of LFTB as low-fat beef paste. Regular ground beef consists of about 30% fat, while LFTB only has about 5% fat.
Fact #5 : McDonald’s Stopped Using LFTB In 2011
McDonald’s announced on 31 January 2012, that it stopped adding Lean Finely Textured Beef (LFTB) to its burgers since the beginning of 2011, and that it was no longer available in its products since August 2011:
At the beginning of 2011, we made a decision to discontinue the use of ammonia-treated beef in our hamburgers. This product has been out of our supply chain since August of last year. This decision was a result of our efforts to align our global standards for how we source beef around the world.
In other words – McDonald’s made the decision to stop using LFTB in its burgers in early 2011 – months before ABC News or Jamie Oliver covered LFTB. It was only in August 2011 that all of its LFTB-based products were cleared out of its supply chain.
Fact #7 : Ammonia In LFTB Isn’t Toxic
Even though McDonald’s no longer uses “pink slime” in their burgers, I should point out that the amount of ammonia used in LFTB isn’t dangerous.
The amount of ammonia present in Lean Finely Textured Beef (LFTB) is actually comparable to ammonia levels present in existing foods:
Food
Ammonia Level
American Cheese
813 ppm
Unblended LFTB
400-500 ppm
Ketchup
411 ppm
Onions
342 ppm
Blended Beef Patty
with 15% LFTB
200 ppm
Ground Beef
101 ppm
Ammonium hydroxide isn’t just used to treat LFTB meat trimmings, it is also used to produce a wide variety of foods like cheese, puddings, chocolate, and even as a leavening agent in bread. In fact, the ammonium hydroxide is classified as GRAS (Generally Recognised as Safe) by the US FDA, when used in appropriate concentrations.
Fact #8 : LFTB Uses Ammonium Hydroxide Gas
In his viral video, Jamie Oliver is seen showing a front loading washing machine filled with meat, with ammonia-based cleaning products in the background. He then pours from a bottle marked with “Ammonia” and a skull and crossbones symbol into a large tub filled with pieces of beef.
That is not an accurate reflection of how LFTB products are made, because the ammonium hydroxide used in the LFTB process is gaseous, not liquid. In addition, the LFTB process only uses the ammonium hydroxide gas to increase the pH of the separated meat trimmings, from 5.7 to 9.6 (source).
If there ever is a lawsuit over that Jamie Oliver video, he would be hard-pressed to explain how that demonstration accurately replicates how LFTB meat is really produced.
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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Truth : Passport Collections Have Not Been Shifted To Shaftsbury PJ!
This is yet another example of fake news circulating on WhatsApp and Telegram, and here are reasons why…
Fact #1 : It’s Shaftsbury Putrajaya, Not PJ
First, let me just point out that there is no Shaftsbury PJ (Petaling Jaya).
The new Malaysia Immigration passport office is located at the Shaftsbury Putrajaya – a 3-story shopping mall located in Presint 1, Putrajaya.
You can even see it in the viral photo above. It’s stated clearly – Pejabat Passport Shaftsbury Putrajaya. Why would anyone falsely claimed that the new passport office is called Shaftsbury PJ???
Fact #2 : Shaftsbury Putrajaya Passport Office Is Small
The Shaftsbury Putrajaya passport office is just a new branch office for the Malaysia Immigration Department. It also appears to be rather small in size, as the official Imigresen TV video below shows.
The Shaftsbury Putrajaya passport office is not designed to handle all passport collection across Malaysia.
In fact, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said in July 2023, that the Shaftsbury Putrajaya passport office will cater to people living around the Putrajaya area, such as Serdang, Sungai Besi, Dengkil, Cyberjaya, Bangi, and Cheras.
To be clear – passport collection has not been shifted to this new Shaftsbury Putrajaya passport office!
Fact #4 : No Passport Office Can Handle All Collections!
In the first half of 2023 alone, the Immigration Department issued over 1.6 million passports. It would not be possible for a single passport office to handle the collection of all of those passports.
In fact, the Putrajaya headquarters of the Malaysia Immigration Department only processed and issued 68,416 of those 1.6 million passports!
It is also not logical to consolidate passport collection in a single office. Not only will people have to fly or drive from all over Malaysia to Shaftsbury Putrajaya to collect their passports, there would be massive queues of tens of thousands of people!
Fact #5 : Other Passport Offices Are Still Handling Passport Collection
If you go to the Malaysia Immigration Department’s official online passport application page, you can click on the list of available branches for passport collection.
