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All English Fact Checks

False: Eritrea announces new proclamation A Facebook post shared thousands of times claims that Eritrea recently issued a proclamation containing a list of 10 new laws that were announced following a peace mission to neighbouring Ethiopia. However, the claim is false; Eritrea’s information minister dismissed the purported proclamation as “ludicrous” while the last peace summit between the two countries was held in 2018 when both nations set aside years of animosity. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo showing men and women praying together at election rally in Indonesia is a 'hoax' A photo of men and women praying together at an Indonesian election rally held by opposition candidate Prabowo Subianto has been shared in multiple online posts that claim the image is a "hoax". The claim is false; the purported "original" image showing only women has been doctored, while the picture of the men and women was taken by a photographer for a major Indonesian news website. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Philippine presidential spokesperson Harry Roque calls poor people a 'burden' in coronavirus vaccination efforts A photo repeatedly shared on Facebook purports to show a news graphic containing genuine remarks by a Philippine presidential spokesperson that poor people are a “burden” on the government's coronavirus vaccination efforts. The claim is false: the purported graphic has been doctored to add the fabricated remarks about the poor. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indonesia news outlet promotes a shaman who pulls money out of thin air Facebook posts promoting a fake cash giveaway have shared a doctored news report that appears to endorse "a shaman who pulls money out of thin air". The video has racked up tens of thousands of views. The false posts share snippets from an old news report and unrelated YouTube clips that are edited to add a computer-generated voiceover. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows shark that befriended the man who saved her life An April Fool's story about a great white shark's fondness for a fisherman who saved its life has circulated for years in Facebook posts that present it as a true story. The posts share a photo of "Cindy" the shark with "Australian fisherman Arnold Pointer". However, a French fishing magazine editor confirmed he ran the story as a joke in 2006, while the photo shows a marine biologist on a research expedition in South Africa. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: News headlines say Indonesian President Jokowi not interested in third term "unless demanded by public" Multiple social media posts have shared purported screenshots of Indonesian media articles claiming Indonesian President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, said he was not interested in extending his presidential term "unless the public wants it". However, the screenshots have been doctored to add false headlines. As of April 19, 2022, Jokowi has not indicated he plans to serve beyond his constitutionally mandated two-term limit, which is set to end in 2024. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of YPG forces destroying Turkish Humvees, tanks (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Encephalitis caused by Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine As Australian health authorities battled to control an unprecedented spread of the mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis virus, social media posts claimed the potentially deadly virus was an adverse effect of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. But the posts -- shared hundreds of times -- are false. Health experts told AFP there is no link between encephalitis -- an inflammation of the brain -- and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The posts misrepresented a document that Pfizer submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image showing missiles on fighter jet F-15 EX An image of a new US fighter jet carrying an array of missiles has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook. The image, however, has been digitally altered; the original picture has far fewer missiles. Additionally, the jet’s manufacturer, Boeing, said the image does not show “the correct weapons configuration of the aircraft”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Biden reversed Trump's executive order on insulin prices Social media posts claim President Joe Biden overturned an executive order signed by his predecessor Donald Trump that aimed to lower insulin costs for US diabetics. This is false; Biden froze for 60 days the implementation of all federal rules created but not yet put into effect by the previous administration and, if applied, Trump’s proposed change would only cut drug prices for a limited number of Americans. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Masks cause bacterial pneumonia, Fauci knew and wrote about it A claim posted on Twitter says that most deaths in the 1918 influenza pandemic originated from bacterial pneumonia caused by face masks and that Dr Anthony Fauci, the US government’s top expert in the fight against Covid-19, knew about it. This is false; the 2008 study referred to in the tweet, and which Fauci co-authored, aimed to help plan for future pandemics and made no link to mask-wearing. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: all public health measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 in Canada, including lockdowns, mask mandates and social distancing, will end on March 1, 2021 Social media posts claim that all public health measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 in Canada, including lockdowns, mask mandates and social distancing, will end on March 1, 2021. This is false, according to provincial governments which are responsible for most rules related to the deadly virus. