Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by JoeYoung

Topgun Maverick x Macross

JoeYoung — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:21:30 +0800

[YOUTUBE]UVaIVYtK4AY[/YOUTUBE]

Japan PM Takaichi Condemns Iran's Retaliation

JoeYoung — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 09:58:41 +0800

US attack Iran is OK. Iran fight back is NOT OK.

Tokyo, March 5 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned Iran on Thursday over the country's counterstrikes following attacks by the United States and Israel.

In telephone talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Takaichi noted that Iran's attacks targeted diplomatic facilities as well as private-sector facilities including those related to energy, leading to civilian casualties.

Japan "condemns" such actions by Iran, Takaichi said.

The two leaders agreed that Japan and Germany will work together to calm the situation as soon as possible.

With China in mind, Takaichi and Merz shared concerns about the impact on global supply chains from export restrictions on critical minerals and other items. They confirmed Japan-Germany cooperation in the field of economic security.

https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2026030501222/

HK BNO face tougher UK Eng test. Income threshold

JoeYoung — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 21:14:34 +0800

Hong Kong’s BN(O) holders face tougher English test, possible income threshold
UK says it expects ‘vast majority of BN(O)s’ already able to meet revised English requirement, which will be equivalent to British A-level

Tighter English requirements for migrants moving to the UK may be challenging for many Hongkongers applying for a bespoke visa pathway, with some Britons even struggling to attain the level, a veteran teacher and a support group leader for new arrivals have said.

The Home Office confirmed on Friday that Hongkongers using the British National (Overseas) visa scheme to move to the UK must meet a higher English-language level set for all migrants as part of a shake-up of the country’s immigration system.

Under the overhaul announced on Thursday, migrants will need to meet the B2 English proficiency level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, up from the current B1.

Veteran English teacher Pauline Chow Lo-sai said that B2-level English, which requires understanding complex passages and technical discussions, speaking spontaneously with a native speaker, and a solid grounding in grammar and broad vocabulary, could be daunting for many Hongkongers.

“Do you find that many people in Hong Kong can speak spontaneously and can engage in a discussion in English? I don’t really think so,” she said.

“It would be very challenging. You know, people in Hong Kong do not actually have to use English, even for professionals.”

B1 English, in contrast, had room for more mistakes, Chow said.

“As long as you are being understood, you can be accepted as a B1. And your vocabulary might be very limited,” she said.

Chow added that even university graduates might find B2 English demanding.

“[If] in your profession or discipline of study, you are not always using English, and you are not required to express yourself verbally, that can still be very difficult,” she said.

“Because being able to speak and use that language is much more demanding than writing or reading.”

Asked whether B2-level English could be achieved quickly, Chow stressed that the key was to engage in conversation rather than merely reading more.

“Reading, watching television and so on, you are receiving English, you’re not producing. Speaking is another thing, you have to process what the person is speaking about, and then you have to prepare your answer,” she said.

Krish Kandiah, chairman of the Welcoming Committee for Hongkongers, a non-profit group, called the stricter English requirement controversial, as some locals might also struggle to meet it.

“B2 level is equivalent to A-level English; most British do not have A-level English, so many British people who are already residents here might well fail that standard. Again, it is proving controversial over here,” Kandiah said.

B2-level English is also equivalent to a score of 5.5 to 6.5 in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). This IELTS score is roughly equivalent to level three in the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam, based on benchmarking studies by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority.

In the 2025 DSE exam, 55.1 per cent of students attained level three or above in English.

Under the overhaul of the United Kingdom’s immigration system, the five-year route to settlement for the BN(O) pathway remains unchanged, but applicants may face a proposed annual earnings threshold of £12,570 (US$16,430), or about HK$128,000, for three to five years to qualify for staying in the country.

The income threshold and other proposed changes will undergo a 12-week consultation, with changes expected from April next year.

But the stricter English-language requirement is among mandatory stipulations that are not up for consultation. It remains unclear if people who are aged 65 and above will still enjoy an exemption from the test.