As of 2 February 2024, here is the full list of available Malaysia Immigration Department offices where you can choose to collect your passport from:
Alor Setar
Batu Pahat
Besut
Bintulu
Bukit Kayu Hitam
Cameron Highland
JIM Kuala Kubu Baru
Kajang
Kangar
Kelana Jaya
Kemaman
Kompleks KDN Langkawi
Kota Kinabalu
Kuala Langat
Kuala Lumpur (Jalan Duta)
Kuala Lumpur (Wangsa Maju)
Kuala Selangor
Kuching
Kukup
Kulai
Lahad Datu
Lawas
Limbang
Lumut
Melaka
Mersing
Mini UTC Keramat
Muar
Pejabat Imigresen Kulim
Pejabat Imigresen Kluang Pejabat Imigresen Shaftsbury Putrajaya
Pejabat Imigresen UTC Johor
Pengkalan Hulu (Bukit Berapit)
Port Dickson
Puchong
Pulau Pinang (Seberang Jaya)
Pusat Transforms Bandar Miri, Sarawak
Pusat Transforms Bandar Sibu, Sarawak
Raub
Sandakan
Segamat
Setia Tropika
Shah Alam
Sri Aman
Taiping
Teluk Intan
Temerloh
UTC Kedah
UTC Keningau
UTC Kota Bear, Kelantan
UTC Kota Kinabalu
UTC Kuala Lumpur
UTC Kuching
UTC Labuan
UTC Melaka
UTC Pahang (Kuantan)
UTC Pasir Gudang
UTC Perak
UTC Perlis
UTC Pulau Pinang
UTC Selangor
UTC Sentul
UTC Seremban
UTC Sungai Petani
UTC Tawau
UTC Terengganu
If you scroll through the list, you can see that Shaftsbury Putrajaya is merely one of the many passport offices available for you to select as a collection point.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Watch out for the STR (Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah) 2024 scam, and find out why you really cannot get RM1,000 per month!
STR 2024 Scam : Get RM1,000 Per Month For Free!
Many people are getting messages about getting RM1,000 in free cash through the STR (Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah) scheme on WhatsApp and Telegram, from their family members and friends:
TERKINI: Permohonan untuk bantuan MySTR 2024 RM1000 sebulan . 📒 Borang Permohonan (Online dan Manual) 📒 Kemaskini Maklumat kerajaan . Memohon secara online👇👇 https://xxxx-xxxx-xx-xxx-tunai2024.com/39/kerajaan
This is yet another scam circulating on WhatsApp and Telegram, and here are reasons why…
Fact #1 : STR 2024 Is Only Given Quarterly
First, let me just point out that the 2024 STR (Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah) program is genuine. However, it is restricted to the hardcore poor, and is paid out quarterly.
STR 2024
Application Period
Payment Date
Phase 1
1 to 30 Nov 2023
29 January 2024
Phase 2
1 Dec 2023 to 29 Feb 2024
April 2024
Phase 3
1 March to 30 June 2024
August 2024
Phase 4
1 July to 30 Sept. 2024
November 2024
In short – you won’t get the money on a monthly basis, as the scam websites are claiming.
Fact #2 : STR 2024 Scam Targets Your Data + Telegram Account
The scam websites, on the other hand, will ask you to submit your full name, and your mobile number.
They will send an OTP to your Telegram account, and ask you to key in the OTP to their website. This will allow them to hijack and take over your Telegram account.
To protect your Telegram account from such hijacking, please make sure you turn on Two-Step Verification!
Even if you don’t have a Telegram account, the scammers now have access to your full name and mobile number, which they can use in future scam attacks.
To convince you that their offer is genuine, the scam websites often show a scrolling list of successful applicants – each one receiving RM1,000. That’s a fake list.
If you check the source code, you can see that the scammer merely created a manual list of fake names. Here is a small segment with the fake details highlighted in bold, to show you what I mean:
Fact #4 : STR 2024 Does Not Give RM1,000 Per Month
To help the hardcore poor handle the high inflation in 2024, the Malaysia Ministry of Finance announced an increase in the amount of STR cash aid.
However, even with the increased STR 2024 cash aid, you won’t receive RM1,000 per month. That’s just insane. Here is what the government is giving for STR 2024, in quarterly payments:
Qualifying
Categories
STR 2024 Cash Aid
Household Income
≤ RM2,500
No Children : RM1,000
1-2 Children : RM1,500
3-4 Children : RM2,000
≥5 Children : RM2,500
Household Income
RM2,500 – RM5,000
No Children : RM500
1-2 Children : RM750
3-4 Children : RM1,000
≥5 Children : RM1,250
Senior (Single)
≤ RM5,000
RM600
Single
≤ RM2,500
RM350
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did Sultan Ibrahim bash the Arabisation of Malay culture on his first day as the 17th Agong of Malaysia?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : 17th Agong Bashed Arabisation Of Malay Culture On Day 1!
People are sharing this message on WhatsApp, claiming that the Sultan Ibrahim bashed the Arabisation of Malay culture on his first day as the 17th Agong of Malaysia!
The First Day of work DYMM YDP Agong gave a hard hitting no-holds barred royal “bashing” of the Arabidization of Malay culture. I suppose the right wing green wave politicians were squirming on their seats. Daulat Tuanku.
