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Misleading: Philippine regulators approve ivermectin as a substitute for Covid-19 vaccination Multiple Facebook posts shared hundreds of times in the Philippines claim that ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug, can be used as a substitute for Covid-19 vaccination. The posts shared an advisory for a drugstore stating the drug had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The posts are misleading: the posts shared an advisory that states government regulators approved ivermectin to treat parasitic roundworms. There is currently no clear evidence that ivermectin is an effective treatment for Covid-19, according to the FDA. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: President Rodrigo Duterte admired a Filipino captain’s defense of Scarborough Shoal on May 1, 2021 A video has been viewed more than two million times on Facebook and YouTube that claims it shows Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte commenting on a new dispute in the South China Sea. The posts claim the “breaking news” video shows Duterte commending a Filipino ship captain for standing up to the “Chinese Coast Guard”. The claim is false: the video in fact shows old news footage from 2019 about an incident involving a Chinese vessel; and Duterte’s spokesman at the time criticised the Filipino captain's actions. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows Chinese health workers protesting after zero-Covid policy eased A video filmed in China's northeast Hebei province has been viewed thousands of times alongside a misleading claim it shows protesting Chinese health workers who lost their jobs after the central government eased its zero-Covid policy. While there have been reports of health workers protesting over unpaid salaries following China's policy change, the video has circulated online since at least May this year, months before major protests against pandemic restrictions broke out. According to Hong Kong media reports from the time, the footage shows workers rallying against the closure of a hospital in Hebei. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Kenya's presidential candidate Raila Odinga vows to end Christianity A video clip of Kenyan presidential candidate Raila Odinga addressing the country’s Muslim community has been shared on social media with a claim that he vowed during his speech to “end Christianity”. This is false; Odinga did not use these words. Instead, he stressed that Kenya was a secular state but one where all religions were entitled to equal freedoms. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: This is a screenshot of a genuine news report about South Korean President Facebook posts in South Korea purport to show a news article praising President Moon Jae-in's performance during a visit to Europe in November to attend the G20 and COP26 summits, showing a photo of the leader stood alone in the centre of a crowded room. However, the screenshot of the news report is doctored to combine text and a photo from two separate articles. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Biden is wanted on class A drugs felony charges in Ukraine Part of a news report by US right-wing television network One America News (OAN) has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim that US President-elect Joe Biden is “wanted on Class A felony charges” in Ukraine in November 2020. The claim is false; the original video makes no reference to such charges; an investigation opened in Ukraine involving Biden on unrelated allegations in February 2020 was closed in November 2020 due to insufficient evidence, and it never identified him as a criminal suspect. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: ICD-10 Z codes allow the US to track those unvaccinated against Covid-19 Social media posts claim the US government is using codes from doctors to track people who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19. This is misleading; under federal law, individuals must consent to the release of their medical records -- and the codes are part of an international system that makes anonymized health data available for research. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: An employer posts a coronavirus warning to employees but covers up the part about 'staying home when sick' Posts claiming an employer covered up part of a poster on novel coronavirus prevention that advised sick employees to stay home have been shared more than 5,000 times on Facebook. This is false; the recommendation that was covered up advises people to avoid large gatherings and does mention staying home when sick. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Treasures worth $35 billion discovered from King Nimrod's grave in Iraq Photographs of an archaeological dig and ornate gold jewelry, some of it displayed on skeletons, have been shared thousands of times in Facebook posts which claim they show treasures from King Nimrod’s grave in Iraq. The claim is false; the photos show an unrelated archaeological dig in Iran, religious artifacts from Germany; and bracelets from graves in the city of Nimrud in Iraq; archaeologists do not agree on whether King Nimrod was an actual historical figure and his grave has not been found. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Trump tweets on South Africa’s unemployment rate A screenshot of a tweet purported to be from US President Donald Trump criticising South Africa’s dire unemployment rate has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook. While unemployment in the country is sky-high and predicted to climb, the tweet itself comes from a fake Trump Twitter account. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: WHO said Bill Gates adds sterilisation formula to vaccines Multiple social media posts make a string of false and unsubstantiated claims about vaccine campaigns funded by billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates, including that he has been adding a 'sterilization formula' to vaccines for the past decade. AFP Fact Check debunks the main claims making the rounds. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Myanmar military airstrikes in Loikaw A photo has circulated in Facebook posts that claim it shows Myanmar's military launching air strikes against anti-coup fighters in eastern Kayah state. The area has seen intense fighting since last year's coup. But the photo has been shared in a false context: it has circulated online since at least 2016 on Russian-language websites that reported on a joint Russian-Mongolian military exercise in eastern Siberia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Novel coronavirus case discovered in Hurstville suburb of Sydney, Australia An image has been shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook posts published in January 2020 which claim it shows a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus in a suburb of Sydney, Australia. The claim is false; in response to the photo, the New South Wales health authority told AFP on February 6, 2020 there had been no confirmed case of the novel coronavirus in the cited suburb. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Donald Trump has provided special flights between New York and Mumbai so Indians can travel to vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi A photo has been shared thousands of times in multiple online posts alongside a claim that US President Donald Trump has started six special flights from New York to Mumbai so Indians can travel to vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The image actually shows Modi campaigners at a shopping mall in Pune, India; no announcement about any such flights has been made by Trump or the White House. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Westpac to stop accepting cash and cheque deposits by the end of 2020 Multiple Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim that Australian bank Westpac will stop accepting cash and cheque deposits by the end of 2020. The claim, however, is misleading; in response to the social media posts, a spokesperson for the bank told AFP on August 12, 2020 it will continue to accept cash and cheque deposits, and that the proposed changes only affect agency banks. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Genuine news article about a Philippine politician calling for people who mocked her to be jailed Multiple online posts shared hundreds of times claim to show a report from a Philippine news site. The purported article says that an opposition candidate in May 2019 midterm elections has pledged to send people to jail for mocking her. The claim is false; the image in the posts is a doctored version of a real news report. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indonesian policeman Eliezer acquitted of colleague's murder in November 2022 Multiple videos have racked up more than a million views after they were shared in Facebook posts that falsely claimed an Indonesian court has acquitted a policeman accused of murdering his colleague in November 2022. A spokesperson for a Jakarta court which hears the case told AFP that the trial is still ongoing, as of December 7, 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Zimbabweans trying to steal oil from a pipeline A video with thousands of views on Instagram purports to show an explosion after "Zimbabwean men" attempted to steal oil from a pipeline. The claim is false: the clip is of a 2020 pipeline explosion in Egypt and has been shared with several other false claims since. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: New American government praying to Satan Footage of a man delivering an atheist invocation to various gods has been shared thousands of times on Facebook claiming to show the new American government praying to Satan. This is misleading; AFP Fact Check traced the video to 2014, long before US president-elect Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential race. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: India’s 2,000 Rupee notes contain nano chips Posts that have been shared thousands of times on Facebook claim that India's 2,000 Rupee note contains a nano chip. The claim is false; the photograph of a nano chip used in the misleading post is a stock image that has circulated online since at least 2014, and India’s central bank has said the country’s currency does not contain nano chips. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Picture of underwater rail-road tunnel in northeastern state of Assam An image that appears to show the design of an underwater tunnel was shared hundreds of times in Hindi-language Twitter and Facebook posts that misleadingly claim it shows a structure to be built in India's northeastern Assam state. However, the image has circulated online since at least 2014 and shows an artist’s impression of a planned underwater tunnel connecting Denmark and Germany. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: A clip shows Tom Hanks calling a child beauty pageant contestant "sexy" Social media users are sharing a video that appears to show American actor Tom Hanks calling a young girl a "sexy baby," posting the footage alongside hashtags affiliated with conspiracy theories about pedophilia. This is misleading; the clip comes from a 2011 late-night television sketch satirizing a reality series about child beauty pageants. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows COVID-19 nurse raped and murdered A video that appears to show a woman being attacked has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple YouTube posts and on various websites alongside a claim the footage shows a COVID-19 frontline nurse who was raped and stabbed to death. The claim is false; the footage was in fact taken from a sexual harassment awareness campaign video in India that circulated online years before the coronavirus pandemic. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Christian church attacked in New Zealand after deadly mosque shootings in Christchurch A video viewed hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook and Youtube purports to show a Christian church being attacked in New Zealand after deadly mosque shootings there in March, 2019. The posts are false; the video is of an incident in Egypt in 2013. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This image shows building collapse in Kashmir in March 2023 After an earthquake that hit Afghanistan was felt as far as New Delhi in India, a photo of a collapsed building was shared repeatedly in social media posts that falsely claimed it was taken in Indian-administered Kashmir. But in reality, it shows a destroyed building in the Turkish city of Kahramanmaras following the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria in February 2023. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Thirty-four kidnapped children found in a truck in Rustenburg Multiple posts on Facebook claim that a truck carrying 34 kidnapped children was found in Rustenburg, a city in South Africa. The claim is false, according to local police, who said while there have been incidents in the past of undocumented children found in trucks, none of the details from those cases match with the Facebook posts. No such incident has been reported this year. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: UK PM's staff celebrating Pongal and Makar Sankranti feast A video has attracted tens of thousands of views in social media posts that falsely claim it shows staff of Rishi Sunak, Britain's first Hindu prime minister, celebrating a harvest festival observed across India and Sri Lanka. The clip actually shows police officers and local figures in Ontario, Canada taking part in an event organised by a Tamil cultural group. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Video: South Korean broadcasters laughed at China's football loss to Vietnam A video viewed tens of thousands of times on social media claims to show three South Korean television hosts laughing after the Chinese men's national football team lost to Vietnam in a 2022 World Cup qualifying match. This is misleading: the footage has been manipulated from a 2017 South Korean broadcast of an NBA basketball game. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Masks caused second Covid surge in South Africa A Facebook post claims that the second wave of Covid-19 in South Africa was caused by people wearing masks rather than the coronavirus pathogen itself. The post relies on a video that purports to simulate a carbon dioxide test, but experts dismissed the demonstration as inaccurate, reaffirming that masks are safe to wear and they remain one of several recommended preventative measures against the disease. The latest Covid-19 surge in the country was caused by a new variant of the coronavirus. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: CNN misrepresented image of 2015 explosion as being from 2022 Ukraine war Social media posts claim US broadcaster CNN misrepresented an image of a 2015 explosion as being from the 2022 war in Ukraine. But the image shows an explosion in Kyiv and was released by the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 24, 2022, and the channel said the alleged screenshot of a CNN report featured in the posts is fake. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show Fox News host Chris Wallace with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on his island Posts with photographs of vacationing Fox News host Chris Wallace -- who moderated the first 2020 presidential debate -- claim the images show him with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on his infamous island. This is false; the photographs depict Wallace when he was in Italy with actor George Clooney in 2012. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Joe Biden owns island next to Jeffrey Epstein's Social media posts claim that Joe Biden owns an island near the one where the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was accused of abusing girls in the US Virgin Islands. The claim is false; a property database in the territory does not contain the presidential contender’s name, and his campaign spokesman said Biden has never owned a Caribbean island. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: PPC seats were stolen, election night broadcast is proof Facebook posts claim seats won by the People's Party of Canada (PPC) in the 2021 federal election were stolen, citing images of a column marked "other" that was removed from a graphic on television. But the company that distributes the TV program said the deleted column did not show PPC seats, and instead represented districts with unreported results displayed on screen due to a computer error. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Official Kenya election results released As Kenyans awaited the outcome of Tuesday’s presidential election, disinformation linked to the results cluttered multiple social media platforms, prompting warnings from international observers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Adele walked out of the Grammys during Harry Styles's acceptance speech Twitter users claim a clip shows British singer Adele leaving the Grammys as Harry Styles accepts the prize for Album of the Year, for which she and Beyonce were also nominated. This is false; official footage of the ceremony shows Adele remained in the arena for Styles's speech. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Word Easter comes from goddess Ishtar Social media posts say Easter is derived from Ishtar, the name of the Assyrian goddess of sex and fertility -- a claim that resurfaces yearly around the Christian holiday. But experts dismiss the assertion and say that Easter is thought to have originated from words denoting East and the dawn, or, less likely, from the name of the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: You can call the phone number on the back of a baby formula product to receive a free case during COVID-19 pandemic Multiple Facebook posts shared hundreds of times in March 2020 claim that consumers can claim a free case of baby formula if they call the relevant manufacturer. The posts were shared after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, had become a pandemic, prompting panic buying in some countries. The claim is false; several manufacturers told AFP that the post is a hoax; the leading industry association noted that official guidelines forbid the donation of formula to the public. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: South Korea's territorial claims to a part of Antarctica was accepted by the UN Social media posts shared in South Korea claim the United Nations accepted the country's "territorial claims" over part of Antarctica. However, South Korea's foreign ministry told AFP it has never issued territorial claims over the continent. The 1959 Antarctic Treaty, to which South Korea is a signatory, forbids the assertion of new territorial claims. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: NASA's new test flight to moon proves 1969 moon landing is a hoax Facebook posts circulating around the world claim a NASA mission to test the impact of space radiation on astronauts is evidence that human Moon landings were a hoax. However, the tests aim to measure radiation from longer trips to space, and tracking radiation is just one of the uncrewed mission's aims. Conspiracy theories about Moon landings have been widely debunked. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This photo shows South Vietnamese civil servants pleading for their lives before mass execution during Vietnam War A photo has circulated on social media alongside a claim it shows a group of South Vietnamese people shortly before they were killed by North Vietnamese troops at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. The claim is false: the original photo, taken in 2003, shows members of a marginalised ethnic group who were living in Laos, where they had been fighting in a guerrilla war. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ronaldo said 'I love Islam' during interview A photo of Cristiano Ronaldo has circulated in Facebook posts with a false claim that he says he loves Islam while giving an interview in Dubai -- the latest in a wave of misinformation targeting the football star. While Ronaldo said during the interview that he loved Dubai, he did not mention Islam. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire/Manipulated Image: The Simpsons predicted rioter in horned hat at U.S. Capitol? An image purporting to show a character from The Simpsons in a horned hat outside the US Capitol has been shared in social media posts that claim the animated TV series predicted the January 6 riot by supporters of President Donald Trump. The claim is misleading: the image shared in the posts has been manipulated and is not from an episode of the The Simpsons. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Ethiopian ex-official discussing disbanding regional security forces Online posts claimed a video showed Ethiopia's ex-foreign affairs minister Gedu Andargachew criticising the government's decision to disband regional security forces in April 2023. However, this is misleading: the clip was taken from a speech Gedu made in 2018 and was used out of context. In the original address, he spoke about disarming local farmers, not disbanding formal regional security forces. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Infographic shows timeline of COVID-19 symptoms An infographic has been shared thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts which claim it shows a nine-day timeline of the symptoms of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. This infographic is misleading; it was not distributed by an official health authority and health experts say COVID-19 symptoms vary in duration and severity. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Arizona parents ousted school board over mask mandate Social media posts claim that a group of parents in Vail, Arizona successfully and legally took over the school board and revoked a mask requirement. This is false; a spokeswoman for the school system said the original board members remain in place, as does the mask rule, and a senior education official reiterated that face coverings are still required as protection against coronavirus. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Relief bill includes bonus for House members Facebook posts claim that the $1.9 trillion US pandemic relief act includes a $25 million bonus for members of the House of Representatives. This is false; it mentions no such measure, and a government official said the claim is inaccurate. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: The EU's Josep Borrell said 'Napoleon and Hitler need to be avenged' As Western countries pledged to step up deliveries of weapons to Ukraine, social media users in Thailand shared a fabricated quote that the European Union's most senior diplomat Josep Borrell called to "keep using Ukrainians as our bait" in order to defeat Russia and "avenge Napoleon and Hitler". While Borrell mentioned Napoleon and Hitler in a speech about the war in Ukraine, he was speaking in the context of Russia's past military victories and did not say they should be "avenged". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A genuine quote from George Soros on ‘funding Black Hate groups’ A text image purporting to show a quote that billionaire financier George Soros told BILD, a major German newspaper, has been shared widely on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The image claims that in 2014 Soros said he is “going to bring down the United States by funding Black Hate groups”. The claim is false; the quote does not exist in any BILD publication and Soros’ philanthropic foundation denied it nor Soros pays protestors. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Is this a video of Indian college students dressed as terrorists? A report by a local Indian television channel, which has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times, claims to show college students in southern Kerala state dressed as terrorists and waving the flags of terrorist organisations. The video footage actually shows students in costume to pay tribute to a popular regional movie character. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: 15 cases of coronavirus have been linked to Metrotown mall in BC A message shared on WhatsApp and Facebook claims that 15 coronavirus cases were linked to Burnaby’s Metrotown mall, in the western Canadian province of British Columbia. This is false; provincial health officials and the mall administrator told AFP that no cases are connected to the mall to date. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Quote on black and red ants in shaken jar is from David Attenborough A quote attributed to David Attenborough that claims black ants and red ants will kill each other if you shake them in a jar has been shared tens of thousands of times on social media. The claims are false: the quote has been misattributed to the famed naturalist and broadcaster, Attenborough's spokesperson told AFP. Experts also told AFP that ants of different species will act aggressively towards each other even in an unshaken jar. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show one of the suicide bombers in Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday 2019 attacks Multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter have shared photos that they claim show one of the suicide bombers responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka in April 2019. The claim is false; the man circled in the photos is actually a Malaysian Muslim preacher who was arrested in Malaysia a week after the Sri Lanka attacks over an unrelated case. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: WHO warns of 50,000 daily deaths from Covid-19 in India Multiple Facebook and Twitter posts claim the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of 50,000 daily deaths in India as it battles a surge in Covid-19 cases. The claim is false: the WHO said it did not issue the purported warning; its daily tally shows some 4,000 people are dying every day from the virus in India as of May 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Nigerian man hacked the US govt and gave his family and friends permanent citizenship A story circulating on Nigerian blogs, YouTube channels and in Facebook posts claims a Nigerian man named Abaeze Atuche hacked the US government and managed to grant permanent American citizenship to 33 of his friends and family members. However, the story originated on a satirical website. While the story names Atuche as one of the suspects caught up in a genuine mass arrest of Nigerians over alleged online crimes in the US, his name does not appear in the indictment released by the FBI. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Footage shows Nigerian gospel star beaten by husband The husband of popular Nigerian gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu was detained over her sudden death in April, as he faces accusations that he had beaten her and inflicted the fatal wounds. Following his arrest, social media posts have published footage of a man repeatedly hitting a woman with a hot iron as purported proof that Nwachukwu was the victim of domestic abuse leading up to her death. However, the clip is unrelated: it was filmed in Papua New Guinea and shows international rugby player and boxer Debbie Kaore being beaten by her partner. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Adverts for free nursing training in South Afric Facebook posts purporting to advertise free nursing training opportunities in South Africa have gained hundreds of interactions. The claims allege that Netcare, a private healthcare facility in South Africa, is offering the placements to “unemployed South Africans”. However, a NetCare spokeswoman told AFP Fact Check that the ads were a hoax, noting that job ads are only published on the company’s official online channels. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Multiple Facebook posts shared hundreds of times on October 12, 2020 claim to show photos of a tower block in South Korea that caught fire shortly after a performance in the country by a Myanmar boy band, Project K. Multiple Facebook posts shared hundreds of times on October 12, 2020 claim to show photos of a tower block in the South Korean city of Ulsan that caught fire shortly after a performance in the city by a Myanmar boy band, Project K. The claim is false; the photos actually show a tower that caught fire on October 8, two days before Project K's performance in Ulsan on October 10. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Cristiano Ronaldo scoring his first goal for new Saudi club A video clip has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts alongside a false claim that it shows Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo -- who has recently joined Saudi club Al-Nassr -- scoring his first goal for his new team. The footage is unrelated to Al-Nassr: it shows a disallowed goal by Ronaldo -- then playing for Italian club Juventus -- against Udinese in a Serie A match in August 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show US vehicles attacked by Iranian drones in Syria in April Two photos of burning vehicles have been shared more than a thousand times in social media posts that falsely claim they show "US military vehicles attacked by Iranian drones in Syria on April 8, 2023". The photos were in fact related to incidents in Nigeria and Iraq respectively. AFP found no credible reports to show there was an attack on the US military in Syria on the day as claimed in the posts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Son of South Sudan chief justice critically ill with coronavirus (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of a new Indonesian banknote featuring a picture of Joko Widodo An image of a purportedly new Indonesian banknote that features the country's President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, has circulated in multiple posts on TikTok, Facebook and Twitter. However, the claim is false. The Indonesian central bank that has the sole authority to issue currency told AFP the image does not show a legal tender. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Photo: NBA player Draymond Green wore a shirt with a shrugging syringe cartoon with the text "Fuck it, die then" Social media posts feature an image of NBA player Draymond Green wearing a white T-shirt emblazoned with a cartoon syringe and strong language, as the league pushes for players to be vaccinated. But the picture has been digitally altered, and the original version was shared in 2017, years before Covid-19 swept through the United States. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US issued import ban against Japanese food in March 2023 A Chinese-language newspaper report that falsely claims the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned imports of Japanese food in March 2023 over "nuclear contamination" concerns has circulated on social media. However, a Japanese official from the agricultural ministry told AFP on March 31 that the ministry was "not aware" the US had issued such a ban. The article referred to an old FDA import alert that was "deactivated" by the agency in September 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Marcos-era coins back in circulation in the Philippines Images of coins used during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines have been shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook alongside the claim that they are back in circulation after his son won the presidency last month. However, the Philippine central bank which has sole authority of issuing currency in the country, told AFP the coins have not been in use for two decades. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Study shows egg yolk antibodies can prevent Covid-19 in humans A 2021 study on egg yolk antibodies has been shared by social media users to falsely claim it shows eggs can prevent Covid-19 infections in humans, with some also misleadingly linking the study to egg shortages in the United States and New Zealand. One of the study's researchers told AFP it was conducted with a modified version of the virus and that it is unclear if the egg yolk antibody has similar effects in human bodies without further testing. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: People who do not experience side effects after receiving the jab are “unhealthy” Multiple posts shared repeatedly on Facebook claim that people who do not experience side effects after receiving a Covid-19 jab are “unhealthy”. The claim is misleading: a person's reaction to receiving the vaccine does not necessarily reflect how healthy they are, a health expert told AFP. The World Health Organization (WHO) says experiencing no side effects does not mean the vaccine is "ineffective" and everyone "responds differently" to the vaccine. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Former Philippine human rights chief Etta Rosales defends IS-linked Maute militants in interview A photo showing former Philippine human rights chief Etta Rosales speaking to reporters has been shared several times on Facebook alongside a purported quote by her, in which she says the Islamic State-linked Maute group are “defenceless” and “pitiful” and should be treated with “care, compassion and dignity”. This claim is misleading; the photo was taken by a Philippine journalist who published it online with an unrelated quote; there are no credible reports of Rosales issuing such a statement. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows Ukrainian troops keeping Lent in wartime A video of a group of uniformed people carrying an effigy of Jesus Christ on a crucifix through a crowd of spectators has been repeatedly shared by Korean social media users in March 2023 that falsely claim it shows Ukrainian troops observing Lent -- the period before Easter -- even during its war with Russia. In fact, the video is from 2018 and shows a Spanish army unit during a ceremony celebrating the Holy Week of Easter in Spain's southern Malaga province. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows Hazrat Bilal, the Prophet Muhammad's companion, reciting the Muslim call to prayer A video has been shared in multiple posts on Facebook alongside claims that it shows real footage Hazrat Bilal, a 7th century companion of the Prophet Muhammad, reciting the Muslim call to prayer. The posts are misleading; the video is in fact a clip of an actor’s portrayal of Bilal in a Turkish film released in 1973. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Drinking garlic water can cure novel coronavirus Claims that the novel coronavirus can be cured overnight if sufferers drink freshly boiled garlic water have been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The posts were shared after a new strain of novel coronavirus broke out in the Chinese city of Wuhan and subsequently spread to more than 20 other countries. The claim is false; medical experts told AFP there was no evidence to support the theory about drinking garlic water; international health organisations do not recommend the remedy and have said there is no specific antiviral treatment for the new strain of the novel coronavirus. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Photo: This is a genuine photo of South Korea's first lady A doctored image of South Korean First Lady Kim Keon-hee has been shared repeatedly in social media posts that falsely claim it is a genuine photo of her. The image, in which Kim has a drooping lip and appears to have had a cheek and chin lift, circulated in posts criticising her appearance. In fact, the original photo depicts her face with noticeably different features from the modified image. The photo of Kim was taken in April 1998, when she was doing her teacher training course. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Atoderma cream can cure various skin issues within two weeks Imposter Facebook pages impersonating a major Philippine hospital's dermatology department have shared adverts for a cream that they falsely claim can treat a range of skin conditions. A dermatologist at the hospital told AFP the conditions listed in the posts cannot be treated with a single product, and the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified the skin cream as a cosmetic product, not a drug with proven health benefits. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows 'God's Hand’ pond in Zimbabwe A photo has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook alongside a claim that it shows the ‘God's Hand’ pond in Zimbabwe’s Buchwa Mine in Midlands province. But the claim is false: the photo of the heart-shaped pond was taken in the Kadykovsky quarry in Russia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of avalanche in Indian ski resort of Gulmarg A video of an avalanche has been viewed thousands of times in posts that falsely claim it shows an accident in the Indian ski resort of Gulmarg in which two Polish tourists died after being trapped by snow on February 1, 2023. The video -- which features two skiers speaking Russian -- has circulated in reports since December 2022 about an avalanche in Russia’s Sheregesh resort. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This photo shows panic buyers snatching up everything except for vegan food A photo purportedly showing a well-stocked vegan food shelf while other food items are cleared out amid a round of panic buying during the novel coronavirus epidemic has been shared thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter. This is false; this photo has circulated online since September 2017 in reports about panic buying after Hurricane Harvey made landfall in the US. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Footage shows no plane crashed into second World Trade Center A video that appears to show an explosion with no plane impact at the World Trade Center in New York has been viewed thousands of times in Facebook posts claiming "there were never any planes" in the 9/11 attacks. However, the video has been doctored to remove the plane that crashed into the South Tower. The original footage, taken by a TV journalist, clearly shows Flight 175 hitting the tower. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A Hong Kong protester was arrested by Australian police at the University of Queensland. A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in Facebook and YouTube posts which claim that a Hong Kong protester was arrested by Australian police after a pro-Hong Kong democracy rally turned violent at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. The claim is false; the footage of the purported arrest was actually filmed during a protest in Berkeley, California, in April 2017; Queensland police said they did not make any arrests at the July 24, 2019 university protest. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Dietary supplements can reverse type 2 diabetes and prediabetes Social media posts promoting nutritional supplements claim they can reverse prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. This is false; health authorities and medical experts say there are no proven treatments for these conditions other than weight loss, dietary changes, exercise and some approved medicines. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Baby with hands reading JESUS IS COMING SOON Hundreds of thousands of Facebook users have shared a post which shows a crowd walking with a baby, who was supposedly born near the Nigerian capital Abuja with a message born on his hands about the second coming of Christ. In fact, it was taken in Maiduguri in the northeast of the country. The real story behind the photograph is a distressing one. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Dog dug a hole in the grave to be close to its deceased owner. A photo of a dog in a graveyard has been shared hundreds of thousands of times in online posts that claim the animal dug a hole to be close to its dead owner. The claim is false; the photo shows a street dog in Serbia that dug into the ground to have a warm place to give birth. Other photos show the same dog sheltering there with its puppies; they were later rescued. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show gas pipeline explosion in Myanmar? Three photos have been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim that they show a Myanmar military-owned gas pipeline that was set ablaze by anti-coup protesters. The claim is false; the first and second photos circulated respectively in reports about a fuel vehicle explosion in Afghanistan and pipeline vandalism in Nigeria. The third photo shows a scene from a 1987 movie called “Eastern Condors”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Jail for Kenyan ‘hustler fund’ defaulters Facebook posts in Kenya have shared a picture of a text message purportedly from mobile money service M-Pesa warning users of the government’s newly launched low-interest credit scheme that they risk imprisonment if they default on their payments. But the claim is false; the message has been fabricated and does not match M-Pesa’s standard messaging style. An official at Safaricom, the company that operates M-Pesa, confirmed to AFP Fact Check that the message was fake. Penalties for loan defaulters include higher interest rates but not jail time. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Posts on social media claim that people who have been vaccinated against the flu in the last 10 years will test positive for COVID-19 Posts on social media claim that people who have been vaccinated against the flu in the last 10 years will test positive for COVID-19. This is false; experts say the novel coronavirus that causes the disease is unrelated to the flu, and that data on approved COVID-19 tests does not support the claim. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Photo shows road fixtures painted with gay pride flag colours A photo that appears to show "anti-homeless spikes" painted in the colours of the rainbow has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook and Twitter. The posts suggest the spikes were painted to denote the gay pride flag. The photo, however, has been digitally altered to include the colours of the rainbow. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Adam Bandt tweets 'drug dealers aren't to blame' An image of a purported tweet by Australian Greens party leader Adam Bandt that says "drug dealers are not to blame for drug-related problems" has been shared repeatedly in social media posts. The image, however, has been fabricated. The text was taken from an earlier tweet by an Australian writer specialising in addiction and mental health. AFP found no evidence that Bandt ever published the tweet, and a Greens party spokesperson told AFP the message "does not reflect" his views on drug law reform. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Viruses do not kill humans, unhealthy immune systems do Multiple Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim “viruses do not harm or kill [people]” and that any “harm and death” caused by a virus can be attributed to "the overreaction of a weakened and dysfunctional immune system". The claim is false; viruses can kill people and a dysfunctional immune system does not cause death, experts say. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This image shows Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal mistakenly offered condolences to Urdu poet Munawwar Rana instead of recently deceased poet Rahat Indori. A screenshot shared thousands of times on Twitter and Facebook shows a purported tweet by a top Indian politician offering condolences over the death of a poet -- who is still alive. But the image has been digitally manipulated to replace the name of Urdu poet Rahat Indori, who died in August 2020, with a different Urdu poet, Munawwar Rana, who is still alive. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Kenyan cult leader’s home After news emerged of a Kenyan religious cult allegedly promising salvation through death by starvation, an image circulated online with a claim that it showed the leader’s home in the country’s coastal city of Mombasa. But the claim is false: the picture shows a mansion in Thousand Oaks, California, formerly owned by retired ice hockey great Wayne Gretzky. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of security preparation ahead of the hajj in 2020 A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim it shows the preparation ahead of the hajj in 2020. The claim is false; the video actually shows a military parade held in Mecca ahead of the annual hajj pilgrimage in 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show Chinese military preparing to attack Taiwan Photos of a military exercise on a beach have been shared hundreds of times online alongside claims in Chinese and Spanish that they show the Chinese army preparing to attack Taiwan. The posts circulated after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's historic visit to the self-ruled island. But the photos have been shared in a false context. They were actually taken in North Korea as the country celebrated the 85th anniversary of the Korean People's Army in 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: French president's entire security force resigned A French member of parliament and an American radio host claimed that Emmanuel Macron's entire security detail resigned to protest the French president's initiative imposing health passes to participate in many aspects of public life. This is false; the Republican Guard did not resign, and it is tasked with presidential palace security, not his direct physical safety. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of 2023 'fireworks to welcome winter season in Japan' As the world celebrated the New Year with spectacular fireworks, a video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in Thai social media posts that falsely claim it shows one elaborate display to "welcome the winter season in Japan". The video in fact shows a digital simulation of a fireworks display that was uploaded to YouTube in 2013. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of weapons found at home of herdsmen in Southern Kaduna A picture shared thousands of times on Facebook claims to show a huge stash of weapons found at the home of two brothers, described as herders in Southern Kaduna, Nigeria. This is false -- it’s a picture of the Nigerian army showing former president Goodluck Jonathan weapons that were recovered from Boko Haram jihadists in 2015. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo is evidence from NASA that proves the Moon was once split in two A photo taken by NASA of the Moon's surface has been shared thousands of times in social media posts alongside a claim that the photo proves that the planetary mass was previously split in two. But the claim is false: the photo shows Rima Ariadaeus, which experts say is a fault system similar to those on earth. NASA has also refuted the claim, saying there is no scientific evidence that the Moon was split into two or more parts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of employee rifling through passenger's luggage at Bangkok airport As Thailand's tourism industry showed signs of recovery following the easing of Covid travel restrictions, footage of an airport baggage handler rummaging through suitcases surfaced in Facebook posts that falsely claimed it was filmed at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport. In fact, the video shows a worker at Phuket International Airport rifling through bags in 2017. Local police confirmed he was charged and jailed for stealing a Bluetooth speaker. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows suspicious needle switch during Malaysian prime minister’s Covid-19 jab Multiple Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim health authorities should “explain” why two needles were used to give Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin a Covid-19 vaccine. The posts came after several other world leaders faced false accusations that they faked their Covid-19 vaccinations. The claim is misleading: it is common to change needles between the preparation and administration of vaccines for hygiene and practical reasons, according to health experts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows floods in Iran A video that shows animals swept away by flood has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on social media alongside a claim it was filmed in Iran as heavy rains caused deadly flash flooding in the country in January 2022. In reality, the video has previously circulated online since 2020 in reports about flooding in Turkey. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows fire at Pakistani power plant in 2022 Social media users have shared a video they claim shows a fire that broke out at a Pakistani power plant in July 2022. However, the video -- viewed tens of thousands of times -- has been shared in a false context; it has circulated since 2021 in reports about a blaze at Afghanistan's largest trade crossing with Iran, which destroyed hundreds of oil and gas tankers and caused millions of dollars of damage. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian soldiers celebrating for China to grant them Pangong lake. As tensions between India and China mounted over their disputed Himalayan border, a video was viewed hundreds of thousands of times in posts claiming it showed Indian soldiers celebrating after China "ceded" a contested lake there. However, the footage actually shows troops taking part in an event for the 75th anniversary of India's independence. AFP found no official reports that China handed over the Pangong Tso lake to India, as of August 22. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sonia Gandhi with 'How to convert India into Christian nation' book on shelf Multiple Facebook posts share an image purportedly showing the leader of India’s main opposition party, Sonia Gandhi, with a book titled “How to convert India into a Christian nation” on her shelf. The claim is false: the image has been doctored; the original photo, a screenshot from a video uploaded on her party’s official Twitter account, shows there is no such title on Gandhi’s bookshelf. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ugandan opposition leader world’s “most arrested” man? Posts alleging that Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye has been crowned "the world's most arrested man" have been widely shared and even received television coverage. But Guinness World Records confirms the claim is false and that the category is not open for applications. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: A genuine tweet from Donald Trump on Meghan Markle interview? Soon after Oprah Winfrey's interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was aired on CBS on March 7, 2021, an image circulated online purportedly showing a screenshot of a tweet by former US President Donald Trump commenting about the show. The claim is false: Trump’s Twitter account remains suspended as of March 2021; the purported tweet uses an out-of-date format that Twitter stopped using in 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Japanese ambassador in Ukraine Social media posts claim a photo of a man in samurai regalia shows Japan's ambassador to Ukraine, saying he chose to stay and fight invading Russian forces. This is false; the image pictures Ukraine's ambassador to Japan, who tweeted it prior to the invasion. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video of aircraft 'spraying Covid-19' in Indonesia A video has been viewed millions of times online in Indonesia alongside a claim it shows planes spraying substances that can make people ill with Covid-19 symptoms. This is misleading. Scientists say overwhelming evidence shows the virus is generally transmitted from person to person. A spokesman for the Indonesian Air Force told AFP the claim was "a hoax" and that the planes in the video are not Indonesian. AFP found they are actually modified military aircraft used to fight forest fires in the United States. Part of the footage predates the pandemic. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: A polling location in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania violated electioneering rules A tweet claiming to show a polling violation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has been retweeted more than 8,000 times on election day. The tweet is misleading; the city’s district attorney’s office said an investigation had shown there was no breach of state guidelines. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: ‘Viral sex video’ of Willie Revillame and Philippine game show contestant Herlene Nicole Budol An online article shared hundreds of times on Facebook claims in its headline to contain a “viral sex video” featuring the host of a popular Philippine game show and a contestant. The claim is false; the video in the article is not explicit; it shows the contestant talking to fans and sharing make-up tips. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Rotimi Amaechi was arrested Posts shared more than 1,500 times on Facebook claim that Nigeria’s transport minister was arrested in Rivers state on January 23 on corruption charges. The claim is false and originated on a hoax Facebook page. Video from after the posts were published shows Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi at an election rally in two northern states on the same day, and a Rivers state police spokesman denied that Amaechi had been arrested. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Biafrans protesting leader’s latest arrest in 2021 A video viewed tens of thousands of times on Facebook is being shared alongside claims that it shows supporters of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement protesting the arrest of their leader Nnamdi Kanu in June 2021. This is false; AFP Fact Check found that the footage has been on the internet since 2015 and is unrelated to Kanu’s latest arrest. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows Covid-19 vaccines cause "foot-long" blood clots An article claims a photo shows a massive blood clot caused by Covid-19 vaccination. This is false; the picture predates the pandemic and is unrelated to vaccines. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Canadian actress Riele Downs is dead A Facebook post shared hundreds of times in Nigeria claims that popular Canadian actress Riele Downs is dead. But this is false: US television channel Nickelodeon confirmed the young actress is still alive and the Facebook account has since retracted the rumour. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Unproven: Use chest rub of coconut oil and garlic to treat a child suffering from RSV Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has hit children in North America hard this fall, and parents are turning to social media for tips on easing their suffering. However, experts say homemade remedies shared online -- including a popular chest rub made with coconut oil and garlic -- are unproven. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: 350,000 troops being dishonorably discharged for refusing Covid-19 vaccine An online article shared on social media in October 2021 claims that some 350,000 US military personnel are being dishonorably discharged for refusing to be vaccinated against Covid-19. This is false; the Pentagon says the figure is inaccurate, and that the requirements are not yet in effect. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of roads in DRC before and after Uganda’s intervention Facebook posts with contrasting photos of a damaged jungle road and a neatly paved freeway are being shared alongside a claim that they show the positive results of Uganda’s road infrastructure project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). But this is false: a reverse image search revealed that neither road is located in DRC; one is found in Brazil and the other, Uganda. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: All graft cases against Marcoses were dismissed in recent ruling After a court dismissed a graft case against former Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, social media posts claimed the decision proved that all accusations he committed large-scale fraud were "fabricated". The posts are misleading; the Philippine Supreme Court thrice ruled that he committed large-scale fraud, while Marcos and his heirs face dozens more pending court cases. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Photos of Japan football team's dressing room after match with Costa Rica Images of a trashed dressing room have been shared hundreds of times in social media posts that misleadingly claim they show the Japanese national football team's dressing room after losing a match to Costa Rica at the Qatar World Cup. The photos in fact circulated since March 2022 in news reports about the Italian national football team leaving their dressing room in a dirty state following a World Cup play-off defeat to North Macedonia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Former election body chief T. S. Krishnamurthy alleged India’s ruling party of hacking voting machines As millions head to the polls for India’s West Bengal elections, a purported newspaper clipping surfaced in online posts that claim the former head of the Indian election commission admitted the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hacked voting machines in state assembly polls in 2017. The claim is misleading: AFP found no evidence that the purported report was taken from a genuine newspaper. The purported quote previously circulated in a 2017 report on a now-defunct website. The election watchdog said the purported comments were “fake news”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image of 1.5 million at Canberra convoy protest in Australia As thousands marched through Australia's capital Canberra to decry Covid-19 vaccine mandates, Facebook post shared a photo purportedly showing huge crowds gathered for the "freedom convoy". They claimed that more than 1.5 million cars showed up for the protest. In reality, the image shows an aerial view of Britain's Glastonbury music festival in 2019. Police estimated up to 10,000 attended the demonstration in Canberra. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The World Economic Forum calls for the slaughter of pet cats and dogs Facebook posts falsely claim that the World Economic Forum (WEF) has called for "millions of cats and dogs worldwide to be slaughtered" to fight climate change. The false claim appears to originate from a website that has previously spread misinformation. AFP found no trace of such an initiative and a WEF representative said the allegation was baseless. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Saudi medical staff celebrate the closure of the hospital’s isolation rooms A video has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook alongside a claim that it shows Russian healthcare workers celebrating a new vaccine for the novel coronavirus. The claim is false; the video shows medical staff celebrating the closures of isolation rooms at King Saud Medical City Al-Shumaisi Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Donald Trump returned to the White House in August 2021 A video has been shared repeatedly in multiple posts on YouTube and Facebook alongside a claim that it shows former US President Donald Trump in the White House in August 2021. The claim is false: all the images featured in the video were taken in March 2020; as of August 31, there were no credible reports that Trump visited or returned to the White House in August 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: University students call for end to community pantries in the Philippines Three photos shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook posts purport to show students in the Philippines calling for an end to community-run stalls offering free food during the Covid-19 pandemic. But these photos have been doctored: they originally show students supporting the food stalls. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: A victim of gang rape in Pakistan makes statement in viral video A video of a woman speaking to camera has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube that claim it shows the victim of a high profile gang rape in Pakistan describing her ordeal. But the footage has been shared in a misleading context: it was originally posted on TikTok by a British woman, who said she was not the victim of the attack but was seeking to raise awareness of the crime. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Alleged kidnapper sentenced to death in Nigeria Numerous posts shared hundreds of times on social media claim that alleged kidnapping kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, has been sentenced to death in Nigeria. But the claim is false; authorities have dismissed the unfounded rumour, which originated from a website that publishes click-bait content. A prosecutor also confirmed that all cases against Onwuamadike are ongoing. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

