Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by langstrasse

Interesting summary of Gaza ceasefire

langstrasse — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:41:33 +0800

Article has a lot of infographics, can't embed here, dont tldr its worth a visit:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/11/h...are-the-numbers

Since the ceasefire took effect, Israeli attacks have killed at least 673 Palestinians and injured 1,799.

Since the declaration of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on October 10, 2025, Israel has violated the agreement with near-daily attacks, killing hundreds of people.

Israel violated the ceasefire agreement at least 1,620 times from October 10, 2025 to February 10, 2026, through the continuation of attacks by air, artillery and direct shootings, the Government Media Office in Gaza reports.

The office said Israel shot at civilians 560 times, raided residential areas beyond the “yellow line” 79 times, bombed and shelled Gaza 749 times, and demolished people’s properties on 232 occasions. It added that Israel had also detained 50 Palestinians from Gaza.

Israel has also continued to block vital humanitarian aid and destroy homes and infrastructure across the Strip.

Al Jazeera has tracked the ceasefire violations to date.

What are the terms of the ceasefire?
On September 29, the United States unveiled a 20-point proposal to end Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, release the remaining captives held in the enclave, allow the full entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged territory and outline a three-phase withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Some of the main conditions of the first phase, which is ongoing, include:

An end to hostilities in Gaza between Israel and Hamas
Lifting the blockade of all aid into Gaza by Israel and stopping its interference in aid distribution
Release of all captives held in Gaza – alive or dead – by Hamas
Release of some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and disappeared people from Israeli jails
Withdrawal of Israeli forces to the “yellow line”

Following mediation by partners including Egypt, Qatar, and Turkiye, representatives from some 30 countries gathered on October 13 for a ceremony to sign the Gaza ceasefire agreement, led by US President Donald Trump.

However, Israel and Hamas were notably absent, raising doubts about the summit’s ability to achieve tangible progress towards ending the war and resolving the core issues of Israel’s occupation and the 18-year-long siege of Gaza.

Israel has pledged not to allow a Palestinian state, and the US has continued its large-scale arms transfers and diplomatic backing to Israel throughout its genocidal war on Gaza, while offering only vague statements about Gaza’s future.

[B]Israel attacks Gaza nearly every day
According to an analysis by Al Jazeera, Israel has attacked Gaza on 137 out of the past 159 days of the ceasefire, meaning there were only 22 days during which no violent attacks, deaths or injuries were reported.

Despite continuing attacks, the US insists that the “ceasefire” is still holding.[/B]

Israel still killing Palestinians
Since the ceasefire took effect at noon on October 10, Israel has killed at least 673 Palestinians and injured 1,799, according to the latest figures from the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

On October 19 and 29 – two of the deadliest days since the latest ceasefire – Israel killed a total of 154 people.

On October 19, accusing Hamas of violating the ceasefire after two Israeli soldiers were killed in Rafah, Israeli forces killed 45 people in a massive wave of air raids across the Gaza Strip.

Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, pointed out that Israel controls the Rafah area and it had no contact with any Palestinian fighters there.

On October 29, Israel killed 109 people, including 52 children, after an exchange of gunfire in Rafah that killed one Israeli soldier.

“The Israelis hit back, and they should hit back,” Trump told reporters, calling Israel’s attacks “retribution” for the soldier’s death.

On November 22, at least 21 Palestinians were killed in a spate of Israeli drone and missile attacks throughout northern and central Gaza, with dozens of others wounded.

Here are the latest figures from the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, tracking the casualties from October 7, 2023, through March 17, 2026:

Confirmed killed: at least 72,249 people, including 20,179 children
Injured: at least 171,898 people

Israel still choking aid
The ceasefire stipulated that “full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip”. However, the reality on the ground remains very different.

According to the Gaza Government Media Office, since October 10, 2025 to February 10, 2026 only 31,178 trucks entered Gaza out of 72,000, averaging 260 trucks per day. That is only 43 percent of the trucks allocated.

According to truck drivers, aid deliveries are facing significant delays, with Israeli inspections taking much longer than expected.

In addition, Israel has blocked essential and nutritious food items, including meat, dairy, and vegetables, crucial for a balanced diet. Instead, non-nutritious foodstuffs are being allowed, such as snacks, chocolate, crisps, and soft drinks.

Has Hamas released all of the captives?
On October 13, as per the ceasefire deal, Hamas released all 20 remaining living Israeli captives in exchange for 250 Palestinians serving long prison sentences and 1,700 Palestinians disappeared by Israel since October 7, 2023.

As part of the deal, Hamas is also expected to return the bodies of 28 Israeli captives in exchange for 360 Palestinian bodies held by Israel.

Israel has so far returned more than 300 Palestinian bodies, many of which were mutilated and showed signs of torture. Many remain unidentified.

As of December 26, Hamas had returned all 28 Israeli captives’ bodies.