The message was shared with a link to an article (removed for reasons I will explain below) by The Coverage, with the title “Stop Trying To Be Like Arabs, Johor Ruler Tells Malays“.
Truth : 17th Agong Did Not Bash Arabisation Of Malay Culture On Day 1!
This appears to be yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Sultan Ibrahim Made Those Comments In 2016
First, let me point out that Sultan Ibrahim of Johor did call on Malays not to discard their unique culture, in favour of the Arab culture. However, he made those comments in March 2016 – almost 8 years ago!
If there are some of you who wish to be an Arab and practise Arab culture, and do not wish to follow our Malay customs and traditions, that is up to you. I also welcome you to live in Saudi Arabia.
That is your right but I believe there are Malays who are proud of the Malay culture. At least I am real and not a hypocrite and the people of Johor know who their ruler is.
Sultan Ibrahim also said that he preferred to use terms like Hari Raya, instead of Eid al-Fitr, as well as buka puasa, instead of iftar.
I have been using these Malay terms since I was a child and speaking to my late father for the past 50 years. I have no intention of replacing these terms with Arabic.
To be clear – Sultan Ibrahim did not make those comments on his first day as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia. He made them almost 8 years earlier.
Fact #2 : The Coverage Article Was Originally From NST
It is unknown why anyone would actually share the article by The Coverage, since it was not written by them. It was originally written and posted by The Star on 24 March 2016, and syndicated by New Straits Times.
Even worse – The Coverage appeared to have posted it on 31 January 2018 – almost 2 years after it was originally posted by The Star and NST.
Instead of supporting websites that copy and paste other people’s work (and old news at that!), why not support journalism by sharing the real source of these articles?
Fact #3 : The Coverage Refreshed Their Article Today
It is unknown why people would start sharing the article from The Coverage, when it was not written by them, and was posted 5 years ago on 31 January 2018.
But interestingly, it looks like The Coverage updated their article today, likely replacing the original photo with one posted on the Sultan’s Facebook page on 22 November 2023.
Why would The Coverage update this 5 year-old article on Sultan Ibrahim’s first day as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia?
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
People are sharing a video clip on WhatsApp, TikTok, and social media, claiming or suggesting that Indocafe instant coffee mix was found to contain harmful drugs!
WhatsApp example #1 : Please viral to all your family and friends in your group
Discovery of sachets in Indocafe 3 in 1 coffeemix from Indonesia, mixed with harmful drugs??
WhatsApp example #2 : Hati hati Indocafe mengandung DRUGS, disini ada ibu2 ( ibunya temanku ) sesudah minum itu langsung pusing2 masuk Emergency room.
Be careful, Indocafe contains DRUGS, there are women here (my friend’s mother) who immediately got dizzy and went into the emergency room after drinking it.
TikTok example : #Indocafe Cofeemix terlihat ada zat yg mungkin jg berbahaya warna merah,Maka kita berhati-hati mengkomsumsi nya..
#Indocafe Cofeemix seems to contain substances that may also be dangerous in red, so we should be careful when consuming them..
9gag example : They said this is a killer drugs inside a coffee sachet to depopulization , can any capt explain??
Here is the rough English translation of the commentary in Indonesia / Bahasa Malaysia:
Here are all the drugs. From Indonesia. New coffee from Indocafe, which I will open now. This is new okay, now we open. Let’s throw this first okay. Empty. Okay. Let’s open. Let’s see if there are still reddish drugs. Oh my God… Oh my God… There’s a lot.
Truth : Indocafe Coffee Mix Does Not Contain Harmful Drugs!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS being shared on WhatsApp and online platforms like TikTok and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Many Indocafe Customers Disputed Claim
The video appears to have been posted on TikTok by @dianaz780 on 26 November 2023 (archive).
Many people who commented on the video pointed out that they have never seen such pink-coloured drugs or dangerous substances in their Indocafe coffee mixture, even though some have been drinking it for many years.
Personally, I have also made and drunk this particular Indocafe instant coffee mix, and have never seen such pink-coloured substances before.
Fact #2 : Indocafe Labelled Video As “False”
On the same day, Indocafe advised people on Instagram not to fall for the “hoax”, stating that it has more than 38 years of experience in the industry. Then on 29 November 2023, Indocafe issued a statement (archive) through their lawyer, labelling the video as “false” and “fake news”. Here is the English translation:
In connection with the video currently circulating on social media regarding our product, namely Indocafe Coffeemix, which contains drugs, we hereby deny in the strongest possible terms that this is false and is fake news.
The statement also pointed out that the Indocafe Coffeemix product is monitored by the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM)
Unless the person who created that video sends the samples to Indocafe (or an independent laboratory) for testing, it is impossible to know what those pink-coloured pieces really are.
Could the instant coffee mix sachets have been tampered with? Or is it possible that these are counterfeit Indocafe coffee mix sachets?