No Evidence: Vaccinated women in Canada suffered 13 stillbirths in 24 hours Articles and video footage shared on social media claim mothers vaccinated against Covid-19 suffered 13 stillbirths in 24 hours at a hospital in western Canada. But there is no evidence that this occurred, local health authorities say there is "no truth" to the claim, and independent experts say available data does not show that the shots caused an increase in stillbirths. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Brazil Ministry of Defence has declared Brazil election as fraud Social media posts circulating in multiple languages falsely claim that Brazil's defence ministry declared the 2022 presidential election result was fraudulent, and subsequently ordered the arrests of court officials and suspended congress. The claims surfaced after Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeated the incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in a runoff on October 30. However, these government agencies dismissed the claims and told AFP that they were operating as normal. Legal experts said that a clause mentioned in the false posts did not authorise one branch of government to interfere with another branch using the military. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Titanium dioxide in tampons causes cancer A video with millions of views on TikTok claims titanium dioxide, an ingredient in many tampons, causes cancer and other gynecological and reproductive issues. This is misleading; the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the compound's use in food and cosmetics, and experts say no studies have proven a link between tampon strings and cancer in humans. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows fires on US West Coast in September 2020 A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Twitter and Facebook alongside a claim it shows fires on the West Coast of the United States on September 26, 2020. The claim is false; the video was created from three separate clips that have all circulated online in reports before September 26, 2020 about other US fires. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Recent photo of Meng Wanzhou wearing domestic China brand sneakers? A video has been viewed thousands of times on social media alongside a claim it shows Chinese tech giant Huawei's CFO, Meng Wanzhou, wearing an ankle monitor and sneakers made by a Chinese domestic brand. Other posts shared the same image of Meng alongside a similar claim. The claim circulated online after Meng wrapped up her fight in a Canadian court against extradition to the United States to face fraud charges in August 2021. But the claim is false: the posts in fact shared an image of Meng wearing sneakers produced by a California-based sportswear brand. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte sitting on a wheelchair being assisted as Senator Bong Go stands beside him A photo purporting to show Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in a wheelchair has been shared repeatedly on Facebook and Twitter. The image circulated online in April 2021 as Duterte's absence from public events prompted rumours he was ill. The photo, however, has been digitally altered: the original image, which has circulated online since October 2020, shows Duterte on a motorcycle. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This poster was issued by Japan's health ministry and its largest medical association An image has been shared repeatedly in Korean-language social media posts that claim it shows a poster issued by Japan's health ministry warning against receiving a fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine due to the risk of decreased immunity. The image has also been shared elsewhere alongside a claim it was issued by the Japan Medical Association (JMA), the country's largest doctors' association. These claims, however, are false. The poster was issued by a voluntary doctors' group in Japan that opposes additional Covid-19 jabs. Japan's health ministry and the JMA both recommend vaccinations for vulnerable groups, and health experts told AFP there is no evidence multiple vaccine doses weaken immunity. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed could become Nigeria’s first woman governor Nigerian government officials have made misleading claims about Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, a candidate from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party vying for a state governor's seat in polls set for March 11, 2023. An aide to President Muhammadu Buhari alleged Ahmed would be Nigeria’s first woman governor if she won the race in Adamawa, while a minister claimed she was the only woman from a major political party running in Nigeria’s north. But AFP Fact Check found both claims to be misleading. Firstly, there are other female contenders from key parties partaking in the election. Moreover, Ahmed would not be the country’s first-ever woman governor: Virginia Etiaba served as Anambra state governor for three months between 2006 and 2007 after her predecessor Peter Obi was impeached. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Collage compares health status of former Philippine President Arroyo during the the terms of her successors Benigno Aquino III and Rodrigo Duterte A photo collage shared hundreds of times purports to compare the state of health of former Philippine President Gloria Arroyo during the terms of her successors, Benigno Aquino III and Rodrigo Duterte. One photo in the collage has been shared in a misleading context; it was in fact taken during Arroyo's own term, not Duterte's as claimed. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show damaged building after March 2023 earthquake in Pakistan Several photos of damaged houses have been shared hundreds of times in Facebook and Twitter posts that falsely claim they show the aftermath of an earthquake that struck Pakistan in March 2023. The photos -- captured by AFP photographers -- actually show earthquake damage to buildings in Pakistan-administered Kashmir in 2019 and in Turkey in 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: SADS is an adverse effect of the Covid-19 vaccine Social media posts claim "Sudden Adult Death Syndrome" is a new condition linked to the Covid-19 vaccine, proving that Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is also a vaccine side effect. This is false; leading health organizations and medical experts say Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndromes (SADS) -- misnamed in the posts -- is not a new set of heart disorders, and neither SADS nor SIDS has been identified as an adverse event following vaccination. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows earthquake in Shanghai in January 2021 Videos viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter purport to show the aftermath of a major earthquake in the Chinese city of Shanghai on January 31, 2021. The claim is false: the images in the clips show various global natural disasters from previous years. There have been no credible reports of an earthquake in Shanghai in January 2021 as of February 10, 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: #EndSARS protesters destroying highway in Nigeria Two images showing sections of a road being dug up have been shared hundreds of times on Facebook claiming the people who can be seen in the pictures are anti-police brutality protesters in Nigeria destroying public roads. However, the claim is false: the photo shows residents in South Africa vandalising a road in protest over their lack of access to water and electricity. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows the world's smallest bird A photo is circulating in Facebook posts around the world that claim it shows a topaz hummingbird, the "smallest bird on earth". Another photo is shared in other posts with a similar claim. The claims are false. In fact, both pictures show a miniature figurine, not a real bird. The topaz hummingbird is not the world's smallest bird. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Genuine image photographed during meeting with PM Rajapaksa and Yang Jeichi An image that appears to show Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Yang Jiechi, a high-ranking Chinese official, holding a framed aerial photograph of the island of Sri Lanka has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts. The image, however, has been doctored; the original photo shows Rajapaksa and Yang holding a framed photo of themselves during a recent diplomatic visit. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 vaccine causes vaccine acquired immune deficiency syndrome (VAIDS) Online articles and social media posts claim that Covid-19 shots compromise the immune systems of recipients, causing "vaccine acquired immune deficiency syndrome." This is false; medical experts -- one of them an author of a study cited in support of the claim -- say the vaccines do not have this effect. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: India’s RSS members saluting Queen Elizabeth II before independence in 1947 An image has been shared in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim it shows members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), an Indian right-wing organisation, saluting Queen Elizabeth II during the fight for independence from British rule. The claim is false; the image has been doctored from another photo showing Queen Elizabeth II visiting Nigeria in 1956. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Photo shows Putin Pub in Jerusalem has been renamed Zelenskiy Pub Social media posts shared multiple times claim a bar in Jerusalem called "Putin Pub" was renamed "Zelenskiy Pub" -- using an alternative spelling of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky's surname -- following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in late-February 2022. However, the image shared alongside the posts was doctored to add the Ukrainian president's surname in place of where the Russian president's surname had been. One of the bar's operators told AFP on March 9 they had taken down the sign that said "Putin". On March 10, the bar was renamed "Generation Pub". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show Rihanna holding her baby Facebook posts circulating in March 2022 claim that images show Barbadian singer and businesswoman Rihanna holding her newborn baby. But the photos are from June 2014 and depict the star with her niece, Majesty, not her own child. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 vaccines during pregnancy caused "baby die-off" A video clip of US author Naomi Wolf claiming that "there is a baby die-off" in infants born to Covid-19 vaccinated mothers has been viewed hundreds of times on Facebook. But the claim is false. Doctors' statements contradict Wolf's claims, and multiple studies show that vaccination against Covid-19 during pregnancy is safe. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A Bud Light billboard advertisement says "lol CRYBABIES" Social media users are claiming Bud Light responded to criticism over its partnership with a transgender influencer by creating an advertisement that says "lol CRYBABIES." This is false; the billboard in the photos and videos circulating online is an altered version of a sign in Toronto, Canada. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi predicted the Covid-19 pandemic A claim has been shared widely on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube that the late Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi predicted the Covid-19 pandemic. The posts, which included an image of Kadhafi speaking at the United Nations in 2009, cite a comment he purportedly made: "They will create the viruses themselves and sell you the antidotes." The claim is misleading: the posts have misquoted Kadhafi 's 2009 speech. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of Catholic priest in India converting to Hinduism A photo appearing to show a Catholic priest standing at an altar has been shared thousands of times in social media posts in Hindu-majority India about a "Father Anthony Fernandes" who converted to Hinduism. The picture, however, has been shared in a false context. It shows a scene from a Polish TV series, and the person in the picture is the actor who plays the series’ protagonist. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: These photos all show construction projects in the Philippines Six photos have been shared tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook which claim they show a subway project in the Philippines. The claim is misleading; the photos show subway projects in New York, Peru, Glasgow and Los Angeles and only one is related to a project in the Philippines. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows unarmed man shot in Phoenix, South Africa protests A video is being widely shared on social media alongside a claim that the footage shows a shooting that took place in South Africa amid ongoing violence in the country. The claims are false: the footage of a man being shot in the street shows an attack that occurred in Brazil in 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 mRNA vaccines cause people to become “magnetic” because of a process called “magnetofection” Social media posts share a video of a US pundit claiming that Covid-19 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines can cause people to develop a "magnetic force" due to a process called magnetofection. This is false; experts say the process is not used in the shots, which do not have magnetic components listed in their ingredients, and the web page about magnetofection used as a proof comes from a German company that says its their work has nothing to do with Covid-19 vaccines. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pakistani government appoints former army general to head medical regulatory body Multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter claim that the Pakistani government has appointed a retired army general as the head of the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC), a regulatory agency that oversees the county’s entire medical profession. The claim, however, is false; the claim was made in a hoax news report and the government has made no such appointment. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: China and Japan were 'free' of COVID-19 as of March 2020 A post has been shared multiple times on Facebook in March 2020 that claims China and Japan are “free” of the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19. The claim is false; data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows new cases continue to be reported in both countries. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano erupting in February 2022 Footage of a dramatic volcanic blast is circulating in social media posts that claim it shows the eruption of Indonesia's Anak Krakatau in February 2022. The claim is false; the video shows the same volcano erupting in December 2018, days after it unleashed a deadly tsunami. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: All schools closing in South Africa this week Multiple Facebook posts shared thousands of times claim that all schools in South Africa are closing this week. The claim is false: while a handful of schools were closed due to rising Covid-19 cases ahead of a looming third wave, the education department refuted the claims as false on May 25, 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Covid-19 vaccines cause sterilization, were not properly tested A lengthy text post shared on Facebook repeats multiple false claims about Covid-19 vaccines, including that the shots will cause sterilization and that they were not adequately tested. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Images of Queen Elizabeth II in her underground gold vault A video that shows images of Britain's late Queen Elizabeth II visiting a vault with stacks of gold bars has been viewed millions of times alongside a claim that it shows the late monarch's gold deposit. This is false. While the British royal family is estimated to hold hundreds of millions of dollars in assets, the video shows the late monarch on a visit to the Bank of England's gold vaults in 2012. The UK central bank is wholly owned by the UK government, not the royal family. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows Ethiopia’s Lemma Megersa in recent TV interview Facebook posts have shared an image of a man talking onscreen with claims that it shows Lemma Megersa, the high-profile leader of Ethiopia's largest ethnic group in the Oromia region, during a recent BBC interview. Users implied that this was one of his first public appearances since his sacking in 2020 as defence minister by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, a fellow ethnic Oromo and former close ally. But the claim is false: the picture is a screengrab from a video showing Lemma defending his thesis online with Leiden University in 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: American sports journalist Grant Wahl died from Covid-19 vaccination Social media accounts associated with a widely discredited anti-vaccine film are claiming American sports journalist Grant Wahl, who collapsed while covering the World Cup in Qatar, died from Covid-19 vaccines. This is false; an autopsy determined the acclaimed football writer died from a rupture to the main artery that carries blood away from the heart, according to a statement from his wife. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: CDC action makes the Covid-19 vaccine mandatory for schoolchildren Fox News host Tucker Carlson claims a decision from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will make the Covid-19 vaccine mandatory for all schoolchildren. This is misleading; the public health agency cannot declare a national vaccination mandate for schools, as requirements are determined locally and can vary from state to state. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Live footage of train crash in Bihar A video which has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook claims to show "live" footage of a train accident in India's eastern Bihar state. The claim is false, the footage is from 2016 and shows the wreckage of a train which derailed, killing more than 100 people in Uttar Pradesh in northern India. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: These photos have circulated online since November 2018 in reports about police clashing with protesters in northern India. Three photos have been shared tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim they show the students injured during clashes with police during a protest over unemployment levels in India. However, these photos have been shared in a misleading context; they have circulated online since November 2018 in reports about police manhandling protesting teachers in Lucknow, India. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows photographer taking pictures of the 2021 Airshow in Sri Lanka A video has been shared in multiple Facebook posts alongside claims that it was taken during an air show in Sri Lanka to celebrate the country’s Air Force’s 70th anniversary. The claim, however, is false; the footage in fact shows an air show in Saudi Arabia that was held in 2020 to celebrate the Kingdom’s 90th national day. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Recent footage of melting permafrost in Inner Mongolia, China A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple social media posts alongside a claim it shows the movement of the Earth's crust that was recently filmed in Inner Mongolia, in northern China. This is false. The video has circulated since September 2017 in reports about a landslide in the northwestern province of Qinghai. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: 86 people have been quarantined in a brothel in Europe A photo has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Weibo, Twitter and Facebook alongside a claim it shows a brothel in Europe where 86 people were quarantined due to the novel coronavirus epidemic. The claim circulated in posts in English, German, Spanish and Portuguese. The claim is false; it originated on a satirical website based in Spain; the image in the posts shows a nightclub in the coastal Spanish city of Marbella. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: KFC distributes free fried chicken coupons to celebrate its 71st anniversary Facebook posts shared thousands of times claim that American fried chicken chain KFC is dishing out free coupons to customers in Indonesia and Malaysia to celebrate its 71st anniversary. However, the promotion is a hoax. The companies that run KFC in the two Southeast Asian countries urged consumers to ignore the scheme, which is not mentioned on the brand's official communication channels. KFC is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2022, not its 71st. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Youth waving a saffron flag on top of a mosque in Rajasthan A video has been viewed more than 350,000 times in social media posts that claim it shows a Hindu mob waving religious flags atop a mosque during a spate of communal violence in the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan. In fact, the footage shows boys who climbed on a mosque during a religious procession in Gahmar in Uttar Pradesh. Police told AFP they stopped when scolded by locals. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Tom Hanks’ reunion with Wilson the volleyball while being treated for the novel coronavirus at a hospital in Australia A photo of Hollywood actor Tom Hanks holding a volleyball has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts alongside it shows him in quarantine at a hospital in Australia after contracting the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The posts further claim hospital staff gifted Hanks the ball as a tribute to his character Chuck Noland in the 2000 film 'Cast Away', who "befriends" a volleyball. The claim is false; the image has been doctored using a 2015 photograph of Hanks and a stock photo of a hospital ward; the doctored photo emerged on a satirical website. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows fake Covid-19 vaccination in India A video that appears to show a failed vaccination attempt has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Facebook, Twitter and Weibo. The clip was shared alongside a claim that it was filmed in India as Covid-19 cases surged. But the video has been shared in a misleading context: it was filmed in Mexico and shows a vaccination error. The man in the video has since received a Covid-19 vaccine, according to the government. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photos show Saudi man hugging woman at Qatar World Cup Saudi Arabian football had plenty to celebrate after their team’s shock victory against Argentina in the first group game of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. A Facebook post in Nigeria claimed to show a Saudi fan hugging and kissing a woman after the match on November 22, 2022. But the claim is misleading: the pictures are screengrabs from a video filmed in 2018 at the World Cup in Russia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: UN gave Thailand two months to amend the lèse majesté law After United Nations countries reassessed Thailand's record on human rights as part of a new report, social media posts claimed the UN gave the kingdom "a two-month deadline" to amend its royal defamation law. The posts are misleading; although the UN said it expected Thailand to respond to its concerns within four months, any recommendations it makes are non-binding. A Thailand-based human rights lawyer told AFP the kingdom has historically "paid little attention" to requests from the international community to amend the lese-majeste law. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows footage of Nepal airplane crash in 2023 A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in social media posts that falsely claim it shows a plane with 72 people on board that crashed in Nepal on January 15. The video has in fact circulated in reports about a Russian military transport plane that crashed outside Moscow in August 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Zambezi River in Zambia An image that appears to show an expanse of water shaped like a human head with flowing hair has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook with claims that it depicts the Zambezi River in Zambia. This is false; the river is not real and the image is, in fact, an acrylic painting created by Russian artist Natalia Livitchuk. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Canada ordered guillotines to execute people An official Canadian government notice of intent to procure hydraulic guillotines was shared across social media, with some questioning if it would be used for executions. But the guillotines in question are machines used to cut paper, according to the website of the company that won the bidding process to sell them to Canada. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indonesia offers Bogor city to China Multiple Facebook posts, shared hundreds of times, contain a screenshot of a blog post with a headline saying Indonesia is “offering” the city of Bogor to China, purportedly quoting the country’s senior maritime affairs minister. The posts are misleading; the headline is from a blog post that falsely represents a genuine news publication and the Indonesian information ministry says the quote in the headline has been fabricated. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows protest in Wuhan over health insurance reforms A video of densely packed streets has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in posts that falsely claim it shows a protest over health insurance reforms in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. While hundreds of retirees took to the streets in Wuhan in February to protest the reforms, the footage shows crowds gathered for a fireworks display in the city of Luoyang. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Boy dated 14 girlfriends at the same time and their appearance at his home led him to coma Old Bangladeshi news reports claim that a man in India who was dating 14 women simultaneously fell into a coma after they all turned up at his house at the same time. The claim first surfaced online in 2019 and has recirculated on Facebook in 2021. The story, however, originated as a satirical article on an Indian entertainment website -- it has no basis in fact, the site's founder told AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Philippine President Marcos Jr's flagship housing programme is free Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's government is not "giving away six million free homes" as false posts with hundreds of shares on Facebook claim. These posts are a scam, the agency that manages the government's public housing programme told AFP. The fake announcement was posted on an imposter Facebook page that is not affiliated with the government. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Australian health authorities admit tests cannot distinguish COVID-19 from other diseases A purported screenshot of an Australian Department of Health webpage has been shared repeatedly on Facebook alongside a claim it is evidence that COVID-19 tests “cannot distinguish covid from a cold or measles or ebola”. The claim is misleading; Australian health authorities told AFP the image contains “selectively chosen information taken out of context”, and clarified that tests designed for SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19, would not detect any other kinds of pathogens. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A photo of the Obamas supporting Philippine opposition candidates? A picture shared by a Facebook group with thousands of members purports to show former US president Barack Obama holding a t-shirt and his wife Michelle wearing a dress bearing campaign emblems of the Philippine opposition party. A reverse image search shows that the picture has been doctored. In the original photo, Michelle's dress is plain and the shirt held by Barack contains a message for the victims of a 2015 church shooting in Charleston, USA. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Minaret was built to celebrate mass auction of Hindu women in Afghanistan Multiple social media posts have shared an image that they claim shows the ruins of an Islamic building in Afghanistan containing Persian-language "inscriptions that commemorate the mass auction of Hindu women". But these posts are false, according to multiple scholars. The image shows a minaret on the outskirts of the Afghan city of Ghazni with Arabic-language inscriptions that do not make any reference to the auction of Hindu women, a historian told AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows railway station in Ayodhya An image has been shared hundreds of times in social media posts that claim it shows a futuristic railway station in the northern Indian city of Ayodhya. The claim is false: the picture -- which has circulated online since at least 2009 -- shows an artist's impression of a renovation project at New Delhi railway station. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: FDA-approved Green Barley Powder Drink cures conditions including AIDS Social media users in the Philippines have repeatedly shared posts that falsely promote a barley grass drink as a cure for multiple medical conditions, including cancer and AIDS, saying it has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Health experts told AFP that while barley is a supplement that has some health benefits, it cannot cure or treat diseases unrelated to the digestive system. Keyword searches on the FDA's website found no registration for the product. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows robbery in Hong Kong A video of a man swiping cash from a customer in a shop has been shared repeately in multiple Facebook posts from Hong Kong. The posts warn about “South Asian guys” and have attracted racist comments. However, the video has been shared in a misleading context; it in fact shows a man snatching money from a shopper amid a spate of crimes against Asians in Oakland, California. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Sri Lankan President appoints committee consisting of three former Ministers to analyze the expert review report on the MCC Multiple posts shared hundreds of times on Facebook claim that Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed a committee of three former ministers to review an expert committee’s report. The claim also circulated on WhatsApp. The claim is misleading; the offices of the president and the former ministers cited in the misleading posts said no such committee was ever formed. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Oxford study shows that vaccinated Covid-19 patients carry a 251 times higher viral load than unvaccinated patients Online articles and social media posts claim a University of Oxford study found that vaccinated Covid-19 patients carry 251 times the viral load of those who have not received the shots. But the study's authors said the claim is a misrepresentation of their findings, as did a public health expert. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Tweet from Pakistan ambassador Asad Majeed Khan about Imran Khan After Pakistan's ousted prime minister Imran Khan accused the United States of conspiring to boot him from power, social media posts shared thousands of times appeared to show a tweet from Pakistan's former US ambassador declaring that Washington had "interfered" in Islamabad's internal affairs. However, the tweet was posted by an imposter account that has been suspended. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: South Korea recorded that around 16 to 20 percent of children born from 2018 to 2020 had birth defects South Korea's National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) has not released a chart showing an increasing rate of babies born with birth defects -- which purportedly reached as high as 21 percent in 2020. The chart repeatedly shared online makes erroneous calculations based on insurance claims data and shows "inflated" figures not calculated by the NHIS, a spokesperson for the agency told AFP. A medical professor separately told AFP the purported rates of birth defects in the false chart are "outlandish," estimating the actual figure to be consistent with global prevalence at around five percent. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Post claims US presidents cannot spend taxpayer dollars with executive orders Following US President Donald Trump’s executive actions extending financial relief to Americans hit by the coronavirus pandemic, a post shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter claims US presidents cannot spend taxpayer dollars with executive orders. This is misleading; while Trump’s use of power is unique in this case, executive orders often involve moving, re-allocating or spending public funds, experts say. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: South Korea is the only country whose Lady Justice statue is not blindfolded Multiple posts on Facebook and Korean web portal Daum claim that South Korea is the only country in the world in which the Lady Justice statue is not blindfolded. The claim is misleading; statues and symbols depicting Lady Justice without a blindfold exist in several other countries, including the United Kingdom and Australia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Al Jazeera tweet about the Afghan girls being abducted by Taliban A screenshot has been shared in Facebook posts that claim it shows a genuine news report from media network Al Jazeera about the Taliban abducting girls. The posts circulated online after Taliban insurgents seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021. But the screenshot shows a fabricated Al Jazeera Twitter account. The image featured in the fabricated report was taken in March 2016 and shows a performance by Afghan artists. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

These Are Not The Words Of Paul Kagame On His Ugandan Counterpart: This is a quote from Paul Kagame expressing support for Yoweri Museveni A Facebook post claiming to quote Rwandan President Paul Kagame expressing support for his Ugandan counterpart has been shared multiple times on social media. The post emerged ahead of Uganda’s presidential election on January 14, 2021, which returned incumbent President Yoweri Museveni to power for a sixth term. However, AFP Fact Check has found no public trace of Kagame making this statement. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Images show Pope Francis and other world leaders making Satanic gestures Images showing religious leaders and US politicians, including President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, have circulated in numerous social media posts claiming they all are flashing "devil horns", which some consider to be Satanic hand signals. However, the claims are false; one of the photos has been digitally altered, another shows a gesture honoring the mascot of the University of Texas, while yet others display the American Sign Language for “I Love You” and the "L" sign for "loser". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Australian BBQ appliance company advertise against Victoria Liberal Party Doctored images that appeared to show billboards for an Australian barbeque company criticising the opposition Liberal Party circulated on Facebook ahead of Victoria state polls on November 26. A spokesperson for Barbeques Galore told AFP the company did not release the billboards, while the Twitter user who created the images said they were intended as political satire. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows newly designed plastic bank notes for Pakistan in 2022 A video report viewed more than one million times on Facebook claims to show a new plastic banknote that will be circulated in Pakistan in early 2022. The claim is false; Pakistan's central bank said it had not commissioned the purported banknote, adding it was still "studying the viability" of using plastic notes in the future. Separately, a student at a Pakistan university told AFP he designed the banknotes shown in the video for a project. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Fungus grew over Myanmar soldiers' graves Three images have been shared in multiple Facebook posts that claim they show fungi that "grew where Myanmar soldiers died" in an eastern state in the country, which has seen intense fighting between the army and anti-junta fighters since a military coup in 2021. The photos, however, have been shared in a misleading context. The images predate the coup and have circulated online since at least 2016. The fungi, which resemble rotting fingers or toes, generally grow on dead trees in Europe and parts of North America. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: This photo shows mass death of fish in South Korea in 2022 Korean-language Facebook posts have repeatedly shared a photo in March 2022 alongside a claim it shows fish killed by toxic chemicals in South Korea's Goheung County, home to the country's largest floating solar power plant. However, the photo was shared in a misleading context. It was previously published in a report about fish killed by a heat wave in South Korea's Cheonsuman Bay in 2016. Goheung County officials said their initial investigation into the deaths of a large number of fish in a freshwater lake in early March found no link to toxic chemicals. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show Malian mother with her nine newborns Photos of a woman in a hospital bed and several newborns in incubators have been shared repeatedly in Kenya in Facebook and Twitter posts telling the story of 25-year-old Halima Cisse, a Malian woman who gave birth to nine babies in Morocco on May 4, 2021. While Cisse’s story is true, the photos are all several years old and show neither her nor her babies. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Pineapple drinks are a natural remedy for Covid-19 A screenshot of a news report detailing research on a potential coronavirus treatment that involves pineapple plants has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook alongside photos of pineapple drinks. The posts suggest pineapple-based drinks could be a "natural remedy" for Covid-19. The claim is misleading: in August 2020, researchers in Australia studied a potential Covid-19 treatment that combined the pineapple enzyme with another agent; a researcher involved in the project told AFP in March 2021 that pineapple drinks “will not work” against Covid-19. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Man praying during 2022 Murree snowstorm A video of a man knee-deep in snow reciting the Islamic call to prayer is circulating in social media posts claiming it was filmed after a deadly snowstorm struck popular Pakistan mountain resort Murree in January 2022. The posts are misleading. The footage was posted in August 2020 by a travel blogger who said it was shot in Shogran, a town more than 100 kilometres (60 miles) away. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Study proves vaccine maker Moderna created the coronavirus Online articles and social media posts cite a scientific paper to claim that pharmaceutical giant and Covid-19 vaccine manufacturer Moderna created the virus that causes the disease. But the lead author of the study said its findings do not implicate the company, and independent experts say the report itself lacks merit. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft before it entered Saturn’s atmosphere. An image has been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and various websites alongside a claim that it is the last photo NASA’s Cassini spacecraft sent to Earth before it entered Saturn’s atmosphere. The claim is misleading; the image is actually an artist’s illustration of the view from the Cassini spacecraft. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Slain Indian politician Atiq Ahmed saved Congress party in 2008 Multiple Indian media outlets falsely reported that slain ex-opposition politician Atiq Ahmed "saved" the ruling coalition government in 2008 when he purportedly supported it in a key vote on a nuclear deal with the United States. In fact, Ahmed voted against the then-government in the motion as MP for Uttar Pradesh, parliament records show. The author of the book, which became a reference point for the misreporting, told AFP that he had made a factual error in the text. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: NASA staged a space collision on film A video is circulating in social media posts that claim it shows a staged "space collision" video created by NASA. The claim is false; the clip is actually a 3D animation created by a digital artist. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: UA-Block is effective in treating gout A group of doctors from the Philippines has warned against consuming a purported capsule that social media posts claim treats gout by lowering uric acid levels in the body. Claims about the product called "UA-Block" have no medical basis, the group's president told AFP. The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also repeatedly said the product is unregistered and "may pose injury to health". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigerian presidential hopeful lied about PhD Political disinformation is spreading in Nigeria as voters prepare to elect a new president in February. A social media post casting doubt on the academic credentials of presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso has sparked debate. The tweet insinuates that he does not hold a doctorate and claims he never published any research papers. But this is false: public records of an Indian university show Kwankwaso graduated with a PhD in engineering. He was also the lead author of a research paper published in an academic journal available online. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: CNN reports Bernie Gores as first American casualty in Ukraine Social media posts claim CNN lied to the public by tweeting that a man was the first US casualty in Ukraine after previously featuring the same photo in a post about his execution in Afghanistan. This is false; the network says the tweets are not from its official accounts, and the man pictured is a YouTube video game commentator who continues to livestream on the platform. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Green building with white star and crescent is local office of Indian National Congress party in Kerala, southern India Photos of a green building with a white star and crescent painted on its side have been shared hundreds of times in online posts that claim it is an office of the opposition Congress party in the Indian state of Kerala. The claim is false; the building actually belongs to a different party in Kerala, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Greg Abbott tweeted about busing migrants on Christmas Eve An image shared online purports to show a tweet from Texas Governor Greg Abbott about busing migrants across the US amid frigid Christmas Eve weather. But while more than 100 migrants from Texas were dropped off in the US capital on December 24, 2022, the post is fabricated; it does not appear on live and archived versions of Abbott's Twitter feed. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show APC campaign rally in Nigeria Chicago music festival (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows separatists movement by Muslims in Assam state Footage of police beating protesters with sticks has been viewed more than 100,000 times in Facebook posts that claim it shows Muslim separatists rallying in the restive Indian state of Assam. However, the video shows demonstrators marching against a controversial citizenship list in Assam in 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows woman carrying quadruplets Multiple Facebook posts have shared a photo that they claim shows a woman pregnant with quadruplets. But the claim is false: the photo has in fact circulated in news reports about a patient who underwent surgery for an ovarian cyst -- not a pregnant woman. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Sri Lanka ranked fourth among most corrupt nations Facebook posts shared tens of thousands of times claim Sri Lanka has been ranked in the “top four most corrupt nations” in the world. The claim, which has circulated online since at least 2019, is misleading. The posts did not cite any official list for the purported corruption rankings. The claim appears to have originated from an alleged statement made by a former minister. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: President Ramaphosa and ANC members don't wear a mask at a birthday party during lockdown A meme posted on Facebook claims South Africa’s president and ruling party politicians recently celebrated a high-profile birthday and flouted lockdown rules in the process. However, the images were taken in previous years. A secondary claim that COVID-19 is a bacteria -- and that this therefore would explain the lack of masks in the pictures -- has been refuted by experts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: "Died Suddenly" film proves Covid-19 vaccines are a depopulation plot Public health authorities say Covid-19 vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness and death, but a video watched more than 10 million times claims they are part of a depopulation conspiracy. Experts called the hour-long film "disinformation," pointing to multiple false claims, data showing millions of lives saved during the pandemic due to vaccination, and a lack of evidence supporting its assertions. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows political opposition rally in Pakistan in December 2020 A photo of an enormous crowd has been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim it shows a major political opposition rally in the Pakistani city of Lahore on December 13, 2020. The claim is false; the photo actually shows a rally in Lahore by the current Pakistani ruling party in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Shell is offering free gift cards to Americans Facebook posts claim that, amid soaring US gasoline prices, Shell is offering gift cards to people who fill out a form online. This is false; a Shell representative told AFP it is not giving out such cards, and that the posts are impersonating the energy company. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: KitchenAid mixers are being recalled due to lead Social media posts claim KitchenAid has recalled stand mixers with white paddle and hook attachments for containing "extreme amounts of lead." This is false; neither the company nor US regulators have announced such a safety recall. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Hong Kong people queuing to withdraw money from China banks A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Twitter and Facebook alongside a claim that it shows Hong Kong citizens queuing at Chinese banks to cancel their accounts after mass protests hit the city in June 2019. The video is being shared in a misleading context; the first section of the video shows shoppers queuing outside a shoe shop in mainland China; the rest of the video shows guests queuing at a hotel in Macau. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Fish contaminated with HIV kills hundreds in Mindanao, Philippines Facebook users have shared a fabricated warning from the Philippine Department of Health that hundreds of residents in the country died from eating fish contaminated with HIV. An official from the department told AFP it had not issued such a warning, while health experts say there is "little to no risk of getting HIV" from contaminated food. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows vaccination arranged on the black market in India A video has been viewed hundreds of times in Twitter, Facebook and Weibo posts that claim it shows a failed vaccination attempt in India as Covid-19 cases surged in the country. But the claim is misleading: the video actually shows a vaccination error in Ecuador. The man in the video has since received a Covid-19 vaccine, according to the government. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hitting inner side of elbow can cure heart attack A video viewed tens of thousands of times on social media recommends treating someone suffering from a heart attack by hitting the inner side of their elbows. Experts strongly reject the method, saying it “lacks any scientific evidence” and “endangers lives” by potentially delaying people from contacting emergency services in the event of such a situation. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Dollar General announced all stores will be open 24 hours a day Facebook posts claim Dollar General recently announced that all stores will stay open 24 hours a day. This is false; the US chain told AFP the posts are incorrect and that hours vary by location. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Fighter jets at Pakistani air base A video that has been viewed millions of times on Facebook shows fighter jets lined up on a runway and claims it shows a Pakistani air base. The claim is false; the video actually shows US fighter jets at the Kunsan air base in South Korea. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: [Thai government ordered a shoot-at-sight at the border for illegal entries]] - Thai government denial - (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of Biden appearing to wear surgical boot on opposite foot Two images circulated in social media posts purport to show US President-elect Joe Biden switched a surgical boot from his right leg to his left after injuring his right foot while walking his dog in late November 2020. The posts, shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Twitter and Facebook, were published alongside a suggestion that Biden could be faking the injury. The claim is false; the image that purports to show Biden wearing a boot on his left foot has been doctored from a photo captured in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan remained seated as Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in June 2019 An image of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been shared thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim that during a June 2019 summit in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek he remained seated as other leaders stood to greet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The claim is false; Netanyahu did not attend the summit. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Violence as Indonesian election officials collect data on mentally-ill people A video of a man hitting another man has been viewed more than one million times after being posted to Facebook linking it to an article about Indonesian officials collecting data on mentally-ill people to update voter lists ahead of presidential elections in April. The post is misleading: the video is at least eight months old and can be traced back to social media reports about an incident that has no reported links to the election. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows deadly plane crash in Indonesia in June 2022 Links to blog articles featuring a photo of a plane wreckage have been shared in multiple Facebook posts with the claim the image shows an Indonesian plane crash in June 2022. But the claim is false; the blog articles discuss a 2007 plane crash in the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta and feature an AFP photo of that incident. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indonesia's election commission chairman with President Joko Widodo in Saudi Arabia A Facebook post shares a photo it claims showing Indonesia’s election commission chairman, Arief Budiman, with President Joko Widodo when he visited Saudi Arabia just before April 17, 2019, elections. The claim is false; the photo actually shows Widodo with an interpreter who works at the Indonesian embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; multiple official social media posts from Indonesia’s election commission show that Budiman was in Jakarta on the dates when Widodo was in Saudi Arabia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows footage of elephant colliding with Sri Lankan actor's vehicle A video of a vehicle colliding with an elephant in a late-night crash has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows an accident involving a Sri Lankan actor in July 2022. However, the footage was actually filmed in Thailand in 2017, when a truck smashed into an elephant near a national park. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sheikh Mohammed tells BBC reporter his “great grandson will be back on a camel” in 2014 interview Facebook posts shared thousands of times claim that Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed told the BBC in 2014 that his great-grandson will be “back on a camel”, implying that the wealthy emirate's development is diminishing. The claim is false: Sheikh Mohammed did not make such comments in the interview, where he said he aimed for Dubai to become “number one”. A similar quote has previously been attributed to Saudi politician Ahmed Zaki Yamani and the sheikh’s father Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: White House started referred to Christmas trees as holiday trees Social media posts claim the White House called Christmas trees "holiday trees" for the first time in 2021. But the White House description of the decorations repeatedly refers to Christmas trees, both President Joe Biden and his wife Jill have also done so in recent comments, and remarks allegedly responding to the controversy were falsely attributed to a journalist. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of raid on nightclub in Saudi Arabia A video that has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook shows a group of men beating partygoers. The posts claim the footage shows a raid on a nightclub in Saudi Arabia. The claim is false; the footage actually shows a 2014 vigilante raid on a nightclub in Peru. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Mosaic artwork shows all doctors and nurses killed from Covid-19 A photo mosaic has been shared repeatedly in multiple Sinhala-language Facebook posts alongside a claim it was created using photos of “all doctors and nurses” who have died of COVID-19. The claim is misleading; the image was produced by a Mexico-based newspaper to honour 198 healthcare workers who died in Mexico after being infected with COVID-19. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo showing Haldwani's alleged encroachment area A photo of houses built alongside a railway track is circulating in posts that misleadingly link it to a move by India's top court to block an order to demolish homes in Haldwani in northern Uttarakhand state that allegedly encroached on land owned by railway authorities. The photo was in fact taken at a slum in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal -- which is more than 1,300 kilometres (800 miles) from Haldwani. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Rubbing a boiled egg over a child’s body can cure or relieve fever Facebook posts shared tens of thousands of times in Myanmar and Malaysia claim that rubbing a boiled egg over a child's body can treat a fever. Posts about the treatment promote it as originating from Chinese traditional medicine. These claims, however, are false. Medical experts told AFP there is no evidence a boiled egg can cure fever, and said it has no links to traditional Chinese medicine. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Photo shows Itaewon crowd crush victim's father laughing after being offered money A doctored image is circulating in social media posts that falsely claim it shows the father of a victim of a Halloween crowd crush in the South Korean capital Seoul laughing "after being offered compensation". The picture circulated in posts that accused the victims' families of seeking to benefit financially from the tragedy. In fact, the original photo shows the man crying at a meeting with ruling party lawmakers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Indian politicians sitting in front of liquor shop An image that appears to show Indian opposition leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann sitting in front of a liquor store has been shared thousands of times in social media posts. The image -- which some social media users appeared to believe was genuine -- circulated weeks before state elections in Punjab which the politicians' party is fielding candidates for. However, the image has been doctored to change the backdrop -- the original photo shows the two politicians sitting in a field. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Snapple cap says Trump lost the election A photo of a Snapple bottle cap featuring one of the beverage company’s signature “Real Facts” telling drinkers that former president Donald Trump lost the 2020 election circulated on social media in early May 2021. But the image was likely altered as Snapple said its products do not mention any such “fact.” (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: These photos show a pig carcass, not a human corpse, found on a beach in South Korea’s Busan Two images have been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook and on Korean social media platforms which claim they show a human corpse on a beach in the South Korean city of Busan. The claim is false; the Busan Coast Guard told AFP the images show a pig carcass that washed up on the shore, not a human body; local media also reported that the incident involved a pig carcass. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows Leni Robredo admitting election offence. A video of Philippines Vice President Leni Robredo, who is running for president in 2022, has circulated on social media alongside a claim that she violated election rules by accepting campaign donations into her personal bank account. However, the claim is misleading. The footage has been taken from a 2016 interview in which Robredo discussed donations that had been made legally during her bid for the vice presidency. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Floods in West Pokot A video of cattle being swept away by floods has been shared a hundred times on Facebook, with a claim that it took place in West Pokot County in Kenya. However, the claim is false; the video shows floods in Mexico’s Nayarit state. