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False: Chewing the roots of an elephant apple tree can cure rabies Health experts have warned there is no cure for rabies once symptoms of the infection appear, contradicting false posts in Myanmar that advise people not to go to the hospital and instead cure themselves by chewing on the root of an elephant apple tree. Experts say rabies -- usually spread through a bite or scratch from an infected animal -- is nearly always fatal once clinical signs appear but its onset can be prevented with immediate medical care. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: Image shows a North Korean national identity card issued to South Korean lawmaker An image has been repeatedly shared in social media posts that falsely claim it shows a North Korean national identity card issued to a South Korean lawmaker and accusing him of holding public office while bearing citizenship from the North. In fact, the image shows a North Korean visa issued to the lawmaker, a son of a former South Korean president who pursued an engagement policy towards the North. He posted the photo of the visa on Facebook in July 2018 when he visited Pyongyang. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: Video of a bridge submerged by waves caused by Cyclone Biparjoy. Footage of waves pummelling what appears to be a bridge have been shared hundreds of times in social media posts that falsely claim it shows the impact of Cyclone Biparjoy on the coastline of a state in northwestern India in June 2023. While Biparjoy -- which means "disaster" in Bengali -- did hammer coastal communities with powerful winds, storm surges and lashing rain, the video in fact shows a jetty during high tide on an island off India's southwestern coast almost six years earlier. The person who shot the video told AFP it was filmed on the island of Minicoy in August 2017 and such sights are a common occurrence there. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: There is no cure for endometriosis – claims about a home remedy drink are false IN SHORT: While endometriosis affects about 190 million women of reproductive age across the world, this home remedy is not the cure. Seek medical attention should you experience any of the symptoms in this report. You can cure endometriosis naturally, according to posts doing th (Source: Africa Check)
False: No, Nollywood actor Annie Idibia doesn't have cancer IN SHORT: Nigerian actor Annie Idibia went bald for a cancer awareness campaign. Images from that campaign have been circulating online, with claims that she has cancer. This is not true. A post on Facebook quotes legendary Nigerian singer Innocent Idibia, also known as Tuface, s (Source: Africa Check)
False: Despite persistent claims otherwise, there's plenty of evidence that HIV exists and is sexually transmitted IN SHORT: The existence of HIV and the link between HIV and Aids has been established by scientists for decades. But false claims disputing these connections are still repeated and are dangerous. A tweet claiming that "There is no evidence that HIV is sexually transmitted (or tha (Source: Africa Check)
False: No, United Nations not united on gay rights – didn't replace member country flags with pride flag IN SHORT : The United Nations is yet to be unanimous on gay rights. So why would it replace all of its 193 member states' flags with the rainbow pride flag? The short answer is it didn't. In June 2023 a claim went viral on social media that to mark Pride Month, the United Nations (Source: Africa Check)
Scam: It's a scam! This Facebook account is using an illegal investment platform and the name of the Nigerian TV authority to scam IN SHORT: This Facebook account impersonating broadcaster NTA is out to take money from Nigerians using an illegal investment platform. It claims the platform is registered and can double your money in an hour, but this is not true. "Jamalife Global Helpers is a new enlisted plat (Source: Africa Check)
False: South Africa's new R10 banknote is still green, not blue – but you should always check your change IN SHORT: False claims have been doing the rounds on social media since South Africa's reserve bank announced changes to the country's currency. In this case, it is not true that the colour of the R10 note has changed. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) announced in May 2023 t (Source: Africa Check)
Scam: Nigerians, beware of Facebook accounts using defunct ponzi scheme's name to scam you IN SHORT: It was a scam then and it's a scam now. These Facebook accounts are using the name of Chymall Investment, an old ponzi scheme that no longer exists. "Don't let the fear of losing greater than than the chances of winning, Payment duration is 45minutes to 2 hours irrespec (Source: Africa Check)
False: No evidence banana, egg, milk and baking soda mixture can help women get pregnant – see qualified gynaecologists IN SHORT: A Facebook post circulating in Nigeria claims that a combination of ripe banana, raw egg and milk can be used to help women conceive. We have found no scientific evidence to support this. A video posted on Facebook in Nigeria claims that drinking a mixture of ripe banan (Source: Africa Check)
False: The picture is recent and shows a real incident from France. An image showing several people inside a police van is going viral on the internet with users linking it to the recent violence that has broken out in France.While one person can be seen with a gun in the picture, another can be seen holding the national flag of France on the top (Source: WebQoof - The Quint)