Fact #4 : Pink Substance May Be Annatto
Assuming the sachets were not contaminated or tampered with, what could those pink pieces be? Short of a laboratory test, it would be quite impossible to know.
That said, the ingredients (archive) of this particular Indocafe Coffeemix 3-in-1 product may offer us a clue:
The three key components of this coffee mix are sugar, non-diary creamer, and coffee. But one of the components of the non-diary creamer is 160b (E160b), also known as Annatto – orange-red food colouring from the seeds of the Bixa orellana tree.
It is possible that the annatto powder may have clumped together with the other components of the creamer, caking them into large pieces in the presence of excessive moisture.
While contamination or counterfeiting might be possible, it is absurd to claim, without evidence, that the pink substances are “dangerous drugs”. For one thing – narcotics are expensive. Who would be so stupid enough to put narcotics into cheap instant coffee mix?
Fact #6 : World Population Is Now Over 8 Billion
Claims that these “dangerous drugs” are being used to kill people and depopulate the world is a ridiculous conspiracy fantasy. Anyone who opens a sachet would immediately see the large pink pieces, thus foiling the dastardly plans of an incompetent evil cabal that has hitherto failed to stop the world from expanding to 8 billion people!
A real “Deep State operative” would have blended the poison to mix evenly with the coffee mix. And a real evil depopulation cabal would have done a better job of stopping population growth! This is nothing more than a silly conspiracy theory.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did Singapore make a sudden U-turn and recommend against getting the second COVID-19 booster dose?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Updated @ 2023-12-19 : Refreshed after it went viral again.
Originally posted @ 2022-07-26
Claim : Singapore Recommends Against Second Booster Dose!
People are sharing a link to a Channel News Asia article, claiming that the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) are advising people aged 60 to 79 against getting the second booster dose.
They are also claiming that the Singapore government made this sudden U-turn due to adverse effects from the COVID-19 vaccines.
Singapore MOH: Second COVID-19 booster NOT RECOMMENDED for people aged 60 to 79.
Truth : Singapore Recommends Second Booster For Vulnerable Adults
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created by anti-vaccination activists to scare people from protecting themselves against COVID-19, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : It Was An Old Article
First, let me establish some facts about the Channel News Asia article. It’s a genuine news report, in which, Singapore’s Director of Medical Services said that :
The Expert Committee on COVID-19 (EC19V) does not recommend that people aged 60 to 79 years take a second booster shot, but they can take the jab if they wish to.
However, that news is not recent – it was published on 22 April 2022 – more than 3 months before it went viral in July 2022, and more than 1.5 years when it went viral again in December 2023. I will explain below why this is critical.
Fact #2 : There Was No U-Turn
Anti-vaccination activists falsely claimed that this was a U-turn, to mislead you into believing that they did so because of adverse effects from the booster dose.
The truth is – there was no U-turn. The April recommendations actually expanded who can receive the second booster dose.
In March 2022, the Singapore Expert Committee on COVID-19 (EC19V) recommended that only people age 80 years and above should get the second booster dose.
The April 2022 announcement actually expands coverage to senior citizens 60 to 79 years in age, although they do not recommend that they get the second booster dose yet.
Fact #3 : First Booster Dose Still Provided Good Protection
Anti-vaccination activists are also misleading you on WHY the Singapore MOH said that the second booster dose was not recommended for people aged 60-79.
The CNA article itself already stated the reasons clearly, but the trouble is – most people don’t even bother to read beyond the headlines.
So here is the truth – the Singapore MOH recommended against the second booster dose for that age group because the effectiveness of the first booster dose for that age group remained high – 80% to 90% at the 120- to 180-day mark.
This affirms the importance then of having up-to-date vaccinations to reduce the risk of getting severe infections and dying from COVID-1.
Fact #4 : It Was A Strategy To Defend Against Next COVID-19 Wave
Singapore had COVID-19 under control in April 2022, and the additional protection from the second booster dose wanes after about 2 months.
So they wanted to delay vaccinating the younger population (under 80 years old) until they face a new wave of more virulent Variants of Concern (VOC).
That was when the second booster dose would be most effective – boosting protection at a time of high viral transmission.
If we need to provide the second booster dose for the younger population, this is more appropriate as a strategy to augment immune protection in a time when we are experiencing a new wave of a highly transmissible or highly virulent novel VOC (variant of concern) rather than at a time where the situation is improving.
Fact #5 : Singapore Expanded Second Booster To 50+
On 10 June 2022, the EC19V updated their recommendations, offering the second booster dose in Singapore to:
all persons aged 50 years and older
persons aged 18 years and above who are medically vulnerable too severe COVID-19
This decision came after Singapore got hit with a new wave fuelled by the highly-contagious Omicron variants that started in May and continues to surge even now, at the end of July 2022.
