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All English Fact Checks
False: A crocodile was spotted in the flooded areas of Ambala, Haryana. A video showing a crocodile swimming in a water-logged residential area is going viral on social media with a claim that this reptile was spotted recently in flood-struck Ambala, Haryana.Ambala witnessed a flood after heavy rainfall took place in the district on 9-10 July. (Source: WebQoof - The Quint)
False: A man fell into a puddle amidst heavy rainfall. (Archives of similar posts can be found here, here and here.)This video has been posted by many accounts including Vinod Sharma, the political editor at Hindustan Times.What is the truth?: The video neither recent nor real. It has been created with the help of Computer Generated (Source: WebQoof - The Quint)
False: The video shows a real incident of a Muslim grandfather marrying his grandson's former wife. (Archives of similar posts can be found here, here, and here.)About Nikah Halala: It is a practice in which women, after triple talaq, are required to marry another man, consummate the marriage, and then divorce him in order to remarry her former husband. You can read more here.W (Source: WebQoof - The Quint)
False: Indian government denied visas to US delegation to visit Manipur. Authors Vasudha Beri Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joi (Source: Newschecker)
False: Footage of nuclear explosions proves that "nukes are fake." Nuclear weapons testing in the United States has been well documented.In a 1955 test, cameras were placed in metal boxes several thousand feet from ground zero to protect them from the nuclear blast. The cameras were also placed on towers to prevent dust clouds raised by the bomb’s detonation from obscuring the footage. (Source: PolitiFact)
Pants-Fire: The Wall Street Journal reporting proves that “Pizzagate” is real. The Wall Street Journal didn’t confirm that the debunked Pizzagate conspiracy theory is real. The newspaper recently reported that Instagram allowed a network of accounts that commission and purchase underage-sex content to connect with one another and promote their content. Some of these accounts use emojis as code language, including an image for "cheese pizza."One of The Wall Street Journal’s reporters dismissed the claims.The Pizzagate conspiracy theory — which claims that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and those around her, ran a child sex-trafficking ring in a Washington, D.C., pizzeria’s basement — remains baseless. (Source: PolitiFact)
False: Blank phones in a crowd show July 4 White House event was staged No, the Fourth of July visitors at the White House were not staged | Fact checkShow Caption Hide Caption Biden greets military families on Independence Day U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcome military families to the White House on Independence Day, focusing on the freedom and liberty of America. (July 4) APThe claim: Blank phones in a crowd show July 4 White House event was stagedA July 9 Facebook post (direct link, archived link) claims to unveil a clue that a July Fourth event at the White House was staged. The video shows two TruNews hosts analyzing a clip of President Joe Biden greeting a group of people outside the White House. The crowd in the video was made up of military and veteran families that were hosted on the South Lawn of the White House. White House visitors posted to social media about the event, including this TikTok post which shows a view of the president while he addressed the families. (Source: USA Today)
True: NATO's website offers Ukrainian as a language option. About this rating Although NATO's official languages are English and French, the content on NATO's website has also been available in both Ukrainian and Russian since at least 2014. As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrivedat the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (Source: Snopes)
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)
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)
The length of time t...: The length of time that people are waiting for their procedures is actually going down. What I would say to patients what matters is how long they're waiting, they're not really worried about who else is on the waiting list, they want to know when their procedure or operation is happening […] The length of time that people are waiting for their procedures is actuall (Source: Full Fact)
Satire: A screenshot shows a new button on Google Meet that can turn on all participants' cameras instantly. A number of posts on social media have shared a screenshot appearing to show a new button on Google Meet that turns on all participants' cameras instantly. The screenshot shows the usual interface of a Google Meet call, but with the addition of a new button at the bottom bar alon (Source: Full Fact)