Ying Perrett, a Liberal Democrat councillor on Surrey Heath Borough Council who moved to the UK via the BN(O) pathway in 2021, told the Post that she hoped the UK government would keep to its promise when it created the route.

“As the BN(O) visa is a unique one, we hope the terms set out will not change, at least for those of us who have already moved to the UK, lock, stock and barrel,” she said.

Britain launched the BN(O) migration pathway in January 2021 in response to the Beijing-imposed national security law, approving nearly 225,000 such visas for Hongkongers and recording more than 160,000 arrivals as of September this year.

The UK government forecast that about 195,000 BN(O) visa holders would settle in the country in the next five years.

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society...veteran-teacher

NL returns Nexperia to CN

JoeYoung — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 23:30:11 +0800

Netherlands Returns Control of Nexperia to Chinese Owner

The Dutch government suspended its powers over chipmaker Nexperia, handing back control to its Chinese owner and defusing a standoff with Beijing that had begun to hamper automotive production around the world.

The order that gave the Netherlands powers to block or revise decisions at Nijmegen-based Nexperia was dropped as “a show of goodwill,” Economic Affairs Minister Vincent Karremans said Wednesday, adding that discussions with Chinese authorities are continuing.

“The Nexperia group currently shows no signs of continuing the behavior that prompted my order, nor any intention to do so,” the minister said in a letter to parliament on Wednesday.

China called it a first step in the right direction, but there remains a gap between suspending and fully revoking the order, which was the “root cause” of the global chip disruption, the ministry of commerce in Beijing said in a statement.

The Dutch state invoked supervisory powers over Nexperia to safeguard crucial technology, citing concerns that actions by Wingtech Technology Co., the chipmaker’s Chinese owner, risked hobbling the company. Nexperia is the last manufacturer with European production capacity for so-called “legacy” chips, which are crucial in the automotive and consumer electronics sectors.

Nexperia said the developments represent “important progress” but added that the full restoration of the supply chain requires “further cooperation” from its entities in China, according to an emailed statement. Wingtech pressed the Dutch government for more action to resolve the situation and rejected the “accusations” of alleged mismanagement.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/202...pmaker-nexperia

How China Fixed Its Air in 5 Yr -Why India Cant?

JoeYoung — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 19:31:42 +0800

[YOUTUBE]-VPYbJxPvzY[/YOUTUBE]

HMS Malaya Battleship

JoeYoung — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 19:05:24 +0800

Didnt know we had one named after us.

HMS Malaya was one of five Queen Elizabeth-class super-dreadnought battleships built for the Royal Navy during the 1910s. Shortly after commissioning in early 1916, she participated in the Battle of Jutland of the First World War as part of the Grand Fleet.

Malaya spent the interwar period between the Mediterranean Fleet, Atlantic Fleet, and Home Fleet. She transported Ottoman Sultan Mehmed VI into exile and served during the 1936-1939 Arab revolt in Palestine. Apart from this, her interwar career was uneventful.

With the outbreak of the Second World War, Malaya served with the Mediterranean Fleet, serving as a convoy escort and fighting in the Battle of Calabria and Operation Grog. In March 1941, she was transferred to the North Atlantic to perform convoy escort duties, during which she prevented the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau from attacking a convoy. Torpedoed in that month by the German submarine U-106, Malaya received repairs in New York. Malaya was withdrawn from serving at the end of 1944 and used as an accommodation ship for the training establishment HMS Vernon. She was ultimately broken up and sold for scrap in 1948.

M'sians With Sg Driving Licences RON95 @ 1.99

JoeYoung — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 14:31:45 +0800

M'sians With Singapore Driving Licences Will Also Be Allowed To Buy RON95 At RM1.99
The move comes after complaints from Malaysians working in Singapore, who expressed frustration at being denied access to the subsidised RON95 despite being citizens.