Fact #6 : Second Booster Dose Same As Primary Vaccine
Singapore offers three booster doses – Moderna Spikevax, Pfizer COMIRNATY and Novavax Nuvaxovid.
The Pfizer and Novavax booster doses have the same dosage as the primary doses, but the Moderna vaccine is offered at half the primary dose.
The first and second booster doses are really the same vaccine as the primary series vaccine, so there is no reason for new adverse effects to develop.
If you experienced no adverse effects with the first two primary doses, there is simply no reason why you should develop new adverse effects with either the first or the second booster doses, if they are of the same vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccines underwent massive clinical trials, and were only approved after they were proven to be safe and effective.
In addition, they were constantly monitored after they received their approvals, which picked up rare side effects after they were administered to billions of people.
Anti-vaccination activists have often claimed that those who received the vaccine would die. Yet, the opposite was true – the vaccines are not only safe, they are effective in protecting people from getting hospitalised or dying from COVID-19.
Even Steve Kirsch is healthy and well, despite being fully-vaccinated against COVID-19!
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
An old voice note on staggering COVID-19 deaths in Malaysia from a new African variant has gone viral on WhatsApp! Here is what you need to know…
Voice Note On COVID-19 Deaths In Malaysia Goes Viral!
An old voice note on staggering COVID-19 deaths in Malaysia has gone viral on WhatsApp. It claims that a new African variant has caused a massive surge in COVID-19 infections and deaths, with many people in Malaysia “brought in dead” (BID).
The voice message is sometimes accompanied by warnings like this:
START WEARING MASK IN THE PUBLIC… ADVICE FROM HOSPITAL BESAR… K. LUMPUR TEAM… DAILY HUNDREDS PATIENTS ADMITTED N MANY DIED.. VIRUS INTO LUNGS.. LISTEN TO ABOVE.. NO CURE
The voice note claims that hospitals in Malaysia no longer have beds for patients who are 70 years or older, and 48-60 people are dying every day in Kuala Lumpur.
The man on the voice note claims that the new African variant enters the lungs directly, and cannot be detected by COVID-19 tests. He also claimed that many younger people – 30 to 40 years old – have been infected by this new variant.
The man also claimed that the DG Health of Malaysia said that by next week, there will be ten thousand infections a day.
Viral Voice Note On COVID-19 Deaths In Malaysia Is Old!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Voice Note Is From 2021
When I was first asked to fact check the viral voice note, I immediately remembered that it went viral in 2021 – more than two years ago!
Fact #2 : KKM Says Voice Note Is Fake News
On Sunday, 3 December 2023, the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) publicly labelled the viral voice note as fake news (archive). Here is the English translation of their post:
There is a recording of a ‘Voice Note’ that went viral recently claiming that the beds in hospital wards are full and not enough, and commenting that the death rate is increasing in ‘brought in dead’ (BID) cases, as well as the spread of new epidemics from African countries has causedsudden death at one time.
The Ministry of Health would like to inform you that this voice note went viral in 2021 and is now widely distributed through the WhatsApp application to cause public anxiety.
Accordingly, the public is requested not to spread this false news that can cause panic in the community and to always be vigilant against the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic that is still around us.Make sure you take public health preventive measures by always practicing 3W, Avoid 3S, do a COVID-19 test if you have symptoms, get the COVID-19 vaccine including a booster dose, and get early treatment and the antiviral Paxlovid if you test positive for COVID-19.
The African variant mentioned in the viral voice note is actually the B.1.1.529 variant that was identified in 2021. The WHO identified it a variant of concern on 26 November 2021, and renamed it as the Omicron variant.
Fact #4 : Omicron Variant Is Less Virulent
Omicron and its sub-variants have been the dominant COVID-19 variants worldwide for the past two years. They have proven to be highly infectious, but fortunately, much less virulent than the original virus and the Delta variant.
Hence, the claims that the (South) African variant (which is now known as Omicron) are killing many people isn’t true. Thanks to mass vaccination, and the lower virulence of the Omicron variant, hospitals are no longer filled with dying patients.
Fact #5 : COVID-19 Tests Can Detect Omicron Variant
The claim that the (South) African variant (which is now known as Omicron) cannot be detected by current COVID-19 tests is nonsense. The current COVID-19 tests are more than capable of detecting Omicron variant infections.
In fact, these tests have not changed fundamentally – we have been using the same COVID-19 lab and home tests to detect Omicron infections for the past two years.
That said, it is important not to be complacent. COVID-19 infections are actually trending upwards in Malaysia.
On the same day the old voice note went viral, the current Malaysia Director-General of Health Dr. Muhammad Radzi said that there gas been a 57.3% increase in COVID-19 cases from November 19-25, compared to the week earlier.
Fortunately, the vast majority of the cases (98%) are only showing mild symptoms. Even so, we should all take precautions, to avoid getting infected.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did Transport Minister Anthony Loke just announce a 50% discount for senior citizens renewing their driving license?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Senior Citizens Get 50% Discount On Driving License!