What does international law say about ceasefires?
According to the Lieber Institute, a ceasefire is designed to halt active combat, or “freeze a conflict in place”, but it can be ambiguous in international law.

The suspension of hostilities is best understood as a cessation of active hostile military operations.

Resuming hostilities would breach political agreements, but it might not be a violation of international law unless the ceasefire was part of a binding treaty or United Nations Security Council resolution.

Jinchao Wei Former Navy sailor sentenced

langstrasse — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 14:19:29 +0800

Former Navy sailor sentenced to 16 years for selling information about ships to Chinese intelligence

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/13/politics...ion-chinese-hnk

A former US Navy sailor convicted of selling technical and operating manuals for ships and operating systems to an intelligence officer working for China was sentenced Monday to more than 16 years in prison, prosecutors said.

A federal judge in San Diego sentenced Jinchao Wei, 25, to 200 months. A federal jury convicted Wei in August of six crimes, including espionage. He was paid more than $12,000 for the information he sold, the US Department of Justice said in a statement.

Wei, an engineer for the amphibious assault ship USS Essex, was one of two California-based sailors charged on August 3, 2023, with providing sensitive military information to China. The other, Wenheng Zhao, was sentenced to more than two years in 2024 after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of receiving a bribe in violation of his official duties.

US officials have for years expressed concern about the espionage threat they say the Chinese government poses, bringing criminal cases in recent years against Beijing intelligence operatives who have stolen sensitive government and commercial information, including through illegal hacking.

Wei was recruited via social media in 2022 by an intelligence officer who portrayed himself as a naval enthusiast working for the state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, prosecutors said.

Evidence presented in court showed Wei told a friend that the person was “extremely suspicious” and that it was “quite obviously” espionage. Wei disregarded the friend’s advice to delete the contact and instead moved conversations with the intelligence officer to a different encrypted messaging app Wei believed was more secure, prosecutors said.

Over the course of 18 months, Wei sent the officer photos and videos of the Essex, advised him of the location of various Navy ships and told him about the Essex’s defensive weapons, prosecutors said.

Wei sold the intelligence officer 60 technical and operating manuals, including those for weapons control, aircraft and deck elevators. The manuals contained export control warnings and detailed the operations of multiple systems aboard the Essex and similar ships.

He was a petty officer second class, which is a enlisted sailor’s rank.

The Navy’s website says the Essex is equipped to transport and support a Marine Corps landing force of over 2,000 troops during an air and amphibious assault.

In a letter to the judge before sentencing, Wei apologized and said he shouldn’t have shared anything with the person who he had considered a friend. Wei said “introversion and loneliness” clouded his judgment.

Video of initial story

[YOUTUBE]O2wg6I3ilNc[/YOUTUBE]

Question for those with kids please come

langstrasse — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 21:09:28 +0800

Hi guys,
For those with children of schooling age (primary / secondary school) AND studying in private/international schools in Malaysia - what percentage do these annual fees represent when compared to your household net annual take home income?

For example - 1 kid studying at international primary school at 50k per year fees and household net income is 250k, here the ratio is 20%

Share please, I’m trying to figure out what’s a reasonable ratio. Thank you

How do you contact grab customer service

langstrasse — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:02:15 +0800

Hi all

I have an order dispute on grab that hasn’t progressed in weeks, searching through the app, I can’t find any option to speak or chat with an actual human from the customer service team at Grab.

Has anyone here been able to resolve any issues on grab recently by communicating with a human being at Grab?

Has anyone received AuthKit verification codes?

langstrasse — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 22:06:23 +0800

Hi guys
I've just received 2 whatsapp messages over the past 10 minutes as below.
Number has a +1(833) country code but on whatsapp the ID states "AuthKit"

"XXXXXX is your verification code. For your security do no share this code"

-> what should I do ? Just delete and block the number right?
-> is there any security changes to do on whatsapp?

thanks guys

Yoodo customers come in

langstrasse — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 12:53:34 +0800

People who are now using Yoodo, which telco plan are you choosing next?

I’m currently on RM25 20GB data 100mins voice

What’s the next best option out there that’s not prepaid?

How to generate QR code for waze destination

langstrasse — Sat, 11 May 2024 15:05:01 +0800

Hi all

Anyone here knows how to how to generate QR code for a waze destination? Possible to do this directly in the waze app?

How Long Should You Stay At Your Job?

langstrasse — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 20:38:51 +0800

Bincangkan

How long do you plan to stay at your current job and company?

[YOUTUBE]QwSyFMrtvbE[/YOUTUBE]

How many months bonus did you get?

langstrasse — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 21:34:56 +0800

So guys how many months bonus did you get for your performance in 2023?
Usually bonus is paid end of Mar/early April right?

1 month?
3 months?
12 months?

For me, no bonus

Q1 is over, how're your 2024 goals?

langstrasse — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 21:06:10 +0800

Hey all
Since we're officially done with Q1 2024, how're you progressing towards your 2024 goals?