The Cabinet has agreed in principle to let Malaysians working in Singapore, who hold Singapore driving licences, enjoy the full RON95 fuel subsidy when refuelling their Malaysia-registered vehicles
Starting 30 September, the government will roll out the targeted subsidy mechanism, BUDI95, which allows Malaysians to purchase RON95 at the fully subsidised price of RM1.99 per litre, while foreigners will continue paying the floating market rate of RM2.60 per litre.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the government recognises the concerns raised by Malaysians working across the Causeway, many of whom had to switch to Singapore licences for work purposes.

This has effectively left them excluded from the subsidy scheme since the system is tied to MyKad and driving licence records.

"Although BUDI95 is primarily for Malaysians with MyKad and a valid local licence, many of our people who commute to Singapore have to get a Singapore licence.

"Because Singapore's system isn't linked with ours, they were left out of the subsidy mechanism. The government will fix this issue," Loke said.

Loke explained that a registration process will be introduced, allowing affected Malaysians to apply to be included
Details will be announced next week, he said.

"They may not be able to join the subsidy scheme immediately when it starts on 30 September, but don't worry, the government has not forgotten them," he assured.

The move comes after complaints surfaced online from Malaysians working in Singapore, who were frustrated at being barred from the subsidised RON95 fuel unless they gave up their Singapore licence and reinstated a Malaysian one.

At least tens of thousands are expected to benefit once the inclusion is implemented.

https://says.com/my/news/msians-with-singap...ron95-at-rm1-99

Sg Grabfood pay by Card when opted COD

JoeYoung — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 16:49:28 +0800

GrabFood customers trying to pay by card for their order when they opted cash payment.

[fb]https://www.facebook.com/reel/1063987815805919[/fb]

Pro-Palestine Advocate Labels Malaysians

JoeYoung — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 13:11:37 +0800

Pro-Palestine Advocate Labels Malaysians Who Don’t Support Palestine As “Zionists”
Zaim Salimun declared that “you can’t be a Malaysian and a Zionist at the same time”, exposing growing internal divisions within Malaysia over what was previously considered a unified national stance on Palestine.
A Malaysian pro-Palestine advocate, Zaim Salimun, has posted on social media specifically labelling other Malaysians who don’t support Palestine as “Zionists”.
He argues that his fellow citizens cannot legitimately hold Malaysian citizenship if they hold such views.
Zaim, who works as an insurance agent, is active on multiple social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, where he has built a following around his interests and activism.
In one of his recent social media posts, Zaim drew a stark line when directly addressing other Malaysians who don’t support Palestine.
Genocide is not ‘perbezaan pendapat’ (difference of opinion). You can’t be a Malaysian and a Zionist at the same time.

https://www.therakyatpost.com/news/malaysia...ne-as-zionists/

Tenant From Hell’ Who Didn’t Pay Rent, Utility

JoeYoung — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 18:23:20 +0800

M’sian Woman’s Home Trashed By ‘Tenant From Hell’ Who Didn’t Pay Rent, Utility Bills For 6 Months

For every landlord, their worst nightmare is seeing their property being damaged or wrecked beyond recognition by irresponsible tenants, leaving them to pick up the pieces.
One woman was left horrified and disgusted after her once beautiful home was completely trashed by a male tenant who not only left the place in disarray, but also allegedly skipped out on paying rent and utility bills.

Real picture in the FB link

Taking to the Facebook group Rumah/Bilik Sewa Puncak Alam to share the encounter, the woman warned others from renting their property to a male tenant that left her home in a state of complete disaster.
In the photos accompanying the post, one showed what appears to be the bedroom overflowing with discarded plastic bags, bottles, and food containers.

Another showed a thick layer of dust and cobwebs clinging onto the air-conditioner and walls — a clear sign that the place wasn’t cleaned for a long time.
In the caption, the woman said the room was full of cat faeces and leftover trash left behind by the tenant.
She also alleged that the tenant had failed to pay six months’ worth of rent and utility bills before absconding.

https://weirdkaya.com/msian-womans-home-tra...nant-from-hell/

UUM lecturer fails to stay Hannah’s RM480K judgmen

JoeYoung — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 16:02:02 +0800

Gentlemen, please prepare your MILO tin.