People are sharing a WhatsApp message which claims that Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony just announced a 50% discount for senior citizens who renew their driving license.
Anthony Loke announced ½ price for Driving license for seniors. Pay for 5 years, get 10 years.
Only if license expiring less than 12 months. Moreover, seniors no need to queue
Truth : Senior Citizens Do Not Get 50% Discount On Driving License!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media platforms, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : No Recent Announcement On Driving License
When I first received this viral message, I checked online to see if Transport Minister Anthony Loke, or the Road Transport Department (JPJ), announced anything new on driving licenses in Malaysia, or its renewal.
However, there has been no recent announcement on the Malaysian driving license, or its renewal. The viral message also did not provide any evidence to back up its claim.
As far as I can tell – there is no such thing as a 50% discount for senior citizens renewing their driving licenses, or a renew for 5 years and get 10 years promotion on driving license renewal for senior citizens.
Fact #2 : JPJ Charging Same Prices For Senior Citizens
A check of the JPJ page on driving license fees in Malaysia showed that their prices applied across the board, with no special discount for senior citizens :
LICENSE TYPE
CHARGES (RM)
DURATION
LEARNER DRIVING LICENSE (LDL)
A Class
2.00
3/6 months
B2 Class (sole)
2.00/4.00
3/6 months
B/C Class
20.00/40.00
3/6 months
D Class and others
30.00/60.00
3/6 months
PROVISIONAL DRIVING LICENSE (PDL)
A/A1 Class
2.00
2 years
B2 (sole) Class
2.00
2 years
B/C Class
40.00
2 years
D/E/F/G/H/I Class
60.00
2 years
LESEN MEMANDU KOMPETEN (CDL)
A/A1 Class
2.00
1 year
B2 (sole) /B/C Class
20.00
1 year
D/E/F/G/H/I Class
30.00
1 year
VOCATIONAL DRIVING LICENSE
Goods Driving License (GDL) / Public Vehicle License (PSV) or CON
Fact #3 : 10% Discount Applies To 10 Year Renewal For All
On 3 May 2023, the Transport Minister announced an extension of the license validity period. Starting from 8 May 2023 onwards, all drivers in Malaysia will be allowed to renew their driving licences for a maximum period of 10 years.
On top of that, those who renew their driving licenses for 10 years would receive a 10% discount!
They will be charged the same fee of RM30 per year, but if they renew for 10 years at one go, the fee is RM270. This means they will only be paying for nine years.
On 8 May 2023, Anthony Loke confirmed the 10% discount for people renewing for the full 10 years.
You’ll only pay RM270 instead of RM300. That’s a new policy we’re introducing to make it easier for people.
At that time, he also said that the Road Transport Department (JPJ) will still take action, including revoking or suspending the driving licence, against people who commit traffic offences.
Fact #4 : One Year Limit For Expired Driving License
The viral message is correct about one thing though – there is a one year limit for people with expired licenses.
As Anthony Loke pointed out in May 2023, those who want to renew their driving license in Malaysia, must ensure that it has not expired for more than a year:
Those who want to renew must ensure that their licence has not expired for more than a year.
But here’s some good news – there is an amnesty for motorists whose driving licenses have expired for more than a year – you have until 31 December 2023 to renew your expired driving licenses without penalty.
This initiative only applies to Malaysian citizens, and not to foreigners holding special passes like the MyKAS card. In addition, only those who have not been blacklisted by the police, or have any existing restrictions imposed by JPJ, and are free from any suspension due to a conviction or court order may renew their expired driving license.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Is WhatsApp going to charge you a fee for keeping a backup of your old messages?!
Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : WhatsApp To Charge Fee For Backup Of Old Messages!
People are sharing articles with alarming titles that claim or suggest that WhatsApp is going to start charging you a fee for keeping a backup of your old messages!
WhatsApp warning over fee to keep old messages
Millions of WhatsApp users face shock new fees for viewing chats – are you affected?
Truth : WhatsApp Is Not Charging Fee For Backup Of Old Messages!
Let me share with you why WhatsApp is not charging any fee to backup old messages!
Fact #1 : WhatsApp Backup To Count Against Google Account Storage
First, let me just point out that the whole “drama” about WhatsApp charging a fee for the backup of old messages is based on the announcement that it will stop providing free unlimited backups on Android!
What it really means is that the storage used for your WhatsApp backup will count towards your Google Account’s cloud storage limit.
If you have a personal Google Account, you have 15 GB of free cloud storage space. When this new policy kicks in, you will need to reserve some of that space for your WhatsApp backup.
If you choose to enable WhatsApp backups on Android, personal Google Accounts come with 15GB of storage at no charge – 3X more than most mobile platforms – that’s shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.
To be clear – WhatsApp is not going to charge you to backup your old messages!