Missing Context: A sign in a UK branch of Nando's says: "We're card only! Sorry, guess we're part of the New World Order now." Although the sign then says "just kidding", this is not a joke. A picture of what appears to be a sign on a cash register at restaurant chain Nando's which says "guess we're part of the New World Order Now" has been shared thousands of times on social media. While some of the posts themselves do not identify the location of the restaurant, ma (Source: Full Fact)
False: Lady Gaga did not endorse Trump for president Lady Gaga did not endorse former U.S. President Donald J. Trump in his bid for re-election as president as suggested by a circulating screenshot of a fabricated Truth Social post that includes a statement in support of Trump. An example on Instagram with more than 15,000 likes ca (Source: Reuters)
Altered: DeSantis yearbook photo shared alongside a fabricated quote A yearbook photograph of Florida Governor and 2024 Republican presidential contender Ron DeSantis has been digitally altered to include a fabricated quote attributed to him. The image circulating does show Gov. DeSantis, but the yearbook does not include any quote below his portr (Source: Reuters)
Most renters live in...: Most renters live in homes that have been purchased with a buy-to-let mortgage Most renters live in homes with a buy-to-let mortgage Angela Rayner MP, 5 July 2023 . At PMQs on 5 July, Angela Rayner MP, deputy leader of the Labour Party, claimed that most people living in rented accommodation were in homes that had been purchased through a buy-to-let mortgag (Source: Full Fact)
Altered: Video shows a woman telling Ron DeSantis he'll never be president Video edited to show woman telling Ron DeSantis he'll never be president | Fact checkShow Caption Hide Caption Trump rallies with Iowa farmers, attacks DeSantis Former President Donald Trump rallied with Iowa farmers on Friday and slammed GOP rival, Florida Gov. (July 7) APThe claim: Video shows a woman telling Ron DeSantis he'll never be presidentA June 28 Instagram video shows a man holding a microphone toward an audience member at a rally for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The crowd then starts applauding, and the video shows DeSantis saying, "Some people are actually here to see me, you know? Fact check: Video shows Ron DeSantis talking immigration, not calling for Biden impeachmentNews coverage of the June 26 rally doesn't mention any heckling either. (Source: USA Today)
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)
Labeled Satire: In July 2023, Garth Brooks canceled his Las Vegas residency. About this rating On July 10, 2023, claims began to spread on social media platforms that country singer Garth Brooks had canceled his Las Vegas residency due to low ticket sales after he said he would continue selling Bud Light at his new bar. The beer had been boycotted by cons (Source: Snopes)
Satire: Claim Garth Brooks cancelled Las Vegas shows stems from satirical site The claim that American country music singer Garth Brooks cancelled his remaining shows in Las Vegas, Nevada is fabricated and stems from a satirical website. Users online shared an article published by satirical website The Dunning-Kruger Times, with a headline that reads: “Gart (Source: Reuters)
False: Video shows a crocodile in Kharar residential area in Punjab Fast CheckOld Video From Gujarat Revived As Crocodile Sighted In Punjab FloodsBOOM found that the viral video dates back to August 2019 of a crocodile straying into a residential area in Gujarat. (Source: BOOM Live)
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)
Labeled Satire: In July 2023, Miss USA said she will boycott the Miss Universe contest over the participation of Miss Netherlands 2023, a trans contestant. About this rating In early July 2023, a website associated with the troll-satire brand America's Last Line of Defense, the Dunning-Kruger Times, published a story asserting that Miss USA will boycott the Miss Universe pageant in response to the participation of Miss Netherlands, (Source: Snopes)
False: WEF declares humans must eat feces and drink urine to fight climate change False claim WEF called for consumption of human waste to fight climate change | Fact checkShow Caption Hide Caption Meteorologists under threat for climate change coverage Former KCCI Des Moines meteorologist Chris Gloninger received death threats and sustained harassment over his coverage of climate change. "WEF declares humans must eat feces and drink urine to fight climate change," reads the article's headline. The organization did not mandate the consumption of human waste for any reason, WEF spokesperson Yann Zopf told USA TODAY in an email. "The World Economic Forum never made such a statement that 'humans must eat feces and drink urine to fight climate change,'" Zopf said. There is no mention of a global mandate to consume human waste in order to combat climate change anywhere on the WEF's website. (Source: USA Today)
False: WEF impose new mandates on future human offspring Quick TakeA media website falsely claims the WEF imposes new mandates on future offspring, banning natural conception and mandating lab-grown babies by 2030. Our fact-check confirms the claim is False.The ClaimThe People's Voice article from June 8, 2023, falsely alleges that the (Source: Thip Media)