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows Indian politician Mamata Banerjee walking out of a wheelchair and faking her leg injury in March 2021. Multiple Facebook and Twitter posts have shared a photo that they claim shows Indian politician Mamata Banerjee walking out of a wheelchair, suggesting she faked a leg injury sustained while campaigning in March 2021. The claim is misleading: the photo originally appeared in a satire page; it had been digitally altered to combine two images of Banerjee from before and after her campaign mishap. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Person attacked during Portland protest on May 30 died from injuries Facebook posts shared more than 25,000 times claim that a man died after being kicked in the head in the US state of Oregon during a protest over George Floyd’s death. This is false; police said the man was “very much alive” after the incident, and a video from the demonstration showed him walking around following the assault. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: News broadcaster admiring China's response to deadly flooding in Henan A Chinese broadcaster has been attacked on social media after posts shared thousands of times claimed she said China "responded very well" to devastating floods which killed dozens of people in central China's Henan province. However, the claim is false; she was in fact speaking before the Henan floods struck in July 2021, and was referring to torrential rainfall in North China. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian journalist Rajdeep Sardesai assaulted over controversial interview of Rhea Chakaraborty in 2020? A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim it shows an Indian journalist assaulted after a controversial interview with a Bollywood actress implicated in her former partner’s suicide in August 2020. The claim, however is false: this video shows the journalist being stopped by guards during an event with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York in 2014. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Former Twitter CEO arrested for child porn possession An article shared on social media claims the FBI arrested former Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal for possession of child pornography. This is false; there is no record of Agrawal's detention in the US state of California, where he lives and was allegedly detained, and the story comes from a website that says it publishes satire. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Japanese hospital calls halt to Pfizer-BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine after adverse vaccine effects caused state emergency Chinese-language social media posts claim Japan has declared a state of emergency following side effects from the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. The claim is false; Japan has placed much of the country under a "quasi-state of emergency" to reduce the spread of Covid-19, not because of side effects from vaccines. Moreover, the social media posts show a Japanese poster that contains a string of falsehoods about the virus. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: News graphic shows genuine quote by Philippine politician Vico Sotto about electing the right leaders and criticising Duterte An image has been shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook posts that purports to show remarks by a Filipino politician in which he appears to criticise Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. The claim is false; the image has been digitally altered to add a fabricated quote. The original image showed a graphic published by local news organisation Inquirer. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ilhan Omar tweets that all white men should be enslaved A meme combining a TIME magazine cover featuring Ilhan Omar with text saying all white men should be "put in chains as slaves" for refusing to submit to Islam has been shared thousands of times in Facebook posts that claim the quote is a real tweet by the US congresswoman. The claims are false; Omar has never tweeted any such statement; no such phrase was included in her 2017 interview with TIME magazine; the congresswoman has said the meme is false. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Liver supplement "Cagan Nano" is recommended by doctors A purported news report about a liver supplement with "guaranteed therapeutic effects" supposedly approved by Philippine health authorities and endorsed by doctors has been viewed more than one million times on Facebook. However, the video has been created from old news and advertising clips in order to promote an unregistered supplement that the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it had not approved. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Palestinians praying amid 2021 conflict with Israel An image of people praying in the street has been shared in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts alongside a claim it shows Palestinian Muslims attending Friday prayers. The photo circulated online as the Israel-Palestinian conflict escalated. The image has been shared in a false context: it actually shows Muslims praying in Indian-administered Kashmir in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Girls return to school in Uganda after pandemic shutdown A photo has been shared on Facebook alongside a claim that it shows students in Uganda returning to class after a Covid-19 shutdown. This is false: the girls in the photograph, taken in Tanzania in 2018, were expelled from school for falling pregnant and are seen dropping off their children at a care centre. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show Rodrigo Duterte having a simple 2019 New Year's celebration Photos that have been shared hundreds of times on Facebook and Twitter at the beginning of January 2019 claim to show Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte having a “simple” New Year's celebration. A reverse search reveals, however, that the photos were taken in December 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Confirmed case of novel coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh town of Barhalganj A claim that a man infected with an acute case of novel coronavirus has been admitted to a hospital in a town in Uttar Pradesh, India has been shared multiple times on Facebook and Twitter. This claim is false; the district’s health authority said there are no confirmed novel coronavirus patients in the area. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: coronavirus cure Multiple social media posts and media reports shared hundreds of times in February 2020 claim Thailand has cured a COVID-19 patient within 48 hours using a cocktail of an anti-HIV drug and an antiviral drug used for treating influenza. The claim is misleading; Thai doctors say the cocktail of drugs did greatly improve the condition of the patient over 48 hours but did not cure them of the viral infection; the World Health Organisation (WHO) said there is “no specific medicine” to prevent or treat novel coronavirus as of February 14, 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Moon Jae-in tweeted a coded message to North Korean spies in South Korea A doctored screenshot of an unintelligible tweet purportedly written by former South Korean president Moon Jae-in has been repeatedly shared in social media posts that claim it contains a "coded message" to North Korean spies in South Korea. The claim circulated online after Korean media outlets reported that South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) and police were investigating allegations that some liberal activists and party officials carried out orders from Pyongyang as part of a spy ring that spanned five years. However, Moon's original tweet from May 2022 contains a clearer anecdote about how he took up farming following his retirement from the presidency. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Haiti first lady Martine Moïse died Online articles and social media posts claim that Haiti's first lady Martine Moise died after a July 7, 2021 attack that killed her husband the president. This is false; Haitian and American officials said she was wounded but still alive, and she is being treated in the United States. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indonesian police and military chiefs declaring support for President Joko Widodo in 2019 election A video shared on YouTube purports to show Indonesian police chief Tito Karnavian and armed forces chief Hadi Tjahjanto making a hand gesture to show support for President Joko Widodo in the 2019 presidential election. The claim is false; the photo has circulated online since at least June 2018, three months before the presidential candidates’ ballot numbers were drawn. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: 'Smart' in 'smart city' is an acronym linked to surveillance technology A misleading claim that "smart" in "smart city" is an acronym that stands for "Surveillance Monitoring Analysis Reporting Technology" has been shared hundreds of times in social media posts in multiple countries. Experts told AFP that while there is no universal definition, "smart cities" are characterised by their use of data and technology to better manage resources and services. The term used in the misleading posts is not associated with the concept, they added. A slightly different term, also abbreviated as "SMART", is used for built-in tools that monitor the health of computer hard drives. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Video of photographer scared by explosions during Afghan president speech A video viewed more than five million times on Facebook and Twitter purports to show a photographer attempting to take photos of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani during a swearing-in ceremony for his second term in 2020. The clip appears to show the photographer being startled by explosions that can be heard in the background. The video, however, has been edited to include the photographer. It was created by a filmmaker who regularly posts humorous videos. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bernard Shaw said Nigeria and the US divided by language Nigeria's former vice president Atiku Abubakar quoted Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw in a congratulatory message to the White House. But AFP Fact Check found that the literary icon never made the statement attributed to him. A Shaw expert said Atiku may have been “having fun” with the attribution. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A genuine article on Olympic female weightlifter suffering testicle injury? (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Maxwell trial shielded from public while Depp trial is live-streamed Social media posts hint at a conspiracy by saying Ghislaine Maxwell's sex trafficking trial was shielded from the public while Johnny Depp's defamation proceedings are being live-streamed. The claim is misleading; Maxwell's case was a criminal matter in federal court, where filming is generally prohibited, whereas Depp is involved in a civil trial before a state tribunal, where cameras are often allowed. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The WEF has its own paramilitary and police force Two images of a police officer were shared repeatedly in posts during this year's World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos that claim its "paramilitary force" was "detaining journalists at will" in the luxury Swiss resort. This is false. A WEF spokesperson told AFP that it does not have a paramilitary force or police force. The Graubunden canton police force, which is responsible for policing in Davos, said no arrests were made at the 2022 meeting. The posts shared photos of a Graubunden canton police officer wearing a WEF badge, which the force said was worn for "team spirit" during the Davos meeting. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Antifa members are employed as teachers according to FBI Facebook and Instagram posts claim the FBI said people associated with the Antifa movement are most commonly employed as teachers. This is false; the FBI said it has not made any such statements about the occupations of those attracted to political ideologies like anti-fascism. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Russia has required its male citizens to have more than one wife A claim that the Russian government has required polygamy for its male citizens has been shared in multiple posts on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. This claim is false: polygamy is not allowed under Russian law. The misleading posts appear to be based on a Russian politician’s proposal to allow polygamy that has not been enacted into law as of April 23, 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows people handcuffed to do mandatory mass Covid testing in China A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times after it circulated in social media posts that claim it shows people being handcuffed while undergoing mass Covid-19 tests in China. The video was shared as China continues to impose mass testing and citywide lockdowns in a bid to quash new outbreaks. The claim, however, is false. The video was taken in April 2022, during a police raid on a pornography ring in Lanzhou, northwestern China. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Photo shows former South Korean president in Japanese military uniform A photo has circulated on social media in South Korea purporting to show the country's former president Park Chung-hee dressed in Japanese military uniform during Japan's occupation of Korea. The photo, however, has been doctored; Park’s image has been digitally inserted onto a photo that online posts say shows a Japanese military officer during World War II. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Boko Haram acquires new armoured tank Social media posts with footage of onlookers gathered around an armoured vehicle claim it shows Islamist group Boko Haram’s newest military purchase for its ongoing insurgency in Nigeria. However, the claim is false; the video clip actually shows a combat vehicle seized by jihadists during a twin attack on military facilities in Burkina Faso’s northwestern region of Soum. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: TGA graphic states there are 313 deaths from Covid-19 vaccination Multiple social media posts claim there were more than 300 “Covid-19 vaccine deaths” in Australia and just one death from the virus itself in the first half of 2021. The posts, shared on Facebook and Instagram, attributed the figure to Australia's medical regulator. This is misleading: the data in the graphic misrepresent actual figures on Covid-19 vaccinations released by the nation's medical regulator on June 24, 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows 189-year-old Jonathan the Tortoise A photo showing a giant tortoise has been shared on Facebook hundreds of times in Zimbabwe alongside a claim that it shows Jonathan the Tortoise from the island of Saint Helena -- the world’s oldest known land animal, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. But the claim is false: the picture shows a giant Galapagos tortoise at a zoo in Australia, whose representatives say she is in her fifties -- far from reaching any record. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Buhari dead Multiple posts shared thousands of times on social media claim that Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has died and secretly been buried. The claim follows Buhari’s delayed response to the recent shooting of peaceful protesters at an anti-police brutality rally in Lagos. AFP Fact Check has repeatedly debunked claims of Buhari’s death and, once more, found pictures used to support the claim show unrelated events. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows India's hijab wearing girl Muskan being honoured by the police A video has circulated in Facebook posts that claim it shows Indian police displaying the "highest respect" to an Indian Muslim student after she was harassed by a group of Hindu men following a hijab ban in local colleges. The footage -- viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts -- circulated online in neighbouring Muslim-majority Bangladesh as the hijab ban in the south Indian state of Karnakata sparked protests. But the video has been shared in a false context: it has circulated online since 2020 in reports about an Indian teenager acting as a district superintendent for International Women's Day in the Indian state of Maharashtra. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows man arrested for Cumilla violence in Bangladesh A photo of a man was shared in multiple Facebook posts claiming he was arrested for his alleged role in disrespecting the Koran at a religious event in Cumilla, a southern district of Bangladesh, on October 13, 2021. The claim is false: police said the man was wrongly identified online as a suspect in the case. He was in fact arrested over alleged vandalism at a temple in the southern district of Chattagram on October 11, a police spokesman told AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: French citizens urinate on Malian woman A video purporting to show white people urinating on a black woman in front of onlookers has been shared thousands of times on Twitter, Facebook, and WhatsApp in Nigeria, alongside claims that it captures French citizens humiliating a Malian woman as a form of retaliation against the country’s ruling military junta. But the claims are false: AFP Fact Check found that the clip has been on the internet since 2013 and shows the work of a Guatemalan performance artist staged during a summit in Brazil. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: 4,000 Cafe de Coral diners given HKD$2,000 fines for failing to wear face masks Multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and on online forums claim that Hong Kong police have issued 4,000 fines of HKD$2,000 to diners who failed to wear face masks at a local restaurant chain during the coronavirus pandemic. The posts, which have been shared hundreds of times, include a photo of a uniformed man writing at a table as well as an image of a purported police fine. The claim is misleading; the local restaurant chain said the claim was “untrue”; the image shows an officer from the Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, not a police officer. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of locked grave is from Pakistan and done to prevent rape A photo of a grave with a padlocked gate has surfaced on social media, with posts shared tens of thousands of times falsely claiming it shows a Pakistan cemetery where a woman's burial place was locked to prevent necrophilia. While cases of the crime have been reported in Pakistan, the photo was taken in Hyderabad, India. A local mosque representative said the gate was installed to prevent other families burying their loved ones in the same plot. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows former Pakistan diplomat India’s February 2019 air strike in Balakot killed 300 people A purported clip of a Pakistani TV programme that appears to show a former Pakistani diplomat admitting that India’s air strike against the country in February 2019 killed at least 300 people has been viewed tens of thousands times in Facebook, Twitter and YouTube posts. The clip, however, has been doctored and edited; the full video of Zafar Hilaly’s comments shows he actually said “India intended to kill'' 300 people. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Amnesty never visited the Philippines while Ferdinand Marcos was in power As Ferdinand Marcos Jr appears headed towards a landslide victory in the 2022 Philippine polls that could see his family return to the presidential palace, posts have circulated widely online downplaying the human rights abuses during the term of his father, the dictator Ferdinand Marcos. These posts feature a video -- viewed hundreds of thousands of times -- that shows the older Marcos alleging Amnesty International did not visit the country and relied on "hearsay" in its reports about abuses during his dictatorship. This is misleading: multiple historical accounts indicate the rights group visited the Philippines at least twice during the Marcos presidency. A human rights victim told AFP he was interviewed by the group when its investigators came to the country in 1975. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigerian police officer stomping man’s head A video clip of a police officer stomping on a man’s head has been shared on social media claiming it was taken in Nigeria, as the country faces widespread protests against police brutality and the controversial Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). However, the claim is false; while police brutality is a major concern in Nigeria, this video was filmed in Kenya and has been circulating since 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: South African army training applications Facebook has been flooded with posts advertising jobs and training for the South African army. But these posts are misleading, linking to fake applications or long-expired listings. The volume of these posts led the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to issue statements alerting the public about these false listings. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Philippines renames NAIA to Manila International Airport in 2021 A video has been viewed more than one hundred thousand times on social media in February 2021 which claims the Philippines changed the name of its biggest international airport in Manila to remove a reference to a former senator. The claim is false: as of February 16, 2021, a bill has been filed in Congress to change the airport's name, but has not been passed. The agency that manages the airport said its name had not been changed. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pornhub ranks Nigeria as top porn-watching country A claim shared on social media purports that adult content website Pornhub named Nigeria as the top country for consuming pornographic content in the world. This is false; Pornhub lists the United States as the biggest driver of traffic to its site. A spokesman told AFP Fact Check that Nigeria does not rank in its top 20 countries. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Boris Johnson watching Xi Jinping's speech An image has been shared repeatedly in multiple Twitter posts that claim it shows UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson watching a speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The image, however, has been doctored. The original image shows Johnson watching a football match between England and Germany in Euro 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows a moment before the deadly accident in Chittagong in July After a train smashed into a microbus in Bangladesh, a video of young men singing to music inside a vehicle circulated in Facebook posts that claimed it showed the final moments of passengers before the crash. However, the video was posted on TikTok two days before the collision in Chittagong in July 2022. One of the men in the video told AFP the clip had "no connection" to the incident. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: DC police escorted Antifa into capital Tweets and Facebook posts claim that police officers escorted left-wing activists into Washington on the day that the US Capitol was stormed. This is false; the video used as evidence was taken in December 2020 in Minnesota, and when asked by AFP about the allegation, a spokeswoman refuted the suggestion that any officers had provided assistance to supporters of Donald Trump who ransacked the home of US democracy. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: This photo purports to show a dam collapsing in central China As floods devastated the central Chinese province of Henan, a photo circulated online alongside a claim it shows a "collapsed" dam in the provincial capital of Zhengzhou. The image, however, has been shared in a misleading context: the photo -- captured by an AFP stringer -- shows water being released from another dam situated about 160 kilometres from the named reservoir. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Canada's Bill C-11 will "censor the internet" Social media posts claim Canada's parliament is considering bills that do everything from confiscating guns to forcibly vaccinating individuals. This is misleading; while the Liberal government is backing broad gun control legislation, there is no federal effort to reintroduce Covid-19 shot mandates. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows crowd chanting ‘long live Islam’ at rally in Kolkata, India A video of a large crowd marching through the street has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts that claim the footage shows demonstrators in the Indian city of Kolkata chanting Islamic slogans. The claim is false; the video actually shows a protest in Bangladesh against the treatment of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar in September 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Volleyball player wore shoes with a nationalist message at Tokyo Olympics As the Tokyo Olympics got into full swing, a photo circulated on Facebook alongside a claim that South Korean volleyball player Kim Yeon-koung played a match with a nationalist slogan on her shoes. But the photo has been shared in a misleading context: it predates the Tokyo Olympics and has circulated online since at least 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sam Hyde is legendary ‘Ghost of Kyiv’ fighter pilot Social media users are sharing an image of what appears to be US comic Sam Hyde in a fighter jet cockpit as proof that he is the mythical “Ghost of Kyiv” responsible for shooting down numerous Russian jets amid the country’s invasion of Ukraine. This is false: while the existence of the viral “Ghost of Kyiv” is unsubstantiated, AFP Fact Check found that an image of a US pilot has been edited to add Hyde’s face. This claim has nevertheless been taken seriously by some social media users who are not familiar with the US comic. It is part of a long-running hoax linking the comedian to tragic events worldwide. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Photos of Chinese health workers disinfecting uninhabited mountains in Qinghai Two photos of China's "big whites" -- health workers in hazmat suits -- in a snowy expanse have been shared hundreds of times in social media posts that claim they were part of a disinfection drive in a deserted part of the remote northwestern Qinghai province. Disinfectant spraying has been part of China's arsenal in its fight against the coronavirus, but the photos were actually taken during a Covid-19 testing drive in a mountainous township in Qinghai. AFP did not find any official reports of health workers disinfecting uninhabited mountains in China. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of demonstration in Cuba, 2021 Social media posts from around the world have shared footage of what they claim shows anti-government protests in Cuba. The claim is false: the video actually shows an anti-government protest in Haiti in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Klaus Schwab says property ownership is unsustainable in WEF tweet Social media posts share screenshots of a purported World Economic Forum (WEF) tweet in which its founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab says that eating meat and owning property are in direct conflict with moves to lower carbon emissions. But the message does not appear on the official Twitter account of the WEF, nor in a web archive search from the day it was supposedly published, and a spokeswoman said the organization did not send the tweet. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Dilapidated Lagos Third Mainland Birdge in need of urgent repairs Footage of a news report on the state of the Third Mainland Bridge in the country’s megacity Lagos is circulating on social media with claims that the bridge has “opened up” and is “shaking”, potentially putting the lives of road users at risk. However, the claim has been shared out of context: the report was aired in 2019 and the bridge has since been repaired. A site visit by AFP Fact Check confirmed this. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Photo: Photo shows South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol standing at a centre of a NATO leaders' group photo Korean-language social media posts have repeatedly shared a doctored image of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol apparently standing at the centre of a group photo of NATO heads of state at the Madrid summit in June 2022. The posts suggested NATO purposefully placed Yoon in the centre to celebrate him "as a key global leader". Yoon, however, has replaced NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in the manipulated photo. Yoon was separately photographed at the summit with four other Indo-Pacific leaders who attended as observers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bottom photo shows how Palestinians treat queer people An Instagram post showing an image of a man being thrown off a roof suggests this is how Palestinians treat the queer community in the Palestinian territories. But the photo was taken in Homs, Syria and the crime was committed by a member of the Islamic State jihadist group, anti-extremism researchers told AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Jollibee’s mascot holds sign supporting Ferdinand Marcos Jr An image has been repeatedly shared in social media posts that claim it shows a Filipino fast food chain's mascot holding a sign in support of Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the frontrunner in the Philippines' upcoming presidential election. Comments on the posts indicated some social media users believed the image was genuine. In reality, the image had been digitally altered to insert a reference to Marcos Jr, the son and namesake of the country's former dictator. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: World Health Organisation (WHO) confirms Philippine polio outbreak caused by vaccine An online article shared hundreds of times on Facebook and Twitter claims the World Health Organisation (WHO) has “confirmed” the recent polio outbreak in the Philippines was caused by the vaccine for polioviruses. The claim is misleading; the report omits the fact that the WHO blamed poor immunisation coverage, not the vaccine itself, for polio’s reemergence in the country. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows child affected in Pakistan floods After devastating floods left nearly a third of Pakistan underwater, a photo of a tearful girl was widely shared in posts about the disaster. However, the photo actually shows a child fleeing violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state in 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 vaccines alter the DNA of recipients, make people infectious An Ontario anti-mask activist makes false claims in an Instagram video about the safety of Covid-19 vaccines available in Canada and misleadingly refers to potential adverse vaccine reactions recorded in the United States. Medical experts said the shots do not alter the DNA of recipients or make people infectious, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that it has not detected safety issues with the vaccines. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: CDC said cigarette smoking doesn't cause cancer in 1958 Multiple Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated in 1958 that smoking did not cause cancer. The claim is false; by 1958, the US government’s stance was that smoking was a causative factor to lung cancer; a keyword search for the purported statement from the CDC yielded no results. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Seoul is using soil to clear snow due to budgetary constraints. An image has been shared repeatedly in Facebook posts that claim the Seoul Metropolitan Government had resorted using to soil to clear snow as it had “no budget” for calcium chloride, an efficient means of melting ice on roads. The claim is false: the image in the misleading post was actually published in March 2008 by Yonhap News Agency; Seoul authorities told AFP that they had plenty of calcium chloride in stock, despite using a quarter of their reserves to clear roads during heavy snowstorms in early January. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows US protester calling on China to intervene in George Floyd protests A photo has been shared repeatedly in multiple posts on Twitter and various forums alongside a claim it shows a protester in the US calling for Chinese support in the ongoing George Floyd protests. The claim is false; the photo has been doctored to show the protester holding a manipulated placard; the Chinese flag has also been superimposed on the image. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show malnourished lions at Bangladesh zoo Three photos of malnourished lions are circulating in Facebook posts that claim they were taken at a zoo in Bangladesh. The claim is false: the images were originally shared in reports about a zoo in Sudan in January 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of looting during coronavirus lockdown in the UK A video has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube alongside a claim it shows people rioting and looting shops in England during the coronavirus lockdown. The claim is false; the video has circulated online since August 2011 about riots in the British capital of London. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: An image shows Magic Johnson donating blood for Covid-19 patients Social media users are sharing a photo they say shows US basketball star Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who has HIV -- the virus that can lead to AIDS -- donating blood for Covid-19 patients. This is false; the claim stems from a self-described satire page, and the image shows Johnson submitting blood for laboratory testing in 2012. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Residents in India to stay indoors during nighttime COVID-19 disinfectant spraying A purported advisory has been shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp posts that claims a disinfectant will be sprayed into the air overnight in India in an effort to kill the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The posts urge residents to remain indoors during the spraying. The claim is false; Indian authorities said the advisory was "fake" and that no such measure had been announced. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Marine painted house in patriotic colors after neighbors said he could not fly American flag year round Social media posts claim a house painted in the colors of the American flag is a sign of defiance from its owner, a Marine, after his neighbors took issue with him flying the stars and stripes all year long. This is false; the owner of the Maryland house -- who is a contractor -- says he painted it during a dispute with the local preservation group. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows dead bodies of Covid patients line up in Mymensingh hospital Facebook posts have shared a video showing body bags on gurneys lined up in front of a hospital, which they claim are Covid-19 victims at Mymensingh Hospital in Bangladesh. However, the claim is false. The video actually shows victims of a traffic accident in March 2021 at a different Bangladeshi hospital. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Potassium chloride in Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is dangerous Contact us E-mail (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Finnish PM sent letter to Nigerian separatist leader Self-proclaimed Nigerian separatist leader Simon Ekpa has threatened to block February elections in the country’s southeast, which has been pushing for independence. Social media posts claim to show a letter from Finland's PM warning Ekpa -- who lives in Finland -- that he has 48 hours to call off threats against Nigerians who violate his stay-at-home orders or risk being charged with international terrorism. However, AFP Fact Check found that the document contains several discrepancies that point to it being fabricated. Moreover, the Finnish ambassador to Nigeria and Nigerian authorities have released statements rejecting the letter as fake. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: WHO does not recommend the public wear masks during COVID-19 pandemic An image appearing to show an official World Health Organization (WHO) publication highlighting scientific research has been shared on social media in an attempt to prove the global health body does not recommend mask-wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the WHO said the document did not originate from them and includes “cherry picked” studies. The agency -- like numerous other health bodies -- recommends mask wearing to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Images of suspects arrested over the killing of a Philippine teenager Posts that have been shared hundreds of times on social media contain images that they claim show suspects who have been arrested in the Philippines over the March 2019 killing of a teenage girl. The claims are false; the images show two separate, unrelated 2018 arrests; police told AFP they have not detained anyone over the recent killing. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Disgraced US scientist Judy Mikovits jailed in 2021 for discovering retroviruses are transmitted to humans through vaccines Multiple Facebook posts shared in February 2021 claim police have detained discredited US researcher Judy Mikovits for "discovering evidence that deadly retroviruses are transmitted through vaccines". This is false: Mikovits has not been arrested in 2021. She was arrested and briefly jailed in 2011 for unlawfully taking data from her former employer, court documents show. The charges against her were dropped in 2012, according to US media reports. A 2009 study she co-authored on retroviruses did not focus on vaccines and was retracted. There are no credible reports that Mikovits has been detained in 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of Indian soldiers resting next to a tank An image shared hundreds of times on Facebook purports to show Indian soldiers resting next to an armoured vehicle. However, the uniformed men are not Indian Army soldiers; they are Israeli soldiers. The photograph was taken five years ago in Gaza and published by international news agency Reuters. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show lungs of vaccinated and unvaccinated Covid-19 patient An image purporting to compare the lungs of person vaccinated against Covid-19 with someone who has not received the jab has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts. The claim is false: the image is unrelated to vaccination. It shows a medical scan of a Covid-19 patient’s lungs from a Canadian university study that has circulated online since at least April 2020. The study does not mention vaccination and predates the mass roll-out of Covid-19 jabs. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: ICC prosecutor throws out case against Kenya’s deputy leader Facebook posts claiming that the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has “thrown out” a case against Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto have been shared hundreds of times. But the claim is false: the case against Ruto in which he is accused of crimes against humanity collapsed in 2016 and there is no record of new proceedings against him at the Hague-based tribunal. The office of the prosecutor confirmed to AFP Fact Check that Karim Khan – who was Ruto’s lawyer during his trial – recused himself from all Kenya-linked ICC cases after he was elected the tribunal's chief prosecutor in 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sara Duterte stages political campaign for 2022 in war-torn Marawi An image has been shared in multiple Facebook posts in March 2021 alongside a claim it shows Sara Duterte, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, staging a political campaign in the war-torn Philippine city of Marawi. The claim is false: the image has been doctored to digitally insert a campaign banner to an old photo of Marawi. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Vietnam War Memorial was vandalized during George Floyd protests As protests spread across the US after the death in police custody of George Floyd, Facebook users shared a photo of a defaced Vietnam War memorial, implying that the vandalism occurred during the current demonstrations. This is false; while the memorial in Los Angeles was vandalized, it occurred four years earlier, not in 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Large group of Pakistani air force skydivers perform aerial stunts A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook in posts that claim it shows Pakistan air force skydivers performing aerial stunts. The footage is actually from California in 2015, when more than 200 skydivers set a new world record. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos of the aftermath of deadly Typhoon Rai in the Philippines in December 2021 A set of photos have been shared hundreds of times on Facebook, alongside a claim that it shows "dead bodies" found in the southern Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Rai in December 2021. But the photos have been shared in a false context: the images have circulated in posts and reports about Tropical Storm Washi, another deadly disaster that devastated the southern part of the country in December 2011. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: PayPal will fine users who spread misinformation Social media posts claim PayPal is implementing a policy that will fine users who spread misinformation. This is misleading; the online payments platform said an update to its terms of service was released in error, that it was quickly corrected and that the company has no penalties for those who spread false claims. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: The University of the Philippines was shut down by Marcos Jr. A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in social media posts that claim the state-run University of the Philippines was "closed down" following an order by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The claim, however, is misleading. The university's vice president of public affairs told AFP that no such order had been issued as of July 27, and the university was still operating. A Manila-based legal expert told AFP that the president does not have the authority to close the university. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 vaccine alters people's DNA Popular Nigerian pastor Chris Oyakhilome has claimed that the Covid-19 vaccine is gene therapy that alters people’s DNA. This is false; experts say the vaccine does not alter DNA. Oyakhilome is known for spreading misinformation about Covid-19 to his followers in Nigeria and across the world. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

This Altered Photo Does Not Show The Arrest Of Ethiopia’S Former Head Of Intelligence: Photo shows arrest of Ethiopia’s ex-intelligence chief A photograph has been shared over a hundred times on Facebook with claims that it shows the arrest of Getachew Assefa, Ethiopia’s fugitive ex-intelligence chief and a leading member of the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). This is false; the image was digitally altered to add his face. The original photo shows the arrest of a Tigrayan general back in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Malnourished woman in war-torn Tigray in Ethiopia A photo has been shared hundreds of times on Twitter in Ethiopia alongside a claim that it shows a malnourished woman on the brink of death as a result of the ongoing war in the Tigray region. But the claim is false: AFP Fact Check found that the picture was taken during the 1984 drought in Ethiopia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows Trump supporters blocking voter access to a polling place in New Jersey As Americans vote on Election Day, a photo purporting to show a supporter of President Donald Trump blocking access to a polling place is circulating online. This is misleading; police said the man in the picture, taken on November 1, 2020, did not stop people voting, but rather briefly took a photo with a Trump flag. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Eskom advertises jobs on Facebook Two posts shared on a Facebook page in South Africa are advertising purported jobs for general workers and cleaners at the state-owned power company Eskom. However, the posts are a scam, and the power utility denied having any association with the page behind the listings. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: South Korean ruling party leader Song Yong-gil skipped nose swab PCR test An image of a South Korean lawmaker who serves as the leader of the ruling Democratic Party has been repeatedly shared in social media posts that claim he "skipped the nose swab" when receiving a PCR test. The posts are misleading; the image has circulated in news reports since July 2021 about the ruling party leader being swabbed in both his nose and throat for a PCR test. A second photo of the same event shows a swab being administered in Song's nose. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Russian attacks on Mariupol in Ukraine A nighttime video of buildings illuminated by ominous flashes of light has been viewed thousands of times globally on social media alongside a claim it shows Russian forces attacking the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. While the southeastern port city has been under heavy attack, the video was shared in a false context. The footage has circulated online months before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The social media user who filmed the clip told AFP it shows a thunderstorm in the Russian town of Volzhsk. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Multiple posts on Facebook claim that it shows “illegal Bengalis” being arrested in Myanmar in September 2020. A photo has been shared in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim that it shows “illegal Bengalis” being arrested in Myanmar in September 2020. However, the claim is false: the photo in fact shows Myanmar workers who were mistakenly stopped by police after leaving a baked goods factory that was closed in March 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows child being carried away by kite in Shandong province, China A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Chinese social media posts alongside a claim that it shows a child entangled in a kite and swept up to the sky at a kite festival in Shandong province, in eastern China. The claim is false. The video was actually taken at a kite festival in northern Taiwan in August 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant A video has been viewed more than three million times in multiple social media posts which claim it shows the helicopter crash that killed US basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his teenage daughter Gianna. The video began circulating via multiple Facebook and Twitter posts within hours of their deaths being reported. The claim is false; the video shows a fatal crash that occurred in the Northern UAE in December 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Chimp adenovirus in AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine causes monkeypox Social media posts shared worldwide claim that recent cases of monkeypox outside of countries where it is endemic are a "side effect" of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, which uses a weakened chimpanzee adenovirus vector that has been altered so it does not infect humans or replicate. This is misleading; health experts told AFP the virus that causes monkeypox is different from AstraZeneca's adenovirus vector, which does not cause disease in humans. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Critic of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appears on TV talent show after sex scandal Multiple Facebook posts have shared four photos alongside a claim that a prominent critic of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appeared on a television talent show shortly after a video that appeared to show him masturbating leaked online in 2019. The claim is false; the images have been taken from his appearance on a television talent show in 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pakistan government floods venue for opposition party’s rally in 2020 A photo of flooding at a national monument in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter days ahead of a planned political opposition rally in the venue in December 2020. The photo was circulated alongside a claim the Pakistan government flooded the venue with water in order to prevent the rally from being held there. The claim is false: the photo has circulated online since at least 2019, when Lahore was hit by heavy rain during the monsoon season. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Genuine CNN report about coronavirus lockdowns in China A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Facebook and YouTube posts alongside a claim it shows a CNN journalist deliberately mistranslating a Chinese man’s comments in a report about coronavirus lockdowns in China. The posts claim the purported journalist attempted to exaggerate the severity of the lockdown in a Chinese city. The footage, however, is not a genuine CNN report: it was taken from a satirical video created by a Weibo user that mocked Western media reporting. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows coronavirus hotel collapse in China in March 2020 A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube in March 2020 which claim it shows a hotel collapsing in the Chinese city of Quanzhou after it was used as a coronavirus quarantine facility. The claim is false; the video has circulated online since at least April 2017 about a hotel demolition in China’s Jiangsu province. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show people evacuating from Kabul Two photos have been shared hundreds of times alongside claims they show Afghan nationals being evacuated by the US air force after the Taliban seized power in August 2021. The claims are false: the photos have both circulated online since November 2013 in reports about people being rescued from the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Canada charity recommends cervical cancer screenings for trans women An article and social media posts claim the Canadian Cancer Society encouraged people without cervixes to get cervical cancer screenings. This is false; the charity recommended transgender women consider all appropriate examinations, as medical professionals say risks can change after gender-affirming surgery. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows gunmen shooting a family in Karachi, Pakistan A video has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows gunmen attacking a family in Pakistan's megacity Karachi. However, the video has been shared in a false context; it shows a shooting in Ecuador in May 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows students chanting Hindu songs in Bangladeshi school A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Facebook alongside a claim it shows students in Muslim-majority Bangladesh being "indoctrinated" with Hindu values. This is false: the video was filmed at an Islamic school in neighbouring Hindu-majority India -- not in Bangladesh. The students were chanting a song about the world's major religions, which the school told AFP is about religious tolerance. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Man in Pompeii killed after being struck by a large slab of stone An image of a man’s remains at the volcanic eruption site of Mount Vesuvius in Pompeii, Italy, has been shared repeatedly in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter that claim he was killed by a stone during the volcanic explosion in 79 BC. The claim is misleading. While the preliminary hypothesis was that the man was killed by a large stone, archeologists later said that he likely died due to asphyxiation. Some of the misleading posts shared an old story from the CNN website, which the US broadcaster later clarified in an updated report. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 vaccines killed thousands of people, harm unvaccinated, cause male sexual dyfunction Sherri Tenpenny, an American physician named among the biggest “profiteers” from anti-vaccination misinformation, appears on a YouTube channel sharing misleading claims about coronavirus shots. In a video viewed almost 100,000 times, she said they cause deaths, “transmit” side effects to the unvaccinated, and cause infertility risks. All of these claims are scientifically inaccurate, multiple experts have stated. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The Philippine health agency recognises Thyroid Mana Nano Curcumin to treat thyroid disorders Medical experts in the Philippines have warned thyroid disorder patients against taking an unregistered pill advertised on social media as a quick cure for conditions such as tumours. The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it had not tested or approved the pills, while a leading Philippine doctor dismissed online claims that the drug can cure thyroid disorders in just two weeks. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos of Nigerian president meeting French counterpart are doctored Nigerian separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu has claimed that photos showing President Muhammadu Buhari meeting his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris on May 17, 2021, were manipulated. But the claim is false: there is no evidence suggesting the images were digitally altered, and AFP photos of Macron welcoming Buhari at the Elysee Palace show they are genuine. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows statue built by South Korean ex-president Moon to "show subservience" to North Korea A photo of a tall statue bowing towards North Korea has been widely shared in social media posts that falsely claim it was built by former president Moon Jae-in to show "subservience" to Pyongyang. While the photo does show a statue in South Korea bowing in the direction of its northern neighbour, it was commissioned by a local government tourism office in South Korea's Gyeonggi Province and built in 2016 nearly a year before Moon was elected president. At that time Moon was serving as a local politician in a different region. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Video does not show Bill Gates got breast implants after his divorce. A video that purports to show Microsoft founder Bill Gates with breast implants has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. The footage circulated after the billionaire announced he and his wife of 27 years would divorce. But the footage has been doctored to expand Gates' chest. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows a Burmese military helicopter downed by anti-junta fighters An old photo of a Burmese military helicopter crash has been falsely linked to a chopper that was reportedly shot down by anti-junta fighters in February 2023. The helicopter in the photo actually crashed on a mountainside amid strong winds in the city of Hakha in 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Simplot plans to close down Australian frozen vegetable manufacturing Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim TV show "Landline" reported that US-based food giant Simplot was planning to close facilities in Australia that produce frozen vegetables. The claim is false; the company said the rumours were baseless, while "Landline" told AFP it ran no such story. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Uganda president airlifted to Germany after collapsing Posts claiming Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni was airlifted to Germany after suddenly collapsing have been viewed thousands of times online. The rumour, which surfaced on June 27, 2021, is false. On the same day, Museveni delivered a speech during the opening of the World Health Summit at Uganda's Makerere University, which was broadcast live. AFP Fact Check has seen a recording of the address. In addition, the Ugandan leader also attended a virtual UN summit of African heads of state on July 1, 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Dr Susan Vosloo Bitchute Covid-19 vaccination misinformation A BitChute video featuring South African cardiothoracic specialist Dr Susan Vosloo sharing her views on Covid-19 and vaccines during an online meeting has circulated widely on social media. In the clip, Vosloo makes a string of false allegations about the disease and reiterates previously debunked myths about Covid-19 vaccines. AFP Fact Check looks at her various claims. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: William Ruto said the US dollar is going to collapse Kenya’s new import deal (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: 221,000 votes were switched from Trump to Biden in Pennsylvania US President Donald Trump tweeted a claim that large numbers of votes were either deleted or switched from him to Democrat Joe Biden, including in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. This is false; US election officials said there is no evidence to back the claim, while Pennsylvania’s Department of State said it has “no factual basis.” (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photos show plane carrying missionaries that crashed -- all survived Four images have been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts in February 2021 alongside a claim they show an aircraft that crashed while carrying 20 missionaries, all of whom survived. The claim is misleading: the photos show a private jet that crashed in Honduras in 2018. Six Americans on board survived the crash, including two crew members, US media reported. None were reported to be missionaries. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Nigerian ruling politicians meet opposition’s Atiku after primaries Footage of a group of politicians has circulated on social media with claims that it shows northern leaders of Nigeria’s ruling party meeting an opposition candidate from the same region. The posts claim it shows a potential conspiracy by the northern politicians against their own party, as the video was purportedly filmed after their ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party picked a southern challenger to contest the presidential race. However, this is misleading: the video has been circulating online since January 2022, months before parties held their presidential primaries. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Ontario mobile phone tracking at polling stations violates privacy A candidate for the provincial parliament in Ontario warned in a video that voters' privacy is at risk if they bring a cellular phone when voting in the general election on June 2. But the Canadian province said it is collecting phone location data solely to assess voter wait times -- it will not identify user information -- and a legal expert said the program would create privacy risks only if personal data were collected. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows 50 Cent and Ice Cube wearing Trump 2020 hats Social media users including Donald Trump’s son Eric spread an image of rappers 50 Cent -- who has urged supporters to vote for the president -- and Ice Cube, both wearing Trump 2020 hats. But the image has been doctored; in the original, their hats featured logos for the BIG3 basketball league and the New York Yankees. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian Army kills terrorists in an encounter in Indian administered Kashmir A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter published in August 2019 which claim it shows Indian soldiers firing lethal shots at militants in Indian-administered Kashmir. The claim is false; the video was taken from a TV broadcast of a mock drill by Indian and US troops staged in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: CDS Bipin Rawat's chopper crash incident A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows a helicopter crash in India that killed India's defence chief General Bipin Rawat and twelve others on December 8, 2021. The video has been shared in a false context: it has circulated in reports since 2020 about Syrian rebels downing a government military chopper in eastern Idlib. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show protest in the Philippines during COVID-19 lockdown Three photos have been shared in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim they show an anti-government protest in the Philippines staged during a lockdown implemented to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The claim is false; the photos circulated online at least one month before the Philippine government imposed a lockdown on its main island due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Calgary mayor said Covid-19 is a "hoax" Social media posts claim Naheed Nenshi, the mayor of the city of Calgary in Canada, testified that Covid-19 is a hoax and suggested he was forced to impose measures to control the spread of the disease. But a spokesperson for the mayor's office said the transcript cited as evidence is fake, and Nenshi has been a vocal supporter of steps aimed at curbing the pandemic. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Clarissa Ward interviewing a Taliban fighter A photo has circulated on Twitter and Facebook alongside a claim it shows CNN's chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward interviewing a Taliban member as the group swiftly took over Afghanistan in August 2021. The claim is false: the photo was taken in February 2012 and shows Ward interviewing a group of rebel fighters in Syria. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Covid-19 vaccines are dangerous as an Australian government document calls them poison An Australian government document about Covid-19 vaccines that includes the word "poison" has been shared multiple times on Instagram and Facebook. The posts claim the document shows coronavirus jabs are dangerous. This is misleading: experts told AFP “poison” is a generic term used in Australian law to refer to all pharmaceutical substances and is not synonymous with "dangerous". The Covid-19 vaccines administered in Australia -- AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech -- have been certified safe by Australia's medicine regulator and the World Health Organization (WHO). (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Village officer Phez Raymundo -- involved in Filipino rice porridge controversy -- is gunned down Facebook and YouTube posts circulating in the Philippines claim CCTV footage shows a village official being shot dead after she made controversial comments about essential food products during lockdown. The claim is false: the video shared in the posts is from an unrelated news report first shared in 2018. As of April 19, 2021, there were no credible reports the official had been killed. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Consuming silver particles kills novel coronavirus Contact us E-mail (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Flu vaccine makes recipients more vulnerable to infections and “the first to die” during pandemic An image purportedly showing an article about flu vaccination has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter posts alongside a claim that flu vaccines can make people more vulnerable to infections. The posts, shared in May 2020 during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, add that those who receive flu shots are “the first to die in an actual global pandemic”. The claim is misleading; the image in the misleading posts relates to a now-deleted article on a US-based non-commercial health site; epidemiologists and global health authorities say flu vaccinations make people's immune systems stronger, not weaker; as of May 2020, there is no evidence that people who are immunised against the flu are more vulnerable to COVID-19. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Russian fighter jet shot down by Ukrainian air defense A video of a plane engulfed in flames and falling from the sky has been viewed more than 1.5 million times in social media posts that claim it shows a Russian fighter jet shot down by Ukrainian forces in February 2022. In reality, the video predates the Russian invasion of Ukraine and shows a Libyan jet targeted by rebels in 2011. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Vaccinated people are more susceptible to Covid-19 variants Online articles and social media posts use studies on Covid-19 vaccination to claim that the shots make people more vulnerable to contracting the disease. But experts say the claims misrepresent the research, and that unvaccinated people are at greater risk of infection, hospitalization and death. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows police standoff with armed suspects in the US A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim it shows police officers in a standoff with armed men on a street in the United States. This claim is false; the footage actually shows actors filming a scene for a movie in Brazil. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Radiation leak in Thailand could spread up to 1,000 kilometres Nuclear scientists have rejected social media posts that falsely claim vapour from a radioactive cylinder that went missing from a power station in Thailand could drift up to 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) across the country. Experts said it would be impossible for radioactive particles from the container to travel that distance and that the incident posed no widespread risk to the public. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Grandpa vaccinated and arrested for not wearing a mask? Facebook and Instagram posts purport to show a video of an elderly man who was arrested for not wearing a facemask, despite allegedly being vaccinated against Covid-19. The claim is misleading: the man was arrested for breaching coronavirus restrictions at a demonstration in support of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in London in January 2021. Health authorities recommend wearing masks and social distancing even for people who have been fully vaccinated. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of US troops being pelted with stones in Iraq? A video viewed thousands of times has been shared in multiple Facebook posts alongside claims that the footage shows US troops being pelted with stones in Iraq. But this claim is false; the footage was actually filmed in northern Syria and shows protesters attacking a joint Turkish-Russian patrol. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Putin saying he will not resign in 2023 Chinese social media users have repeatedly shared a doctored clip of Russian President Vladimir Putin giving a speech with false subtitles that claim he said he will not step down from power until "the problem in Ukraine is settled". However, the video contains clips taken from two different addresses and audio from one of the speeches. The Chinese and English language subtitles are false translations of the speech. As of February 17, 2023, AFP has found no official reports about Putin making such an announcement. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: RM100,000 fine for wearing uncertified non-medical face masks An infographic has been shared multiple times in social media posts that claim Malaysians must wear face masks with official government certification or face a fine of up to 100,000 Malaysian ringgit ($23,600) under new regulations. However, the claim is misleading; the new rules and penalties apply to companies and individuals producing or importing face masks, rather than the general public, Malaysia's Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs said. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: US shoppers can order baby formula directly from Amazon Canada Social media posts claim that shoppers desperate to get baby formula amid US shortages should turn to Amazon Canada for cross-border delivery. But this is not a reliable solution; many formula products sold in Canada by the online retailing giant are out of stock, unavailable for shipping to the states or on offer from third-party vendors charging above market prices. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 vaccines alter human DNA Korean-language social media posts alleging Covid-19 vaccines alter human DNA have shared an image alongside a claim it shows a "genetically modified human". These posts are false; AFP has repeatedly debunked claims that Covid-19 vaccines change human DNA. The image shared in the posts shows a digitally altered stock photo that predates the pandemic. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

This Picture Is From A Photoshop Contest – It Does Not Show An Actual Meeting Between Hillary Clinton And Osama Bin Laden: Photo shows Hillary Clinton and Osama bin Laden shaking hands An image making the rounds on Facebook claims to show former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shaking hands with late al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. This is false: AFP Fact Check found that the image has been doctored to add bin Laden, who was killed by US forces in 2011. The original version shows Clinton with Indian musician Shubhashish Mukherjee at an event in 2004. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: GMA News report touts food supplement to increase a child's IQ A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in social media posts that falsely claim it shows a Philippine news report about a boy whose intelligence was purportedly boosted by a brand of children's multivitamins. In reality, the video has been doctored to insert references to the product. Medical experts told AFP that supplements have not been proven to directly increase intelligence. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Image shows South Korean first lady cleaning up in flood-hit area After South Korea was drenched by record downpours in August 2022, an image purportedly showing the country's First Lady Kim Keon-hee cleaning up flood damage was shared in multiple social media posts. The image, however, was doctored. While some users seemed to understand the image was satirical, others appeared to be misled. The original image actually shows firefighters clearing debris from a flood-hit area. The picture of Kim was taken from reports about a visit she made to the grave of a former president in June 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Photo shows a person falling from a plane in Afghanistan in 2021 An image has circulated in multiple online posts which claim it shows a person falling from a plane in Afghanistan in August 2021. However, the claim is false: the picture is a doctored version of an old photo of a Chinese military plane. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Images show deforestation in Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka in 2021 Several photos of damaged and burning trees have been shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook posts that claim they show deforestation in the historic Sri Lankan city of Polonnaruwa in February 2021. The claim, however, is misleading. Although considerable deforestation was recorded in Polonnaruwa between 2020-21 by Global Forest Watch (GFW), the photos in fact show trees damaged by illegal felling in the region in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A new Philippine law waives payment for a number of government documents for ‘everyone’ A post shared hundreds of times on Facebook claims a new Philippine law waives fees for a number of government documents for “everyone”. This is misleading; the law only applies to first time job seekers who need the papers for an employment application. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Tennis player Serena Williams wrote this text A Facebook post arguing against racial distinctions was shared around 200,000 times by users who seemed to believe it came from tennis champion Serena Williams. However, the post, which emerged amid protests across the United States over racism, did not come from the global tennis icon, but instead from a white woman with the same name. Williams has used her social media platform to argue for more acknowledgment of racial disparities in the US. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: U.S. Department of State warns of upcoming terror attack in Sri Lanka in May 2021 After the US issued a new travel advisory for Sri Lanka on May 24, 2021, multiple Facebook and YouTube posts claimed the new US warning had flagged a “potential terror attack over the next few days”. The claim is misleading: the updated advisory was actually issued in response to a surge of Covid-19 infections in Sri Lanka. There is no change in the terrorist threat level in Sri Lanka as of May 25, 2021, according to the US Embassy in Colombo. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Footage shows 2021 military plane crash A video of what appears to be the aftermath of a plane crash is being shared alongside claims that it is footage from an accident on May 21, 2021 that killed Nigeria's top-ranking army commander Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 other officers. The claim is false; the video was filmed in 2018 and does not show the recent plane crash. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sir David Attenborough praises eco-friendly hotel in Singapore on Facebook A Facebook post shared tens of thousands of times purports to show famed British naturalist Sir David Attenborough praising an eco-friendly hotel in Singapore. The post’s caption claims the hotel is “the first to produce its own electricity with the same waste from the same building”. The claim is false; the post is not from a verified Attenborough account and a spokesperson for the hotel pictured in the post said the claim was “not factual”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Pakistani protest against inflation in 2023 A video has been viewed thousands of times in Facebook and Twitter posts with the false claim that it shows a protest in Pakistan against rising inflation in January 2023. In fact, it shows scenes from a protest in the country's megacity Karachi against alleged blasphemy in September 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows Putin's daughter receiving COVID-19 vaccine Shortly after President Vladimir Putin declared Russia the first country to approve a vaccine for the novel coronavirus, a photo began circulating in Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts that claimed it showed Putin’s daughter receiving the jab. The claim is misleading; the woman in the image has been identified by Russian state media as Natalia, a volunteer in the vaccine trial; the images in the misleading post correspond to video of the vaccine trial that has circulated online since June; Natalia’s features do not correspond to publicly available images of Putin’s two daughters. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of late India's rights activist Stan Swamy A photo of an old man chained to a bed has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts that claim it shows the final moments of a detained Indian rights activist and Jesuit priest before he died in early July 2021. The claim is false: the photo has circulated in reports since May 2021 about a 92-year-old prisoner being treated at a hospital in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Rival Kenyan politicians dine together at Ruto function A photo has been shared on social media in Kenya alongside a claim that it shows Kalonzo Musyoka - an ally of presidential contender Raila Odinga - at a recent iftar dinner hosted by a major rival, Deputy President William Ruto. In reality, the image was posted online in June 2018 and was taken at a function at Nairobi’s City Hall attended by Ruto and Musyoka. The picture resurfaced ahead of key elections scheduled for August 2022, and is part of a growing wave of disinformation surrounding the polls. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Saudi king inaugurates a Catholic church in Saudi Arabia A picture has been shared multiple times on Facebook alongside a claim that it shows the Saudi king and priests from the Vatican inaugurating a Catholic church in Saudi Arabia. The claim is false: the picture has circulated in reports about a United Arab Emirates (UAE) minister and Vatican envoys attending the opening ceremony of the second Catholic church in Abu Dhabi in 2015. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Arnold Schwarzenegger homeless sleeping at the foot of his own statue A real photo, but an invented story (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Canada closed schools for the rest of the year, froze mortgages and rent, gave checks to all families A text outlining Canada’s alleged response to the coronavirus pandemic with lengthy school shutdowns and universal relief payments was shared thousands of times in the US. The claims are misleading; schools are expected to reopen in September, only individuals directly affected by COVID-19 are eligible for financial aid, mortgage relief is granted by banks on a case-by-case basis, and rent is still due. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigeria’s Abubakar led Nigeria's Economic Management Team Nigerian presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has sparked online debate after claiming he had led the country’s influential Economic Management Team (EMT) while serving as vice president between 1999 and 2007. Established in 2003 under then-president Olusegun Obasanjo, the EMT is considered a driving force in implementing major economic reforms. But although Abubakar was Obansanjo’s deputy at the time, AFP Fact Check found he did not steer the EMT. Its chief at the start was Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who now heads the World Trade Organisation, followed in 2006 by then-finance minister Nenadi Usman. Abubakar, meanwhile, headed the National Economic Council (NEC) during his time in office. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Quebec Halloween attacker A video showing a mysterious white figure is circulating in social media posts that claim to show the man who killed two people and injured five others in a Canadian Halloween rampage. While the footage does show parts of the Old Quebec neighborhood where the attacks occurred, police told AFP the person in the clip is not the attacker. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US government to provide free crack pipes to drug users Online articles and social media posts say the US government will provide crack pipes to drug addicts. The claim stems from a reference to "safe smoking kits" in a document on grants to reduce harm from drug abuse, but both the Department of Health and Human Services and the White House say the government is not providing funding for pipes. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows whirlpools in China’s Hunan province in June 2022 A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple social media posts that claim it shows whirlpools that had been formed by floodwaters in China's Hunan province in June 2022. However, the claim is false. The video has circulated online since mid-2021. A user on the Chinese video platform Douyin told AFP that he filmed the video close to his home in Hunan province in July that year. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Foreign troops deployed to the Ethiopian border? A post claiming to show foreign troops being deployed at the border between Ethiopia and Djibouti to help the Ethiopian army fend off rebels of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) is circulating on Facebook. This post surfaced as Ethiopia’s military regained control of territory previously taken by TPLF rebels. However, the claim that Russian and Chinese troops are posted in Djibouti is false: When contacted by AFP Fact Check, an official at the Russian embassy in Ethiopia refuted the claims, and there is no evidence that the Chinese news report cited in the false post exists. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Car fuel caps covered with fentanyl-laced blue tape A widely shared online hoax, which originated in the US and spread to South Africa, claims that blue tape laced with fentanyl is being stuck on fuel covers in an attempt to drug or kill motorists. But experts told AFP Fact Check the drug cannot cause harm in the unlikely event that it’s absorbed through the skin. South African police also said they had never encountered such a case. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows protest against Covid-19 vaccines in France Kenyan students protest (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show satellite images of deadly Philippine storm in 2022 Photos taken from space of old typhoons have resurfaced on social media, racking up thousands of shares in posts that falsely claim they show Severe Tropical Storm Nalgae which slammed into the Philippines in October 2022. Nalgae -- known locally as Paeng -- killed over 150 people and caused widespread destruction in the archipelago. The photos in fact show Typhoon Trami, which was also known locally as Paeng but made landfall in 2018, and Typhoon Maysak, which struck the Philippines in 2015. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Cash found by the Taliban in Afghanistan A video has been viewed millions of times on Facebook purporting to show "dollars in the hands of the Taliban". The video circulated as the Taliban fighters seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021. But the video has been shared in a misleading context: it has circulated online since February 2020 in reports about cash recovered by security forces in northern Afghanistan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pope Francis was arrested An article claiming that Pope Francis was arrested on January 9, 2021 has been shared tens of thousands of times on social media in multiple languages. This is false; the Pope appeared in public several times since the publication of the article, and the Vatican told AFP that activities continue as usual at the Apostolic Palace. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: President Museveni buys more than 100 pair of sporty shoes to lure youthful voters A photo of a man in a room posing with numerous pairs of shoes on the floor has been shared on Facebook with claims that it shows Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni trying to appeal to young voters with a display of more than 100 pairs of sneakers. The claim is false; the image is old and shows Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo showing off his personal shoe collection. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Indian politician driven out by locals in Uttar Pradesh A video has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts alongside a claim it shows a crowd in a north Indian state driving out a car carrying a local minister from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The posts circulated ahead of elections in the country's most populous Uttar Pradesh state, which started in February 2022. However, the claim is false; the video has circulated in reports about an incident from January 2022 in the eastern Jharkhand state that involved a different BJP politician. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pictures show a ‘skin-walker’ found in a forest of New Mexico. Social media users in Myanmar have shared two images of a humanoid creature alongside a claim it shows a "skinwalker" -- a type of evil witch from Native American folklore -- that was spotted by a geologist in the southwestern United States. However, the claim is false; the images were taken from a 1982 British cult-classic horror film called "Xtro" and have circulated as a hoax since at least 2014. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Video shows Taliban execute the brother of Afghan’s former president A graphic video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple social media posts alongside a claim it shows the Taliban executing Rohullah Azizi -- the brother of former Afghan vice president Amrullah Saleh -- in 2021. The video has been shared in a misleading context: it has circulated online for at least a decade. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: New forced vaccinations and detentions laws passed in Alberta Posts shared more than 10,000 times in Canada have claimed that recent changes to Alberta's health statutes will bring in forced medical isolation and vaccination. This is misleading; giving power to medical officers to prevent the spread of communicable diseases is not new, according to a legal expert, and Alberta’s premier, health minister and chief medical officer do not support mandatory vaccination. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Philippine Supreme Court 'passed' law punishing unfaithful husbands A claim that the Philippine Supreme Court "passed" a new law that could "imprison husbands proven to be unfaithful" has been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook in October 2020. However, this claim omits important context: the Supreme Court recently ruled to uphold a lower court's decision that delivered a prison sentence to a man found guilty of having an affair; the lower court decision is in line with an anti-violence against women law that came into force in 2004. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bernie Gores was a teacher who died in the Texas school shooting Posts shared in multiple languages across platforms claim to show a photo of an elementary school teacher killed during a recent mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. This is false; the fictitious name cited in the posts has circulated online since at least 2020, and the man shown in the photo is a YouTuber. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows an ethnic rebel camp in Myanmar being burned down (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: World Economic Forum publishes tweet on 'anti-bug bigotry' A purported tweet from the World Economic Forum (WEF) that questions whether adopting an insect-based diet is "racist" has been shared repeatedly by social media users. Comments on the posts indicated some users were misled to believe the tweet was genuine. However, a WEF spokesperson told AFP that it did not publish the tweet, and a keyword search of the organisation's tweets found no record of it. The purported tweet has circulated in posts that share parody content since 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ethiopian invents ‘new math formula and app' A post in Ethiopia shared more than a thousand times claims that a university whizzkid who secured a US scholarship to complete his doctorate has “invented” a new maths formula available as a mobile app. But although the student, Raji Ashenafi Mamade, exists, the claim was shared by a hoax account impersonating the bright scholar. Ashenafi has denied creating a theorem or app and said he has reported the imposter page to Facebook. The fake post contains a link that leads to a popular maths app on the Google Play Store. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: New York Attorney General announces Trump’s charges were dropped A doctored video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in social media posts that falsely claim it shows Alvin Bragg, the US prosecutor in Donald Trump's fraud case, announcing the New York district attorney's office has dropped all charges against the former president. Comments from some social media users indicated they were misled by the claim, while others appeared to understand it was false. The video was in fact digitally altered from old footage published a year ago that had nothing to do with Trump's case. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian ruling party flags waved in Pakistani Kashmir A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts which claim it shows people waving the flags of India’s ruling party in Pakistani-administered Kashmir. The claim is false; the original video of the rally was posted by the Jammu and Kashmir chapter of India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on its verified Facebook account with a caption that says it was filmed in Indian-administered Kashmir; the private bus seen in the video is operated by a company that provides services in Indian territory. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indonesia's next general elections will be postponed until 2027 Tweets published in August 2021 share a June 2020 news story along with a claim that Indonesia's upcoming elections would be postponed until 2027. But the claim is false. The country's General Elections Commission said on August 17, 2021, that the next poll will be held in 2024, five years after the most recent general elections. An expert told AFP that the news had been taken out of context. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Chinese-made robot dancers in Shanghai Disneyland A video has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter alongside a claim it shows lifelike robots performing a classical dance in China's Shanghai Disneyland theme park. The claim is false: the video features human dancers, and the clip was filmed in Moscow, Russia. AFP did not find any reference to a show with robot dancers on the Shanghai Disneyland website. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigeria’s agriculture grew 23% in second quarter of 2021 The special adviser to the Lagos state governor on drainage and water resources, Joe Igbokwe, claimed on Facebook that Nigeria’s agricultural sector grew by 23 percent between April and June 2021 despite the country’s security challenges. This is false: Igbokwe appears to have confused agriculture’s overall contribution to the economy, at roughly 23 percent, with the sector’s actual quarterly growth, which was far more modest. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bitcoin mining emits zero carbon emissions An American bitcoin mining company claims creating the world's largest cryptocurrency produces no greenhouse gases. This is false; the process requires a significant amount of energy, experts say -- which can come from carbon-emitting sources such as natural gas or coal-fired power plants. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Taliban attacking Panjshir Valley As fighting intensified between Taliban fighters and Afghan resistance forces, a video viewed more than one million times emerged online alongside a claim it shows Taliban forces attacking Afghanistan's Panjshir province. The claim is false: the footage shows French troops and has circulated online since at least 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indonesian governor Anies Baswedan deported Chinese immigrants A video viewed more than 100,000 times on social media purports to show Anies Baswedan, the governor of Indonesia’s capital, deporting Chinese immigrants. The video is being used out of context; it has been taken from a genuine television news report of an immigration raid in Jakarta in 2015, two years before Baswedan took office. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Image shows a deaf kid with orange backpack in Thailand? A photo of a child with an orange backpack has circulated for years in Facebook posts in Thailand that claim it shows a deaf child donning the bag as part of a road safety initiative in the kingdom. However, the photo shows a campaign in China to raise awareness of deaf children among drivers. Thailand has not introduced such a measure as of August 4, 2022, although it does have a similar campaign offering black school bags with fluorescent tabs to deaf children. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Quebec is exempt from carbon tax Facebook posts shared thousands of times claim Quebec is exempt from carbon pricing. This is misleading, the province is exempt from Canada’s federal carbon tax because it puts a price on pollution through a cap-and-trade system that was in place years prior to the implementation of the federal levy in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Redfern, a suburb in Sydney, Australia. A video that shows a harbour village surrounded by mountains has been shared in a Twitter post with a claim it shows Redfern, Australia. The Twitter post has been retweeted multiple times. The claim is false; the footage in fact shows Portofino on the Italian Riviera coastline. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: In March 2021, eleven hospitals in Bangkok are offering free Covid-19 vaccines to anyone aged 19 to 59 As Thailand launched its coronavirus vaccination drive, a claim circulated on Facebook and messaging app Line in late March 2021 that all adults aged over 19 could receive the jab in the Thai capital Bangkok. The claim is false: as of March 30, 2021, a top official in Thailand’s disease control department told AFP that Covid-19 vaccines would only initially be available to people in certain risk groups. In response to the social media posts, the Thai government urged people not to share “fake information”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Accord gives WHO power over US pandemic policies Conservative websites and commentators claim the Biden administration has negotiated a deal to give the World Health Organization (WHO) control over pandemic laws in the United States. This is false; a draft accord specifically guarantees state sovereignty, and US officials and experts say it would have no power over domestic policies. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao endorsing Imee Marcos for senator A photo shared hundreds of times on Facebook purports to show Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao holding a T-shirt endorsing the senatorial candidacy of the daughter of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. The claim is false; the photo has been doctored from a 2015 original of Pacquiao showing support for the Philippine basketball team. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A video shows a building collapse from the 2023 earthquake in Turkey Social media users are claiming a video of a multi-story building collapsing shows destruction from an earthquake that ripped through Turkey and Syria on February 6, 2023. This is false; the video was captured in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and has circulated online since at least January. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Images show Ukraine war is fake A residential tower in Kyiv that was hit by a missile soon after Russia launched its war against Ukraine has become a subject of misinformation. Social media users claim pictures, showing the building seemingly intact, prove the war that began more than a year ago is not real. But AFP found authentic evidence of extensive damage to the building, and the restoration that followed. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Germans mocked China by adding 'coronavirus crown' to Karl Marx statue An image circulating on social media appears to show a statue of German philosopher Karl Marx donning a coronavirus-shaped crown and virus-patterned cloak. The posts claim locals in Marx's birth city added the details as an insult to China, which gifted them the sculpture to mark the revolutionary's 200th birthday. The image has been doctored; the original photo shows a bronze statue that was unveiled in Trier in 2018 with no crown or virus patterns. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: The word 'fix' appeared during India vs. Afghanistan cricket match Following Afghanistan's loss to India in the ongoing Twenty20 World Cup cricket match, an image began circulating on social media alongside claims that it shows the word "fix" appearing on electronic advertising hoardings around the field during the match. However, the image has been doctored; video footage of the match shows the letters "FTX" on the hoardings, the logo of a cryptocurrency trading platform. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of volcanic eruption in DRC A video showing lava flowing from a volcano has been viewed thousands of times on social media posts with a claim that it shows the recent eruption of Mount Nyiragongo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The claim is false: the footage shows the eruption of Iceland’s Fagradalsfjall mountain in March, captured by two photographers and posted on Instagram weeks before Mount Nyiragongo exploded into life in DR Congo. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows footage from Ferdinand Marcos Jr kickoff rally Days after the Philippines' raucous election campaign season kicked off in February 2022, a video showing a packed arena circulated in TikTok and Facebook posts claiming it showed a rally for presidential frontrunner Ferdinand Marcos Jr. In reality, the video shows a corporate event in 2019. The company told AFP it was unrelated to Marcos Jr's campaign. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The first frost of the year was found on Jeju Island Korean-language social media posts have repeatedly shared the false claim that frost was detected on South Korea's highest peak Mount Halla in August 2022, citing a tweet from the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). However, the KMA tweet shared in the posts was actually published in October 2021. A KMA spokesperson told AFP that the weather agency had not recently detected frost on Mount Halla, and the area was hit by heavy rains in August 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows traffic light swept away by flooding in south India A video of a traffic light being swept away along a flooded street has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim it was captured in the Indian city of Hyderabad in 2020. The claim is false; the video has circulated online since May 2018 in reports about flooding in the Chinese city of Yulin. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bangladesh police are searching for AA members in Rohingya refugee camp After a Rohingya man was killed when mortar shells fired from Myanmar landed across the border in Bangladesh, a photo surfaced in Facebook posts claiming it showed Bangladeshi forces hunting down Myanmar rebel groups in "retaliation" for his death. However, police and an activist said that law enforcement had not launched any special operation following the killing. The posts share an unrelated photo taken in 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of protest in Indian Kashmir after Pakistani PM is dismissed Social media posts circulating in Pakistan share a photo they claim shows protesters in Indian-controlled Kashmir rallying in support of Imran Khan after he was booted from power in April 2022. The photo was actually taken in October 2019, when protesters gathered to thank Khan after he criticised New Delhi for sending troops to the disputed region following a controversial move to strip its autonomy. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Facebook login requesting vaccination ID An image shared in multiple social media posts appears to show Facebook requesting vaccination ID for login. The posts have circulated since the tech giant announced it was changing its name to Meta in October 2021. This is false; AFP confirmed that as of the date of this publication, the image does not show a real Facebook login screen. A spokesperson for Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, said the image is fake. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Vaccines on the market contain carcinogenic graphene oxide Multiple Facebook posts have repeatedly shared a claim that all commercially available vaccines purportedly contain a cancer-causing substance called graphene oxide. But these posts are misleading: experts separately told AFP that graphene oxide is not used in commercially available vaccines. The most commonly used vaccines go through rigorous testing and have been safely used for decades, according to the World Health Organization. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows Kenyan citizens attacking their parliament Facebook posts shared tens of thousands of times purport to show a photo of a mob in Kenya setting fire to parliament. The claim is false; the photo was taken by an AFP journalist during protests in Burkina Faso in 2014. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Human remains do not match Brian Laundrie's DNA Social media posts claim that human remains found in a Florida nature reserve were not a DNA match for Brian Laundrie, the boyfriend of slain road tripper Gabby Petito. But local authorities say dental records confirmed the remains were Laundrie's, and that a DNA analysis has not yet been performed. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Chinese student claiming that K-pop is Chinese at Oxford University A series of images has been repeatedly shared in Korean-language social media posts that falsely claim the pictures show a Chinese student at the University of Oxford arguing that Korean culture is "inherited from China" and therefore K-pop is part of Chinese culture. The images in fact show a student debating against meritocracy at the Oxford Union in January 2022. Footage of the debate shows the student did not make any mention of Korean culture or K-pop. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Singapore treats anyone older than seven years old as an adult in the criminal court system? Multiple Facebook and Twitter posts shared thousands of times claim that Singapore treats anyone older than seven years old as an adult in the criminal court system and suggest that Thailand should adopt a similar system. The posts claim youths aged over seven who are convicted of a crime face “the same punishment as adults”. The posts circulated online after large youth-led pro-democracy demonstrations were staged in Thailand, which saw thousands of teenagers take to the streets calling for reform. The claim is false; as of July 2020, the age of criminal responsibility in Singapore is 10 years of age; anyone aged between 10 and 18 who is charged with a crime in Singapore faces prosecution in a Youth Court and they will not “receive the same punishment as adults” as the misleading post claims. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Texas man filled 1,700 fraudulent ballots US Attorney General Bill Barr said a Texas man committed voter fraud with 1,700 mail-in ballots, a claim repeated more than 30,000 times on Facebook. This is false; Barr’s office said the nation’s top law enforcement officer was inaccurately briefed about the case, and a Dallas investigator said 700 ballots were tied to a failed scheme to try and sell votes to city council candidates. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: BLM T-shirt is new Target uniform Social media posts claim a Black Lives Matter T-shirt is the new uniform for employees of US retailer Target. This is false; although the outfit shown in the posts complies with the company’s dress code guidelines, the T-shirt is not a “uniform,” a Target spokesperson said. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show protests against US banks in March 2023 After the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in March 2023, several photos were shared in Burmese-language Facebook posts that falsely claim they show protests by customers who had been unable to withdraw their money. While the photos depict protests related to banks and financial firms, they have circulated in reports from 2008, 2010 and 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pakistan government omits quotation from bank note Multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter claim Pakistan's central bank has omitted a quotation about the importance of earning an honest living from the newly introduced 75 rupee banknote. This is false. The quote -- printed on all of Pakistan's currency notes -- has been included on the new banknote, which was issued to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Pakistan's independence. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Eight reasons not to get vaccinated against Covid-19 As South Korea races to speed up its Covid-19 vaccine roll-out, posts emerged on social media sharing a list of “reasons” not to get the jab. The claims are false: AFP has previously debunked all purported reasons cited in the misleading posts, including claims that coronavirus vaccines have not been tested on animals or that their ingredients have not been published by pharmaceutical companies. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of Sri Lankan minister cosying up to Rajapaksas after being sacked A photo of a former Sri Lankan minister has been shared hundreds of times in Facebook posts that claim it shows him "cosying up" to the brother of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa hours after he was sacked in January 2022. The photo has been shared in a misleading context: it has circulated online since at least 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US Constitution bars non-Christians from becoming president. The US Constitution does not require the president to be Christian, contrary to a claim that has resurfaced in a Facebook post shared hundreds of times. The nation's supreme law explicitly prohibits any "religious test" as a prerequisite for public office but does require the president to be at least 35 years old, a natural born citizen and to have lived in the country for at least 14 years. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Tennessee executive order allows creation of Covid-19 internment camps Online articles and social media posts claim an order by the governor of the US state of Tennessee allows National Guard troops to "kidnap" people and take them to Covid-19 "internment camps." This is false; the order allows National Guard members to assist medical workers in a health care system strained by rising case numbers, but makes no mention of abductions, and the governor's office has said the claim is inaccurate. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: These photos show an underground gallery in the Vatican City. A collection of 25 photos has been shared repeatedly on Facebook and Korean online portal Naver alongside a claim they show an underground gallery in Vatican City. The claim is false: none of the photos were taken in Vatican City; they in fact show so-called “dark tourism” locations across the world such as the Catacombs of Paris, Capela dos Ossos in Portugal and Sedlec Ossuary in Czech Republic. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Rishi Sunak lighting candles before entering the PM office An old video of Rishi Sunak has resurfaced online following his appointment as UK prime minister in posts that falsely claim it shows him performing traditional Hindu rituals before entering his new office. The video -- viewed more than a million times -- was actually filmed in 2020. It shows then chancellor Sunak lighting earthen lamps outside his official London residence to mark the beginning of the Diwali festival of lights. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows fighting in Ethiopia in May 2023 A Facebook post with a link to a video claims the footage shows Ethiopian soldiers fighting militias in the Amhara region in May 2023. This is false: the clip contains old photos of protests in South Africa and the Oromia region respectively. There is no visual evidence in the clip of fighting, however. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Canadian court case was won, made Alberta lift Covid-19 measures An interview with an Alberta man has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times online, via social media posts that claim his court case led to the lifting of public health measures designed to mitigate the pandemic. This is false; the case, a dispute about a fine for violating the provincial Public Health Act, was unsuccessful, and the government of Alberta says that the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions had nothing to do with it. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: TO-MOR-GONE is an effective cancer cure A video with tens of thousands of views on Facebook claims a product called "TO-MOR-GONE" can cure cancer. This is false; medical experts say the cream is not a proven cancer treatment, and the man behind it was sentenced to prison for violating federal law. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Fabricated Article: Halyna Hutchins was to work on a documentary about Hollywood pedophiles An online article circulating as a screenshot on social media claims the cinematographer mistakenly killed by actor Alec Baldwin planned to work on a documentary about pedophile rings in Hollywood, suggesting her death was linked to a cover-up of child abuse claims promoted by QAnon conspiracy theorists. This is false; one of the cinematographer's agents says she was not scheduled to work on any documentaries, and the article carries a disclaimer that it is fake. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Indonesian President Jokowi without a mask at National Games in Papua in October 2021 A video has been viewed thousands of times in Facebook and Twitter posts that claim it shows Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his wife dancing without face masks at the National Games event in October 2021. The claim is false; the footage was filmed in October 2019, months before Indonesia reported its first Covid-19 cases. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: 5G technology creates coronavirus in human cells Social media posts say that 5G technology creates coronavirus in human cells, but the false claim originated from a discredited paper later retracted by a scientific journal. The claims are not based on scientific evidence, experts say, and the paper was withdrawn after its publisher found “manipulation of the peer review” process. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows mosque set on fire by extremists in France A photo has been shared in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts that claim it shows a mosque set on fire by “extremists” in France. The claim is false: the image shows a mosque in the US state of Connecticut where a fire broke out in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US Air Force plane in Afghanistan was a fake Facebook posts claim video footage of a US Air Force jet taking off with Afghans clinging to the sides as they tried to escape Taliban rule was staged and that the plane depicted is fake. But Air Force spokeswomen said the aircraft is real, and that an investigation of the deadly incident is underway. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows individuals escaping a quarantine centre bound bus A photo has been shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook posts and in an online article alongside a claim it shows suspected coronavirus patients fleeing a quarantine centre-bound bus after a road accident in Sri Lanka. The claim, however, is misleading; law enforcement and health officials said no one left the vehicle after the accident on October 9, 2020 and all passengers were transported to the quarantine centre. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Ethnic Korean Chinese nationals receive numerous South Korean government benefits A Facebook post shared dozens of times claims that ethnically Korean Chinese nationals living in South Korea receive benefits from the South Korean government that are not granted to the country's citizens, including priority admissions to preschools and kindergartens, ATM fee exemptions, and phone bill subsidies. But the claims are misleading: multiple South Korean government spokespersons told AFP the benefits are not granted to non-citizens -- unless they are in a multicultural family. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: mRNA COVID-19 vaccines will alter your genome and prevent treatment for Covid-19 if you develop symptoms A New Zealand political party has shared a claim on Facebook that the Covid-19 mRNA vaccine will “intervene directly in the genetic material of the patient and therefore alter the individual genetic material”. The post, shared hundreds of times across Facebook, attributes the information to Robert F Kennedy Jr. The claim is false; experts said the vaccine cannot alter a person's genome; AFP found no evidence that Kennedy had made the purported comments, but he does have a history of promoting falsehoods about vaccines. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hindu woman raped and burnt alive by Muslim man in India’s Rajasthan A graphic photo of a dead woman’s body has been shared thousands of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts in October 2020 alongside a claim that it shows a 13-year old Hindu girl who was burnt alive after being raped by a Muslim man in the west Indian state of Rajasthan. The claim, however, is false: local police in Rajasthan said no such incident had occurred in their jurisdiction; the image has been linked online to an unrelated incident in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, which police said did not have a religious motive. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Mixed: Apple and Google secretly tracking users via coronavirus contact tracing A screenshot showing the COVID-19 Exposure Notification System, a contact tracing programme developed by Apple and Google, has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, and Instagram alongside a claim that the interface has been secretly inserted onto phones and tracks user’s location. The claim is misleading: the interface does not track location, users must choose to activate exposure notifications and the system can be turned off at any time, according to Google, Apple and independent experts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows ballots dumped in bushes A video claiming to show ballots from the US elections found dumped in bushes has been shared hundreds of times in Facebook posts. However, the video has nothing to do with the elections. The bags seen in the video were filled not with ballots but with lost deliveries from Amazon, as confirmed by both the company and local authorities. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ballot guidelines tell Kenyans to mark X for candidate they do not want How to mark ballot papers (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Biden says Trump should be prevented from becoming president A video of Joe Biden discussing Donald Trump is being shared alongside claims that the US president is leading efforts to prosecute his predecessor to keep him from returning to the White House. But the remarks were made in 2022 following the midterm elections in response to questions on the 2024 election and have no bearing on the indictment of the Republican leader in New York. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Atiku watched Buhari's inauguration A picture shared thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter claims to show defeated presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar watching the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term. This is false; the photo has been edited to show the inauguration on the TV screen. The original photo shows Atiku watching a football match last year. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Chen Meng training when she was young? A video of a young girl playing table tennis has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows Chinese Olympic champion Chen Meng when she was young. The claim is false; the video shows a 5-year-old girl from eastern China named Li Yi-yi, not Chen, who won a gold medal in the Tokyo Games. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hoodlums attacked Bola Tinubu in Osogbo About a week before a governorship election was held in Nigeria’s southwest Osun state, a Facebook account published footage of a group of people throwing stones at a convoy of SUVs and buses. It claimed the clip showed a mob attacking Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the ruling party’s candidate for president in next year’s general polls. However, the claim is false: the footage actually shows Gboyega Oyetola, Osun’s incumbent governor, under attack, and not Tinubu. It was taken in the state capital Osogbo during the 2020 protests against police brutality. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Donald Trump mocked Elon Musk over Twitter with "call me daddy" post Social media users are claiming former US president Donald Trump mocked Elon Musk in a post on Truth Social, telling the Twitter owner he will not return to the platform until "you call me daddy." This is false; a review of the live and archived versions of Trump's Truth Social account shows no such post being made. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bloomberg news clip says Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto is 'superior to' his opponent A video posted to Instagram, which has been viewed tens of thousands times, purports to show a Bloomberg news report saying that Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto is "superior to" his opponent, President Joko Widodo. The claim is false; the video is a Bloomberg news programme from February 2018 that reported the possibility of Subianto entering the 2019 election. It did not say that Subianto was “superior to” Widodo or leading him in opinion polls. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Gummy candy Yupi is made from pork gelatine A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in posts circulating in Muslim-majority Indonesia that claim it shows pork gelatine was used in an Indonesian confectionery brand. Consuming pork products is forbidden in Islam. But the claim is false: the confectionery brand has a halal certificate from the Indonesian Ulema Council, the top Islamic authority in the Southeast Asian archipelago. The posts actually shared footage from a Belgian broadcaster's documentary that does not refer to the Indonesian brand. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Malaysia gets hajj quota during the pandemic A screenshot of a news report that Saudi Arabia has given Malaysia additional hajj quota has been shared multiple times by Indonesian social media users on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter alongside a claim that Malaysia can perform the hajj pilgrimage during the pandemic while Indonesia has cancelled the hajj. The claim is misleading: the additional quota for Malaysia will only be implemented when the Covid-19 pandemic is under control, the Malaysian prime minister said. This year, Saudi Arabia only allows a scaled down hajj for fully vaccinated residents of the kingdom. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows football fans crying over Messi's departure from FC Barcelona? Following Lionel Messi's confirmation he was leaving FC Barcelona after more than two decades, a video was viewed tens of thousands of times in social media posts claiming it showed a fan sobbing outside the club's Camp Nou stadium upon hearing the news. The posts are misleading; the video is from August 2020, when the Argentine star said he wanted to leave Barcelona, although he later announced he would stay. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Videos show Putin sending warning to Nigeria Videos shared on Facebook claim to show Russian President Vladimir Putin warning Nigeria to stay out of the war in Ukraine or risk entering into its own conflict. But this is false: AFP Fact Check found that the clips use false subtitle translations. One video is from 2020 and shows Putin addressing Russians about the novel coronavirus. In another, he does address Russia’s ongoing attack on Ukraine but makes no mention of Nigeria. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos of Malaysian Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin taken on same day Facebook posts circulating in Malaysia claim photos of a politician posing after his first and second Covid-19 vaccine doses were in fact taken on the same day, accusing him of lying about being double-jabbed. The posts point to the fact he appears to be wearing the same outfit in both photos. The claim is false; while Khairy Jamaluddin wore the same black t-shirt and trousers to both his Covid-19 vaccinations in March and April 2021, he sported different shoes and socks. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: 'Shark Tank' endorsed CBD gummies (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Interpol issues letter of arrest for 9 Kenyans in drug trafficking cases A supposed official letter from Interpol claiming nine high profile individuals in Kenya were wanted for arrest in drug trafficking cases has been shared in several Kenyan Facebook groups. However, Interpol told AFP that they did not issue the document, which contains some grammatical errors. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Joe Biden said Democrats would cheat in 2022 by dumping ballots Promoters of the QAnon conspiracy theory on Telegram are claiming US President Joe Biden announced in an address to the nation that Democrats plan to "cheat" during midterm polls by flooding vote counts with fraudulent ballots after Election Day. This is false; Biden made no such remark, but instead urged Americans to be patient as election workers across the country tally all legally cast ballots, a process that takes time. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