Ada baik ka? Come share share

Which food delivery service do you use?

langstrasse — Sun, 10 Mar 2024 19:41:50 +0800

Hi all,
Food deliveries - I've been using grab for a long time but looking for alternatives now - please share your experience, recommendations and pros and cons

Thank you!

Windows 11 Users - Do you still purchase antivirus

langstrasse — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 19:05:35 +0800

Hi all,

Looking for opinions on whether Windows 11 users here still purchase additional subscription for antivirus - required or not? Recommended? Nice to have?
For average users - internet browsing and financial transactions.

I was previously using Bitdefender and the subscription has ended, thus currently looking up if I still need it.

Googling online, the top results (e.g. below) come to similar conclusions - not mandatory, but nice to have:
https://www.pcworld.com/article/797877/do-i...s-software.html

So, any other opinions on this?

Anyone did health screening recently in KL?

langstrasse — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 22:58:16 +0800

Hi all,

It's almost end of the year, it's a good time to plan for health screening.

Can anyone recommend good packages for men in 30s, say around RM500-RM700 price range max in KL area?

I usually do my screening at Pathlab low cost ones with vouchers, but wondering if there are better ones which have more thorough tests.

Thanks yo

How to repair coating on logitech mouse

langstrasse — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 19:26:03 +0800

Hello guys

For those who use Logitech mouse models (or similar) which have "rubber like" coating and which start to have scratches or peeling after a few years:

1.Have you tried to repair/replace the coating yoursefl?
2.If yes, what product did you use and what were the results?
Would the rubber used on badminton/tennis racquets or hockey sticks work?

From my online search:

*Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/MouseReview/commen...h_m720_started/
which recommended this brand (https://www.lizardskins.com/mouse-grip)

*Youtube: found this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66gC1i2JYOE...channel=Tymptra

Please help, I want to try and repair this coating as it seems a waste to replace a good working mouse just because of the outer coating.
Also this repair makes sense if the cost of coating purchase is not excessive (say max RM100).

Has anyone here started your own company?

langstrasse — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 21:33:43 +0800

Has anyone here started your own company?
Can share what your journey was like please?
No need to mention your business area if private.
Doesn’t matter if Sdn Bhd or Sole Proprietor

Please none of below:
1.Inheritance of family business
2.Cool stories
3.Friend’s grandpa’s neighbors story

Come share

What’s your company’s Annual Dinner theme

langstrasse — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 00:16:44 +0800

What’s your company’s Annual Dinner theme / plans this year?

Which location? In city/5 star hotel or offsite/resort setting?

Come share your major plans for 2023

langstrasse — Sun, 27 Nov 2022 12:35:41 +0800

As per topic come share what major plans you have for 2023:

Examples:

Financial - find new job/pay off loans/invest in new business/buy new house/

Relationship - get married/have a child/get second wife/get girlfriend etc.

Happiness - climb Mount Kinabalu, move from city to kampung, buy new house to escape from shitty neighbor, get new hobby etc.

Travel - visit Japan, Europe, Ukraine, Yemen, Thailand etc.

Come share your property purchase lessons learnt

langstrasse — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 22:00:07 +0800

Hello all,

I’d like to learnt from the wise people in here, what were the lessons you have learnt as part of your own stay property purchase experience?

What went right?
What went wrong and how could it have been better?

Some terms of reference to guide the discussion:
-what were your selection criteria-did you choose well?
-location
-total purchase costs, hidden fees
-negotiation process
-loans/financing/banks
-agents/lawyers/valuers
-insurance
-neighbors
-renovation

For context, this is for own stay property only, not for investment/airbnb/jiken farm/slave dungeon/flipping plays

Bincangkan

How prepared are you for a recession?

langstrasse — Sun, 06 Nov 2022 16:33:35 +0800

A lot of recent talk in mainstream news and kopitiam about an upcoming recession.
As usual, what's important is focusing on what's within our control.

Are there any specific steps that you have taken / are currently taking to be better prepared for this possibility?

Some food for thought/discussion:
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-rel...eous-rate-hikes

https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/personal-fi...ession-in-2023/

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/13/how-to-prep...-recession.html

https://www.reddit.com/r/UKPersonalFinance/...or_a_recession/

https://www.reddit.com/r/FinancialPlanning/...or_a_recession/

Common checklist items (which should be present as part of good personal finance anyway):

1.Savings of at least 6 months to 1 year's worth of expenses/commitments in fairly accessible, liquid form.

2.Minimize borrowings and leverage

3.Diversify investments

Bincangkan

How much does it cost to buy a boat?

langstrasse — Sun, 11 Sep 2022 00:52:10 +0800

This thread is to survey boat prices. Actually where is the go to place to look for small-medium sized boats?
Any recommendations?

Starting off with mudah:

RM 15,000
https://www.mudah.my/Bot+Fiber+Baru-97964118.htm

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

RM 58,800

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

RM 450,000
https://www.mudah.my/Aluminium+High+Speed+Boat-97813236.htm

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