Fact #2 : Meta, Not Google, Owns WhatsApp
This new WhatsApp policy indirectly “encourages” you to pay for more storage in your Google Account, unless you diligently restrict the amount of storage used by WhatsApp, Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.
While this may appear as if WhatsApp is “charging you” to store large backups, that is simply not true. For one thing – WhatsApp isn’t actually charging anything. The other issue is WhatsApp is owned by Meta (the parent company of Facebook), not Google.
In other words, WhatsApp does not benefit financially from any user paying Google to add more storage, unless there is some kind of referral or profit sharing agreement between the two companies.
It is odd that some people think that they won’t be able to read their old messages once they run out of Google Account storage.
That’s simply not true, as the chat messages are stored in your phone. Only your WhatsApp backup file is being stored in your Google Account.
You can read all of your old messages even if you never backed up your WhatsApp data in the phone, or in your Google Account.
You will only lose your messages if you don’t back them up somewhere, and your phone gets destroyed.
Fact #4 : New Policy Only Affects Free Google Accounts
I should also point out that this new policy of counting the storage used by your WhatsApp backup towards your Google Account storage limit only affects people using free personal Google Accounts.
Google specifically said that this new policy does not affect people using paid Google Workspace subscriptions, even if they were provided by work or school.
In short – Google is only targeting cheapskates (like us) who refuse to subscribe to a paid Workspace account.
Those who are using paid Google Workspace accounts will continue to enjoy free and unlimited storage space for their WhatsApp backup files, that do not count towards their storage limit.
Fact #5 : You Can Avoid The Fee
If you are a cheapskate like us, there are several ways to avoid paying Google for extra storage space for your WhatsApp backup file:
switch to local backup on your phone (not recommended)
create a new Google Account specifically for your WhatsApp backup
do not include videos in your WhatsApp backup
clear WhatsApp media files once in a while to reduce backup size
cut storage use of other Google services – stop uploading photos to Google Photos, for example
In short – it is possible to continue backing up your WhatsApp chat history, without paying a cent to Google.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
WhatsApp just announced that it will stop providing free unlimited backup for its Android users! Find out what this means for you!
Previously : Free Unlimited WhatsApp Backup On Android!
From the beginning, WhatsApp has been providing its users with unlimited backup of chats and files on Android for free.
In fact, none of us ever thought about just how much storage we have been using to backup our WhatsApp chats and files. It was just something that we took for granted.
Well, that is going to change starting in December 2023… and here is what you need to know!
WhatsApp : No More Free Unlimited Backup On Android!
On Tuesday, 14 November 2023, Google Community Manager Jamie dropped a bombshell, announcing that WhatsApp will stop providing free unlimited backup on Android!
As an important heads up, WhatsApp backups on Android will soon start counting toward your Google Account cloud storage limit, similar to how WhatsApp backups are handled on other mobile platforms.
WhatsApp Is Not Charging Any Backup Fee
This does not mean WhatsApp will start charging a fee for backup storage. No, what will happen is that the storage used for your WhatsApp backup will count towards your Google Account’s cloud storage limit.
If you have a personal Google Account, you have 15 GB of free cloud storage space. Now, you will need to reserve some of that space for your WhatsApp backup.
If you choose to enable WhatsApp backups on Android, personal Google Accounts come with 15GB of storage at no charge – 3X more than most mobile platforms – that’s shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.
The 15GB of free cloud storage is not a lot of space, because it is shared by Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. Most users will quickly run out of space, unless they disable uploading photos to Google Photos, for example. Or regularly prune WhatsApp chats to reduce backup space.
To be clear – WhatsApp is not charging any fee to backup your old messages!
If you run out of storage, WhatsApp backup will stop working. The last backup will still be there, but you won’t be able to update that backup.
WhatsApp backups on Android will continue to work, as long as you have available space within your Google Account storage. If you hit your storage limit, you’ll need to free up space to resume backups by removing items you do not need.
What Google does not point out is that the other services relying on the same Google Account storage – Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos – will also stop working when you run out of storage!
In other words, you are being indirectly “encouraged” to pay for more Google storage. Unless you diligently restrict the amount of storage used by WhatsApp, Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.
Change Only Affects “Free” Personal Accounts
Currently, this change only affects users of personal Google Accounts. Those who have a Google Workspace subscription through work or school are not affected.
In other words, Google will only stop providing free unlimited backup to people who are using free personal Google Accounts.
Those who are using paid Google Workspace accounts will continue to enjoy free and unlimited storage space for their WhatsApp backup files.
This change will start rolling out for WhatsApp Beta users in December 2023, but everyone else can expect to lose the free unlimited backup in the first half of 2024.
This change will first start rolling out to WhatsApp Beta users starting in December 2023, then gradually to all WhatsApp users on Android starting early next year.
WhatsApp said that it will let users know 30 days before the change happens through a banner in the app.