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has dismissed Universiti Utara Malaysia lecturer Kamarul Zaman Yusoff’s bid to stay the execution of a judgment requiring him to pay RM480,000 in damages and costs to youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh.
Yeoh’s counsel Sangeet Kaur Deo told the media that judicial commissioner Avinder Singh Gill had ruled that there were no special circumstances to warrant the stay.
The matter was heard in chambers this morning.
“The court dismissed the application with costs of RM2,500,” she said.
On May 30, the High Court ordered Kamarul to pay Yeoh RM400,000 in damages and RM80,000 in legal costs for defaming her in two Facebook posts published in 2017.
Kamarul filed his appeal from the decision in June but delayed in seeking the stay.
His failure to effect payment, despite repeated demands made on Yeoh’s behalf, saw the Segambut MP initiate bankruptcy proceedings.
Kamarul filed his application to stay the execution of the judgment last month.
Sangeet said Kamarul’s lawyer, Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz, raised the bankruptcy issue in court today. However, she said the court held that it did not amount to special circumstances and should be dealt with by the insolvency court.
Khairul later told reporters that he would seek further instructions from his client

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/...rm480k-judgment

Sekiro Die Twice Anime

JoeYoung — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 08:16:16 +0800

[YOUTUBE]IRjuAemfaQE[/YOUTUBE]

Bharat shot down 6 Pak fighters

JoeYoung — Sun, 10 Aug 2025 09:59:11 +0800

Didn't know S400 Anti Air can even track parked aircraft as if earth is flat (terrain)
A few F-16" fighters that were parked in hangars. Go read yourself.

India shot down six Pakistani military aircraft in May, air force chief says

Summary
Pakistan rejects the statement
US has previously said unaware any US-made fighter jets were hit
NEW DELHI, Aug 9 (Reuters) - India shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one other military aircraft during clashes in May, India's air force chief said on Saturday, in the first such public claim by the country after its worst military conflict in decades with its neighbour.
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif rejected the statement, saying India had not hit or destroyed a single Pakistani aircraft.

At an event in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru, Indian Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh said most of the Pakistani aircraft were downed by India's Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile system. He cited electronic tracking data as confirmation of the strikes.

Singh did not mention the type of fighter jets that were downed, but said that airstrikes also hit an additional surveillance plane and "a few F-16" fighters that were parked in hangars at two air bases in southeastern Pakistan

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/...ays-2025-08-09/

Touch Me Bro explained his side of story

JoeYoung — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 23:46:15 +0800

'I'm not a fighter' - Security guard in viral condo fight speaks up

KUALA LUMPUR: A security guard involved in a viral altercation with a mixed martial arts (MMA) coach outside a condominium in Selangor has spoken up.

Muhammad Alim Muhamad Adnizam, 24, said the dispute with MMA coach Tony Lim began inside the condominium compound and escalated outside as he was ending his shift.

"I'm not a fighter. I don't even know silat. It happened suddenly and I just reacted," he said, adding that he was merely doing his job when the situation escalated.

Both men later lodged police reports at the Kinrara police station in Puchong and agreed to a truce.

"We shook hands, admitted fault, and agreed not to share the video. I thought it was over," he said.

"But a few days later, I found out the video had gone viral. My relatives started calling, asking what happened. I was embarrassed, especially since I live with my family in a flat with many neighbours."

Alim received four stitches on his lip due to the incident.

Following the incident, his employer reassigned him to another residential area in Puchong.

"At first, I felt lost. But I'm thankful I wasn't fired. I still need to work to support my family," he said, adding that he had read many of the comments online.

He declined to elaborate further, citing the ongoing police investigation.

However, he acknowledged the need to better control his emotions.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2025/07/...do-fight-speaks

Hamas releases Israeli-American hostage

JoeYoung — Tue, 13 May 2025 17:02:02 +0800

Hamas releases Israeli-American hostage in goodwill gesture toward Trump administration

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas on Monday released an Israeli-American soldier who had been held hostage in Gaza for more than 19 months, offering a goodwill gesture toward the Trump administration that could lay the groundwork for a new ceasefire with Israel.