No Evidence: Flu vaccine raises risk of coronavirus infection Instagram posts opposing a proposed New Jersey law to mandate the influenza vaccine for students claim that the immunization raises one’s risk of coronavirus infection. Large studies in the US and Canada found no evidence that flu shots increase the odds of contracting a coronavirus, and public health agencies recommend the inoculation to help prevent serious illness, as well as to avoid additional burdens on health care systems during the Covid-19 pandemic. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows South Korean first lady falling asleep during husband's speech An image of South Korean First Lady Kim Keon-hee with her eyes closed has been shared hundreds of times in social media posts that falsely claim she fell asleep during a speech delivered by her husband in the United Arab Emirates. In fact, the image captured Kim blinking during President Yoon Suk-yeol's speech and video of the event does not show her sleeping. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Sick people without a Covid-19 test are considered positive in Alberta Social media posts claim Canada's Alberta is inflating its Covid-19 case count, citing a remark by the province's chief medical officer about people who are ill but do not get tested being considered part of the outbreak. This is misleading; Alberta's government says Deena Hinshaw was discussing protocols for school outbreaks, and the doctor clarified that the official Covid-19 tally does not include cases not confirmed through testing. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Vitaccino can help lose weight without any side effects Facebook users in Myanmar have repeatedly shared posts promoting a potentially harmful "diet coffee" product called Vitaccino alongside false claims it can help consumers lose weight without any side effects. However, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) told AFP the product contains a controlled substance known to "present a significant risk for patients with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, or stroke". Authorities in neighbouring Thailand said the product had been banned in the kingdom. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Prazimec-D can be used to cure dogs with skin rashes Sri Lankan animal experts have warned against giving stray dogs a type of anti-parasite medication for skin rashes, after social media users shared posts on Facebook that recommended the treatment. Improper use of the drug can lead to poor kidney function in dogs, which can be lethal, the experts said. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: BBC names Tsadkan ‘African military leader of the year’ A post shared on Facebook in Ethiopia claims the BBC named General Tsadkan Gebretensae, the commander of the Tigrayan rebels, as the “Africa military leader of the year.” But the claim is misleading: the news organisation has not published any article or statement describing him in this way. The claim may have originated from an opinion piece published by the BBC in 2021 when Tsadkan was described as “one of the finest military strategists of his generation in Africa”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Bill Gates calls for the withdrawal of Covid-19 vaccines over safety fears Multiple Facebook posts circulating in Thailand have shared a claim that billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates said Covid-19 vaccines are "far more dangerous than anyone imagined". But the purported comments -- which some social media users appeared to believe were genuine -- originated in a satirical report. A spokesperson for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation told AFP that Bill Gates did not make the purported remarks. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photos show caladium field in China Facebook posts shared thousands of times purport to show photos of fields of colourful caladiums in China, accusing the country of manipulating the price of the popular houseplant. The claim is misleading; the pictures were taken in the US state of Florida and AFP found no credible media reports of Chinese caladium price fixing. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Vandalism at Galle mosque linked to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's new regime A video and several photographs purported to show a broken stained glass window at a southern Sri Lankan mosque have been viewed thousands of times in various Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp posts that claim the damage was linked to the nation's new regime. The claim is misleading; local police and a trustee of the mosque told AFP they believed the incident was likely caused by an intoxicated individual, rather than politically motivated. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows a triple-jabbed doctor in Australia collapsing mid-surgery As South Korea recorded a surge in Covid-19 cases fuelled by the highly transmissible Omicron variant, a video circulated alongside a Korean-language claim that it shows a triple-jabbed doctor collapsing while performing surgery in Australia. However, the video -- which has been viewed hundreds of times -- has been shared in a false context. It has previously circulated in news reports about an incident in China since January 2020, when Covid-19 vaccines were not yet available. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This baby born from a vaccinated mother developed heart disease A photo of a sick baby is circulating in social media posts claiming it shows an infant who fell ill after his mother received a Covid-19 vaccine. The claim is false; the baby in the photo was in fact suffering from Covid-19 and a heart condition. Global health experts advise pregnant women to take the shot. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of detained UK Hong Kong consulate worker with sex worker in China A photo is circulating in multiple Twitter and Weibo posts which claim it shows Simon Cheng, a staffer at the UK consulate in Hong Kong, with a sex worker in China. The claim is false; the image had circulated online long before Cheng was detained in the mainland in August 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered: Money magazine cover shows Volodymyr Zelensky riding a horse made of cash Social media posts share an image that purportedly shows Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky riding a horse made of banknotes on the cover of Money, a US magazine. But no such cover was published; the image was altered from a 2016 issue, according to the magazine, which is now only available online. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Queen Elizabeth dons jacket with Kenyan party logo With less than two weeks left before Kenya’s general elections, social media is awash with online propaganda and disinformation pitting supporters of leading political parties against each other. Some of the posts recently shared on Facebook in the country appear to show Queen Elizabeth II wearing a jacket branded with the logo of a Kenyan political party, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). But the image is doctored: in the original photo taken in 2018, the queen is wearing a yellow jacket with no UDA logo. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Hamas intentionally launching rockets among residential neighbourhoods in the Gaza Strip In the wake of the violent Israeli raids in Gaza, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared a video clip on May 11, 2021 alongside a claim it shows Hamas intentionally launching rockets at residential neighborhoods in the Gaza Strip. The claim is false: the video has circulated online in various contexts since at least 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Cloaked figure of death at 2012 Olympics ceremony foreshadows pandemic A segment of the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony has been misrepresented in social media posts that claim it shows a "giant figure of death holding a needle" foreshadowing the Covid-19 pandemic. The claim is misleading; the cloaked figure in the ceremony was a puppet holding a wand, representing Harry Potter's antagonist Voldemort, who appeared alongside various villains from children's literature. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Videos show oil pipeline explosion in Dubai in mid-August 2020? (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Dubai's Burj Khalifa lit up with Sri Lankan flag colors to celebrate Sri Lanka's 2020 Independence day A photo of the Burj Khalifa lit up in the colours of the Sri Lankan flag has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts alongside claims that flag was displayed to commemorate Sri Lanka’s 72nd Independence Day in February 2020. This claim is misleading; the photo actually shows the Sri Lankan flag projected on Dubai's iconic skyscraper in April 2019. The flag was displayed following the Easter Sunday bombings in Colombo on April 21, 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photographs of burned ballot papers have been shared in Facebook posts that claim they show evidence of fraud in the 2020 Myanmar elections.] Ballot colour (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Nigerian Facebook page claims US military weapons belong to Israel Several images of warplanes and missile systems have been shared on Facebook as claimed evidence of Israel’s military might and superior firepower over Nigeria, where three Israeli filmmakers were recently arrested. The claim, however, is misleading: four of the images show Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system, but the rest feature various US military weapons. Some of the pictures have had Israeli flags added to them. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Footage of cash stockpile for Nigerian primary election Footage of a man taking stacks of dollar bills out of a suitcase has been shared on social media in Nigeria with claims that it shows members of the country’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) preparing cash ahead of a primary election. However, the claim is false: the video clip has been circulating online for more than three years and first emerged in Sudan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: North Korean state TV criticises Moon Jae-in for abandoning dogs Social media users have shared altered screenshots of a North Korean state media programme alongside a false claim that they show Pyongyang criticising former South Korean president Moon Jae-in for "abandoning" two dogs given to him in 2018 by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The posts surfaced online after Moon announced he would return the dogs to the South Korean government after it failed to agree on who should pay for the canines' care. However, a search found the original North Korean television report was about Kim condemning South Korea for holding joint military drills with the United States. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows former Indonesian fisheries minister leading anti-government rally in October 2020 A video that shows a former Indonesian fisheries minister giving a speech to a crowd has been viewed almost 1.5 million times in multiple YouTube and Facebook posts that claim she was addressing a protest by students and workers in October 2020. The posts circulated shortly after the passage of a controversial new investment law, which has sparked protests by Indonesian students and workers. The claim is false: the video's audio has been manipulated in the misleading posts; the video actually shows the former minister speaking to fishermen who were protesting a ban on a type of fishing net in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Youth involved in accident is son of Sri Lankan politician Following a fatal car crash in Sri Lanka in which a jeep collided with several other vehicles, Facebook posts claimed a 16-year-old boy at the wheel was the son of opposition politician Ismail Abdeen. The claim is false; a police spokesman dismissed the rumours as "false information", while Abdeen said the teenager involved was not his son. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Museveni meets Boris Johnson after the #NoMore campaign A photo of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been published alongside a claim that the two leaders met recently. The post criticises the meeting in light of the November 2021 #NoMore social media campaign in Ethiopia, which has called for the end of Western “meddling” in the ongoing conflict in the country. But the claim is misleading: the photo was taken in 2018 when the two men met at Lancaster House in London. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This photo shows a Chinese vessel dumping sewage and human waste in the West Philippine Sea A photo has been shared in multiple Twitter and Facebook posts that claim it shows a Chinese shipping vessel dumping human waste in Philippine waters. The claim is false: the photo has in fact circulated in reports about dredging off the coast of Australia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Photo shows Hong Kong pro-democracy banner calling Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam 'a jerk' An image has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts in September 2020 which purports to show a Hong Kong pro-democracy banner labelling the territory's leader Carrie Lam "a jerk". But the image has been doctored from a photo of a banner originally pictured in Hong Kong media in May 2019 which called on Lam to resign. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Whistleblower accusing Philippine VP of fraud surfaces in December 2020 A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in multiple YouTube and Facebook posts that claim it shows a December 2020 news report about a whistleblower accusing Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo of poll fraud. The claim is misleading; this video has circulated in news reports since May 2016, following Robredo's vice presidential win. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 vaccine alters red blood cells Social media posts featuring four microscope slides supposedly showing blood cells before and after Covid-19 vaccination claim that immunization permanently alters human blood. This is false; experts told AFP that the images show incorrectly prepared red blood cell samples unrelated to Covid-19 inoculation, and said that the posts are unscientific. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Switzerland planning to ban electric cars to save power As European countries navigated an energy crunch triggered in part by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, social media users shared a misleading claim that Switzerland was considering a ban on electric cars as a power-saving measure. While Switzerland was looking at draft regulations for restricting the use of electric vehicles for non-essential travel at the time the posts circulated, it was not planning to ban them. A Swiss government spokesperson told AFP that, under the draft regulations, the restrictions would only be implemented if softer restrictions to conserve electricity proved ineffective. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Infrared thermometer guns cause damage to the pineal gland A Facebook post shared thousands of times claims that taking a person’s temperature with an infrared thermometer near their head risks damaging the pineal gland, which is located in the brain. This is false, said neuroscience experts, who explained that this type of thermometer does not emit infrared radiation but captures wavelengths from the body. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Genuine newspaper clipping shows Sri Lanka Minister Wimal Weerawansa saying a bit of toxic coconut oil will not kill anyone A photo of a newspaper clipping has circulated (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos of Nigerian separatists protesting at the White House Images of protesting Nigerian separatists have been shared multiple times on Facebook alongside claims that they show a rally at the White House on July 2, 2021. The posts surfaced days after the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) group, which supports the secession of the south-east of Nigeria. But the claim is false. AFP Fact Check traced the photos, which are video screenshots, to a Biafran demonstration in Vatican City in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Transportation of ballots in Maricopa County, Arizona is evidence of fraud Social media posts claim to have found evidence of fraud in the US midterm elections, pointing to trucks transporting absentee ballots in Arizona to a company that performs signature verification. This is misleading; mail-in votes are sent to Runbeck Election Services -- where bipartisan observers are present -- as a routine part of the counting process, according to officials and the company. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Children 107 times more likely to die from Covid-19 vaccines than Covid-19 Social media posts claim US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data shows children are 107 times more likely to die from Covid-19 shots than from the disease itself. But the CDC says the claim is false, and that it has not found any instances of Covid-19 vaccines causing or contributing to deaths in children. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US President Joe Biden put a medal on a Vietnam veteran backwards Videos shared across social media claim to show US President Joe Biden placing the Medal of Honor on a Vietnam War veteran backwards. This is false; footage from the event shows Biden correctly placed the medal around the retired Army soldier's neck. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This photo shows pro-Trump votes found buried in US state of Arizona. A photo of several US mail-in ballots lying on the ground has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim they were votes for incumbent US President Donald Trump that were found “dumped by the side of the road” in the US state of Arizona. The claim is false; the photo actually shows mail-in ballots that were never opened or filled out, according to local law enforcement officials. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: List of COVID-19 treatments A message shared on WhatsApp and Facebook purportedly by a recovering COVID-19 patient in Britain makes several claims on ways people can prevent or treat the novel coronavirus. However, experts and health agencies have refuted most of the claims. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Cyclone Jobo in Tanzania A video has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook in Kenya alongside a claim that it shows Cyclone Jobo in Tanzania in April 2021. The claim is false: the footage actually shows Cyclone Kenneth hitting Mozambique in southern Africa in April 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show Indian regional party leader Tejaswi Yadav awarded title of "youngest politician in London" Three photos have been shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts in November 2020 that claim they show an Indian regional party leader being awarded the title of “the youngest politician in London”. The claim is false; the photos have circulated online since at least 2016 in reports about the party leader meeting UN officials in Geneva when he was deputy chief minister of the Indian state of Bihar; there is no such award for “the youngest politician in London”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Biden wishes Wolayta people Happy New Year? An image shared hundreds of times on Facebook in Ethiopia purports to show US President Joe Biden wishing a Happy New Year to the Wolayta people — a small ethnic group located in southern Ethiopia. This is false: the image was doctored. The original shows Biden holding a baseball jersey given to him by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Furthermore, the account that shared the doctored image is impersonating the BBC. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: University of Zimbabwe to feed students game meat A document purporting to be a student council notice states that the University of Zimbabwe will begin serving exotic game meat from wildlife parks due to rising prices of beef and chicken. But the document is a forged version of the student council’s usual notices, and the university says no such policy has been announced. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: NASA warned asteroid will crash with Earth in six months Social media posts in Thailand have shared a claim that US space agency NASA warned an asteroid is on path to hit Earth and cannot be stopped by nuclear weapons. The claim is false: the posts misrepresented as real a NASA simulation exercise involving a fictitious asteroid. A NASA report found no known asteroids pose a significant risk to Earth over the next 100 years. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Georgia vote reduction is evidence of fraud Social media posts claim clips from US broadcasters ABC and CNN provide evidence of election fraud in the Georgia Senate runoff races. This is false; the changes to the vote totals displayed in the TV clips are the result of corrections by Edison Research, the firm that provided election data to both networks, and were not recorded in any official counts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Marijuana served with honey cures 40 diseases Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim that "marijuana preserved with honey" cures 40 different medical conditions, including Alzheimer's, diabetes and high blood pressure. The posts are misleading; there is no evidence the purported remedy can cure these conditions. Health experts said people should see a doctor if they have health concerns. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A video of a protest in France against vaccine passports Multiple social media posts have shared a video they claim shows a protest in France against so-called vaccine passports. The claim is false: the footage actually shows football fans in Iceland celebrating their national team arriving home following the Euro 2016 tournament. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Fifty percent of families in Canada take home less than $20,000 per year Income gains for the richest Canadians have outpaced most households since the 1980s, but a tweet claiming more than half of all families are surviving on less than $20,000 per year is inaccurate. The most recent data indicate families in the bottom 10 percent of earners bring in $45,400 on average. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show Indonesian comedians declaring support for Prabowo Subianto A Facebook post shared thousands of times features three photos it claims show two popular Indonesian comedians, Entis Sutisna -- known as Sule -- and Andre Taulany, demonstrating their support for opposition presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto. The post is misleading: the main image has been doctored, while the other two photos are screenshots of momentary gestures made while the comedians hosted President Joko Widodo on their TV talk show. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled the 2020 US election was "rigged" Former US president Donald Trump claimed in a post on his social media platform that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled the 2020 election was "rigged." This is false; the court ordered in early November 2022 that state officials should not count undated mail-in ballots, or those returned with incorrect dates, in midterm elections that took place November 8. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image of Haile Selassie and Bob Marley A Facebook post claiming to show a meeting between Ethiopia’s last emperor, Haile Selassie, and Jamaican reggae singer Bob Marley has been shared multiple times online. The claim is false: although the image was captured during Selassie’s visit to Jamaica on April 21, 1966, the photographer who took the shot described the men meeting the Ethiopian leader as “unidentified dignitaries”. Additionally, historical accounts indicate that Bob Marley was in the United States at the time. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Police station bombed in Abuja A video of a burning building has been shared multiple times on Facebook alongside claims that it shows the bombing of a police station in Nigeria’s capital city Abuja. This is false; while the video indeed shows a police station ablaze, it is not in the nation’s capital and it was not bombed by unknown gunmen, as the posts claim. The station is in Niger state and was set on fire by youths. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows fish with human features caught in the US Facebook posts claim that a photo of an odd-looking creature shows a fish with human characteristics caught in the United States. But the claim is false: the photo is a hyperrealistic artwork created by a Thai artist in 2018 as part of his final-year project. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Former Kenyan leader speaks out after family farm invaded A video of Kenya's former president Uhuru Kenyatta is being shared in Facebook and TikTok posts claiming to show him giving an address after his family’s farm was invaded amid anti-government protests in March 2023. But the claim is false: the video is old and was recorded when Kenyatta was still the head of state. He has not yet publicly spoken about the incident on his farm. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Graphic shows former cricketer and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has joined India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. A graphic that appears to show that Sourav Ganguly, a former Indian cricketer, has joined India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been shared in multiple posts on Facebook. The claim is false: the image was created by superimposing an old photo of Ganguly in an advertisement for incense sticks onto a background of BJP branding. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows assault on Chinese person in Cambodia A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple Chinese-language posts claiming it shows a Chinese person being violently assaulted in Cambodia, warning "ethnic Chinese friends" not to travel to Southeast Asia. The posts circulated online after Hong Kong officials said they had received fresh reports of Hong Kongers being lured to countries including Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Laos by so-called "boiler room" scams. The video, however, has circulated in news reports since July about an incident in Brazil. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows creature in Yemen sky Footage that appears to show a figure hovering in the sky has been viewed tens of thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows a mysterious creature in Yemen. The claim is false; the video is a digital creation by a Brazilian artist. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Comelec disqualified Neri Colmenares and the Makabayan bloc from 2022 polls As millions of Filipinos thronged polling stations to elect a new president, social media posts shared purported documents from the Philippine election agency alongside a claim that one senatorial candidate and five minor political parties were disqualified for alleged communist links. But the documents featured in the posts are fake, according to the election agency. There was no record of the purported disqualification notice on the election agency's websites. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Image shows Prince Philip ‘pranking’ the Queen Multiple Facebook and Twitter posts have shared an image they claim shows Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and her late husband Prince Philip sharing a laugh at Buckingham Palace after he “pranked” her by dressing as a guard. This claim is misleading: the image has previously circulated in media reports about the royal couple laughing after a swarm of bees interrupted an event they were attending. In the photo, Prince Philip was wearing the uniform of the Grenadier Guards, of which he was a long-time colonel. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Tonga volcanic eruption in January 2022 A video has been shared repeatedly on Twitter, Douyin and Weibo alongside a claim it shows the moment an underwater volcano erupted in the Pacific Ocean, triggering a tsunami that hit the Pacific island nation of Tonga in January 2022. This is false: the video has circulated online since 2019 in reports about a volcanic eruption in Italy. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: This “magical eye exercise” corrects vision problems when practised regularly South Korean social media users have shared a claim that a “magical eye exercise” corrects vision problems when practised regularly. But this claim is misleading: health experts told AFP that stimulating eye muscles through these exercises do not permanently improve eyesight. Studies show vision problems are only effectively improved through corrective lenses or surgery. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bill Gates lists lessons from the fight against the novel coronavirus in an open letter An "open letter” purportedly written by US billionaire and philanthropist Bill Gates about the novel coronavirus pandemic has been shared in English and Chinese on Facebook, Twitter and various websites. The Chinese-language posts state the letter was translated from its original publication in British newspaper The Sun. But the letter is fake; Gates’ philanthropic organisation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, clarified on Weibo that the letter presents “false information” and urged netizens to stop sharing it. The Sun has reportedly removed the letter from its website. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Letter in support of the Hong Kong Police from the Western Australia Police Force. A photo of a letter has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Weibo which claim it is "a letter of support written by Western Australia Police to Hong Kong Police". The claim is false; the Western Australia Police Force told AFP that the letter was not an official statement of support and that it had been issued without their knowledge or consent; the police badge shown on the letter is out of date. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of Sri Lankan teen recognized as world's youngest pilot A photo of a boy in a cockpit has been shared tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim he is a Sri Lankan teen who is the “world’s youngest pilot”. The posts claim he was selected by NASA as part of a group to “populate Mars.” The claim is false; the photo has circulated in reports since 2017 about a 14-year-old Indian boy who successfully flew a plane solo at a flight school in Canada; as of January 2020, NASA has not selected any astronauts for any missions to Mars. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: South Korea classifies Covid-19 infections among double-vaccinated people as "unvaccinated infections" As South Korea battled record Covid-19 cases, social media posts shared a purported government health agency message saying that people with Covid-19 who had not received a booster shot would be classed as "unvaccinated infections". The claim is false; the screenshot of the message shared online is doctored. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) says people who have received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccine or one dose of the Janssen vaccine are classified as breakthrough infections if they catch the disease, regardless of whether they have gotten a booster shot. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Study shows vaccines make people more likely to catch Omicron variant A tweet shared tens of thousands of times claims a study found that mRNA Covid-19 vaccines increase the chances of infection with the Omicron variant. But experts said the shots do not increase the risk of infection, and the authors of the Danish study said the claim misinterpreted the data, overlooking key factors including more frequent testing and more potential exposure among the vaccinated, which would account for the higher reported infection rate in that group. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Chinese troops 'entering' Hong Kong A video of Chinese soldiers walking through a railway station has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts which claim that Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) are entering Hong Kong. The claim is misleading; the footage actually shows PLA soldiers walking through a railway station in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video claims to show a crowd booing state governor in north-central Nigeria The governor of Nigeria’s Kwara state, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, is seeking a second term with the backing of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as Africa’s most populous nation gears up for elections in early 2023. Social media accounts have shared a video with more than 300,000 views claiming part of it shows Abdulrazaq being booed by young people at a rally. This is misleading: the footage in question was filmed in December 2018 when Abdulrazaq was still running for office. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: TGA database shows link between Covid-19 vaccine and miscarriages Social media posts have shared a claim that four miscarriages in women who received the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid jab were reported by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) from August 28 to 30. Comments to the posts indicate people thought the vaccine caused the miscarriages. But the posts are false. Figures from the TGA -- Australia's drug regulator -- show no reports of miscarriages for the said period. Experts say "no link" has been found between Covid-19 vaccines and miscarriages. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows brawl in Pakistan's national assembly in April 2022, delaying no-confidence vote against PM Imran Khan A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times after it was shared alongside a claim that it shows Pakistani lawmakers fighting in the national assembly in April 2022, delaying a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan. The video was shared days before his eventual removal from office. However, the claim is false. The footage in fact shows a scuffle between members of the Sindh provincial assembly, in southeastern Pakistan, in March 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Turkish president hugging Palestinian children in 2021 A video has been viewed more than five million times in Facebook and Twitter posts that claim it shows Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meeting Palestinian children after deadly clashes between Israel and Hamas in 2021. The claim is false: the video shows Erdogan meeting children in the Turkish city of Ordu during a mayoral campaign in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Myanmar military truck blown up in Dagon township on September 9, 2021 A photo has been shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook and blog posts that claim it shows a military truck blown up by protesters in the Dagon township of Myanmar's largest city Yangon in September 2021. The claim is false: the image has circulated in reports about a military truck explosion in Yangon's Tamwe township in June 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows female security escort from China's Qing Dynasty A photo of a woman in traditional Chinese dress has been shared hundreds of times in social media posts that falsely claim it depicts a female security escort during the Qing Dynasty. The photo in fact shows martial arts actress Jade Xu posing in costume on the set of a fictional film. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Kamala Harris called Joe Biden “trash” in June 2019 (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: An Instagram post claims that canola oil -- an ingredient in plant-based alternatives to meat -- is toxic. This is false; nutritionists say the oil is not harmful for humans to consume, and it is recognized as safe by US regulators. Canola oil is toxic. An Instagram post claims that canola oil -- an ingredient in plant-based alternatives to meat -- is toxic. This is false; nutritionists say the oil is not harmful for humans to consume, and it is recognized as safe by US regulators. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Drinking cold drinks after eating mangoes can kill people Health experts have contradicted Facebook posts shared repeatedly in Bangladesh that claimed consuming cold drinks after eating mangoes can be deadly, saying they were "baseless" and "completely false". The posts cited an alleged case in which a group of tourists apparently died after eating the fruit in neighbouring India, but AFP found no evidence that the incident ever happened. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Tealive is declared haram in Malaysia Recirculated Facebook posts have falsely claimed that the Malaysian government agency responsible for Islamic affairs (JAKIM) declared the bubble tea chain Tealive is "haram", or forbidden in Islam. The claim purports the information came from a Malaysian Muslim preacher. Tealive and the Malaysian government agency responsible for Islamic affairs (JAKIM) both separately have confirmed that the company holds the official "halal" certificate -- meaning its products are permissible for Muslims to consume. The Islamic preacher named in the posts has also denied that he made the false claim, which has circulated online since at least 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Unproven: Bob Saget died of vaccine poisoning Social media posts claim that US comedian Bob Saget died because he had received a Covid-19 booster shot. These claims are unsubstantiated; the "Full House" star had said that he received a third dose of the vaccine, but the Florida medical examiner's office that conducted his autopsy has not released its findings, nor indicated that vaccination was responsible for his death. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows a Sarus crane that was confiscated by wildlife authorities. A bird that would not leave the side of the Indian farmer who nursed it back to health remains in quarantine at a zoo, a spokesperson told AFP, contradicting Facebook and Twitter posts that claim the Sarus crane was found bleeding at a railway station. The posts share a video of a Sarus crane, but the clip in fact shows a different bird that died after being found injured on the platform. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The Buddhist monk in the video is 163 years old A video of an elderly Buddhist monk has been watched more than a hundred thousand times on Facebook alongside a claim that the monk is 163 years old. The claim is false, according to the monk's grandniece, who told AFP he was 109 years old when he died in March 2022. The world's oldest-ever living person was a Frenchwoman who died in 1997 aged 122, according to the Guinness World Records. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Advertisement from the American Postal Workers Union says fascism will not stop the mail An image retweeted more than 100,000 times appears to show an advertisement from the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) saying that fascism will not stop the mail and calling on people to “save” the post office ahead of the presidential election, when mail-in voting will be key. The claim is false; an APWU spokesman said the image is not from the union, and a San Francisco-based graphic designer said she created it. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Qantas CEO Alan Joyce got a pie in the face over Covid-19 vaccine policy A clip showing a man smashing a pie into the face of Qantas Airways CEO Alan Joyce is circulating online along with the claim that it shows a response to the airline's Covid-19 vaccination requirement. This is false; the video is from 2017 and relates to Joyce's support for same-sex marriage in Australia, not the pandemic that came years later. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows a railway distorted by scorching sun A photo of a bendy railway track has been shared repeatedly on Facebook alongside a false claim it shows a track distorted by extreme heat. In fact, the photo shows a railway damaged by an earthquake in New Zealand in 2010. A spokesperson for New Zealand's state-run railway operator told AFP that the photo shows the aftermath of the 2010 Canterbury earthquake. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows anti-Biden chant at University of Pennsylvania commencement A video shared online appears to show Joe Biden watching his granddaughter's graduation from the University of Pennsylvania as hecklers chant at the US president. But the clip's audio has been manipulated; the original commencement footage does not feature the expletive-laden jeers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Funeral of Hyderabad rape and murder victim A video has been viewed more than a million times in Facebook, Twitter and YouTube posts that claim the footage shows the funeral of a 27-year-old veterinary doctor who was gang raped and killed on November 27, 2019 in Hyderabad, a major city in southern India. The claim is false; the video actually shows the funeral of an Indian army soldier in a village in west India which was held on November 26, a day before the attack in Hyderabad. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Lysol label is evidence that novel coronavirus is not new Social media users claim that because Lysol products are labeled as being effective against “human coronavirus,” the novel coronavirus first reported in China’s Wuhan last year is not new. This is misleading; they are a family of viruses, which explains the presence of the reference on the labels before SARS-CoV-2 was discovered, Lysol’s manufacturer told AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

No, These Images Are Re-Enactments Of Torture Methods Used Against Falun Gong Practitioners: These photos show Muslim women tortured in China Three images published on Facebook and claiming to show Chinese Muslim women tortured in detention camps have been shared hundreds of times in Nigeria. However, the claims are misleading; the images are victim reenactments of torture methods described by members of Falun Gong, a religious group banned in China. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show Dennis Rodman with anti-mask t-shirt As US cities reinstate mask mandates to combat the highly-contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus, Facebook users are sharing a photo of Dennis Rodman wearing a T-shirt with an anti-mask message. The image has been doctored; the original taken by an AFP photographer showed the former basketball star dressed in a shirt advertising a cryptocurrency. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The Guardian announced that the Nobel Committee may revoke Abiy Ahmed's Peace Prize Several posts circulating in Ethiopia claim that British newspaper The Guardian announced that the Nobel Committee might revoke Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s peace prize due to the ongoing conflict in the northern region of Tigray. However, this is false. Although The Guardian ran an opinion piece whose author suggested that the Nobel Committee should resign in “protest and defiance” against atrocities committed in Tigray, he did not write that the committee is considering revoking Abiy's prize. According to the statutes of the Nobel Foundation, it is impossible to withdraw a prize. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Nigerian presidential candidate seen with beer featuring separatist logo Nigerian opposition leader Peter Obi has emerged as one of the top contenders looking to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in February’s election. A recent tweet claimed to show a picture of the Labour Party candidate sitting at a table with two Hero Lagers, a beer brewed in southeast Nigeria and often associated with the Biafran separatist movement. But the claim is false: AFP Fact Check found that the photo, posted by a rival politician, has been digitally altered to add Obi’s face and the beers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Miscaptioned: A photo shows King Charles III's jacket misbuttoned after the queen died Social media users are claiming a photo shows King Charles III wearing a misbuttoned suit jacket one day after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. But the posts are miscaptioned; the image was taken in The Gambia in November 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern mourning in solidarity with Indian farmers A photo collage has been shared in multiple Facebook posts that claim it shows New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and a major airline in the country supported farmers protesting in India in May 2021. But the claim is false: the photos in the collage are unrelated to the protests in India and have circulated online since 2010. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows flying trains in China A video purporting to show trains flying over China has been shared on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The claim is false; the video in fact shows computer generated imagery created by a simulation platform. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows cloudburst over Pakistani city of Jamshoro in August 2022 A video has been watched tens of thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows a cloudburst over a Pakistani city as monsoon rains wrought havoc on the country's Sindh province in August 2022. However, the video has been shared in a false context; it was actually filmed in Australia in February 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of volcanic eruption on Kenya’s Mount Longonot A video shared alongside claims that it shows an active eruption on Kenya’s Mount Longonot has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter. However, this is false; the Kenya Wildlife Society (KWS) confirmed to AFP Fact Check there has been no volcanic eruption but there was a fire that broke out and ravaged about 40 hectares of the mountainside. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photos of Mount Sinabung’s eruption in Indonesia Six photos have been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim they show an eruption of Mount Sinabung, a volcano in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province. The claim is misleading; five of the photos show an arcus cloud formation in the neighbouring Aceh province; one of the photos shows Mount Sinabung erupting. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Picture of an Ethiopian rocket. An image of a rocket bearing the Ethiopian flag was used in several social media posts marking the launch of the country’s first satellite into space last month. The event was acclaimed throughout the east African nation and marked a big step in Ethiopia’s fledgling space program, but the picture that was carried with many of the stories was a manipulated image of a Chinese rocket from 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Russia lands two nuclear bombers in Venezuela A Facebook post shared thousands of times in Nigeria claims that Russia has sent two nuclear bombers to Venezuela, landing them in what it describes as the “US backyard”. The claim, however, is misleading; while the events mentioned in a CNN report included in the post did take place, they happened in 2018 and have nothing to do with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern smoking crack A video circulating on social media appears to show New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern smoking crack cocaine. However, the video is fake and was posted on a YouTube channel that uses artificial intelligence to make deepfakes of Kiwi politicians and celebrities. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Image shows Fijian politician at ballot printing facility ahead of election Ahead of a general election in Fiji, an old photo circulated in misleading online posts that claimed it shows the general secretary of the ruling FijiFirst party Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum visiting a ballot printing facility shortly before the polls. It surfaced after the opposition party accused Sayed-Khaiyum of visiting the facility in the weeks before the vote. The picture was in fact taken during Sayed-Khaiyum's visit to a ballot printing facility in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A video shows Nigerians harassing an inebriated elephant A Twitter post featuring a video of children harassing an unresponsive elephant which had consumed alcohol claims that the event took place in southern Nigeria. In response, several users decried the treatment of the animal as "shameful" and called for the arrest of those seen in the footage. However, AFP Fact Check found the video was filmed in Ivory Coast in 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: All US schools will be closed next week A post displaying a news headline-like screenshot warns that all schools in the United States will be closed in the second week of August 2021. Despite concerns that in-person school could be disrupted by rising coronavirus cases, the posts are a prank created using a fake news alert generator. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Breathing steam from a boiling pot of water will treat or cure a novel coronavirus infection A video viewed more than 2.4 million times on Facebook urges people to inhale steam to “kill” the novel coronavirus. But experts say that doing so will not treat or cure the viral infection, and could in fact be harmful. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Chinese military enters Hong Kong in July 2019 A video has been shared thousands of times in Facebook and Twitter posts that claim the footage shows China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops entering Hong Kong in July 2019. The claim is false; the video has circulated online since at least June 2012; according to local media, it shows PLA armoured vehicles coming to Hong Kong from mainland China as part of a “normal and necessary” troop rotation in June 2012. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows police abusing students returning to school in Myanmar in 2021 A video has been viewed millions of times in multiple posts on Facebook that claim it shows Myanmar police beating up students at a school. This video was shared online after Myanmar students planned to stage a nationwide boycott of schools, which reopened in June 2021 for the first time since the military seized power. The video, however, has been shared in a misleading context: the clip shows a scuffle between students and police outside a Myanmar courtroom in March 2020, almost one year before the military coup. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: CDC graphic warns refusing the vaccine is a form of racism An infographic that carries the logo of the US Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) warns refusing the coronavirus vaccine "is a form of racism" because it "harms people of color”. The graphic, however, has been manipulated: it was not issued by the CDC. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows newly built airport in India's northeastern Arunachal Pradesh state A video has been viewed hundreds of times in social media posts that falsely claim it shows a new airport in Arunachal Pradesh, a state in northeastern India. While a new airport was genuinely inaugurated in Arunachal Pradesh on November 19, 2022, the clip was filmed at Bengaluru airport in Karnataka, a state in southern India. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos of attacks on Hindus by Muslims in West Bengal Two photos have been shared in a Facebook post published in May 2019 alongside claims that Hindus are being attacked by Muslims in the Indian state of West Bengal. But the photos actually show unrelated incidents that happened in neighbouring Bangladesh, according to media reports and Bangladeshi police. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Judges who rebuked Nupur Sharma lunching with politicians and journalists After India's top court slammed a ruling party spokeswoman for making incendiary comments about Islam, a photo was shared thousands of times in Facebook posts that claim it shows two judges from the court dining with journalists and communist party politicians. The posts suggest the photo is evidence of corruption in India's judiciary. However, the photo shows a group of Indian journalists with communist party politicians, not the court's judges. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows crowd welcoming Lionel Messi to Paris Following the arrival of Argentinian football star Lionel Messi in Paris to sign a contract with French club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), numerous social media posts are sharing an image of a dense crowd with claims it shows PSG fans welcoming Messi. However, the claim is false: the photo was taken during a music festival in the US in July. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: FEMA only brought Covid-19 vaccines to Kentucky Online articles claim the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) took advantage of tornadoes that devastated parts of western Kentucky to require Covid-19 vaccination in exchange for assistance. This is false; the federal agency says its efforts -- which include search and rescue as well as distribution of supplies -- are not predicated on vaccination, and a local official confirmed FEMA's role. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 vaccines contain "nanotechnology" that can change people's DNA Social media posts claim that Covid-19 vaccines contain robotic "nanotechnology" that can change people's DNA. While they do include tiny fat bubbles to protect mRNA molecules -- an essential component of the shots -- they do not feature miniature robots, and experts say Covid-19 jabs cannot alter a person's genetic makeup. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Pakistani Prime Minister addressing the nation on current situation A video of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been viewed tens of thousands of times in Facebook posts that claim it shows him vowing to tackle political corruption in Pakistan as he addressed the nation in February 2022. But the video has been shared in a misleading context: the clip actually shows Khan speaking in June 2019 -- less than one year after he entered office -- pledging to punish former Pakistan leaders who he claimed had "left the country badly in debt". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show first Nigerian-made helicopters Several social media accounts with a history of promoting government activities in Nigeria have been circulating photos with claims that they show “the first set of made-in-Nigeria helicopters” built under a government partnership with Belgium’s Dynali Helicopter Company. This claim is false; while an agreement has indeed produced two choppers, they were manufactured in Belgium, not Nigeria. Plans to transfer the technology to Nigeria have been delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Dynali. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Kenyan woman in court for stealing cooking oil No basis to story (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Photo shows Taliban with leashed woman Facebook posts about the impact of Taliban rule in Afghanistan feature an image of a man holding a leash connected to a woman's hands. But while the Taliban has carried out abuses against women, the photo is from a protest in London against the Islamic State group. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: UN trucks stationed in front of a pharmaceutical company in Toronto Social media posts claim United Nations armored vehicles were stationed at a pharmaceutical company in Toronto and that they will be used against Canadians. This is false; the building in the video houses an armored truck manufacturing facility that the company says makes vehicles for operations abroad. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Termites produce 10 times more carbon dioxide than humans in a single year A meme shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter claims that termites produce 10 times more carbon dioxide than humans in a single year. The claim is false; scientists estimate termites’ carbon emissions are approximately one-tenth of those created by humans. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Chinese official criticising domestic vaccines in December 2020 A news clip has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Twitter in December 2020 alongside a claim it shows the former Director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) criticising the quality of China-made vaccines. The video circulated online shortly after China agreed to export its homegrown Covid-19 vaccines to countries including Malaysia and the Philippines. The video has been shared in a misleading context: the clip, which does not mention coronavirus vaccines, has circulated in media reports since March 2010. Former China CDC director Wang Yu left his position in August 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Kidnapping syndicates target people in Philippines for their organs A photo of mutilated bodies has been shared tens of thousands of times in Facebook posts alongside a claim that “kidnapping syndicates” in the Philippines are targeting people for their organs. The posts are misleading; the photo actually shows bodies of prisoners killed in a prison riot in Brazil in 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show interior of trains set to operate in Laos in December 2021 Four photos of modern train carriages have been shared thousands of times in Thai-language Facebook posts that claim they show a new high-speed railway line linking Laos and China. The posts go on to criticise Thailand for allegedly building trains made of "Japanese scrap metal". The images have been shared in a false context: the photos actually show trains on domestic railway lines in China and Turkey. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video of rickshaw with police officers overturning taken in Uttar Pradesh A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts that claim it shows police officers travelling in a rickshaw that overturned in Uttar Pradesh -- India's most populous state -- after severe floods. The video, however, has been shared in a misleading context: the footage was captured in the state of Rajasthan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Newspaper article on Sri Lankan opposition party leader's economy pledge An image appearing to show a Sinhala-language newspaper article about a Sri Lankan opposition leader pledging to fix the island nation's dwindling economy "within 100 days" of coming to power has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook. The image, however, has been doctored. The newspaper told AFP it did not publish the purported article, and an analysis of the politician's remarks from the day before the supposed publication date found he did not make the alleged pledge. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows another assault in Hebei after Tangshan incident Violent footage of a man beating up two women has been watched thousands of times in Chinese-language social media posts that claim the assault happened shortly after a vicious attack in China's Hebei province that sparked outrage in the country. However, the clip has been shared in a misleading context; it has circulated online in news reports that state it was filmed in Hebei in August 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows crowd chanting for Delhi police to beat protesting Indian farmers A video of a crowd chanting has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook in 2021 alongside a claim it shows people urging Delhi police to beat Indian farmers protesting against new agricultural laws. The claim is false: the footage has circulated online since at least December 2019, when India passed a new citizenship law, prompting large protests. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of car in which Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif was killed Multiple social media posts have repeatedly shared a photo of a blood-spattered car, falsely claiming it is the vehicle in which prominent Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif was shot dead by police in Kenya on October 23, 2022. In fact, the same photo has circulated online since 2020 in reports about the assassination of a Muslim cleric in Karachi. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Recent video shows people mourning victims in 2021 Zhengzhou flood A video showing a floral tribute has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on social media alongside a claim it was filmed in July 2022 to honour the victims of last year's catastrophic flooding in China's Henan province. Whilst there were recent reports of floral tributes in Henan to commemorate one year since the floods, the video has been shared in a misleading context. The clip previously circulated online in posts from July 2021 about a tribute to those who died after torrential rains flooded a subway in Henan's capital Zhengzhou. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bill Gates abruptly ended an interview after being grilled about Covid vaccines American philanthropist and Microsoft founder Bill Gates did not abruptly end an interview after being asked about his advocacy of Covid-19 vaccines, contrary to a video viewed tens of thousands of times on social media. Several details indicate the footage has been manipulated using artificial intelligence. The dialogue does not feature in the original interview with Gates conducted by an Australian broadcaster. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered: USA Today report says Neuralink testing has killed more than 3,000 monkeys Social media users are sharing a photo of a supposed USA Today article reporting that Neuralink, a biotechnology firm owned by Elon Musk, conducted animal testing that resulted in the death of more than 3,000 monkeys. But the newspaper did not publish such a story, and its parent company confirmed the screenshot is fake. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Newspaper article states Sri Lanka Army officer exposed vaccine corruption Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim a Sri Lankan army officer wrote to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa alleging corruption at a Covid-19 vaccination drive at a military hospital. The posts purport to show an article reporting the news. However, the claim is false; the article is a fabrication, while the army said the story was "baseless". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows Russian mandatory vaccination campaign? A video has been viewed millions of times in social media posts that claim it shows a mandatory vaccination campaign in Russia. The claim is misleading; the footage was taken from a satirical video that makes fun of Russian bureaucracy. Covid-19 vaccination is only compulsory for certain key workers in Russia, as of October 28. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: House on top of landslide rubble listed for sale An image shared thousands of times on Facebook purports to show a house that is up for sale, perched on top of landslide rubble. The image, however, has been doctored. The original image has appeared in news reports about a 2010 landslide in Taiwan and does not show a house. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hong Kong protester disguises himself as a journalist after spotting police A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube which claim it shows a “rioter” in Hong Kong who disguised himself as a journalist in a bid to avoid police at a pro-democracy demonstration. The claim is false; Hong Kong broadcaster Now News issued a statement saying the man is one of their staffers; the local media channel which captured the original footage also issued the same clarification about the clip. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows people practicing Indian culture in New Zealand A photo has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim it shows people practicing Indian culture in New Zealand. The claim is false; the photo actually shows attendees are waiting for their meals at a yoga retreat in the southern Indian state of Kerala. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows protesting Indian farmers disrespecting India’s national flag A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts alongside a claim it shows an Indian farmer trampling on the Indian flag during a protest in Delhi in January 2021. The claim is misleading: the video actually shows Sikh protesters in the US state of California calling for an independent Sikh nation. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The video shows a gas explosion in China in 2021 A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube alongside a claim it shows a gas explosion in China’s northwestern Hubei province in June 2021. The claim is false: the video actually shows an explosion at a port in Lebanon's capital Beirut in August 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Human body turned magnetic after taking Corona vaccine A Bangladeshi broadcaster has aired a report about Indians who allegedly became “magnetic” after receiving a coronavirus vaccine. The report was quickly picked up by various news outlets and social media users who shared the video of men sticking coins and metal pliers to themselves. The claim is misleading: the broadcaster told AFP it has removed its original video as it contained inaccurate reporting. Experts have rubbished the claim that Covid-19 vaccines can make the human body magnetic. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: People in Holland worship Hindu deity Ganesh A video showing an idol of the Hindu god Ganesha made of oranges is circulating in Facebook and Twitter posts claiming it shows people in Holland celebrating the festival of Ganesha Chaturthi. The posts are misleading; the idol was made for the Bollywood-themed Lemon Festival in France in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Mass graves dug in Pakistan after Indian airstrike Multiple social media posts share a photo they claim shows a mass grave being dug in Pakistan after Indian airstrikes in Balakot. The claim is false; the photo actually shows a grave being dug in February 2013 in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta for the victims of a market bomb targeting Shiite Muslims. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows California wildfires from above As wildfires rage across California, an aerial photo claiming to show clouds glowing red from fires below was shared thousands of times on social media. This is false; the photo depicts a sunset over Hawaii, its photographer told AFP, and it was previously misused to portray blazes in the Golden State two years earlier. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Muslim woman in Iran buried in the ground about to be stoned to death A post on Facebook with a picture of a woman buried in the ground up to the neck claims to show a Muslim woman about to be stoned to death in Iran. The picture was in fact taken in Colombia during a protest in 2003, where demonstrators voluntarily buried themselves in the ground. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows Sri Lankan information minister after being beaten by mob A video has been viewed thousands of times in Bengali-language posts that claim it shows Sri Lanka's information minister after he was attacked during unrest on the island nation over a deepening economic crisis. This is misleading; the man in the video is actually a former councillor in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo, not a government minister. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Maharashtra police detained two terrorists A video has been shared repeatedly in multiple social media posts that claim it shows two terrorists being arrested in the Indian state of Maharashtra after they attempted to plant a bomb. The claim is false: the video shows a mock drill by the state police in October 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Protesters burn down the French embassy in Sudan A video of people storming a building has been shared thousands of times on Facebook, alongside claims that it shows protesters setting the French embassy in Sudan on fire in response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s remarks on Islam. However, the claim is false; this is an old video that shows protesters storming the German embassy in Sudan in 2012. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ronaldo refuses to shake hands with Israeli A video of football star Cristiano Ronaldo has been viewed millions of times in multiple posts that claim it shows him refusing to shake hands with an Israeli man in a bid to show solidarity with Palestinians. The claim is false: the clip shows Ronaldo removing his silver medal after his team Juventus lost the final of the Italian Super Cup in December 2019. The man in the video was the then Italian ambassador to Saudi Arabia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Uighur children praying in Xinjiang A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook that claim it shows Uighur children praying in Xinjiang. The claim is false; the video was originally captured by a Kyrgyzstan-based television channel of a religious event in Kyrgyzstan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigerian Air Force dropping weapons to Fulani herders in Enugu Posts shared thousands of times on Facebook claim to show the Nigerian Air Force dropping weapons to Fulani herders in Enugu, southeastern Nigeria. This is false; the picture being shared was taken in April 2018 on the outskirts of Abuja during a military demonstration. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Protestors pull down game reserve fence in South Africa Two videos have been shared on social media in South Africa with claims that people protesting the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma had torn down fences surrounding a game park in KwaZulu-Natal, allowing wild animals to escape. The claims are false: both videos predate the violence and destruction that have swept parts of South Africa in recent days. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: The Covid-19 pandemic is a hoax and was deliberately planned As social media platforms fight to curb a wave of online conspiracy theories, a video by far-right broadcaster Alex Jones claiming the coronavirus outbreak is a “hoax” has been viewed more than one million times in recent months. AFP Fact Check debunks the viral video. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Philippine President Duterte signs measure that opens nuclear power plant in August 2020 Multiple Facebook posts shared hundreds of times in August 2020 claim that President Rodrigo Duterte has signed order to open a nuclear power plant. The claim is misleading; in July 2020, Duterte signed an executive order to conduct a study on the country’s nuclear power policy; as of August 31, 2020, legislative records show the president has not enacted a law to open a nuclear power plant. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Video shows world's first artificial womb facility A video of what appears to be an "artificial womb facility" that allows parents to choose their babies' characteristics has misled social media users in various countries, who seemed to believe it showed genuine technology. The video has garnered more than one million views. However, the original video's creator told AFP that his footage is an animation and does not show a real or planned facility. Scientists said the animation is "pure science fiction". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: South Korean men living in Daeseong-dong for 20 months are exempt from military service Korean social media posts have repeatedly shared a false claim that South Korean men are exempted from mandatory military service if they reside in Daeseong-dong -- a village located within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea -- for a period of one year and eight months. A spokesperson for the country's conscription agency told AFP this exemption only applies to residents who lived in the village prior to the Korean War and their direct descendants, and only if they live there for at least eight months of the year. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False Attribution: Comments on coronavirus from Dr. Anthony Fauci Social media posts shared thousands of times attribute comments describing the dangers of the coronavirus and criticizing those who do not take it seriously to Dr. Anthony Fauci. This is false; the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases -- which Fauci heads -- said he has “never used” some of the language the comments contain, and a Facebook user said she authored the original version. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indonesian song "Kebyar Kebyar" played at 2020 Tokyo Olympics A video has been viewed hundreds of times on Facebook alongside a claim it shows a Spanish singer performing an Indonesian patriotic song at the closing ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The claim is false: the video actually shows an English band performing the song at a concert in Indonesia in 2015. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Zimbabwe police dealing with the church that refused to take instructions of closing for Corona virus A video shared thousands of times on Facebook claims to show police in Zimbabwe beating churchgoers because their place of worship refused to close to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The claims are false; the video was filmed before the virus outbreak. It shows opposition supporters being dispersed after gathering to hear their leader. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Oxford University pulling sheet music from its curriculum Articles and social media posts claim that a prestigious British university may pull sheet music from the curriculum due to its ties to white supremacy. But while Oxford plans to broaden its music curriculum, spokespeople for the university said there is no truth to the sheet music claim. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Edipeel coating is unsafe for human consumption Social media users claim a food coating manufactured by the US company Apeel Sciences is harmful. This is false; several posts cite a document unrelated to the product, which extends the longevity of fruits and vegetables -- and health authorities and experts say there is no evidence it is unsafe. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A Facebook post about Covid-19 vaccines was written by Lisa Marie Presley Following Lisa Marie Presley's death on January 12, 2023, anti-vaccine activists and other social media users claimed the American singer authored a lengthy Facebook post in 2022 about getting the Covid-19 vaccine. This is false; the screenshotted post shared online came not from the daughter of the legendary rock star Elvis Presley, but from an unrelated fashion stylist from Venezuela also named "Lisa Marie." (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: One in six South Korean men in their 20s and 30s married foreigners in 2021 Social media users have repeatedly shared misleading marriage statistics for South Korea, including that one in six South Korean men in their 20s and 30s (about 17 percent) who got married in 2021 tied the knot with a foreign woman. South Korea's statistical agency told AFP that the real percentage was about 3.2. AFP also found other inaccuracies in the posts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Mayor of a suburb of Perth, Australia, rebuked Muslim parents’ demand for a pork ban in schools. Claims that the mayor of a suburb in Australia’s city of Perth rebuked a purported request by Muslim parents to ban pork in local school canteens have been shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook and other websites. The same hoax with almost identical wording has circulated online in other locations worldwide since at least 2014; the mayor of Joondalup called the claims a "work of fiction". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Shivalingam found inside Gyanvapi Mosque in India's Uttar Pradesh Multiple social media users have shared a photo alongside the claim it shows a Hindu relic found inside a mosque in India's Uttar Pradesh state. Although there were local reports that a Hindu relic was discovered at the mosque in mid-May, the photo was shared in a false context. It actually shows a religious symbol at a temple in the Indian state of Odisha. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows scenes of recent flooding in Turkey A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in Facebook posts that claim it shows animals being swept away by torrential rain in Turkey in July 2021. However, the video was shared in a misleading context; the footage actually shows flooding in the Turkish town of Ercis in June 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Footage of bandits struck by thunder in Nigeria Footage of several charred bodies lying on the ground has been circulating on WhatsApp with claims it shows bandits struck by “lightning and thunder” while on the way to attack Christians in Nigeria’s majority-Muslim Zamfara state. However, the claim is false: the video was filmed in Tanzania in 2019 and shows victims of a tanker explosion in the country’s eastern city of Morogoro. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Recently Fully Vaccinated Priest Dies on Live Stream A video of a priest collapsing during a service has spread online alongside the claim that he died following vaccination against Covid-19. But Father Ángel Cuevas did not die, and an AFP journalist met with him in Mexico's Acapulco more than two months after he fainted in an episode he said was unrelated to vaccination. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: An Illinois law automatically provides for the release of accused criminals Online posts and fake newspapers circulating in Illinois claim a law provides for the automatic release of accused criminals across the US state. This is misleading; while legislation passed in 2021 does eliminate cash bail, legal experts say judges can still jail those who may pose a threat to the community. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Chinese officer announced death penalty for not wearing a mask A video viewed hundreds of thousands of times on social media appears to show a Chinese official warning that residents could face the death penalty if they do not wear a mask in public. But the video was edited in a misleading way to combine unrelated remarks from Beijing's justice department. People in China do not face the death penalty if they fail to wear a mask outside. However, they do risk capital punishment if they knowingly conceal their contact history in Covid-19 outbreak areas. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Video of US people chanting anti-Biden slogan in 2021 A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows Americans at a football game insulting US President Joe Biden. However, the video has been doctored to add the sound of chants from a concert, while the footage is from the Copa América Centenario final between Argentina and Chile in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Ferdinand Marcos Jr tops electoral poll Social media posts have shared a video claiming Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr, the son of a former Philippine dictator, is leading public opinion polls and support for him is getting 'stronger' ahead of the country's 2022 elections. These posts are misleading: the video does not mention any specific poll which Marcos Jr purportedly topped; the most recent surveys by a leading Philippine polling body show him placing either third or second, with nationwide support not getting stronger over time. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: New York Times claims 250 million people attended AAP's Gujarat rally Facebook and Twitter posts shared hundreds of times in India have criticised the New York Times for purportedly publishing a report that says a record 250 million people attended a rally for the political opposition Aam Aadmi Party in the western state of Gujarat in April. However, the screenshot featured in the posts shows a fabricated New York Times report. A representative for Aam Aadmi Party told AFP its Gujarat rally was attended by "around 35,000 to 40,000 people" -- not 250 million as the posts claim. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Visuals show victims of India's recent Covid-19 surge A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple Facebook, Twitter and Weibo posts that claim it shows victims of India’s second Covid-19 wave in 2021. The claim is false: the video actually shows victims of a gas leak in an industrial port city in south India in 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Map shows there are no wildfires in Canada and Mexico Social media users claim a map showing a wave of wildfires in the US but none in neighboring countries proves climate change is not to blame, with some instead pointing to politically-motivated arson. This is false; fires have occurred in Canada and Mexico this year, and US law enforcement agencies say recent arson arrests are unrelated to political extremism. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: White people own only 22 percent of South Africa’s land A meme widely shared on Facebook claims that white people “privately own” 22 percent of the land in South Africa. Tapping into racial tensions that have endured long after the end of apartheid, it asks why so much focus is placed on white ownership if nearly 80 percent of South African land is owned by others. The meme uses figures taken from a 2017 government report, but it uses them to make a calculation that doesn’t reflect the full range of data. The data we do have indicates a much higher level of white ownership. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indonesian prosecutor of Muslim cleric trial arrested for bribery A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Facebook, YouTube and TikTok alongside a claim that it shows an Indonesian prosecutor arrested for taking a bribe in connection to the ongoing court case of a prominent Muslim cleric in Jakarta. The claim is false: the video actually shows a prosecutor arrested in a bribery case connected with land sales in Indonesia’s East Java province in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: X-ray images of crypto device hidden by Do Kwon Multiple posts on forums and social media have shared X-ray images they falsely claim show a physical cryptocurrency wallet hidden inside fugitive South Korean entrepreneur Do Kwon. The posts claimed the wallet was found inside Kwon after he was arrested in Montenegro in March 2023. The images, however, were used in an article published in a medical journal a decade before Kwon's detention and resurfaced in satirical tweets mocking his arrest. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Trump, Biden both said "People are dying that have never died before" Facebook posts shared tens of thousands of times claim that US President Donald Trump or presidential candidate Joe Biden referred to the novel coronavirus virus pandemic as a time when “people are dying that have never died before.” This is false; there is no record of either man saying this, and letters from Ernest Hemingway show the phrase can be traced to the famed US author. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Former Israel defence minister shows Islamabad hospital photo as Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza In a video viewed tens of thousands of times on Facebook, former Israeli defence minister Naftali Bennett purports to show a photo of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, which he accuses of ties to Palestinian militant group Hamas. However, the photo is actually a Google Maps screengrab of Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows futuristic bracelet for sale A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook which appears to advertise a smart bracelet for sale in Singapore and Malaysia. The purported device projects an interactive screen onto the user’s arm, turning it into "a mobile phone", according to one Facebook post. The claim is false; the footage has been taken from a 2014 video showing a computer-generated image of a bracelet that never made it to market. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: COVID-19 swab tests compromise blood-brain barrier An illustration has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook and Instagram posts which claim it shows that nasal swab tests for COVID-19 can harm the blood brain-barrier, a semipermeable membrane separating blood from other fluids in the brain. The claim is misleading; experts say COVID-19 swab tests are not placed near the blood-brain barrier and do not pose a risk to human health. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Huge crowd at Malaysia's IOI City Mall due to air conditioner promotion Pictures of a long queue and a man appearing to receive medical attention have been shared hundreds of times in Facebook posts that claim they show people at the IOI City Mall in Malaysia's Selangor state lining up to take advantage of a sale on air conditioners. The posts claim people can skip the long lines by visiting a website instead where they can provide personal information. The claims are false. IOI City Mall told AFP that no such event had taken place on its premises. The queue photo was shot at a mall in Vietnam in 2015, and the photo of the man was taken at a football ticket sale event in Indonesia in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Explainer: Photo proof of fake moon landing. A photo shared tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and Reddit shows three men in spacesuits without their helmets on. The posts present the image as evidence the moon landings did not take place. But the photo is being used out of context; it was taken at a US space centre in 1972 during an astronaut training session and was labelled as such by NASA; it was not published as a photograph taken “on the moon”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows a motorbike rally for boy suffering from cancer in Germany. A picture of what appears to be a large group of motorcycles driving down a motorway has been shared online with a false claim it shows nearly 20,000 bikers in Germany riding in support of a young boy diagnosed with cancer. While thousands of motorcyclists reportedly rode in support of a terminally ill child in Germany in July 2021, the picture in fact shows a biker rally in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo led by then-president Jair Bolsonaro in June 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Drinking saline solution can protect you from coronavirus that broke out in Wuhan Multiple posts on Weibo, Twitter and Facebook shared in January 2020 claim that a top Chinese respiratory expert has told people to rinse their mouths with salt water solution to prevent infection from a new virus outbreak. The posts were published after a new coronavirus strain was discovered in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, infecting hundreds of people. The claim is false; the expert's team said saline would not "kill" the new virus and urged people not to believe or share medically-inaccurate online rumours; the World Health Organization told AFP there was no evidence that saline solution would protect against infection from the new coronavirus. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Blood donation results in free novel coronavirus test Social media users are claiming that people can get a novel coronavirus test by donating blood. This is false; the two organizations responsible for collecting the vast majority of the blood supply in the United States said they are not testing for COVID-19. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows security at the US Capitol during a BLM protest Social media posts claim a photo shows security at the US Capitol during a Black Lives Matter protest, with some contrasting it with the failure of police to stop supporters of US President Donald Trump from storming the building where Congress meets. But the image shows members of the National Guard at the Lincoln Memorial, not the US Capitol, seven months before. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Crying child on the road is not a trap used to rape and kill A notice has resurfaced in South Africa, with more than 1,700 shares on Facebook, purporting to be an urgent notice from the South African Police Service advising people on how to help a crying child on the road. The police service say this is fake and there have been no reports of people being lured into gang rapes or murders this way. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photos show bubonic plague outbreak in China in July 2020 Six photos have been shared more than a hundred times in multiple Facebook posts about the detection of bubonic plague in China in July 2020. The photos have been shared in a misleading context; all six have circulated in online reports that are unrelated to recent plague cases in China. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Philippine govt discusses nine trillion pesos worth of cash aid A doctored image of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos sitting in front of bundles of cash has been repeatedly featured in misleading posts that claim it shows his government discussing a cash aid programme amounting to nine trillion pesos ($164 billion) -- more than the government's entire annual budget. The posts circulated after the government announced a fresh round of cash assistance for poorer households, which the archipelago's finance chief said actually amounts to only nine billion pesos. Nine trillion pesos represents the estimated cost of Marcos' flagship infrastructure projects. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Original Book of Esther discovered in Iran Videos shared on social media claim to show a recently discovered original scroll of the Book of Esther, a biblical text which recounts the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the 5th century BC. But experts say the video shows a document with random Hebrew letters and no indication of a genuine antiquity. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The UN demanded Ecuador legalize abortion to get COVID-19 aid An article claimed that a nearly $50 million United Nations humanitarian aid package to Ecuador was conditional on the South American country legalizing abortions. This is false; the UN said there was no such condition, and abortion is already allowed under limited circumstances. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows strange object in Turkey sky just before an earthquake hit the country Footage of a SpaceX rocket launch in 2018 is circulating in social media posts falsely claiming it shows a strange object spotted in the sky shortly before a devastating earthquake hit Turkey and Syria in February 2023. Some posts linked the video to baseless conspiracy theories linking the disaster to a US research programme called HAARP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Facebook is shut down its Messenger service in December 2020 Multiple posts shared thousands of times on Facebook claim that the social media giant's CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced it will shut down its Messenger service. The claim is false: as of December 16, 2020, there is no record of Zuckerberg making any such public announcement; Facebook has said the Messenger app will not shut down. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Genuine photo of a Philippine actress attacking opposition candidates Multiple Facebook posts have shared a photo of a Philippine actress holding a sign which urges voters not to support opposition candidates in the Philippines’ upcoming midterm polls on May 13. But the image has been doctored from a photo in which the actress was pictured holding a sign supporting the opposition. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh disrespected by Sonia Gandhi during a photo op A video has been shared thousands of times in Facebook and Twitter posts claiming it shows former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh while he was still in office being “sidelined'' during a photo op. The claim is misleading; the incident happened in 2017, three years after Singh left office, when he and India’s opposition party leader Sonia Gandhi met then-Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: South Korean flu vaccines are made in China Multiple posts shared repeatedly on Facebook and Twitter in October 2020 claim that more than 40 South Koreans have died after receiving a flu vaccine that was imported from China. The posts suggest that all flu vaccines recently administered in South Korea have been imported from China. The claim is misleading: South Korea did launch an investigation in October 2020 into the deaths of 72 people who died shortly after receiving flu shots as part of the country’s nationwide vaccine programme, but health authorities told AFP none of the flu vaccines available locally were made in China; as of October 29, South Korea’s Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said that of the 72 deaths recorded, 71 were not believed to be linked to flu shots and a further probe had been ordered into the remaining one death. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show dire conditions in Nigeria’s Borno state Kashim Shettima, the vice-presidential candidate of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), recently claimed at a business gathering that he and main nominee Bola Tinubu had better economic track records than their rivals. Opposition supporters responded by sharing photos purportedly showing Borno, where Shettima was governor for eight years, in a disastrous state. But the images of makeshift huts in arid bush were shared in a false context: they were taken in drought-stricken Somalia and not in Nigeria. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows foreign staff of the IT department at DBS Bank in Singapore A photo has been shared on multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim that it shows foreign staff in the IT department of a bank in Singapore. The claim is false; the photo was actually taken at the bank’s India branch. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 vaccines linked to 57-fold increase in miscarriage Research has shown Covid-19 shots are safe for pregnant people and help prevent severe illness and death, but anti-vaccine advocates and Fox News host Tucker Carlson say a new study shows a high risk of miscarriages and other adverse effects. This is false; experts told AFP the claims misrepresent the data, which come from a pre-print that has not been peer-reviewed -- and the coronavirus itself presents a greater risk for pregnancy complications. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigerian vice president buys popcorn after rival’s taunt Footage of Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in a popcorn store has been circulating on social media with claims that he bought a box of the snack in response to the former governor of Borno state likening him to a popcorn seller. This is false: the footage was published by Osinbajo back in 2018 when he visited a cinema in the capital Abuja. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The real photo of Tipu Sultan, an 18th-century Muslim Indian ruler Multiple Facebook posts have shared a photo collage showing a coloured painting and a black-and-white picture, alongside a claim the latter is the real photo of Tipu Sultan, an 18th-century Muslim Indian ruler. The claim, however, is false. The black-and-white picture shows an African slave trader who lived in the 19th century. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: These ten tips help prevent coronavirus Social media posts shared thousands of times advocate 10 methods to prevent a novel coronavirus infection, citing recommendations allegedly stemming from autopsies on COVID-19 victims, including in China, where the virus first emerged. The advice is misleading; experts say the list includes half-truths and outright falsehoods. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Commenting with the word ‘gratula’ on Facebook verifies that your account is safe Multiple Facebook posts shared thousands of times claim that typing the word “gratula” into a comments section on Facebook will help to verify whether your account’s security is “safe”. The claim is false; Facebook said its platform does not use such a method to indicate whether a user’s account is “safe”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of cash seized at Indian politicians' homes A video that appears to show piles of bank notes has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube ahead of Indian elections alongside claims it shows cash recovered from the homes of Indian opposition politicians. The exact same footage has been used repeatedly before in other misleading posts which claim it shows money stolen by politicians in countries from Cameroon to Pakistan. All of the claims are false -- the footage actually shows an art installation that was displayed in Madrid in February 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi took money from Social Security to fund impeachment Facebook posts shared more than 300,000 times link to articles stating that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi withdrew more than $2 billion from US Social Security funds to pay for the effort to impeach President Donald Trump, drawing outraged responses. This is false; the Social Security Administration said it did not happen, and the articles are labeled “satire” and “junk news.” (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows Demodara railway loop in Sri Lanka A scenic image featuring a loop-shaped railway has been shared in multiple Facebook posts which claim it shows a tourist attraction called the Demodara railway loop in Sri Lanka. The claim is false; the image actually shows the Brusio spiral viaduct in Switzerland. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hong Kong police officers express opposition to Chief Executive Carrie Lam A photo shared thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts published in October 2019 purports to show a Hong Kong police hat and several warrant cards alongside a message against Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam. The posts claim the photo shows the city's police force has distanced itself from Lam. The claim is false; the image has been doctored from a photo which has circulated in media reports since at least July 2019; the original photo showed a message purportedly written by police officers expressing opposition to Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo of protesters fleeing Hong Kong An image has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts which claim it shows Chinese police officers arresting a group of Hongkongers on a boat after they attempted to flee to Taiwan. The photo has been shared in a misleading context; it has circulated in reports about Chinese police seizing motorboats which were allegedly being operated without licenses. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Former South Korean prime minister held up threatening message towards an ex-president Korean-language social media posts have repeatedly shared an image that appears to show former South Korean prime minister Hwang Kyo-ahn holding a sign that says former president Moon Jae-in could face jail time and execution. The image, however, has been doctored to add the message. The original image shows Hwang holding a sign that says Moon's party won the 2020 general election because of voter fraud -- a claim that South Korea's Supreme Court subsequently said was baseless. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: President Mutharika commissions a water tap A meme shared on social media appears to show Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika inaugurating a single water tap. But the images have been taken out of context: they actually show the recent launch of a bigger project aimed at bringing clean water and sanitation to a region in northern Malawi. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: banner criticising 1986 Philippine EDSA revolution tae Marcos Philippines Posts shared hundreds of times on Facebook claim to show a banner criticising the 1986 EDSA revolution that toppled Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos. The claim is false; the photo has been manipulated to change a positive message in the banner about the revolution. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Genuine Covid-19 'vaccination exemption' cards in the Philippines An image is circulating in social media posts in the Philippines that claim it shows a vaccination exemption card. The card -- which features a QR code -- spread online as the government announced temporary restrictions for the unvaccinated in January 2022 as the country battled a record surge in Covid infections. However, the card is a fake, according to multiple government officials. The QR code on the card leads to a document that touts Covid misinformation previously debunked by AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: BBC reports on release of 'Unabomber' Ted Kaczynski An image circulating on Facebook and Instagram purports to show a BBC News tweet reporting that US President Joe Biden has granted a pardon to Ted Kaczynski, the US hermit-mathematician known as the Unabomber who was sentenced to life behind bars for sending fatal letter bombs. The claim is false: the image was taken from a BBC parody account and has been digitally altered. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Model in Guinness World Records for darkest skin An image of a dark-skinned woman has been circulating on social networks with claims that she is a model named Nyakim Gatwech who is in the Guinness World Records for having the darkest complexion. The same claim went viral in francophone African countries in November 2021. But the claim is false: a spokesman for the Guinness World Records denied the existence of such a record. Furthermore, the photograph does not show Nyakim Gatwech but another model. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Organ-trafficking gangs use street children to deceive and kill people in Malaysia Social media posts claiming to spread an "urgent notice" from the Malaysian Home Ministry and the police about organ-trafficking gangs that use street children to lure victims have circulated widely in the country. The claim has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook. However, the claim is false. The Malaysian police, a division under the Ministry of Home Affairs, say the viral message is fake. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows looting in Chicago in April 2023 A video circulating on social media purports to show people looting a Target store in 2023 in either Philadelphia or Chicago. This is false; the footage was taken in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May 2020 after the murder of George Floyd. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Thai doctor urges public to self-isolate from Lambda strain outbreak A message circulating on Facebook, Twitter and Line claims a doctor at Thailand's largest hospital warned people in the kingdom to stay indoors after medics recorded an outbreak of a Covid-19 variant known as Lambda. The claim is false: as of August 26, 2021, the Thai Department of Disease Control said no outbreak of the Lambda variant had been recorded in the kingdom. The hospital that employs the doctors cited in the posts said he had not issued the purported warning. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: "Baalenciaga" spelling in ad campaign is evidence of demon worship As Balenciaga is criticized for ad campaigns that some say condoned child exploitation, social media users claim the Latin translation of a modified spelling of the luxury fashion house is evidence of demon worship. But the reading is inaccurate, according to dictionaries and an expert. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This is a photo of a traffic jam on a garbage-filled street in northwestern Pakistan. A photo of a traffic jam on a garbage-filled street has been shared thousands of times on Facebook with the claim that it shows a scene from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, a northwestern Pakistani province bordering Afghanistan. The claim is false; the photo was in fact taken in Lucknow, the capital of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Korean newscaster bursts out laughing while reporting China motorcycle ban A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Twitter, Facebook and Weibo that claim it shows a Korean news presenter laughing about a motorcycle ban in China. The video, however, appears to have originated as satire: it has been doctored from a Korean television commercial that has circulated online since at least 2014. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: 700 000 learners wrote their matric and only 120 000 passed Social media posts claim that only 120,000 matric pupils in South Africa out of 700,000 who wrote their final exams ending up passing the 2020 academic year. This claim is false; while more than one million candidates sat for the final exams in 2020, results have not been released yet owing to Covid-related delays. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Image of Bhavani dam in Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh Politicians from India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party have shared a photo of a dam in posts celebrating the inauguration of a major dam project in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The posts -- which were subsequently shared hundreds of times -- are misleading; the photo shows a different dam built in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Ukraine President’s wife in military uniform Following Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, a photo of a woman dressed in military fatigues was shared hundreds of times in social media posts that claimed she is "the wife of the elected president of Ukraine". This is false: the photo shows a Ukrainian soldier during a military parade rehearsal in August 2021. As of March 11, 2022, there have been no official reports that the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, has been directly involved in armed combat. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Blowing vape smoke through face masks shows that they do not help prevent the spread of coronavirus A YouTube video and social media posts claim a man blowing vape smoke through various face masks shows that they do not help prevent the spread of coronavirus. This is false; experts agree that while the virus itself is small enough to fit through mask fibers -- as is vape smoke -- masks do help stop the much-larger respiratory droplets that carry potentially infectious particles, and multiple studies have indicated that masks reduce transmission of the virus causing Covid-19. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video of French police raiding mosque in Paris in October 2020 A video has been viewed more than 10,000 times on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim that it shows Muslims resisting French police’s efforts to close down the mosque under the French president’s order in 2020. The claim is misleading; this video actually shows French police removing Muslims from a mosque in Paris in 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Tucker Carlson's home was vandalized after a New York Times journalist published his address Social media users claim that Fox News star Tucker Carlson’s home was targeted by anti-fascist movement Antifa after The New York Times published his address. This is false; the article had not been published at the time the claims were made, making it impossible for Carlson’s home to have been targeted as a result. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Map shows Trump won US election A map claiming to show “actual results” of the 2020 US election with Donald Trump as the winner has been shared thousands of times on social media. This is false; Democrat Joe Biden has secured more than the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show Move Forward Party candidate in lingerie False posts in Thailand have passed off photos of a freelance model wearing lingerie as images of a young politician from the Move Forward Party. Rukchanok Srinork -- whose party would claim victory in national elections in May 2023 -- said she had filed a complaint with the police. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This photo shows current Indian finance minister with former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalitha. Multiple Facebook posts have shared a monochrome photograph of two women alongside a claim that it shows late regional politician Jayaram Jayalalitha sitting with India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party politician and current Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The claim is false: the photo actually shows the former Tamil Nadu chief minister with Tamil writer and activist Sivasankari. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Kenya's Ruto among TIME's '50 most influential' Just a day after US-based TIME magazine published its list of the 100 most influential people of the year, a purported cover was shared online featuring Kenya’s President William Ruto as one of those selected. But this is false: Ruto was not on TIME’s 2023 list, nor did his portrait appear on the magazine’s cover. The image of the fake cover was digitally altered. TIME has also dismissed the claim as fake. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photos showing Amazon forest fires in 2019 This week saw an outpouring of social media posts decrying forest fires in the Amazon rainforest, many of them under the hashtag #PrayforAmazonas. But some of the most viral posts are misleading, including either photographs of the Amazon that are years old or images taken in other parts of the world. Using a reverse image search, a simple tool to check when a photo first appeared online, we’ve been able to trace the origins of some of the pictures being shared out-of-context. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of big waves hitting a bridge in Malaysia A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and YouTube alongside a claim it shows giant waves hitting a bridge in Malaysia. The claim is false; the video shows waves hitting a jetty in southern India. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Applying a bleach solution to feet can cure athlete's foot An image of a liquid bleach bottle has been shared repeatedly in Korean-language posts alongside a claim that applying a bleach solution to the feet can cure athlete's foot. However, the claim is false. Health experts said there is no evidence that bleach can treat fungal infection. They also warned that the liquid could harm the skin and increase the risk of secondary skin infections. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Cristiano Ronaldo reciting holy Koran A video has surfaced in Facebook posts that falsely claim it shows football star Cristiano Ronaldo reading the Koran, the holy book of Islam. It is the latest misinformation linking the Portuguese forward -- who has spoken publicly about his Catholic faith -- to Islam. The man in the footage is actually a TikTok star called Bewar Abdullah, who has attracted media attention and hundreds of thousands of followers because of his resemblance to the player. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Images show a Russian aircraft shot down by Ukrainian forces Four images have been shared hundreds of times on Facebook alongside a claim they show a Russian aircraft shot down by Ukrainian forces near the capital Kyiv. But these images were shared in a false context. Although Ukraine's armed forces announced it downed an enemy jet in the Vasilkiv area south of Kyiv, the images shared in the posts have circulated online years before Russia's invasion, including in reports about a 2015 airstrike in Yemen. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Funeral for victims of recent Beirut blasts? A picture of coffins wrapped in Lebanese flags is being shared in Facebook posts claiming to show the funeral of victims from the recent explosion in Beirut, Lebanon. The claim is false; the image was taken by AFP in 2006 during the funeral procession of civilians who were killed in Israeli airstrikes on the Lebanese village of Qana. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Flag made of Iranian women's chopped hair during September 2022 protests Images that appear to show a flag made of human hair has been shared thousands of times in social media posts that claim it was made of the hair of Iranian women protesting the Islamic republic's ruling regime in September 2022. However, the claim is false. The images were stills of a video installation made by Belgian artist Edith Dekyndt in 2014 -- years before the protests in Iran. The artist previously said in an interview that her artwork was made on the French Caribbean island of Martinique to represent its colonial past. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Zimbabweans smuggling meds from South Africa to Zimbabwe Photos circulating on social media are being shared alongside claims that Zimbabweans were caught smuggling medication from South Africa back home. The pictures are genuine, taken by the South African army during recent busts. However, it was the other way round: the images show Zimbabweans caught trying to smuggle contraceptives and other goods into South Africa. The misleading claim piggybacks on rising jingoism targeting foreigners, especially Zimbabweans, in South Africa. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Rani Mukerji said Mohammed was "the most remarkable man in the history" News reports in Bangladesh claim that famous Bollywood actress Rani Mukerji tweeted that the Prophet Mohammed was "the most remarkable man in the history of mankind". The reports prompted praise for the star, who is Hindu. However, the claim is false; the reports are based on an imposter account which has been suspended, while Mukerji’s management has previously said she is not active on social media. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: WHO urges ban on thrift clothes to halt spread of monkeypox An advisory on monkeypox purportedly released by the World Health Organization (WHO) recommending a ban on second-hand clothes from Europe, USA and Asia has been shared on multiple social media platforms in Kenya. The claim is false; the letter, which has various errors, was dismissed by the WHO as "fake". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: This photo shows a Seoul mayor candidate’s campaign slogan vowing to resign. An image that purports to show a campaign slogan from Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon that states he vows to resign has been shared in multiple Facebook posts in March 2021. The image, however, has been doctored: the original photo shows a slogan touting Oh's accomplishments; a spokesperson for Oh’s party also told AFP that the slogan seen in the manipulated image is fake. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indonesian regulators have revoked permit of e-wallet OVO Multiple social media posts have shared a claim that Indonesia's financial services regulator has revoked the operating permit of the country's popular e-wallet OVO. However, the claim is false: the digital payment firm says that it continues to operate as usual and has pointed out that an unrelated finance firm with a similar name is in fact the company that has lost its permit. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows monk raising middle finger to Hong Kong police A photo of a monk raising his middle finger has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts that suggest the monk is making the obscene gesture at police in Hong Kong. The claim, however, is misleading; the photo was published in 2016 in a report about a monk at a protest in Sri Lanka. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Australians not inoculated by end of 2021 will be sent to 'isolation camps' A social media post from an Instagram page named "7newsvictoria" claims Australians who "are not vaccinated by the end of the year will be put into isolation camps". But the image -- which has been shared repeatedly on Facebook -- is a hoax. The Australian Health Department told AFP the claim was false. Australian broadcaster 7NEWS said the now-deleted Instagram page does not belong to them. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Genuine ABS-CBN news graphic shows Philippine legislator Cullamat's remarks after daughter killed in military encounter An image that carries the logo of a Philippine broadcaster has been shared in multiple Facebook posts that claim it shows a genuine quote by a leftist Philippine politician after her daughter was killed in a military standoff. The claim is false; the graphic has been doctored from a social media post by Philippine broadcaster ABS-CBN that contained a different quote. AFP has debunked multiple false quote cards that have been manipulated from ABS-CBN's social media posts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: images shows female PDF fighters receiving military training Three photos of women in military clothing have been shared in Facebook posts that claim they are young women training to fight the Myanmar junta that seized power in February's coup. The claim is false; the images were taken before the coup, and have circulated online since at least 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows truck blown over by Typhoon Hagibis in Japan A video of a truck being blown onto its side during a storm has been viewed millions of times in Facebook, Twitter and YouTube posts which claim it shows Typhoon Hagibis hitting Japan in October 2019. The claim is false; the video has circulated since at least September 2018 in media reports about a truck being knocked over by high winds as Typhoon Jebi hit the Japanese city of Osaka. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show people lining up along eastern coastline in Sri Lanka As rumours spread that Sri Lanka's former prime minister was holed up at a navy base after he was forced to resign over the island's crippling economic crisis, Facebook posts shared thousands of times showed photos of a flotilla of boats that purportedly surrounded the area to stop him leaving the country. However, the photos actually show fishing boats in eastern China's Zhejiang province. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A photo shows migrants coming toward the United States in May 2023 Social media users are claiming a photo shows a crowd of people approaching the US border with Mexico before the May 2023 expiration of pandemic-era immigration restrictions in the former country. This is false; the picture was taken in southern Mexico in June 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: SMNI tweeted that #LetSaraLead trended on Twitter An image has been shared hundreds of times in social media posts that claim it shows a genuine report from a Philippine broadcaster about a purportedly viral hashtag on Twitter calling for Vice President Sara Duterte to take over the presidency. In reality, the image was published by a Facebook page that regularly shares humorous posts about Philippine politics. As of September 14, the purported hashtag has garnered only over a hundred tweets. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: BA pilots died after forced vaccination, BA in crisis talks with government Social media users claim that British Airways pilots died from Covid-19 vaccines, which some who made the online allegations say the airline mandated, leading to talks with the UK government over whether pilots can fly after inoculation. While the company experienced the loss of several pilots, it denies any link between the deaths, does not insist on vaccination for those who fly their planes, and both a regulatory agency and the company denied being in “crisis talks.” (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Facebook posts claim the social network will remove users who announce support for the National Rifle Association Facebook posts shared more than 200,000 times claim the social network will remove users who announce support for the National Rifle Association. This is false, a Facebook spokeswoman said such a statement would not violate its community standards, and the gun rights organization has maintained a public page on the site for years. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows the May 22, 2020, Pakistan International Airlines plane crash in Karachi A video has been viewed millions of times in multiple posts on Facebook which claim it is “real” clip of the Pakistan International Airlines plane crash that claimed scores of lives in the city of Karachi on May 22, 2020. The claim is false; the video was created using a flight simulator programme. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: India sells SA ineffective Covid vaccine Numerous posts on social media claim that an Indian company has sold South Africa “a less effective” Covid-19 vaccine nearing expiry and which the Swiss have since banned. The claims are misleading; the vaccines developed by AstraZeneca had already been ordered by South Africa’s government before a recent study by a local university questioned their efficacy against a new coronavirus variant, while Switzerland has only suspended approval of the drug pending the outcome of more research. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of China's military drill in response to Pelosi's Taiwan trip Days before US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's historic visit to Taiwan, a video was viewed hundreds of thousands of times in online posts that claimed it shows a military exercise in eastern China. Although China did announce plans to stage military drills in waters around the self-ruled island in response to Pelosi's visit, the footage has been shared in a false context. It actually shows a Taiwanese military drill in November 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Multiple posts claim that consuming dried butterfly pea flowers causes liver cancer. Multiple Facebook posts shared thousands of times in Myanmar claim that consuming dried butterfly pea flowers causes liver cancer. The claim is misleading; health experts and government regulators in Myanmar say butterfly pea flowers are not carcinogenic; the doctor cited in the posts denied issuing such statements. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: White trails behind flying aircraft are chemtrails that spread Covid-19 Social media posts claim white trails that linger in the sky after a passing plane are "chemical trails" that spread Covid-19. However, the claim is false. These white trails are condensation trails, which do not cause harm to humans, while experts have debunked conspiracy theories about "chemtrails". There is scientific consensus that Covid-19 is caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Covid-19 clinic in Toronto lured children to accept a vaccination without parental consent by offering ice cream while police ensured guardians remained outside Social media posts claim that a Covid-19 clinic in Toronto lured children to accept a vaccination without parental consent by offering ice cream while police ensured guardians remained outside. But the video used as evidence shows anti-vaccination protesters confronting officers at the clinic, and the event organizer said that despite a local law allowing youths to agree to vaccination, parents were present throughout. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Christian cross erected on Hindu religious site in India Multiple Facebook and Twitter posts claim that a giant Christian cross has been erected on a hilltop sacred to Hindus in a village in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The claim was widely amplified by politicians from India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). But the claim is false: local police and a district official shared videos showing the cross being constructed on a different hill in the same village. The state government also debunked the claim on their official fact check website. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video of incident in China's Xiamen city in 2021 A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Twitter alongside a claim it shows a breaking news report in October about city officers in Xiamen, China injured with sulfuric acid in a demolition. But the video has been shared in a misleading context; it shows a news report aired eight years ago about a demolition incident in Xiamen in October 2013. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A boy rescued from Chambal river flood in India. Footage of men on a boat rushing to save a drowning boy is circulating in posts claiming it shows a dramatic rescue on India's Chambal river. The posts, which racked up tens of thousands of views, circulated as heavy rain sparked deadly flooding in India in August 2022. However, the video was actually filmed in Bangladesh and has circulated online since August 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: The video shows the first Hindu temple in Saudi Arabia A video has been shared repeatedly on Facebook and YouTube alongside a claim it shows the first Hindu temple in Muslim-majority Saudi Arabia. But the clip has been shared in a misleading context; it actually shows an animation of a Hindu temple in the United Arab Emirates that was still under construction as of May 10, 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This photo shows the aftermath of vaccine trials on Africans A purported image of children with limb deformities has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts published in 2020 alongside a claim it shows the aftermath of vaccine trials on Africans. The claim is false; the photo, taken in 1998 in the West African country Sierra Leone, actually shows unvaccinated children who contracted polio. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Kenyan minister opposes government housing levy Finance Bill 2023 (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Crowd chants Ruto’s name at Odinga rally Manipulated footage (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Polio vaccine linked to hand foot and mouth disease Memes shared thousands of times in North America claim there is a connection between the polio vaccine and severe outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). This is false; the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the polio vaccines available in North America are inactivated, meaning people who receive this vaccine do not 'shed' or give off the virus and cannot infect others. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows protest against fuel price hike in Bangladesh in August 2022 A video of violent clashes between protesters and police officers has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows demonstrations in Bangladesh triggered by record fuel hikes in August 2022. The video, however, has been shared in a false context. It has circulated in news reports since 2013 about deadly protests in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka by hardline Islamist activists calling for a new anti-blasphemy law. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Nigerian presidential candidate draws crowds in Gombe An image of thousands of people wearing red caps and occupying an entire street has been circulated on social media with a claim that it shows supporters of Nigeria’s opposition presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso during a recent rally in the country’s northern Gombe state. The claim is misleading; although the photo does show Kwankwaso’s supporters, AFP Fact Check found that it was taken in Nigeria’s capital Abuja in 2018 when the politician declared his intention to run for president at a rally. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo undertakes PR stunt during typhoon disaster relief operations in 2020 A photo that shows Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo standing among a crowd of people has been shared thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts which claim it shows her staging a PR stunt in the aftermath of Typhoon Vamco in November 2020. The posts claim Robredo “brought a lot of cameramen” but “did not bring relief goods”. However, this claim is misleading; the photo has in fact circulated online since 2018 in reports about a landslide site which Robredo visited. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Eskom said on Facebook that Soweto was promised free electricity after 1994 A screenshot of a Facebook post appears to show a message from South Africa’s power utility, Eskom, addressing calls on social media to switch off power in the township of Soweto. The post says that the company cannot cut off the power supply, as Sowetans were promised free electricity after the end of Apartheid, “and they are our people”. However, the screenshot does not show a page from the official Eskom Facebook page -- which has a different name from the one pictured -- and the same text was widely shared from a parody page about the power utility. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pakistani court sentences singer Meesha Shafi to three years in jail for defamation Multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter claim that Pakistani singer Meesha Shafi was sentenced to three years in jail for falsely accusing fellow singer Ali Zafar of sexual harassment. The claim is false; a court is yet to pass judgment in an ongoing defamation lawsuit Zafar filed against Shafi after she accused him of sexual harassment; Shafi and her legal team refuted the claim, calling it “false information” and “fake news”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: South Korean live streamer died during live broadcast A video of a man collapsing has been viewed millions of times in social media posts that falsely claim it shows a South Korean who died during a livestream. The person in the video -- South Korean influencer Park Jung-kyu -- did not die. He told his audience in a later livestream that he had fainted due to fatigue. Park has since posted that doctors suspect he suffered an epileptic seizure, and he planned to resume his live broadcasts soon. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Graphic claims that certain countries require government-issued press credentials A graphic shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook in Hong Kong contains a claim that government-issued press credentials are required in China, the UK, the US and Singapore. The posts, which circulated during Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests, suggest the territory should also make it mandatory for journalists to obtain government-issued press passes. The claim is misleading; among the countries listed in the graphic, only China requires journalists to have government-issued press passes. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: This photo shows a sign of the river called Jaesugang in South Korea. An image purporting to show a road sign for a river in South Korea called “Jaesugang”, which translates as “retaking a class”, has been shared on social media alongside a claim that “this is a river most hated by university students”. However, the image has been digitally created and was likely intended as satire: such a river does not exist in South Korea, according to an official database. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: “Old and sick” wolves head the pack to “set the pace,” with the leader at the back and the strong positioned to offer protection Social media posts featuring an aerial photo of wolves in a line claim that the “old and sick” head the pack to “set the pace,” with the leader at the back and the strong positioned to offer protection. But experts say this is not an accurate description of wolf social behavior. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian politician pinned Pakistan flag to his car A photo has been shared in social media posts that claim it shows Pakistan’s national flag pinned to a car purportedly belonging to an Indian politician. The claim is false: the flag pinned to the car represents the Indian Union Muslim League party -- not Pakistan. Government documents indicate that the car does not belong to the Indian politician. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Video shows Americans cheering Biden's fall on plane stairs A video viewed tens of thousands of times on Twitter purports to show Americans bursting into cheers in reaction to footage of US President Joe Biden tripping on the stairs while boarding Air Force One on March 19, 2021. Many social media users appear to have believed the video was genuine, although it originates from a meme showing football fans celebrating England's win against Wales at the UEFA European Championship in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Video of Pakistan prime minister’s speech after passing new budget A video has been viewed more than one million times in multiple social media posts that claim it shows Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan delivering a speech to parliament in June 2021 after his government announced its budget for the next fiscal year. But the video has been shared in a misleading context: it actually shows Khan speaking to parliament in March 2021 after winning a vote of confidence in the lower house. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Drone shot down by Ethiopian army An image of a crashed unmanned aerial vehicle has been making the rounds on Facebook with claims that it shows a Sudanese drone recently shot down by the Ethiopian army as it attempted to enter Ethiopian airspace. However, this is false: the picture predates the war in Ethiopia. It was shared in 2019 in online reports and social media posts about a downed drone in Libya. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Attempted child abduction at SA mall An old South African video of a man running from mall security with a child in his arms has resurfaced on Facebook with tens of thousands of shares alongside claims that he stole the child. However, the claim is false: police have confirmed the man was not arrested for kidnapping but shoplifting at a mall in Cape Town in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Hong Kong police arresting protesters after July 1st rally. A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube which claim it shows Hong Kong police arresting protesters one day after a demonstration in the city on 1 July, 2019. The claim is false; the video corresponded with local media reports about the arrest of three people over an incident that is not related to the protest; police told AFP that three people were arrested in connection with a case of suspected illegal imprisonment and rape; a local councillor also told AFP the arrests were made in a case of domestic violence and false imprisonment which was not connected to the July 1 protest. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Trump smashing Oval Office after 2020 US election A video has been viewed thousands of times on YouTube and in other online posts alongside a claim it shows incumbent US President Donald Trump smashing the Oval Office after losing the US election in November 2020. The claim is false; the video shows an actor smashing a fake Oval Office for a comedy sketch that first aired on US cable channel Comedy Central in 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows Uttar Pradesh police beating up boys who supported Pakistan Footage of Indian police assaulting a man has circulated online alongside a claim they were punishing him for voicing support for New Delhi's rival Pakistan during polls in India’s most populous state Uttar Pradesh. The polls saw the Hindu nationalist ruling Bharatiya Janata Party retain power in the state. But the video -- which has been viewed tens of thousands of times -- has been shared in a misleading context. It has circulated online since May 2021, months before the Uttar Pradesh polls. State police told AFP the clip shows officers who were suspended for assaulting boys accused of stealing last year. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Data show increase in cancer cases in South Korea after Covid vaccination South Korea's government health insurance agency has rebuked Facebook posts falsely presenting data on cancer patients' insurance claims as an increase in cancer cases due to Covid-19 vaccines. There is no evidence that Covid-19 vaccines cause cancer. As of February 2023, South Korea had not yet published data on the number of new cancer cases since its vaccine rollout began in 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Video shows elephant seal stranded in Florida streets after Hurricane Ian A clip of an elephant seal supposedly lost in a residential neighborhood gained millions of views on Twitter in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, which devastated parts of the US state of Florida. But the video is out of context; it was taken in Chile in 2020, and marine experts say such seals do not live in the Atlantic Ocean. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Images show Russia attacking Ukraine Two images of huge explosions among residential buildings have been shared hundreds of times on social media alongside a claim that they show Russia’s attack on Ukraine. But the claim is false: the photos show Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip in 2018 and 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This screenshot of Australian breakfast TV show Today Extra suggests Australians could be fined for talking about COVID-19 conspiracy theories Multiple Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim that “Aussies will be fined if they are found to be talking about conspiracies to do with [COVID-19]”. The posts included a screenshot of a segment from an Australian breakfast television show as evidence for the claim. But the claim is false; an Australian legal expert said as of August 18, 2020, he was not aware of any legislation that banned discussions of COVID-19 conspiracy theories; the Attorney General's Department also said it was not aware of any legislation banning such discussions; the television show pictured in the posts, Nine Network’s Today Extra, said it had been reporting the results of a viewer poll about conspiracy theorists, rather than a piece of legislation. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Biden’s Texas campaign director was arrested for election fraud Social media posts and an online article claim a top staffer from Joe Biden’s campaign team was arrested for electoral fraud. This is false; court records indicate that Dallas Jones, a political consultant hired to oversee the campaign in Texas, was accused of, but not arrested for, ballot harvesting during a case that was eventually dropped; and Houston police, a county representative and a lawyer confirmed he was not detained. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Zelensky said US will have to send "sons and daughters" to die for Ukraine Conservative influencers in the United States are claiming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said America's "sons and daughters" will be obligated to fight and die for his country. This is misleading; Zelensky's full remarks show he was saying Russia might invade a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) country if Ukraine loses the war, implicating the alliance's members in a larger conflict. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Video shows Vice President Robredo rejecting a selfie with a supporter With the Philippines' raucous presidential election campaign season in full swing in February, a video was viewed tens of thousands of times on social media alongside a claim opposition hopeful Vice President Leni Robredo rejected a selfie request from a supporter during a rally. However, the clip has been misleadingly edited. The video was taken from longer footage that in fact shows Robredo reached out to snap a selfie with the supporter after the latter was told by security staff to get off Robredo's campaign vehicle. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Girl from Ethiopia’s Mursi tribe A photo of an African girl wearing large earrings and beaded necklaces has been shared on a Facebook group in Kenya alongside a claim that she comes from the Mursi tribe in Ethiopia. But the claim is misleading: she is from a different Ethiopian tribe, called the Arbore. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Drinking water at specific times can have different health benefits An infographic shared thousands of times in multiple social media posts purports to show the health benefits of drinking water "at the correct time", claiming that drinking water at specific times during the day can have different health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of a heart attack. This claim is misleading; health experts say there is insufficient evidence that drinking water at specified times during the day can have additional health benefits to staying hydrated. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: 2020 campaign event crowds equate to popular vote totals Social media posts contrast photos of large political events held by Barack Obama in 2008 and Donald Trump in 2020 to smaller gatherings for Joe Biden in 2020 to cast doubt on the historic number of votes received by Biden. The images mislead; the 2020 presidential campaign was heavily impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic, with Biden opting for socially-distanced gatherings, while Trump continued to hold traditional rallies. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo comparison of the 2008 and 2022 Olympics? Multiple Chinese-language social media posts claim more African countries competed in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics than the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. The posts shared a photo of Chinese President Xi Jinping with a group of African representatives alongside a photo of his predecessor Hu Jintao with a diverse group of world leaders. The claim is misleading; just five African countries have competed in the 2022 Winter Olympics, while more than fifty African countries took part in the 2008 Summer Olympics. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The photo shows a fuel queue in Mandalay of Myanmar on May 25, 2022. An image has been shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim that it shows a line of vehicles queuing at a petrol station in coup-hit Myanmar's second city of Mandalay in May 2022. Although local media reported on a fuel price hike in Myanmar, the image has been shared in a false context. The photo was actually taken in Sri Lanka in April 2022 and has circulated in news reports about the country's economic crisis. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: South Africa’s VIP protection budget boosted by 1.7 billion rands A post shared in South Africa on Twitter and Facebook claims that the budget for the protection of senior government officials, including the president, has been increased by 1.7 billion rands ($118.9 million) for the financial year 2021/22. But the claim is false: the South African police budget presented in parliament on May 20, 2021, shows that the amount was boosted by R26.3 million ($1.9 million) from R1,689.7 billion in 2020 to R1,716.0 billion for this year. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Antifa-linked account told members to move into residential neighborhoods A tweet from an account claiming to be anti-fascist movement Antifa promoted unrest during protests sparked by George Floyd’s death in Minnesota police custody and was shared thousands of times as a screenshot on social media. But Twitter said the account belonged to a far-right white nationalist organization and was suspended for inciting violence. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: South Africa’s Ramaphosa replies to Trump’s land seizures tweet A screenshot shared widely on Facebook purports to show a tweet by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa retorting to US President Donald Trump’s controversial 2018 comments on land reform in South Africa. According to the screenshot, Ramaphosa supposedly hit back with a barb about mass shootings in the United States. But this tweet was not posted by the South African leader. There is no record of Ramaphosa tweeting such a message at Trump, and the South African president’s spokeswoman confirmed that it was not posted by him. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Grades repeating the school year in 2021 Facebook posts shared in South Africa claim that some grades will be repeating the current school year in 2021. However, this is false; no such announcement has been made, and the school year calendar has in fact been amended by the education department in an attempt to recover the time lost due to the Covid-19 pandemic. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows an explosion during coup in Beijing in 2022 A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on social media posts that claim it shows a big explosion in China's capital Beijing in September 2022 during a supposed attempt to topple the country's president, Xi Jinping. The claim, however, is false. The video has circulated since 2015 in news reports about a deadly explosion at a chemical warehouse in the northeastern city of Tianjin. There have been no credible reports about a coup against the Chinese leader. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US to withhold benefits from unvaccinated veterans An online article claims US President Joe Biden ordered the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to withhold health benefits from former members of the military who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19. But the department says the claim is untrue, and the article appears on a website that states its content is "made up." (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccines sold online in Malaysia A picture has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim that Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccines are sold on popular e-shopping platform Shopee in Malaysia. The claim is false; Shopee says the photo is “fake” and Covid-19 vaccines have never been listed on its platform. The Malaysian Health Ministry says only the government can supply Covid-19 vaccines and the sale of Covid-19 vaccines is prohibited. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of electric bus explosion in China A video has been viewed more than 50,000 times in Facebook and YouTube posts which claim it shows an electric bus exploding in mainland China. The claim is false; the video actually shows two buses on fire in Santiago, Chile during violent protests in October 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Health experts have expressed “great concern” for the “Zombie deer virus”, a virus “scarier than the coronavirus” that spreads among deer Multiple Facebook posts shared in Myanmar claim that health experts have expressed “great concern” over a “Zombie deer virus” which they claim is “scarier than the coronavirus” and can spread among deer. The posts, which circulated online weeks after a spike in coronavirus cases in Myanmar, go on to claim the virus affects brain activity in the infected deer, increasing the animal's “desire to attack [humans]” and to “suck blood”. The claim is misleading; experts say there is no such virus that causes deer to “attack” or “suck blood”; as of November 2020, there are no reports of animal to human transmission of neurological diseases affecting deer, including chronic wasting disease (CWD). (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Doctor Roger Hodkinson claims Covid-19 pandemic is hoax Facebook posts of a doctor calling the Covid-19 pandemic a “hoax” in remarks to the Edmonton City Council have been shared thousands of times since November 13, 2020. Contrary to accepted medical advice, Roger Hodkinson falsely claimed masks and social distancing are useless, in remarks refuted by Canadian authorities and medical experts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Images show unused buses being disposed of in the sea Several images of Sri Lankan buses being submerged in the ocean have been shared on Facebook alongside a claim the vehicles were dumped in the sea after the government failed to sell them at auction. The claim is misleading; the buses have been used to create an artificial reef off the coast of Sri Lanka as part of efforts to nurture marine life. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows a school that was torched by Burmese rebels in Rakhine State A photo of fire and smoke engulfing several wooden structures has been shared in multiple Facebook posts that claim it shows a school in western Myanmar that was torched by an ethnic rebel group. The claim, however, is false. The photo actually shows a deadly fire that destroyed a camp for Burmese refugees in Thailand in 2013. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows LPG pipeline being constructed in India As millions of Indians headed to the polls in Uttar Pradesh elections, Facebook posts purported to show a photo of construction of a gas pipeline in the state. The image has been shared in a misleading context; it was taken in 2010 and shows a pipeline in Germany. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A photo shows a woman at the January 6, 2021 US Capitol attack Donald Trump Jr and others on social media are sharing a photo of an elderly, grinning woman with an American flag, exploiting her image to suggest that the crowd that broke into the US Capitol two years ago was tame and nonviolent. But the picture has been misrepresented; AFP confirmed the woman was not a participant in the chaos in Washington, but a protester more than 1,000 miles away at a peaceful rally that same day in the state of Kansas. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: South African aid group offers food relief on Facebook Gift of Givers refutes claim (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Canada is mandating psychiatric medication for unvaccinated patients More than 80 percent of Canadians have been vaccinated against Covid-19, but social media posts claim that Canada will mandate psychiatric medication for people refusing the jab. This is false; the posts misinterprets guidance from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) that encourages physicians to discuss medication or therapy with patients who display anxious and avoidant behaviors -- including debilitating fear of needles -- rather than exempting them from vaccination. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Covid-19 vaccine safety data from Australian vaccination monitoring agency Multiple Facebook posts have shared a graphic purportedly issued by an Australian government-funded organisation that monitors Covid-19 vaccination side effects. Figures in the graphic purportedly show vaccines are not safe. But these posts are misleading: the graphic was not issued by the organisation. The actual figures for reported vaccination side effects were generally mild or in fact unrelated to Covid-19 vaccination. The Covid-19 vaccines being administered in Australia have been approved by international and national health authorities. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Genuine news report states former Philippine senator Mar Roxas arrested for drug possession A video that claims former Philippine Senator Mar Roxas was arrested for illegal drug possession has been viewed thousands of times in multiple YouTube and Facebook posts. The claim, however, is false; the video is a hoax news report and police denied the claim. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sri Lankan State Minister Sarath Weerasekera says that he feels conserving forests is futile An image has been shared hundreds of times on multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim it shows a newspaper article about an interview with Sri Lanka’s State Minister Sarath Weerasekera. The purported newspaper page features a headline that says the minister “feels that conserving forests is futile”. The claim, however, is false; the page has been doctored from an August 30, 2020, edition of the Sri Lankan newspaper Sunday Lankadeepa, with the headline changed. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The US has reached herd immunity for COVID-19 A Facebook post shared thousands of times claims the United States has reached herd immunity for COVID-19. But experts say this is false, and that the country is far from the point where enough people have the immunity necessary to curb the disease’s spread. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: a research organisation has “confirmed” Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo received zero votes in the country's Mindanao island A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in YouTube, Facebook and blog posts that claim a research organisation has “confirmed” Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo received zero votes in the country's Mindanao island. Social media users took this claim to mean Robredo got zero votes in Mindanao in the 2016 elections. But the claim is misleading; the research firm that conducted the survey assessed voter preferences for the 2022 national elections; it did not ask about the 2016 elections. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Mixed: Photos of regrowth after Australian bushfires Six photos have been shared tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim they show botanical regrowth following the 2019-2020 Australian bushfires. The claim is misleading; only two of the images were taken after the recent bushfires – the other four have circulated in reports about unrelated events. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Triple antibiotic ointment swabbed inside nostrils can prevent flu contagion According to Facebook posts shared hundreds of thousands of times, nurses advise swabbing one’s nostrils with a triple antibiotic ointment to prevent catching the flu. This is false; public health experts say this ointment cannot protect from or cure the influenza virus, and the nurses referenced in the posts do not recommend this technique. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: PAS announces Abdul Hadi Awang will become Malaysia's next prime minister An Islamist opposition party in Malaysia has dismissed a false statement shared repeatedly on Facebook and Twitter that apparently announced its leader would replace Anwar Ibrahim as the Southeast Asian country's prime minister. The posts circulated online following speculation that opposition parties were attempting to topple Anwar's government. As of May 25, 2023, Anwar remained Malaysia's prime minister. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan is providing handouts to those staying at home and commenting on the Facebook post during the COVID-19 pandemic. A video has been viewed more than 1.7 million times on Facebook alongside a claim Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan is offering cash handouts to people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The claim is false; the video has been created using two separate clips which do not state that Chan is offering donations to those affected by COVID-19; the first clip was originally published on Chan's official Facebook account in April 2020; the second clip was taken from a 2017 post on the Instagram page of US boxer Floyd Mayweather. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Miscaptioned: Video shows a protester yelling "you are a disgrace" at the queen's funeral Social media users are claiming a video shows a protester interrupting Queen Elizabeth II's September 19, 2022 funeral. This is false; the clip comes from a 2007 BBC broadcast about a demonstrator who spoke out during a ceremony commemorating the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Obama signed law authorizing federal agents' use of force in Portland Social media posts shared thousands of times claim President Donald Trump’s deployment of federal officers to Portland, Oregon, where camouflaged agents are accused of abuses against protesters, was made possible by a law signed by his predecessor Barack Obama. This is false; the agencies responsible say they are operating under a long-standing provision to protect federal property, and legal experts dubbed such claims “crazy” and foolish. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Burmese military envoy being attacked in 2021 A video of an attack on a military convoy has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts in August 2021 that claim it shows a recent ambush in Myanmar. The video circulated online after Myanmar's ousted lawmakers called for people to fight back against the junta. The video, however, has been shared in a misleading context: it predates the Myanmar military coup. It has circulated in reports since 2020 about the Arakan Army -- an ethnic armed organisation based in Myanmar's Rakhine state -- attacking a military convoy. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows how fake Chinese eggs are produced in a factory A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in Thai-language social media posts that falsely claim it shows "fake eggs" being manufactured in China, implying they could be sold in Thailand. The posts circulated online after Thai media reported that local farmers would increase the price of eggs in the kingdom following the Lunar New Year due to rising livestock costs. But the video in fact shows the production of Chinese egg-based culinary dishes. Thai officials told AFP that no fake eggs from China were sold in Thailand. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Mail-in ballots received after November 3 won't be counted Social media posts circulating ahead of Election Day advise Americans to drop off their ballots or cast it in person, warning they risk losing their vote if their mail-in ballot arrives after November 3. This is misleading; while some states will not be counting ballots received after that date, 22 states will accept them as long as they are postmarked no later than polling day. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Katie Hobbs ran her own election, censored opponents and disrupted voting Social media influencers and Republican politicians are citing Twitter documents released by Elon Musk to claim Arizona governor-elect Katie Hobbs censored her opponents and interfered in the 2022 US midterm elections. This is misleading; the Democratic secretary of state's office flagged two false tweets to a non-profit months before she announced her candidacy, and Arizona elections are run at the county level. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Canadians face $2,500 fine and driving ban if caught smoking cigarettes behind the wheel An article claiming that Canadians can be fined $2,500 and face a driving ban if they are caught smoking cigarettes behind the wheel is circulating on Facebook. The claim is false; there are no blanket bans on lighting up in private vehicles, although most provinces forbid the practice if a minor is present, in which case the fines are lower than claimed and there is no licence revocation. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: ASEAN countries will stop using the US dollar from November 1, 2022 Thai social media posts have repeatedly shared a false claim that five Southeast Asian countries will stop using the US dollar from November 2022. Financial experts told AFP there was little chance of the countries -- Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines -- abandoning the dollar as it is a global standard and there is no currency that could currently replace it. Thailand's central bank also told AFP the claim is not true and may have stemmed from misunderstanding efforts by ASEAN countries to make mobile payments easier for travellers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Justin Trudeau takes $2 billion from Canadian retirement fund and gives it to Mumbai A post claims that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “took” two billion dollars from Canada’s retirement fund in order to give it to housing projects in India. This is false. The independent Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has invested more than $8 billion in Indian ventures since 2009, but the Canadian prime minister plays no role in deciding how Canada Pension Plan funds are invested. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: A genuine photo of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison? An image purporting to show Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison with a wet pair of pants has been shared hundreds of times on social media. The claim is misleading: the image has been manipulated from a press photograph of Morrison in May 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows protest after Elon Musk fired Twitter employees A manipulated image is circulating in social media posts that falsely claim it shows Twitter employees protesting massive layoffs at the company after billionaire Elon Musk took over. The photo was actually taken at a Pride parade in Canada in 2013 and the text on the banner has been altered to insert a message insulting Musk. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Seized human penises from Nigeria served as meals in China Nigerian separatists are sharing two videos on social media claiming that the footage shows Chinese restaurants serving human penises. The claims come a week after AFP Fact Check debunked a satirical story presented as fact on social media that thousands of human penises shipped from Nigeria were intercepted in China. This recent claim is also false; the clips were filmed in the Turkish city of Adana and show a special delicacy called Şırdan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: UberBus coming to South Africa Multiple posts have resurfaced on social media implying that rideshare company Uber is introducing UberBus to South Africa. The claims are misleading; the company has made no such announcements and again denied plans to launch the service in the country. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Images show Ohio train wreck caused the deaths of these animals Thousands of fish died in nearby streams in the aftermath of a cargo train that derailed in the US state of Ohio with toxic chemicals, but several images of dead wildlife circulating on social media predate the disaster and are not from the area. Authorities are still investigating the environmental fallout from the hazardous chemicals released into the soil, air and water. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Covid-19 vaccine links increasing of cancer rate in people under 50 years old Covid-19 vaccines are not linked to cancer according to scientists, contrary to misleading posts that circulated worldwide in October. The posts misrepresented a news report about two pre-pandemic studies -- both unrelated to Covid-19 vaccination -- that looked into rising cancer cases among people under age 50. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US General Roger L. Cloutier was captured by Russian forces in Mariupol As Russian strikes pounded the besieged port city of Mariupol in Ukraine, Facebook posts shared in various languages claimed US General Roger L. Cloutier was captured by Russian forces there. However, NATO said the rumour was "completely false" and that Cloutier, who leads NATO's Allied Land Command, had not been to Ukraine since July 2021. Cloutier was in Turkey when the false claims about his whereabouts circulated online. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Israel has no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 Multiple posts shared hundreds of times on Facebook and Twitter claim Israel has no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, as it has already developed a "cure". The claim is false; official World Health Organization (WHO) data and Israeli media reports state at least 298 people have been confirmed to have contracted the disease as of March 16; Israel has implemented travel restrictions and closed businesses in response to the spread of COVID-19. Various countries have been working develop a vaccine for COVID-19 and WHO guidance currently states there is no "cure" for the virus to date. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo compares self to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Facebook and YouTube alongside a claim that Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo compared herself to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The posts, however, omit important context; the video actually shows that Philippine news organisation Rappler made the comparison between the two leaders, not Robredo herself. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Protesters on Wall Street, New York City, are beaten by US police A photo has been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Weibo alongside a claim that it shows protesters on Wall Street in New York being “beaten madly” by US police. The claim is false; the photo shows climate protesters who doused themselves in fake blood during a demonstration; the demonstration’s organiser said police were not violent when arresting activists. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show Kamala Harris celebrating Juneteenth A photo gallery shared on Facebook claims to show US Vice President Kamala Harris celebrating Juneteenth with white women while being served by Black staff. This is misleading; the images do not depict an event to remember the end of slavery in Texas but are instead from a bipartisan dinner for female senators that Harris hosted days earlier. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pro-Pakistan slogans shouted outside an airport in India A video of a crowd outside an airport in the Indian state of Assam has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim it shows people shouting pro-Pakistan slogans at a local politician. The claim was widely amplified by local media and politicians from India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The claim is false; closer analysis of the footage reveals it shows people shouting slogans in favour of a local politician; the All India United Democratic Front, whose politician features in the video, also refuted the claim; Assam police filed a complaint against a BJP politician who amplified the false claim. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sloan Kettering study says mRNA Covid-19 vaccines promote cancer An article shared thousands of times on social media claims a study from a renowned US cancer center found that Covid-19 mRNA vaccines could be linked to cancer. But the researchers did not examine such vaccines, and the article falsely portrays the actual findings of the study, the center and medical experts say. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Inifinix giving out phones for pandemic support AFP Fact Check has debunked multiple posts shared millions of times on Facebook in Africa falsely claiming to give out jobs, cash and phones. We round them up and explain how to avoid becoming a victim. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Nigerian soldier shooting at #EndSARS protesters Footage of a military gunner firing into the night has circulated on social media with claims that it shows how troops used live ammunition on civilians during ongoing protests against police brutality in Nigeria’s megacity Lagos. But the claim is false: the clip was circulating online before the demonstrations erupted in October 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows Rafale fighter jet performing stunts in air A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts alongside a claim it shows a real Dassault Rafale fighter jet, a French-made aircraft model. India recently procured 36 Dassault Rafale fighter jets from France, the first batch of which arrived in India on July 29, 2020. The claim is false; the video, filmed in 2016, shows a remote-controlled miniature aircraft built by a US-based toy manufacturing company. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos of the drought in Turkana County, Kenya Images claiming to show the current drought in northern Kenya have been shared widely on social media. Turkana County and other parts of Kenya are indeed suffering a drought, and reports suggest that some residents are on the brink of starvation. But some of the images purporting to show the current situation are old pictures, taken both in Kenya and in other African countries. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Egrets are all females and enjoy sound of thunder to get pregnant Multiple Burmese-language blog posts shared thousands of times on Facebook in Myanmar claim that egrets, a type of heron, are all females which "get pregnant" by "enjoying the sound of thunder". This is false. Ornithologists told AFP that there are both male and female birds within the species, and they copulate in order to fertilise eggs. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Joe Biden asleep during a live TV interview As US President Donald Trump continues his attempts to label Joe Biden as “Sleepy,” a video shared across social media claims to show the Democratic challenger for the White House sleeping during a live television interview. This is false; the original video was of an interview with veteran singer and actor Harry Belafonte almost nine years ago, during which he appeared to doze off. The footage was doctored to show Biden sitting in Belafonte’s place. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 treatments recommended by the dean of Thailand’s Siriraj Hospital? A video has been shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook posts that claim it shows the dean of Thailand’s Siriraj Hospital recommending certain treatments for Covid-19, including taking "3,000-5,000 mg" of vitamin C each day. The claim is false; the man in the misleading footage is not Siriraj hospital’s dean. Health experts warn against following the purported advice in the video. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Footage shows Japanese PM accepting South Korean sovereignty over disputed islets A video of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been shared on YouTube with fake subtitles that falsely claim his government has "accepted" South Korea's sovereignty over a disputed island chain. The Korean subtitles and voiceover are not an accurate translation of Kishida's words, which were taken from a speech he gave that was unrelated to South Korea. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Nigeria’s ex-chief accountant faking injury A video of a man wearing neck and back braces and walking with the aid of crutches has circulated widely on social media with claims that it shows Nigeria’s suspended chief accountant, Ahmed Idris, who is accused of money laundering. The posts allege that Idris pretended to suffer spinal cord injuries at a recent court hearing but was later caught on camera leading a prayer session without any support. However, AFP Fact Check found the video was filmed in 2021 and shows a Nigerian activist, not Idris. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos of Chinese men carrying guns after attack in Pakistan in July 2021 Two photos have been shared in social media posts that claim they show Chinese workers carrying assault rifles "after [a] bus blast" in Pakistan killed several people in July 2021. But this claim is false: both images predate the bus blast and have circulated online since at least March 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hindu festival Janmashtami celebrated in Indian Kashmir after 32 years A video of people celebrating a Hindu festival in Indian-controlled Kashmir has circulated in social media posts and reports that claim the Muslim-majority region marked the event for the first time in decades in August 2021. The claim is false: people living in the region have regularly celebrated the annual festival since at least 2004, according to news reports. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Man-made CO2 is an insignificant contributor to climate change Facebook posts downplay humanity's contribution to global warming by saying man-made CO2 makes up a tiny fraction of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere compared to water vapor. But experts say CO2 emissions are a significant factor in climate change, and focusing on water vapor is a long-standing tactic among those who want to minimize the major role humans are playing. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Russia bombing Ukraine in February 2022 A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Facebook alongside a claim it shows Russia bombing Ukraine. The video was shared shortly after Russian forces invaded the neighbouring country. But the video has been shared in a false context: it is actually an animation clip that has circulated online since at least October 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Suicides up 200% since lockdown Posts spread by celebrities and liked about 250,000 times on Instagram claim suicides have risen 200 percent since pandemic-linked lockdowns in America began. This is false; there is no data to support such a statement, the timing of which coincides with new restrictions against record coronavirus cases as the US enters winter. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: ISIS jihadists posing as medics to inject people with HIV A hoax message claiming that jihadists from the Islamic State group are masquerading as medics offering people free blood tests -- while actually injecting them with the HIV virus -- has been circulating in various countries since 2017. The hoax, which has previously spread everywhere from India and Nepal to Ghana, has re-emerged recently in Kenya alongside a claim that three people were arrested over the plot in the city of Kisumu. However, Kenya police told AFP the security alert was “untrue”. Nepalese and Indian police have previously also warned people that the message was false. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hindu woman in Indore in central India was tricked by a Muslim into marriage Footage of a distressed woman has been shared in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim that the woman is a victim of “love jihad,” a conspiracy that alleges Muslim men seduce Hindu women to covert them to Islam. The claim is false; according to police, the woman was angry because of a domestic dispute and both she and her husband are Hindu. The woman also posted photos of her wedding, which was held in accordance to Hindu customs. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A video of a Chinese solider beating a Uighur Muslim for having a Koran? A video that has been viewed more than a million times since it was posted January 1, 2019 on social media purportedly shows a Chinese soldier beating a Uighur Muslim for having a copy of the Koran. The video is actually from 2017 and shows an Indonesian soldier hitting a thief. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Police officer rest during 2019 Hong Kong protests A photo of resting police officers in front of a crowd of demonstrators has been shared widely in Facebook, Weibo, Instagram and Twitter posts as well as media articles that link the image to recent protests in Hong Kong. The image is being used in a misleading context; it is actually a 2014 AFP photo that shows an earlier outbreak of civil unrest in the city. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The video shows tornado in Libya. A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook that claim it shows a storm in Libya. The same footage was also viewed in posts on Pinterest, Instagram, Reddit and Bilibili which suggested it shows a real weather phenomenon. The claim is false; the footage is actually a digital animation created by a 3D designer, who originally published it on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram in June 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hong Kong police shoot female protester Video footage has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter which claim it shows Hong Kong police shooting a woman at a protest in June 2019. The claim is false; the video shows one police officer pointing his baton at the woman before another officer detonates a tear gas canister, prompting the woman to move away. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Barack Obama unveiling a portrait of ex Jakarta governor A doctored video with tens of thousands of views on TikTok and Facebook falsely claims to show former US president Barack Obama unveiling a portrait of Indonesian presidential hopeful Anies Baswedan. The video originally shows Obama unveiling a painting of himself at the Smithsonian in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Trump receiving treatment after contracting novel coronavirus An image has been shared repeatedly in multiple posts on social media and on online forums which claim it could show US President Donald Trump receiving hospital treatment after he tested positive for the novel coronavirus in October 2020. The claim is false; the image has been doctored from a stock photo which has circulated online since at least April 2020, more than four months before Trump announced he had contracted Covid-19. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows report about how the Aquinos and Robredo fooled Filipinos Ahead of Ferdinand Marcos Junior's victory in the Philippine presidential election, an image of a news report was viewed tens of thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows how his top rival Leni Robredo and the family of late president Corazon Aquino "fooled Filipinos in the past". The image has been shared in a false context; it actually shows an AFP report about a pro-Marcos misinformation campaign that revamped his family brand and smeared Robredo. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: China not invited to Queen Elizabeth II's funeral Chinese social media posts shared hundreds of times ahead of the funeral for Britain's Queen Elizabeth II suggested that China was among the countries whose officials were not invited to the ceremony at Westminster Abbey. This is false. Photos show Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan at the ceremony in London following the UK government's invitation. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: False infographic shows Malaysians need a fourth vaccine dose An infographic purportedly issued by Malaysian health authorities has been shared multiple times on social media with a claim that residents should get a fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine because "the Omicron variant will spread" after Malaysia reopens borders on April 1, 2022. However, the claim is false; the Malaysian Ministry of Health denies issuing the infographic. As of March 25, 2022, the government has not issued any statement about plans for the fourth dose in the country. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Cambodia declares war with Thailand As Thailand geared up for a general election in May 2023, a video surfaced in social media posts that misleadingly claimed it shows Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen declaring war with the country. The posts mocked a Thai opposition politician who called to cut the army's budget. However, Hun Sen did not declare war with Thailand in his speech, which he gave at a graduation ceremony in August 2022. The leader in fact urged voters to keep the Cambodian opposition out of power, claiming they would bring the country to war. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Former Pakistani PM’s late mother was an MP Posts circulating online claim that former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s late mother Shamim Akhtar was made a lawmaker aged 91 but did not attend any assembly sessions, despite taking a salary and benefits. The claim is false; provincial legislature membership records show that Sharif’s mother never served as a lawmaker in Pakistan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: An image of a baby rescued from an underground tunnel? Multiple social media posts have shared a photo they claim shows a baby rescued from an underground tunnel in Australia. The claim is false: the image has circulated online since 2014 in multiple different contexts, including on a satirical website; AFP found no credible reports that back the claim, which is linked to the QAnon conspiracy theory which did not emerge until 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Australians who avoid their local clinics during the novel coronavirus epidemic will receive free doctor visits A purported emergency notice from Australian authorities has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter. It states people can receive free home visits from doctors during the novel coronavirus pandemic. The claim is false; Australian health authorities denied issuing the notice, adding the hoax had prompted “unnecessary phone calls” that had overwhelmed public health units. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Donald Trump posted about former members of his administration and circle An image circulating online claims to show a post from former US president Donald Trump insulting various members of his White House administration and inner circle. But the supposed post is a fake, Trump's 2024 campaign confirmed to AFP; his page on Truth Social features no such message, and the text exceeds the platform's character count limit. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered: Photo shows a real two-leg camel An image has been shared hundreds of times in Bengali-language Facebook posts that claim it shows a real two-legged camel in a desert. The same image has circulated online since at least March 2018 alongside a claim it shows a camel in Saudi Arabia that survived a land mine explosion. The claim is false: the image has been digitally altered from a photo of a four-legged camel taken in Pakistan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows worms or parasites in masks Several videos showing close-up shots of face masks have been shared online alongside a claim that the masks' black threads are “worms” or “parasites”. The claim is false, according to scientists who told AFP that the threads are harmless fibres. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Kim Kyoung-soo, governor of South Korea’s South Gyeongsang province, receives a Covid-19 vaccine shot on his jacket A photo has been shared on multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and Naver blog alongside a claim that Kim Kyoung-soo, the governor of South Korea’s South Gyeongsang province, received a Covid-19 vaccine shot through his jacket. The claim is misleading: the photo was taken during a mock vaccination exercise on March 2, 2021; no actual Covid-19 vaccine shots were given that day, a government official says. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pakistan Army shelling Indian security posts in Kashmir in August 2019 A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube which claim it shows the Pakistani Army destroying the Indian military’s checkpoints in the disputed Kashmir region on August 6, 2019. The claim is false; the video has circulated online since 2017 in reports about a military operation along the Line of Control (LoC) - the de facto border that divides disputed areas in Kashmir between India and Pakistan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Union leader slams Sri Lankan government for buying Covid-19 vaccines A photo collage has been shared in multiple Facebook posts that claim it shows a news report where a union leader purportedly criticised the government for procuring Covid-19 vaccines instead of paying teachers' salaries. But the claim is false: the photos in the collage have been doctored to add fabricated remarks into an original report that aired before the wide availability of Covid-19 vaccines in the country. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Calling this number will get you food aid in the US Posts shared thousands of times on Facebook claim to provide an emergency food stamp hotline. This is false; the phone number is not for the US Department of Agriculture, which is responsible for food stamps, and instead is a disconnected number formerly belonging to rapper Mike Jones. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hong Kong police officer burnt after protesters threw petrol bombs at a police vehicle? A photo has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter, Weibo and online forums which claim it shows a Hong Kong police officer who was burned when protesters threw petrol bombs at a police vehicle during a standoff at a Hong Kong university. The claim is false; the photo has circulated in Malaysian media reports since at least 2018 about a man attacked in Malaysia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Kit Kat manufacturers Nestlé and Hershey release new chocolate bar for Pride Month An image has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook that purports to show a new Kit Kat bar “with no straight lines” launched to celebrate “gay [pride] month”. The claim is false: spokespersons from Nestlé and Hershey, the companies that manufacture Kit Kat, separately told AFP that they did not release the chocolate bar featured in the social media posts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Minister Fikile Mbalula said potholes make South African drivers better Multiple social media posts claim South Africa's Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said the country boasts the best drivers because its roads are full of potholes. This is false; while potholes do plague South Africa’s roads, the quotes attributed to Mbalula, who denied them, come from a satirical article. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Vice President Leni Robredo and her first husband An image has been shared repeatedly in Facebook posts that claim it shows Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo with her "secret first husband" at their wedding. The claim circulated online after Robredo -- arch-rival of President Rodrigo Duterte -- announced she will run for the top job in 2022. But the image has been shared in a false context: it does not show Robredo. A Filipino couple living in the Philippine province of Pampanga told AFP their photo had been misused. Robredo has dismissed false reports circulating since 2016 that she had a "secret first wedding". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

خطأ: ام إيطالية مصابة بفيروس كورونا تحتضن طفلها A photo has been shared thousands of times on Facebook alongside a claim it shows an Italian mother holding her baby for the last time after becoming terminally ill with COVID-19. The claim is false; the photo has circulated in reports about a child who was awaiting a marrow transplant in 1985 in the US. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Putin wishes happy birthday to South Africa’s Zuma on live television Social media posts claim that an image shows Russian President Vladimir Putin recently wishing South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma a happy birthday on live television. But the claim is false: The image was created by layering elements typically seen in news broadcasts, including a "breaking news" label, over an old photo of Putin. There is no evidence that any media made such a report. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Indian journalist's vehicle swept away in Telangana Footage of a car being swept away by floodwaters has been viewed more than a million times in Indian news reports and social media posts about a journalist who drowned while covering heavy monsoon rains that inundated the subcontinent's southern Telangana state. Whilst police in Telangana's district of Jagtial told AFP that a journalist drowned in the flood, the clip has been shared in a false context. It has circulated online since September 2020 in posts about a vehicle being swept by flooding in neighbouring Pakistan. The video also includes other elements that indicate it was filmed in Pakistan, including a vehicle with a Pakistani license plate, as well as someone speaking in Urdu-language. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Viruses never mutate and variants are a result of human interference Facebook posts shared in South Korea claim that only man-made viruses can mutate. The claim circulated online as variants of SARS-CoV-2 spread throughout the world. The claim is false: naturally occurring viruses often mutate, according to health experts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Balenciaga designer Lotta Volkova As luxury fashion house Balenciaga faces a backlash for ad campaigns that critics say condoned child exploitation, social media users claim a photo shows Russian-born stylist Lotta Volkova wearing a Satanic outfit while holding two baby dolls covered in red paint. This is false; the person pictured is not Volkova, her agent confirmed, but a runway model for designer Hu Sheguang at China Fashion Week in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video showing foreigners in South Africa jumping from a burning building A video of people frantically jumping out of a burning building is being widely shared on social media alongside captions claiming that it shows this week’s deadly anti-foreigner violence in South Africa. But the video is not from South Africa at all -- this fire, which killed 20 teenagers, happened in India several months ago. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Are these Pakistani 500 rupee notes counterfeit? A video that has been viewed millions of times on social media claims that 500 rupee notes which do not have a Pakistani flag on them are fake. The State Bank of Pakistan has said the notes are valid. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows bomb attack in Turkey in 2022 Social media posts with hundreds of thousands of views have reshared an old blast video in a misleading context, claiming the footage shows a deadly bomb attack in a shopping avenue in Turkey in November 2022. The clip, however, shows a suicide bombing that targeted the same avenue in Istanbul in March 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Free DNA testing in South African hospitals and clinics from June 2022 Multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter in South Africa claim that the government will be offering free DNA tests in state clinics and hospitals from June 2022. But the claim is false: the national health department confirmed the rumours are a hoax. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine contains dangerous graphene oxide A video featuring a US pundit who claims the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is dangerous because it contains the nanoparticle graphene oxide has been watched more than a million times on social media. But the claims are based on a study whose methodology experts have questioned, Pfizer said the substance is not used in the manufacturing of its shot, and researchers told AFP there is no evidence graphene oxide is used in any vaccines currently on the market. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Bullied nine-year-old Australian boy Quaden Bayles, who has dwarfism, is actually an adult Multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube claim a nine-year-old Australian boy with dwarfism, Quaden Bayles, is actually an adult. The misleading posts were published shortly after a viral video of Bayles was shared by his mother in which he described being bullied due to his genetic condition. But previous media interviews with Bayles and his family and their digital footprints over the past decade are consistent with him being nine years old. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Regularly consuming salt cleanses the blood A claim has been shared in multiple social media posts in South Korea that regularly drinking salt water cleanses the blood by purportedly providing the same benefits as intravenous saline drips. The posts are misleading; medical experts told AFP consuming copious amounts of salt is harmful and intravenous saline drips are not used to cleanse the blood, as the posts claim. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Heart Keep was developed by the Philippine Heart Center Facebook posts advertising a heart supplement in the Philippines falsely claim it was developed by a specialist heart hospital and endorsed by a prominent Filipino cardiologist. The posts link to a purported interview with cardiologist Rody Sy on a website that has been mocked up to appear as though it belongs to the Philippine Heart Center. But both the hospital and Dr Sy separately said they were not affiliated with the product, which the archipelago nation's food and drug regulator warned against using in 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: People vaccinated against Covid-19 should avoid MRI scans Social media posts claim "electromagnetism" from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans can be dangerous for people who have recently been vaccinated against Covid-19. This is false; medical experts say MRIs pose no such risk, and have repeatedly debunked claims that the vaccines contain magnetic ingredients. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows scene captured in Sri Lanka's suburb A photo of a nativity scene next to a homeless camp under a bridge has been repeatedly shared in social media posts since Christmas Day 2020 alongside a claim it was taken in Sri Lanka. The posts circulated online as Sri Lanka battled an economic crisis that has been deepened by the coronavirus pandemic. In reality, the photo was taken in Brazil. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: George Soros was arrested for US election interference An article claiming that billionaire financier George Soros was arrested for interference in the 2020 US election has received hundreds of shares and thousands of views on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. The report includes an image of a purported indictment against Soros from the US state of Pennsylvania. The claim is false; a spokesperson for Soros’ philanthropic organisation said the report is “entirely false” and the purported indictment image was doctored. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Children face risks from wearing masks A flyer shared on Facebook claims children have little chance of dying of Covid-19, they have essentially no chance of spreading the disease asymptomatically, and that they face a series of risks from wearing face masks. This is misleading; doctors say children can die from the disease and can also spread it, and US health authorities recommend that most youngsters over the age of two wear masks. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show Shinzo Abe shooting suspect Three photos of a man have been shared hundreds of times on social media alongside a claim they show the suspect in the assassination of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe. The claim was also shared in a video by a Greek TV channel and viewed hundreds of thousands of times before it was removed from YouTube. In fact, the photos show 58-year-old Japanese video game designer Hideo Kojima, creator of the Metal Gear series. In a statement on Twitter, Kojima's company warned it may take legal action "in some cases" against those sharing the misinformation. Police have named the murder suspect as 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, who was in custody as of July 13, 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows Volvo CEO hit at auto braking system demonstration A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on social media alongside a claim that it shows Volvo’s chief executive being run over by a self-braking car. The claim is misleading; while the video shows a genuine incident in 2015, during which a car smashed into staff at a car dealership in the Dominican Republic, the man hit was not the CEO of Volvo. The automaker told AFP that the car was not equipped with a pedestrian detection system. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: South Korean President was reading script at press conference. A photo of South Korean President Moon Jae-in sitting in front of a teleprompter while holding a press conference has been shared repeatedly on Facebook in January 2021 alongside a claim it shows he was reading from a script. The claim is misleading: the image has been doctored from a photo that was taken in January 2020. South Korea’s Presidential Blue House told AFP that the prompters were used to display questions from journalists to the president. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Shahbaz Gill hugging his children after his arrest After Pakistani opposition politician Shahbaz Gill was arrested on sedition charges, a video was viewed tens of thousands of times in posts that claimed it showed him in a tearful embrace with his children. However, the video has been shared in a false context. The clip shows two children who were reunited with their father after they ran away from home. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: [Four photos have been shared hundreds of times on multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim that they show the aftermath of an earthquake that hit Taiwan in December 2020.] Four photos have been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim they show the aftermath of an earthquake that hit Taiwan in December 2020. The claim is false: the images actually show damage caused by three different earthquakes in Taiwan from 2016 to 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan named a corruption suspect in early 2023 A false claim that Indonesia's anti-graft agency has officially declared former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan a suspect in two high-profile corruption cases has circulated in videos posted on Facebook and YouTube, racking up hundreds of thousands of views. As of February 14, 2022, Indonesia's anti-graft agency had not named a suspect in both corruption cases and a representative for the agency told AFP investigations on the merit of the cases were ongoing. Videos in the posts feature a doctored image and use clips unrelated to the claim. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's home in Cape Town A Facebook post shared hundreds of times purports to show President Ramaphosa’s sizeable house in Cape Town-- in contrast to the houses of voters for the ruling ANC party. The image is of a house in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the United States. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The Biden administration has announced "stimulus loans" up to $40,000 Social media posts advertise "Biden stimulus loans" of up to $40,000. But Congress has not approved any such program, and the website linked in the posts is operated by a private loan broker with no connection to the US government. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Boy from Indonesia’s Papua region reciting Koran A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of views on multiple posts on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, alongside a claim it shows a boy from Indonesia’s predominantly Christian region of Papua reciting the Koran. The claim is false; the video shows a boy reciting the Koran in Zanzibar. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: It shows the official Twitter account of the Romanian Football Association A screenshot of a tweet has been shared in multiple Facebook posts which claim it shows the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) criticising South Korean broadcaster MBC for mocking a Romanian player. The claim is false: the Twitter account holder has publicly dismissed its connection with the FRF, and the federation operates its Twitter account under a different username. No reports or statements can be found to show that the federation has publicly criticised MBC. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: President Duterte intended to use Covid-19 vaccines for depopulation A video has been viewed thousands of times in Facebook posts claiming it shows Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his legal advisor announcing that Covid-19 vaccines were used for "depopulation". The claim is false; the video shows Duterte speaking before the pandemic and his remarks were not related to vaccination. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pakistan issues alert after novel coronavirus signs appear in chickens Photos of diseased chicken have been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts which claim the deadly novel coronavirus has been found in chickens in Pakistan. The claim is false; Pakistan’s Ministry of Health, National Institute of Health and the Pakistan Poultry Association told AFP there is “no evidence” novel coronavirus has been found in poultry. The photos are also being shared out of context as they show chickens sickened with an unrelated disease. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Rahul Gandhi posed with female weavers at dining table but did not eat A photo of the de facto head of India's main opposition party Rahul Gandhi sitting with a group of women while wearing a face mask has been shared thousands of times in social media posts that claim he pretended to dine with them for a publicity stunt. The misleading posts circulated online ahead of various sub-national elections in India, for which Gandhi's Congress party is the main opposition. In fact, the image shows him at an event in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu in 2021 when other news footage captured him eating with the group. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A video of Koran recitation on Britain's Got Talent show A video of a young man reciting verses from the Koran apparently on the popular television show “Britain’s Got Talent” has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in Facebook posts that claim the audience of the talent show was “mesmerised” by the performance. The claim is false: the video has been edited, adding clips of the Koran recital; the Indonesian YouTuber who created the edited video marked it as a parody. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Professor Yuen Kwok-Yung urged people to wear a mini fan to blow away virus An image that appears to show a top Hong Kong microbiologist with an electric fan attached to his forehead is circulating in social media posts that claim he urged the public to wear the device to "blow away" coronavirus. Some social media users appeared to believe the picture was genuine. In reality, the posts show a digitally altered image. AFP found no credible reports that the health expert gave such advice. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Philippine poll official confirmed Vice President Leni Robredo violated election law A video circulating on YouTube and Facebook claims an official of the Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec) "confirmed Vice President Leni Robredo violated election rules" and will be disqualified from running in the 2022 presidential race. This claim is false. The video misrepresents remarks made by the Comelec official about campaign donations. A spokesman for the commission separately said claims about Robredo's purported disqualification in October 2021 were "fake news". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Afghanistan announced $30 million Covid-19 aid package for Pakistan An image of a purported news report by a Pakistani broadcaster has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook and Twitter in November 2020 alongside a claim that Afghanistan announced a $30 million aid package for Pakistan to support the country during the Covid-19 pandemic. The claim is false; the Pakistani broadcaster whose logo was shown in the posts told AFP it had not aired the purported segment; the Pakistani government also said the claim was “fake news”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan gets grand welcome at Qatar World Cup 2022 An old video of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan greeted by adoring fans has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times online with the false claim it shows him at the Qatar World Cup. The video actually shows him opening an Indian jewellery chain in Qatar in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 is merely a common cold that we see every year. Facebook posts circulating in South Korea claim that Covid-19 is "merely a common cold that we see every year", referencing news reports from 2013 which mentioned a "novel coronavirus". The claim is false: the 2013 reports referred to the MERS outbreak in South Korea, which was caused by a different virus, according to health experts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Justin Trudeau berated unvaccinated people in social media post An image of a social media post that appears to be from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and urges people to shun unvaccinated family members is circulating online. But Trudeau's office says he did not post the message, and there is no trace of it on his official social media accounts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Canadian courts revoked Covid-19 emergency orders and public health measures are now unlawful Social media posts claim that courts in Canada have "revoked" Covid-19 emergency orders, and that mask mandates and other public health measures are unlawful. This is misleading; one order in the country's largest province, Ontario, was revoked on June 9, 2021, but the courts had nothing to do with it, and the province still has regulations which try to limit the spread of the deadly coronavirus. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: [Fake news headline circulates that Myanmar opposition party chairman will forbid Myanmar citizens from speaking English when they regain power.] An image has been shared multiple times on Facebook alongside a claim it shows a newspaper report about Myanmar opposition leader U Than Htay of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) vowing to ban people from speaking English should the party come to power. The claim is false; the image actually shows a doctored page of Myanmar newspaper Golden Hand; the paper denied publishing any such report. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: CDC data shows that Covid-19 shots have killed more people than all the other vaccines in the last 20 years combined An article claims that US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data shows that Covid-19 shots have killed more people than all the other vaccines in the last 20 years combined. This is false; the data does not show the “death toll” from the vaccines as the article claims, and instead includes reported fatalities that occurred after inoculation, regardless of the cause. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Not wearing a mask in Canada during COVID-19 will lead to a $3,000 fine or jail time Articles claim that not wearing a mask in Canada during the novel coronavirus pandemic can lead to a Can$3,000 fine or jail time. This is false. Masks are required aboard airplanes and by certain stores, but AFP did not find any Canadian jurisdiction where wearing them on the street is mandatory. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Microwaves from cell towers and radar stations contribute to global warming Multiple posts shared hundreds of times worldwide claim that microwave frequencies emitted by 5G cell towers and radar stations are significant contributors to global warming. However, experts told AFP that although the infrastructure needed to support 5G networks may marginally contribute to global warming, there is no evidence that microwave frequencies from 5G cell towers contribute to climate change. According to the United Nations, fossil fuels are by far the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for more than 75 percent of global greenhouse emissions. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hong Kong schoolgirl waves a 'free HIV test' flag An image of a Hong Kong schoolgirl holding a flag that purports to offer free HIV testing has been shared in multiple posts on Facebook. The image has been doctored from a local news outlet’s photo of a Hong Kong student holding a pro-democracy flag. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: CDC illegally changed mortality count rules and inflated Covid-19 death toll Articles shared thousands of times on Facebook claim the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) increased the Covid-19 death toll by 1,600 percent because they illegally altered rules for reporting mortality data. This is false; the CDC’s chief of mortality statistics said the claim “doesn’t have any validity,” and public health attorneys said the agency’s actions did not violate the law. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Merriam-Webster changed its definition of anti-vaxxer amid Covid-19 pandemic Facebook posts shared in May 2021 claim the US dictionary Merriam-Webster “changed [its] definition of anti-vaxxer” to include “people who oppose laws that mandate vaccination”. The claim is false: Merriam-Webster told AFP its definition of the term has not changed since its inception in 2018. Archived versions of the dictionary’s website also show its definition of the term has not changed since 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Several Facebook posts claim Peter Obi's convoy was attacked in Abuja A Facebook post claimed pictures it shared showed the aftermath of a gun attack on the convoy of Peter Obi, a Nigerian opposition leader who is contesting next year’s presidential election. This is false; all the images depict various incidents from previous years and were not taken in Abuja, as the post claimed. Obi also denied being in a convoy that came under attack. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Unproven: 769 athletes collapsed on the field in a year due to the Covid-19 vaccine After American football player Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest during an NFL game in January 2023, claims that nearly 800 athletes collapsed in one year due to the Covid-19 vaccine recirculated online. This is unproven; the allegation rests on an unsourced segment from a far-right cable news channel, and public health agencies have found no link between athlete injuries or deaths and vaccination. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: 62 girls were rescued from a shipping container in Delaware Social media posts claim that 62 girls were rescued from a shipping container in the US state of Delaware. This is false; Customs and Border Patrol said it investigated the claim and found no evidence to support it, and the Delaware Department of Justice said it was not familiar with such an event. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photographs purportedly show gold bars and treasure stored at Fort Knox Multiple photographs have been shared in South Korean social media posts with a claim that they show gold bars stored at Fort Knox, the US military installation that houses much of the national gold reserves. The claim is misleading: while photos of the building’s exterior are indeed from Fort Knox, all images of gold and other treasures in the post were snapped at unrelated locations. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows aftermath of the Ohio explosion in February 2023 A photo of a huge crater in the ground is circulating in Chinese-language social media posts falsely linking it to a train explosion in the US state of Ohio on February 3, 2023. The photo was actually taken after a massive deadly blast that shook the Chinese port city of Tianjin on August 15, 2015. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: China ditched Covid-19 jabs in favour of “inhaled vaccines” Facebook posts circulating in May 2021 claim that China has abandoned Covid-19 jabs in favour of a vaccine that can be inhaled. The claim is false: while a Chinese vaccine company is carrying out trials for an “inhaled vaccine”, the product has not been rolled out as of May 14, 2021. China has continued to use traditional Covid-19 jabs and has made no indication it will abandon them. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows air combat between Ukraine and Russia Footage that appears to show helicopters obliterated by missiles has racked up tens of thousands of views in social media posts that claim it shows combat between Russian and Ukrainian forces. While some social media users appeared to believe the clip was genuine, it was taken from war video game series Arma. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Congress party leaders welcomed with gold chains As leaders of the opposition Congress party convened in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, a video showing the state’s Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel greeting the party's leaders with garlands was viewed thousands of times in social media posts that falsely claim the garlands are made of gold. The garlands, made by the people of the local Baiga tribe, are in fact made of a type of grass. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Pfizer director admits vaccine never tested to prevent transmission A viral claim that a Pfizer executive supposedly "admitted to the European Parliament" in October 2022 that the company's Covid-19 vaccine has not been tested on preventing coronavirus transmission omits important details about clinical trials for the jab. This information is not new as the misleading posts allege; it has been publicly reported by the company, health agencies, and multiple news media since December 2020. Pfizer's clinical trials were designed to measure its vaccine's effectiveness in preventing severe Covid-19 -- not in preventing viral transmission, which scientists told AFP is difficult to measure. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Photos show South Korea officially welcomed Spanish PM at construction site After Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited South Korea, misleading social media posts emerged mocking officials for purportedly holding a "welcome reception" for the leader at a building site. While Sanchez genuinely visited the construction site of a Spanish cultural institute in Seoul, he was officially welcomed at a ceremony at the South Korean presidential office. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows mismatch between Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit and boot print left on the Moon, therefore Moon landing was a hoax An image has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts that purports to show a comparison between the boot tread of a spacesuit worn by US astronaut Neil Armstrong for his 1969 mission to the Moon and a boot print he apparently left on the Moon’s surface. The posts suggest the boot’s tread does not “match up” with the boot print, indicating the Moon landing may have been a “hoax”. The claim is false: the image shows Armstrong’s preserved spacesuit at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, but an expert said Armstrong and fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin wore overshoes while on the Moon’s surface. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: All ‘blue masks’ contain graphene A post shared on Facebook claims that Chinese-manufactured blue masks “widely used” in Uganda contain graphene, a material that could be harmful to the lungs when inhaled. This is misleading; not all “blue masks” contain graphene, according to experts. Furthermore, studies are still ongoing to determine whether tiny particles of graphene found in some masks are harmful to people. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Unproven: Ivermectin cures cancer Social media posts claim ivermectin has been proven to treat cancer. This is false; clinical trials are examining whether the drug can help reduce the growth of cancerous tumors, but health experts say it is too early to call the findings a cure -- and medical authorities warn against taking the antiparasitic unsupervised. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos of flood victims in northern Philippines after powerful typhoon Vamco in 2020 Two photos have been shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim they show children who died in flash floods after Typhoon Vamco hit the Philippines 2020. The claim is false: the photos actually show the aftermath of tropical storm Washi in two southern Philippine cities in 2011. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Austria halted its vaccination programme and destroyed all vaccines. Multiple Facebook posts have shared a graphic alongside a claim that Austria has halted its Covid-19 vaccination programme and destroyed all vaccines after the death of a 49-year-old nurse. The claim omits important context: Austria temporarily halted use of 6,000 ABV 5300 doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine after witnessing two death cases, but that decision only applied to specific doses, not to all the vaccines; the country resumed the distribution of the batch on March 19, 2021, after The European Medicines Agency (EMA) confirmed that there was no evidence of a problem related to specific batches of the vaccine or to particular manufacturing sites. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Unproven: Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, others are leaving Spotify Social media posts claim various famous musicians will follow Neil Young's lead in removing their music from Spotify to protest the platform hosting a popular podcast that has spread inaccurate Covid-19 claims. But only one of the artists named has said she plans to do so, another has denied it, and the rest have not publicly commented on the walkout. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This photo shows an anti-vaccine protest in Italy A photo of huge crowds lining the streets is circulating in Facebook posts that claim it shows an anti-vaccine protest in Italy. The claim is false; the photo shows a street music festival in Switzerland in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Recent video shows military tank in Ukraine A video that shows a military tank hurtling down the street has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts that claim it was filmed in Ukraine in January 2022, after Western leaders sounded the alarm over a potential Russian invasion. The posts are misleading; the footage was filmed in May 2014, when deadly clashes erupted between Ukrainian troops and separatists in the city of Mariupol. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: China develops COVID-19 vaccine An image has been shared in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim that it shows China administering the "world's first new coronavirus vaccine" after the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The claim is misleading; the photos in this image have circulated in reports about China testing a potential COVID-19 vaccine. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Images show a plane crash that killed 178 people in Indonesia in October 2022 Photos of a crashed plane and a woman praying have been misleadingly shared in Bangladeshi social media posts in October 2022 alongside a caption that says 178 people had been killed in a plane crash in Indonesia. While the three photos were taken in Indonesia, they do not show a recent accident. The two images of the crashed jet are from a 2013 incident, which caused no fatalities; while the picture of the praying woman was from 2018, when an Indonesian jet crashed into the sea, killing more than 180 people on board. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Pakistanis detained after heckling Shehbaz Sharif at Saudi Arabian mosque A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in posts that claim it shows activists from Pakistan’s main opposition party being arrested by Saudi police. The clip circulated online after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was heckled during a visit to the Prophet's Mosque in Medina. However, the video has been shared in a misleading context; it predates Sharif's visit by more than one year. It actually shows Pakistan nationals arrested on suspicion of running digital scams in the Saudi capital Riyadh in April 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows low occupancy during Laal Singh Chaddha screening After right-wing Hindu groups in India called to boycott Bollywood star Aamir Khan's latest movie over comments he made about the treatment of Muslims in the country, a photo was shared thousands of times in Facebook posts claiming it shows a poor turnout at the film's premiere. However, the photo was taken at a press conference for the movie "Laal Singh Chaddha", not the premiere. Despite protests in some Indian cities, various Indian celebrities were pictured attending multiple premieres for the movie across the country. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US National Institutes of Health recommends ivermectin for Covid-19 Facebook and Twitter posts have circulated worldwide falsely claiming the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has modified its page in September to recommend the anti-parasite drug ivermectin for Covid-19. A spokesperson for the NIH told AFP on September 6 the agency "recommends against the use of ivermectin" for Covid-19. A review of the archives of the NIH website shows the agency has not recently altered its stance on the drug -- its last update on April 29, 2022 does not recommend ivermectin as a treatment for the coronavirus. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Explainer: herb cure coronavirus An article published by a Thai media site claims that a herb cultivated in southeast Asia, andrographis paniculata or “green chiretta”, can prevent and relieve symptoms of the novel coronavirus. The claim is misleading; Thai health experts said there is no scientific evidence that the herb can boost immunity or relieve the symptoms of the novel coronavirus. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigerian governor’s guards attack voters at recent state election Footage of uniformed men firing gunshots to disperse a mob has been shared thousands of times on social media purporting to show violence during Nigeria’s recent election in Ondo state. However, the claim is false; the video was filmed in a different part of the country in 2018 and is unrelated to the state poll. AFP Fact Check found that the TV banner was digitally manipulated to include misleading text. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos of the pro-Trump march in DC on November 14, 2020 Photos of dense crowds lining city streets were shared alongside the claim that they depicted a pro-Donald Trump rally in Washington DC after his election defeat. While the rally drew thousands of people in the US capital, some of the photos showed NBA celebrations, while others depicted protests, including a Women’s March against Trump almost four years ago. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Posts claim video shows opposition leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari does not know how basic foodstuff is weighed and sold in Pakistan A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter which claim it shows a Pakistani opposition leader incorrectly giving the price of certain groceries in Pakistan. The posts claim the video is evidence that the politician is unfit to become the leader of Pakistan. The claim is false; the video has been doctored and there is no record of the politician making such a statement. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Has food inflation risen to 20 percent in Pakistan? An online report by a Pakistani broadcaster claims that basic food inflation has risen to 20 percent in Pakistan resulting in “severe consequences” for the country. Official statistics show that food inflation fell in the second half of 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Indonesia no longer bans people from traveling during the Eid al-Fitr festival in 2021 A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in Facebook and Twitter posts claiming it shows a news report announcing that Indonesia has lifted a travel ban for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr this year. However, the posts are intended as satire. The clip actually shows a newscaster performing tongue twisters in Kazakh. An Indonesian Transportation Ministry spokeswoman told AFP that travel is still banned during Eid in May 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Mount Sinabung’s eruption in Indonesia A video has been viewed hundreds of times on Facebook alongside a claim that it shows CCTV footage of Mount Sinabung in Indonesia erupting in 2019. The claim is false; the video is a simulation video of an undersea volcanic eruption shown at a museum in New Zealand. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show cars smashed up in Ukraine for displaying a Chinese flag? Picture showing cars with smashed windows are circulating in multiple social media posts that claim they are vehicles in Ukraine targeted after the Russian invasion for displaying stickers of the Chinese flag. In fact, the pictures were digitally altered to add the flag and were taken years before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Taliban is playing with Blackhawk helicopters on the tarmac in Afghanistan A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts that claim it shows the Taliban playing with a captured American helicopter on the tarmac. However, the claim is false; the video has circulated online since 2020 in reports about a helicopter captured in Libya. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show paper cranes sent by Japanese well-wishers to Turkey Korean-language social media posts have repeatedly shared two pictures alongside a false claim they show thousands of origami cranes sent by Japanese well-wishers to Turkey in the aftermath of the earthquake that devastated the country in February 2023. The photos were in fact taken years ago and show the paper cranes collected from memorials across Japan by a non-profit organisation for recycling. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The video is an animation created by a special effects designer and shows a real Apple vehicle A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and Weibo alongside a claim it shows an electric car made by US technology company Apple. The claim is false; the footage is actually a digital animation created by a special effects artist on Chinese video platform Douyin, who told AFP that her team superimposed the Apple logo onto the car. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of boar left in Indian mosque by Hindus in April 2019 Two photographs have been shared hundreds of time in April 2019 Facebook posts which claim that they show a boar that has been left inside an Indian mosque by the Hindu community. The claim is false; the images actually show a 2018 incident in Malaysia when a wild boar got into a mosque and injured worshipers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This photo actually shows a scene from a South Korean movie by Bong Joon-ho A photo has been shared multiple times on Facebook alongside a claim it shows imprisoned former South Korean President Park Geun-hye in a cell. This claim is false; the photo is actually a scene from the 2009 South Korean movie ‘Mother’ by award-winning director Bong Joon-ho, and the figure pictured is actor Won Bin. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: 1,101 athletes died due to heart conditions between 2021-2023 and 1966-2004 After the collapse of American football player Damar Hamlin during a Buffalo Bills game, anti-vaccine advocates claimed on social media that the number of athletes who died due to heart conditions between 2021 and 2023 was the same as the period 1966-2004. This is unproven; the sources cited in the posts do not support the allegation, for which multiple sports cardiology experts told AFP there is no evidence. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows a terrible fire in a 2022 Qatar World Cup stadium Footage that predates the Qatar World Cup by more than four years has resurfaced online in posts that falsely claim it shows a "massive fire" at the tournament which kicked off on November 20. The clip, which has racked up thousands of views in false posts, actually shows football fans setting off fireworks at a match in Germany in May 2018, after Hamburg's historic relegation from the Bundesliga league. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: These photos show victims of mosque attack in India Photos appearing to show men in white shrouds laying on the ground are circulating in Facebook posts that claim they are victims of an unspecified mosque attack in the Indian capital Delhi. In fact, the photos have circulated in news reports about demonstrators protesting a citizenship law in February 2020 in western Maharashtra state. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Eating papaya salad can help protect against COVID-19 infections A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube which claims that eating papaya salad can help to prevent infection from the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19. The claim is false; as of April 2020, health experts have said there is no evidence that papaya salad can prevent people from catching the virus; the World Health Organization (WHO) maintains that wearing masks, social distancing and washing hands regularly are the most effective methods of preventing infection. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Only six people attended Kamala Harris's rally in Orlando, Florida on October 19, 2020 A video of Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris waving from a platform is circulating in Facebook posts claiming that virtually nobody showed up to her recent rally in Florida. The video is misleading; the rally was a drive-in event and the angle of the footage obscures from view the cars and people who attended. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Images of a suspect arrested over the killing of a Philippine teenager Images shared more than 10,000 times on Facebook claim to show a man arrested for killing and mutilating a 16-year-old girl in the Philippines. The claim is false; a reverse image search shows the man was arrested in a separate rape case. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show designs for a palace in Addis Ababa A set of photos shared on Facebook purportedly shows designs for a new palace under construction in a forest in Ethiopia’s capital. However, this is false: two of the photos show the design for a smart forest city in Mexico, not Ethiopia, while a third shows a winding road in Germany. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Fence on Guatemala-Mexico border A photo shared on Facebook claims to show a heavily fortified fence on the Mexico-Guatemala border. Mexico has no such border fence with Guatemala, and the photo is actually of a barricade along Israel's border with Egypt. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Twin elephant calves born in Minneriya are South Asia's first set of elephant twins -- Photos from South Africa -- (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: How can Biden afford this mansion on a senator's salary President Donald Trump’s son Eric posted a photo on social media sites of a mansion he said belongs to Joe Biden, implying the Democratic candidate is corrupt. The posts are misleading; instead of showing Biden’s current residence, the photo depicts one he bought decades earlier and later sold. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows Singapore’s ruling party placing election poster over opposition party's poster A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim it shows a worker for Singapore’s ruling party placing an election poster over an opposition party’s poster. The claim is misleading; the video only shows part of the incident; a longer version of the video shows the worker putting the poster above the opposition party’s poster. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Chinese citizens converting to Islam due to COVID-19 A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and YouTube alongside a claim that it shows Chinese citizens converting to Islam as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic. The claim is false; the footage actually shows an Eid-al-Fitr prayer in the Chinese city of Xining in 2015, years before the pandemic. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Baking soda can cure Covid-19 Multiple social media posts circulating in South Korea claim baking soda is the "cheapest and safest cure" for Covid-19. The claim circulated online shortly after South Korea recorded its first case of the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus variant, which prompted a new wave of infections. But health experts say there is no evidence that baking soda can cure Covid-19. AFP previously debunked a similar claim after it circulated in the Philippines. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigerian government buys WhatsApp Posts circulating widely on Facebook in Nigeria claim that the Nigerian government has purchased the instant messaging service WhatsApp for 3 billion naira ($7.3 million) and plans to use it to spy on citizens. This is false; Facebook, WhatsApp’s parent company, told AFP Fact Check that the Nigerian government has not purchased the messaging platform. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian president tweeted she will declare India a "Hindu nation" Posts have circulated in Indian Facebook groups that purport to share a tweet from India's newly-elected president Droupadi Murmu declaring she will turn the South Asian country into a "Hindu nation", and take back part of Kashmir under Pakistan's control. Comments on the posts indicated some users thought the tweet was from Murmu's official account. However, online archives show the tweet was originally shared by a parody Twitter account. The Indian government also said the tweet was not shared on the president's official account. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows protesters in Russia holding anti-Putin banner in May 2023 A video has surfaced in social media posts that falsely claim it shows protesters rallying against Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in May 2023. While Russians have genuinely protested against Putin's war in Ukraine, the footage shows an anti-Kremlin protest in May 2013. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Iranian father dancing at funeral of his daughter killed in hijab protests A video of a man dancing has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times alongside a claim it shows a father at the funeral of his daughter who was purportedly killed by Iranian morality police for not covering her hair. The clip circulated as Iranian authorities carried out a lethal crackdown on protests sparked by the death of a woman detained for allegedly breaching rules requiring women to wear the hijab and modest clothes. However, the footage was taken from an episode of an Azerbaijani television series from January 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Migrants beaten during Krampus Christmas parade Social media posts shared hundreds of thousands of times purport to show "migrants" being beaten after they tried to disrupt a Christmas parade on Italy's border with Austria. However, the organisers of the parade and the town's mayor say the people in the video were not immigrants. What you can see in the video is typical during "Krampuslauf" festive parades, during which people dressed as devils chase locals through the streets. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indonesian President Joko Widodo declaring war on Malaysia A video has been viewed more than a million times on YouTube and Facebook alongside a claim that it shows Indonesian President Joko Widodo recently declaring war on Malaysia. The claim is false; the footage actually shows the president giving a speech in an anti-drug event in 2016, in which he declared war on drugs. In the misleading video, his speech has been edited, removing parts referring to drugs and drug traffickers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)