False: video of violance in France After a thorough investigation, Vishvas News found that the video of cars falling from a building is not related to the France violence, but is from a movie.New Delhi (Vishvas News): A video circulating on social media shows cars falling from a building and exploding, with a clai (Source: Vishvasnews)
Public Health Fakes: in European countries, the number of HIV cases has sharply increased due to refugees from Ukraine. Issue #39 Russian Telegram channels continue to discredit Ukrainian refugees abroad. Propagandists claim a “sharp” increase in HIV/AIDS cases in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland. In publications, they add that Ukraine has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS infection. Therefore, th (Source: Vox Ukraine)
False: Video shows jets bombing the area near Eiffel Tower in Paris. A video of jets flying over Paris and bombing the city, including the area near the Eiffel Tower is viral online amid the ongoing unrest in France. BOOM found that the video is old and not real, and has been created using computer graphics by the Ukraine government to link it to (Source: BOOM Live)
The NHS England chie...: The NHS England chief executive, Amanda Pritchard, earns £86,000. Dreadful BBC interview with CEO of the NHS Amanda Pritchard. She herself earns £86,000 but refuses to support decent wages for doctors and nurses. Diane Abbott MP, 2 July 2023 . The independent MP Diane Abbott tweeted on Sunday 2 July that the NHS England chief executive earns £8 (Source: Full Fact)
False: Video shows Gujarat IPS Officer Kajal Hindusthani warning Hindu girls about about 'love-jihad'. A video showing a woman asking the parents and girls from the Hindu community to stay alert and away from boys from the Muslim community while warning them about 'love jihad' is going viral on the internet.The claim states that the video shows Kajal Shingala, an Indian Police Ser (Source: WebQoof - The Quint)
False: The image shows the recent protests happening in Paris, France. An image showing scattered garbage on fire while people walk past it near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France is going viral on social with a claim that it shows the recent protests in France.What is happening in France?: Protests broke out in different areas of the country after a (Source: WebQoof - The Quint)
Partly False: There were no cases of malaria spread by mosquitoes between 2003 and 2023. A post on Twitter retweeted over 20,000 times says: "It must be a coincidence that from 2003-2023 there wasn't one case of Malaria spread by mosquitos…and along comes a company funded by Bill Gates…to solve a problem that didn't exist…and suddenly in the exact places where he rel (Source: Full Fact)
Partly False: A company founded by Bill Gates released mosquitoes and in those exact places there were subsequent outbreaks of malaria. A post on Twitter retweeted over 20,000 times says: "It must be a coincidence that from 2003-2023 there wasn't one case of Malaria spread by mosquitos…and along comes a company funded by Bill Gates…to solve a problem that didn't exist…and suddenly in the exact places where he rel (Source: Full Fact)
False: Videos show rioters in France have released animals including zebras and lions from Paris Zoo. A number of videos shared on social media claim that animals such as zebras, lions and an elephant have been released onto the streets of Paris during the recent riots . Full Fact has seen videos on Facebook that claim the animals were released from Paris Zoo and others that ment (Source: Full Fact)
Debunked: 'Cloud fac...: Debunked: 'Cloud factory' clip released on 1 April doesn't show that humans control the weather (Source: TheJournal.ie)
False: Video shows Chuck Grassley forcing FBI director to resign No, video doesn't show Grassley forcing Wray to resign | Fact checkShow Caption Hide Caption FBI's Wray raises security concerns about TikTok FBI Director Chris Wray is raising national security concerns about TikTok (Dec. 2) APThe claim: Video shows Chuck Grassley forcing FBI director to resignA June 20 Facebook video (direct link, archive link) shows Sen. Chuck Grassley and Sen. Tom Cotton questioning FBI Director Christopher Wray. "Watch Wray caught RED-HANDED with STUPID 'witness' removal for Hunter...Grassley makes him resign," reads the video's caption. It shows Grassley and Cotton questioning Wray during a Senate committee hearing, but nobody mentions Wray resigning. Wray doesn't resign in video, Hunter Biden not mentionedThe video shows a clip from an August 4, 2022, Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in which Grassley, an Iowa Republican, asks Wray about Timothy Thibault, a former FBI agent. Fact check: Video shows members of Congress talking, not Obama being questioned by aideThere is also nothing in the video about Wray being forced to resign. (Source: USA Today)
Miscaptioned: A video shared online in July 2023 showed dozens of cars being set on fire by French protesters. About this rating The viral video did not show dozens of cars being set on fire by French protesters in July 2023. Instead, it showed a fire incident that occurred at an auction yard in Perth, Australia, in April 2023. In late June 2023, massive protests broke out in France due t (Source: Snopes)
Debunked: Dialing 55...: Debunked: Dialing 55 during an emergency in Ireland won't alert a phone operator to a 'silent' call (Source: TheJournal.ie)