Edan Alexander, 21, was the first hostage released since Israel shattered an eight-week ceasefire with Hamas in March and unleashed fierce strikes on Gaza that have killed hundreds of Palestinians.

He was handed over to the Red Cross and then to Israeli forces before being flown by helicopter to a hospital in Tel Aviv. Israeli authorities released video and photos showing a pale but smiling Alexander in an emotional reunion with his mother and other family members.

Israel has promised to intensify its offensive, including by seizing Gaza and displacing much of the territory’s population again. Days before the ceasefire ended, Israel blocked all imports from entering the Palestinian enclave, deepening a humanitarian crisis and sparking warnings about the risk of famine if the blockade isn’t lifted. Israel says the steps are meant to pressure Hamas to accept a ceasefire agreement on Israel’s terms.

https://apnews.com/article/mideast-wars-gaz...70fb518191c14df

SNT6577S maserati attacked by angry moto 2nd Link

JoeYoung — Sat, 10 May 2025 13:48:19 +0800

[YOUTUBE]k6Y9x8V90Jk[/YOUTUBE]

U.S. Real GDP Fell By 0.3 Percent in the 1st Q

JoeYoung — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 21:01:51 +0800

As expected, U.S. economic growth stalled in the first quarter of 2025, almost entirely due to uncertainty about Trump’s economic policies and the impact of tariffs. Real GDP growth was -0,3% in the quarter. Consumer Prices increased by 3.6% in the first quarter, up from 2.4% in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Right wing and mainstream news may try to spin this as bad weather or something. But it’s not. It’s the Trump Effect, in plain sight.

https://www.bea.gov/news/2025/gross-domesti...dvance-estimate

https://www.fxstreet.com/news/us-gdp-set-to...es-202504300600

Seattle Port Empty. Waiting for ship to dock

JoeYoung — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 20:06:33 +0800

Like many of his neighbors near the Seattle waterfront, Alex Smith keeps a close eye on the big container ships crossing Elliott Bay to and from the terminals at the Port of Seattle.

So when Smith, a retired marine components industry professional, noticed fewer vessels coming through starting in mid-April, he worried it was an “early warning system” for the effects of the widening U.S.-China trade dispute.

“It’s frightening, to tell you the truth,” Smith, 80, said of the possible economic costs as the two countries’ escalating tariffs have made trade much more expensive.

Fewer ships coming into the U.S. means companies can’t get components. Retailers and consumers can’t get products. Farmers and manufacturers lose foreign markets. “Everything stops,” Smith said.

Smith is hardly alone in worrying about the economy in and around trade-reliant Puget Sound ever since new tariffs rolled out by President Donald Trump quickly escalated into a full-blown trade war.

Experts think it won’t be until May that the full impacts of a U.S.-China tariff tit-for-tat hit the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, given the weekslong transit times between the sparring nations.

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/tarif...ips-to-come-in/

FromSoftware New Game: Duskbloods

JoeYoung — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 00:13:35 +0800

The moontears will flow for one and one alone when The Duskbloods, a brand-new multiplayer game by FromSoftware, is coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026!

[YOUTUBE]niKHDEKQ7xA[/YOUTUBE]

Zamri Vinoth got 9 lawyers

JoeYoung — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 15:08:02 +0800

Sembilan peguam dilaporkan hadir bagi membantu pendakwah bebas Zamri Vinoth yang akan di bawa ke Mahkamah Kangar bagi permohonan reman. Perkara tersebut dimaklumkan oleh pendakwa Firdaus Wong melalui media sosial.

As the video platform of Malaysia's leading online news portal https://malaysiagazette.com/, we deliver authentic, fact-checked reports covering a wide range of topics: national news, international developments, human-interest stories, politics, economics, educational contents and everything happening in the country and beyond.

[YOUTUBE]5Fdh4Pl6nI8[/YOUTUBE]