You Can Backup Onto Your Phone
WhatsApp will still offer a local backup option that won’t count towards the storage limit. However, it is a poor alternative to cloud backup.
Click on the hamburger icon and go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
Tap on the “Back up to Google Drive” option, and select “Never“.
Tap on the green Back up button, and WhatsApp will create a local backup.
The local backup file is saved on your phone’s internal storage. You will need to periodically copy it to a micro SD card, or an external storage device. Otherwise, you will not have access to the backup, if you accidentally destroy your phone.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Will your phone get hacked if you scan the TNG RFID bar code?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Updated @ 2023-11-17 : Added new version, and more details. Originally posted @ 2023-05-10
Claim : Scanning TNG RFID Bar Code Can Hack Your Phone!
This warning about an RFID bar code scam has gone viral on WhatsApp, and social media, claiming that scammers are sending people free TNG RFID stickers, and asking them to scan the bar code.
Allegedly, scanning the TNG RFID bar code will cause your phone to be hacked by these scammers!
They send the RFID to you. When you scan the bar code they hack your hp It’s a scam
他们将 RFID 发送给您。 当您扫描条形码时，他们会入侵您 这是一个骗局
Mereka menghantar RFID kepada anda. Apabila anda mengimbas kod bar mereka menggodam anda Ia satu penipuan ☠️👻💩😱😰
If you get this free RFID card via courier, please throw away. Another scam.
Truth : Scanning TNG RFID Bar Code Will NOT Hack Your Phone!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : TNG RFID Bar Code Cannot Hack Your Phone
First of all – let me just say that the TNG RFID bar code cannot hack your phone. In fact, no one can hack your phone just because you scan an RFID bar code.
The bar code is nothing more than a series of numbers, which you can readily see printed under the bar code. These numbers cannot possibly hack your phone / smartphone.
Fact #2 : TNG Bar Code Is Used To Register RFID Sticker
The bar code visible in the clear window of the TNG RFID self-fitment kit is merely the serial number for the RFID sticker (also known as an RFID tag).
This serial number is used to register the RFID sticker, by scanning scan the bar code using the TNG eWallet mobile app. All it does is link the RFID sticker to your TNG eWallet account, so that all toll charges are automatically deducted from that account.
Fact #3 : TNG RFID Swapping Can Be Easily Detected
One of our readers suggested that the scammer might have swapped out the bar code, to trick you into registering a different TNG RFID sticker owned by the scammer.
This would allow the scammer to use his/her TNG RFID sticker to go through highway tolls for free, while you would be charged for his/her travels.
While that is plausible, it would be quickly detected by the victim who would not be able to use the RFID sticker to get through the toll. The victim would also be able to detect the illegal charges to his/her TNG eWallet account.
One of our readers suggested that the scammer may be trying to trick people into scanning the barcode of a duplicated RFID sticker. The scammer can then use the duplicate RFID sticker to go through tolls, which would be charged to the victims’ TNG eWallet accounts.
Now, Touch ‘n Go has not revealed much about how it is protecting its RFID stickers, only saying that each TNG RFID sticker has an embedded radio-frequency chip that makes every sticker “unique to each customer”.
But that suggests that the RFID stickers are not only encrypted, the chip has a private key that prevents duplication, which makes a lot of sense. Without such encryption and private key, anyone can literally just read the number off any RFID sticker in a parking lot, and duplicate it in a programmable RFID sticker.
Unless the scammer has somehow stolen the private keys, and can perfectly duplicate the RFID stickers, this seems like an improbable scam. More so when the scammers would be limited to using the tolls for free. Hardly worth the effort, if you ask me.
Fact #5 : There Are Easier + Cheaper Ways To Hack Your Phone
Truth be told – there are far easier and cheaper ways to hack your phone, than send you a free RFID sticker and ask you to scan the bar code.
These scammers will have to put in considerable expense and technical expertise into hacking the TNG eWallet app, and inserting their malware that the fake RFID number would trigger.
But why bother? If they can hack the TNG eWallet, they don’t even need to send you any fake RFID bar code to scan!
Making fake RFID stickers (tags) that look like genuine TNG RFID self-fitment kits costs money. Sending these fake kits also put them at risk, because deliveries can be traced.
There are many other ways to compromise your smartphone. There is simply no reason why scammers to waste time and money on such a convoluted scheme.
The most plausible explanation for receiving a free TNG RFID sticker out of the blue is that it was wrongly delivered to you. If you receive one, check the name and address on the package. It may not be meant for you. In that case, contact the delivery company and have them resend it to the right person.
I have also personally experienced receiving packages that I did not order, some of which appear to be sent due to a database error of some sort – my name and phone number are on the package, but the address was wrong or non-existent.
Out of an abundance of caution, just don’t install any RFID sticker that you did not order. Or you can call up TNG to verify that the RFID sticker is legitimate.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
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