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All English Fact Checks
Misinterpreted: Lithium mining operations caused widespread air quality problems for large portions of the USA on June 29, 2023 MisinterpretedDid a large plume of smoky air from Canada, which spread poor air quality conditions to many places in the U.S. in late June 2023, originate from gold and lithium mining operations in Sakami, Quebec, and not from forest fires? No, that's not true: There were many la (Source: Lead Stories)
False: Video of Greek coastguard shooting at migrant boat in June 2023 After a fishing trawler carrying hundreds of migrants capsized off Greece in June 2023, a video was shared in Pakistani social media posts that falsely claimed it showed survivors of the tragedy being confronted, shot at and sunk by the Greek coastguard. But the video has in fact circulated since at least March 2020 in reports about Greek coast guards attempting to force migrants back towards Turkey. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: Video shows the aftermath of riots in France in July 2023. A video of burnt buildings has been shared hundreds of times in social media posts that falsely claim it shows Paris after riots in the French capital and across the country that were triggered by the fatal shooting of a teenager by police at a traffic stop in June 2023. But the clip in fact matches an AFP photo and video of a shopping mall that was destroyed in Ukraine's capital Kyiv after Russian shelling in March 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: A locomotive set on fire by Muslim rioters at a railway station in Zurich, Switzerland. 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.ClaimA locomotive set on fire by Muslim rioters at a railway station in Zu (Source: Newschecker)
False: 2023 Brics summit to go ahead in South Africa as planned, claims to the contrary are false IN SHORT: A claim is circulating in the country that South Africa will no longer host the Brics Summit. But official sources, including the 2023 Brics summit website and South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation, have confirmed that the event will go on (Source: Africa Check)
Mcorrect: Can a home pregnancy test show signs of testicular cancer in men? Not all cancers, seek professional diagnosis IN SHORT: A claim that a positive home pregnancy test in men could indicate signs of testicular cancer is true. However, it's important to be aware that a negative pregnancy test does not eliminate the possibility of this type of cancer. Experts recommend seeking a diagnosis from (Source: Africa Check)
False: Mobile operator offering gifts on Facebook in Ethiopia A viral post shared on Facebook claims mobile operator Safaricom is offering Ethiopians a chance to win prizes by following the company’s Facebook page. However, this is false: Safaricom confirmed to AFP Fact Check that the page is fake and the company is not currently running promotions on social media. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
Misleading: Kenya’s judiciary swears in disputed government appointees On July 3, 2023, Kenya’s High Court quashed the president’s appointment of 50 assistants to senior government officials, saying the nomination process had been unconstitutional. Following the ruling, a leading broadcaster claimed that the country’s judiciary had presided over the swearing-in ceremony of the so-called Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS), which took place in March, but “redeemed itself” with the decision to overturn the nominations. The judiciary rejected the claim and said it had no role in the inauguration of CAS. An independent legal expert confirmed to AFP Fact Check that the judiciary had not been part of the swearing-in ceremony. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
Debunked: The offici...: Debunked: The official US women's soccer team did not lose 12-0 to a team of Wrexham 'veterans' (Source: TheJournal.ie)
False: Photo shows Afghan refugees on their way to the Philippines in 2023 A photo misrepresented as showing refugees from Afghanistan flying to the Philippines has been shared repeatedly on Facebook, as Manila mulls a request from Washington to temporarily host Afghan citizens awaiting resettlement in the United States. The photo was actually taken in 2021 when tens of thousands of Afghans evacuated their country as the US and allied forces pulled out, ending America's longest war. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: Kenyan man demolishes home after marriage proposal rejection An image circulating online purports to show a man demolishing a house in Kenya after his inlaws-to-be rejected his marriage proposal to their daughter. But this is false: the photo has been online since at least June 2021 and the house was torn down in Nigeria’s Benue state where government officials accused the owner of being a kidnapping syndicate kingpin. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
Half True: Female cricketer Rashi Kanojia's photo The viral picture claiming to be Rashi Kanojia is not authentic. Vishvas News conducted an investigation and discovered that this picture has been circulating on the internet for many years and has now been falsely attributed to Rashi Kanojia.New Delhi Vishvas News – Days after A (Source: Vishvasnews)
Scam: No, Nigerian president not giving away money through 'Tinubu empowerment fund' IN SHORT: President Bola Tinubu may have plans to empower young people in Nigeria, but claims that he's giving away thousands of naira are false. Nigeria's president Bola Tinubu is giving away N69,200 (about US$89, at July 2023 exchange rates) to citizens through an empowerment s (Source: Africa Check)
Scam: Nigerians, beware of scam offering mobile data to users with older Airtel SIM cards IN SHORT: Africa Check recently debunked a scam offering free data to MTN customers with older SIM cards. Like those Facebook posts, these doing the rounds on WhatsApp and Facebook and promoting free data for Airtel users, are out to mine customers' personal details. Airtel, a mo (Source: Africa Check)
False: 'African migrant' or 'refugee' attacks woman and child in France? No, suspect a French citizen IN SHORT : Footage of a violent assault in Bordeaux, France is distressing. But the alleged assailant was born in and is a citizen of the country. His family has said they were concerned for his mental health. In late June 2023 a video of an assault on an elderly woman and a smal (Source: Africa Check)
False: Clip of Titan sub's final voyage? No, vessel never reached Titanic and no video recovered IN SHORT: Global news events tend to attract false information. Claims that a video on social media shows the Titan submersible before it imploded, are untrue. In late June 2023, headlines across Africa and the world reported efforts to rescue five men missing in Titan , a submer (Source: Africa Check)