Altered: Photo showing GameStop ‘Titan Deals’ promotion is fabricated Retailer GameStop did not offer a package using the label “Titan Deals” and comprising the Subnautica video game with a Logitech controller, as pictured in an altered image circulating online. The photograph, originally taken at European game vendor MediaMarkt’s retail location i (Source: Reuters)
False: A photo shows riots taking place under the Eiffel Tower "right now". A post on Facebook falsely claims that a photo shows a riot taking place near Paris' Eiffel Tower in recent days. But the photo was actually taken in 2016. The photo shows people, many of them with their face covered, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower next to a burning pile of rubb (Source: Full Fact)
Miscaptioned: Clip of cars falling from garage is movie footage shot in Cleveland, not France riots A clip of cars falling several stories from a parking garage and bursting into flames on impact shows the filming of a “Fast & Furious” movie in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2016, not footage captured during protests in France in July 2023. Social media users shared the video claiming the (Source: Reuters)
False: Video shows Chuck Grassley give FBI director 'jailtime' Video shows Grassley talking FBI letters, not giving Wray jail time | Fact checkShow Caption Hide Caption President Joe Biden is 'very proud' of Hunter Biden President Biden says he is "very proud" of his son following Hunter Biden's plea deal with the Department of Justice. Damien Henderson, USA TODAYThe claim: Video shows Chuck Grassley give FBI director 'jailtime'A June 23 Facebook video (direct link, archive link) shows Sen. Chuck Grassley speaking on the Senate floor. "'WAIT AND SEE' Chuck Grassley puts Biden in PANIC MODE with J.AILTIME to Wray after 'Hunter' c.ase (sic)," reads the video's caption. It shows Grassley, an Iowa Republican, talking about letters he sent to the FBI. Fact check: Video shows 2022 Trump speech, not recent national addressUSA TODAY has debunked numerous social media posts that pair congressional footage with misleading captions. (Source: USA Today)
False: In July 2023, during protests over the police shooting of a teenager, France announced it was restricting internet access. About this rating In July 2023, claims began to spread on social media platforms that France had restricted "all internet access" across the country. The claim began to spread as people across the country protestedthe deadly police shooting of a 17-year-old in a suburb of Paris. (Source: Snopes)
False: Video shows Chuck Grassley receiving a standing ovation after criticizing Merrick Garland Video shows Garland being questioned during hearing, no mention of jail | Fact checkShow Caption Hide Caption Merrick Garland addresses federal indictments against Donald Trump Attorney General Merrick Garland spoke about the prosecution team in the federal indictment case against former President Donald Trump. In a second clip, the video shows Casey Mulligan, a University of Chicago professor, speaking. Video is example of 'false framing' misinformationThe first clip in the video shows Garland being questioned at a March 1 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Fact check: Video shows Rep. Greene at hearing, no mention of Garland impeachmentAt no point in the video does Grassley receive a standing ovation, nor does anyone threaten Garland with jail or say, "you scare witness." Additionally, users may scroll past the video with the sound off, never realizing the caption doesn’t match what the video shows. (Source: USA Today)
False: Video shows jets bombing the area near Eiffel Tower in Paris. A video of jets flying over Paris and bombing the city, including the area near the Eiffel Tower is viral online amid the ongoing unrest in France. BOOM found that the video is old and not real, and has been created using computer graphics by the Ukraine government to link it to (Source: BOOM Live)
False: Video shows an incident took place in France that triggered riots in the country. An old video of a sudden fireworks explosion in front of a residential lawn in United States has recently been shared with a false claim that the clip shows one of the incidents from France which trigged riots in the country.BOOM found that the video is old and not from France. T (Source: BOOM Live)
False: Paris bombed by airstrikes amid France unrest, sparked by police killing of a teenager. Authors Kushel HM Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.ClaimParis bombed by airstrikes amid France unrest, sparked by police kill (Source: Newschecker)
False: The video shows tribals escaping from the 'pro-BJP militants' attacks in Manipur. A video of a huge crowd walking through fields is being shared on the internet with users claiming that it shows tribals escaping from the 'pro-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) militants' attacks in Manipur.What have users said?: Those sharing the video have posted it with a caption (Source: WebQoof - The Quint)
False: The video shows protestors in France throwing cars off a building. A video showing several cars falling down a building and crashing to the ground is going viral as one from France in the light of the recent violent protests in the country.What are the users saying?: Social media users wrote that the video wasn't from Syria or Afghanistan but fr (Source: WebQoof - The Quint)
Miscaptioned: Video of burning parking lot predates France riots A video of a fire burning vehicles in a parking lot is from April in Australia but is being shared online as if it were from the riots in France in late June and early July. Unrest and discontent due to the killing of a 17-year-old by police on June 27 led to riots across France. (Source: Reuters)