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Ethiopian preacher dancing to a song A video post claims to show a Protestant preacher dancing on a stage to a controversial song that praises former Ethiopian emperor Menelik II. However, this is false: the audio in the video has been digitally altered and replaced with the song. The post has provoked hostile discussions on social media in Ethiopia where ethnic tensions are simmering again. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Facebook has changed its privacy policy to collect user photos in Hong Kong after China imposed national security law Multiple Facebook posts written in traditional Chinese claim that Facebook has adopted a new privacy policy to gain access to users' photos which "can be used in court proceedings against you". The posts were published in early July 2020, shortly after China imposed a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong. The claim is false; in response to the misleading posts on July 14, 2020, Facebook said it has made “no changes” to users' privacy settings. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows design for Babri hospital to be built by Muslim body in Ayodhya An image of a building design has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook and Twitter posts alongside a claim it shows a design for a hospital set to be built by a Muslim body in India on land that was designated for a mosque. The claim is false; the image shows an illustration of a medical centre at an American university; the Muslim body cited in the social media posts said the claim was “fake news”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Photo shows KFC Black History Month post Social media posts share an alleged KFC tweet celebrating Black History Month that features an image of a chicken drumstick casting a shadow shaped like a Black Power fist. But the image was originally posted and then quickly removed by KFC Trinidad as the Caribbean country marked Emancipation Day in 2020, and a spokeswoman said it was not shared by the famous chicken restaurant in the United States. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigerian opposition presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has made a ceasefire plan with Boko Haram Islamists A widely shared video posted on Facebook claims that Nigerian opposition presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has made a ceasefire plan with Boko Haram Islamists. But there is no evidence for the claim. Abubakar’s campaign have not announced any ceasefire agreement with Boko Haram. Abubakar’s spokesperson said that no ceasefire plan had been made and that they had no plans to cede Nigerian territory to the group, if in power. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows actual human eye under a microscope (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Instagram page showing antifa symbol belongs to Illinois shooting suspect Social media posts and online articles share a purported screenshot of an Instagram profile said to belong to the man accused of killing seven and injuring dozens in a mass shooting at a July 4 parade in Highland Park, Illinois, in an effort to link him to far-left ideology. This is false; an archived version of the suspect's Instagram profile does not resemble the image circulated online, and no clear motive has emerged in the killing spree. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A malicious video entitled “Argentina” circulating on WhatsApp will hack your phone in 10 seconds Multiple social media posts shared in January 2021 claim that a malicious video entitled “Argentina” is circulating on WhatsApp and will hack your phone within 10 seconds. Most of these posts attribute the warning to Pakistan’s National Information Technology Board (NITB). The claim is misleading: the message is a hoax which has previously circulated in several other countries. Online archives show the NITB tweeted a warning about the hoax message on January 11, 2021 but later removed it. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Ukrainian citizens destroying Russian tanks with Molotov cocktails Social media posts shared hundreds of times show photos of people lobbing Molotov cocktails against a backdrop of flames. They claim the pictures show Ukrainians targeting Russian tanks invading the country. While Ukrainians have been making Molotov cocktails in response to the Russian invasion, the photos were taken as anti-government protests swept the capital Kyiv in 2014. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Russian leader Putin in South Africa for summit With Eastern Europe in turmoil following the invasion of Ukraine, a Facebook post shared hundreds of times claims Russian President Vladimir Putin is “in South Africa”. The post includes a video broadcast showing Putin arriving in the country for alliance talks. However, this is misleading: the video was filmed in July 2018 ahead of the 10th summit of the BRICS group, which was hosted by South Africa. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: An official warning from Thai post? A message has been shared repeatedly in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and messaging app Line that purports to be an official warning from the Thailand Post service about the danger of contracting Covid-19 from touching mail. The claim is false: Thailand Post said the message was “fake” and that it did not issue any such warning. In response to the misleading posts, the deputy director-general of Thailand’s Department of Disease Control told AFP that no one has tested positive for Covid-19 in Thailand after touching mail. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Major snowfall for South Africa in April A video circulating mainly on WhatsApp in South Africa shows a recording of a weather map forecasting extremely cold weather in and around the country. The video’s narrator claims that the map shows a "major snowfall" coming in the next 10 days that is expected to impact several regions in South Africa. The claim is misleading; the video was recorded three years ago and its creator, a meteorological enthusiast, has previously made statements clarifying that this is an old video that regularly resurfaces. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Chelsea Clinton calls for forced mRNA vaccination Social media posts claim Chelsea Clinton has called for forced messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccination for American children. This is false; the former US president's daughter endorsed an effort to boost routine childhood immunization in 20 developing countries, an initiative that does not involve mandatory jabs or Covid-19 vaccines. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Woman gives birth at the age of 103 A picture of an old woman holding an infant in a hospital bed has gone viral several times since it was first published online, most recently with the claim that it shows a baby in the arms of its 103-year-old mother. This is false -- the woman is the baby’s great-grandmother -- and follows on the heels of a similar hoax report that AFP debunked last year. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Trapdoor spider’s bite kills in five minutes Images of a brown spider are circulating in social media posts claiming that it is “very poisonous” and warning beachgoers that its “sting” could kill humans in five minutes. However, the claim is false; the photos show a type of trapdoor spider, which experts say is not dangerous to humans. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: the Sun might not be located 150 million kilometres away from Earth and Earth is covered by a sky dome A photo collage has surfaced on Facebook in South Korea alongside various claims about the Sun’s distance from Earth and the formation of rainbows. Experts told AFP that the posts’ claims were misleading. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows dead COVID-19 victims A photo has been shared thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim it shows bodies of those killed by COVID-19. The claim is misleading; the image is actually an Associated Press photo which shows victims of the December 26, 2004 tsunami in Thailand. The disaster, which became known as the Boxing Day tsunami, devastated more than a dozen countries. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show Sri Lankan domestic helper injured in Middle East Two photos of a badly injured woman have been shared more than a thousand times in a Facebook post alongside a claim that Sri Lanka must stop sending Sri Lankan women into "slavery" as domestic helpers in the Middle East, warning of "the hot water attack". The photos are being used in a misleading context; the images actually show a Vietnamese woman who was stung by a scorpion and suffered a rare medical reaction, according to local media reports and the victim's family. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 vaccines contain electronic devices that can turn on light bulbs. Multiple Facebook posts claim Covid-19 vaccines contain electronic devices that can turn on light bulbs. The claim is false, according to health experts. The misleading posts included a screenshot of a video that shows a light bulb trick. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Photo shows a genuine funeral home advert to discourage vaccination A photo has been shared repeatedly in Korean social media posts that claim it shows an advert from an actual funeral home discouraging people from taking Covid-19 vaccines. But the photo has been shared in a misleading context: it in fact shows an advert created by a US ad agency that was intended to promote vaccination; it does not show an advert from a genuine funeral home. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Hindu woman abducted to force marriage and conversion in Pakistan A video that shows a woman dragged by several men towards a car has been viewed tens of thousands of times in social media posts that claim she is a Hindu who was made to convert to Islam for a forced marriage in Muslim-majority Pakistan. But the video has been shared in a misleading context; it has previously circulated in reports about a woman being assaulted in public after attempting to divorce her husband. Local police told AFP everyone involved in the "domestic feud" was Hindu. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A sculpture of Jakarta’s ex-governor Ahok at Madame Tussauds? Multiple Facebook posts that have been shared hundreds of times contain a picture they claim shows a wax sculpture of an Indonesian politician on display at the Madame Tussauds museum in Hong Kong. The image actually depicts an action figure of the politician which has been sold online since at least 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show 'Iranian protester before execution' Photos of an Iranian man put to death in 2007 for killing a judge are circulating in social media posts falsely linking his execution to anti-government protests that have rocked Iran since September 2022. While Iran has handed down a rash of death sentences over the protests, the photos of Majid Kavousifar with a noose around his neck are presented in a false context. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows police officers arrested in SA in 2022 2019 arrests (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bike store giving away free electric bicycles in response to Indonesia's fuel price increase in September 2022 Facebook posts shared thousands of times claim a bicycle shop chain in Indonesia was offering free electric bikes after the government raised fuel prices in the Southeast Asian archipelago. But the bicycle shop chain told AFP that the purported giveaway was a "hoax". AFP found the photos in the post were taken from various unrelated listings. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Image shows alcohol raid at FIFA 2022 A photo of an official examining a can of beer disguised as a soft drink has been misleadingly shared in social media posts that claim it shows how football fans are sneaking alcohol into stadiums at the Qatar World Cup. The photo in fact shows a smuggling attempt detected by customs officers in Saudi Arabia in November 2015. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Illegal kasippu available for sale in cans in Sri Lankan markets now Misleading images purportedly showing a canned Sri Lankan moonshine called kasippu have been shared dozens of times by Facebook users suggesting it was being bottled and sold in the island nation, where illegally brewed alcohol has risen in popularity following an economic crash. The purported product's labels were in fact created as a design project and the original creator told AFP they were intended as satire. Sri Lankan authorities confirmed kasippu was not being legally made or sold anywhere in the South Asian country. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: RM400 Shopee vouchers for Malaysians Multiple social media posts have shared a picture of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim alongside a misleading caption inviting Malaysians to claim 400 ringgit ($90) in shopping vouchers for the e-commerce platform Shopee. The Malaysian prime minister's department and Shopee have separately refuted the claim, saying it is "fake". Clickbait blog articles shared in the misleading posts, in fact, mention Shopee's promotional campaign with the Malaysian water authorities, which offers up to 400 ringgit in rebates on selected home appliances. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The US has announced permanent “E-visas” for Kenya and Liberia Posts claiming that the US has announced permanent “E-visas” for Kenya and Liberia have been shared multiple times on Facebook. The claim is false; the claim was shared by Facebook pages impersonating those of the two African nations' embassies, which both dismissed the announcements as hoaxes. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Childhood vaccination causes Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Social media posts make a series of inaccurate claims linking childhood vaccination and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). But medical experts say vaccines do not cause babies to suddenly die, and that evidence indicates there are lower rates of SIDS in children who receive the recommended shots. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Tree struck by lightning transforms into a giant hand An image of a giant tree trunk in the form of a human hand reaching towards the sky was published in a Facebook post that says it was struck by lightning. However, the claim is missing context: the tree was carved into a 50-foot hand after it was damaged by a storm a decade ago. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu in Saudi Arabia An image has been shared on Twitter with claims that it shows Nigeria’s president-elect Bola Tinubu and outgoing leader Muhammadu Buhari in Saudi Arabia on April 12, 2023. But while both men announced separately they were indeed heading to Saudi Arabia this month, the claim is nonetheless false: the picture was taken in 2019 in Nigeria’s capital Abuja when Buhari met Tinubu to break the fast during Ramadan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indonesian man fainting after receiving Covid-19 vaccine A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times after being posted on Facebook, YouTube and TikTok alongside a claim that it shows a man fainting after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine in Indonesia’s West Nusa Tenggara province. The claim is false: the footage actually shows a vaccine simulation exercise in East Nusa Tenggara province; a government official said that the exercise included "a simulation on how to handle a person who suddenly faints". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Time Magazine's cover story reveals the origin of Covid-19 is in the US. As tensions rose between the United States and China over the origins of the pandemic, Beijing's foreign ministry spokeswoman tweeted a TIME magazine cover story she claimed illustrated that Washington was "the origin of the epidemic". The claim is misleading: the magazine story actually focused on a Covid-19 cluster at the White House in October 2020. The first major outbreak of Covid-19 was recorded in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late December 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows bodies Muslims who died of COVID-19 in New York A video has been shared repeatedly on Facebook and Twitter in April 2020 alongside a claim it shows corpses in body bags at an apartment that is home to a New York-based Islamic group. The posts claim the victims died in the apartment after contracting the novel coronavirus because they ignored social distancing rules. The claims are misleading; the footage in fact shows body bags at an Islamic funeral home in New York during the coronavirus pandemic; a spokesperson for the mortuary told AFP that the deceased were people of many faiths. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Mostly False: These four dead Georgians voted on November 3 As Donald Trump unsuccessfully fights the results of the presidential election in courts, his campaign released the names of four dead Georgians who allegedly voted, suggesting fraud. This is false in three of the cases because the people named did not vote this year. The fourth one did cast a ballot, and the case was turned over to police and state authorities. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Video: A video of Indonesian president watching a Buddhist group press conference A video has been viewed thousands of times after it circulated online in Muslim-majority Indonesia with a claim that it shows Indonesian President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, watching a Buddhist group's televised press briefing on controversial Buddha statue images in June 2022. The video, however, has been digitally altered from an old video that shows Jokowi taking part in a virtual cabinet meeting in March 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: BLM issued rules for white protesters An article shared on Facebook claims Black Lives Matter issued rules for white people who join protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd. This is false; Black Lives Matter says it did not issue any such directives, and the supposed rules first appeared in posts that made no mention of the organization. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi watches on TV as Pakistan's PM Imran Khan meets US President Donald Trump A video has been viewed more than 2.2million times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp which purport to show India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi watching a live television broadcast of US President Donald Trump meeting Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan at the White House. The claim is false; the video has been doctored from earlier footage which shows Modi watching the launch of India's second lunar exploration mission. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: South Korea president Moon Jae-in holds card with pro-North Korea message. A photo that purports to show South Korean President Moon Jae-in holding a card that displays a pro-North Korea message has been shared repeatedly on Facebook. The photo, however, has been digitally altered: the original shows an unrelated message that does not refer to North Korea. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Misleading claim circulates in South Korea that military mail-in ballots for US presidential election found in a dumpster in PA were all cast for Trump Multiple posts shared hundreds of times across social media platforms in South Korea in November 2020 claim military ballots cast for US President Donald Trump were found in a dumpster in the US state of Pennsylvania. Comments on the posts by some Korean users suggest they thought the discovery was evidence of election fraud. The posts, however, omit important context; several weeks before the US presidential election, Pennsylvania officials announced they recovered nine ballots “discarded” in “error” in September 2020, seven of which were cast for presidential candidate Donald Trump; Pennsylvania's Secretary of State said on September 30, 2020 that the incident was not being considered as "intentional fraud" and investigations would continue into how the ballots were mistakenly discarded. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ignores outgoing president Ram Nath Kovind during his farewell ceremony A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in social media posts that purport it shows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ignoring former president Ramnath Kovind during his farewell function and instead posing for the cameras. However, the video has been shared in a misleading context. A longer video shows Modi greeting Kovind before turning toward the cameras. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show students walking out on speech by Philippine opposition senator Senator Risa Hontiveros An online article shared hundreds of times on Facebook contains photos of students alongside claims they “started to walk out” of a speech by a Philippine politician. The photos are being used in a misleading context; one image is of an unrelated protest and the other shows students making a dance video. Both images were produced before the lawmaker was elected in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Port Arthur Massacre set up to enact gun control Multiple Facebook posts have shared what appears to be the front page of an Australian newspaper about the Port Arthur massacre -- the worst mass shooting in Australia's history. The front page purports to show the gunman's lawyer claiming he was "set up" as part of a government-sponsored plot to enforce “gun control”. The posts circulated more than three months after a biopic of the gunman's life was released in Australian cinemas. However, the image is a fabrication; the newspaper's archives show a different front page was published on the date shown in the posts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows last moments of Indonesian plane passengers before crash A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and YouTube alongside a claim it shows passengers on Sriwijaya Air Flight SJ 182 before it crashed on January 9, 2021. The claim is false: the video has appeared in reports since 2019 about a US flight experiencing major turbulence. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Livestream shows looting in Mexico caused by coronavirus panic Footage purportedly showing a looting spree in Mexico prompted by panic over the novel coronavirus was aired on multiple Facebook live streams and viewed by tens of thousands of people during the week of March 23, 2020. Posts sharing the streams claimed that the chaotic scene was happening in real-time. The claim is false; the streams showed old footage from a 2017 looting incident in Mexico that was being played on a loop. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Red Deer resident diagnosed positive for Covid-19 without a test A Facebook post describing a person in Canada who was allegedly diagnosed with Covid-19 after cancelling a swab appointment is circulating online amid claims that the number of infections is inflated. The Alberta government said any such situation, if they occur, should be reported to the province for investigation, and an expert said the government is likely undercounting Covid-19 cases. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows a large-scale rally of Indonesian presidential hopeful Anies Baswedan's supporters in January 2023 A video of a motorcycle club gathering has been viewed tens of thousands of times after it was shared alongside a false claim that it shows a January 2023 rally held by supporters of Indonesian presidential hopeful Anies Baswedan in Banten province, on the western part of Java island. The video actually shows a motorcycle club event in October 2022 in Yogyakarta province, on the south-central part of Java. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Rubbing hydrogen peroxide on your skin can treat cancer A video viewed millions of times in posts on Facebook, TikTok and Telegram claims that rubbing hydrogen peroxide solution on your skin can treat cancer. The posts circulated online in various languages, from English to Malaysian and Croatian. Medical experts and cancer organisations say there is no evidence to support the claim and warn that rubbing hydrogen peroxide on one's skin can cause irritation, blisters or burns. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of children who lost mother in Turkey-Syria earthquake A TikTok video of an upset toddler trying to soothe a baby is circulating on Facebook claiming the pair’s mother died in the Turkey-Syria earthquake that has killed more than 35,000 people, among them children and parents. The claim, however, is false: the video predates the earthquake and was first published by a TikTok account that shares lighthearted videos of children. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

No, Zimbabwean Businessman “Ginimbi” Did Not Buy His Coffin A Week Before He Died: Zimbabwean businessman “Ginimbi” bought this coffin a week before he died Viral social media posts and articles have claimed that Zimbabwean businessman and socialite Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure, who recently died in a car crash, bought his own coffin adorned with a green guitar a week before his death. However, this claim is false; his friends confirmed they bought him a casket engraved with Versace’s Medusa logo, which can be seen in footage showing the collection of his body from a funeral home. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Covid-19 dead bodies in Indian river in May 2021 A photo of corpses floating in a river has been shared repeatedly in Facebook posts that claim it shows Covid-19 fatalities in the east Indian state of Bihar. The claim is false: the image has actually circulated online since 2015 in media reports about bodies found in a river near a cremation site in India. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A person who gets the flu shot is contagious As Canada enters flu season, many online posts warn individuals that getting vaccinated will cause them to be contagious for several weeks. This is false; flu shots contain dead influenza viruses that are not infectious, according to the Canadian Public Health Agency (CPHA) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC). (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show assassination attempt on Vladimir Putin in 2022 Photos of a wrecked car have been shared hundreds of times in Burmese-language Facebook posts that claim they show a failed assassination attempt on Russian President Vladimir Putin after he attended a regional security summit in September 2022. This is false: the photos have previously circulated in posts about a car crash that reportedly killed a driver for Russia's presidential office in the capital Moscow in September 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows CIA director being arrested A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter which claim it shows Gina Haspel, the current director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), being arrested. The claim is false: the footage is actually from 2016 and shows former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appearing to faint after leaving a 9/11 memorial ceremony. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Japan launches official investigation into Covid-19 vaccine deaths Social media users have repeatedly shared a false claim that Japan has launched an official investigation into "millions" of Covid-19 vaccine-related deaths. However, Japanese government data does not show widespread deaths from the jabs. There is also no evidence Japan has launched the investigation claimed in the posts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows microburst over Karachi in July 2022 After monsoon rains battered Pakistan in July 2022, social media posts shared a video they claimed shows a microburst over the South Asian nation's largest city Karachi. But the video -- viewed tens of thousands of times -- has been shared in a false context. It actually shows a microburst over the US state of Arizona in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Odinga hospitalised after 2023 protest A photo of Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga receiving medical care was shared on social media with claims that it was taken after he complained of chest pains following an anti-government protest in Nairobi in March 2023. But this is false: the picture dates back to 2017 when he was hospitalised with suspected food poisoning. Odinga’s party Azimio la Umoja told AFP Fact Check that the politician did not fall ill after recent rallies. Moreover, there are no such reports in local media. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Person in this video is chief of Taliban praising India's BJP and RSS A video has been shared repeatedly in Facebook posts that claim it shows a Taliban leader in Afghanistan praising India’s ruling political party and a right-wing Hindu group. The claim is false: the footage -- which has circulated online since 2019 -- shows a Pakistan-based Islamic cleric discussing the origins of the political party and the Hindu group. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Accurate list of COVID-19 treatments A photo of a list of purported symptoms and treatments for the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The purported remedies include a daily dose of vitamins; exposure to sunlight; and a diet of alkaline foods. The claims are false; as of June 29, 2020, experts say there is no known cure for COVID-19; AFP has previously debunked hoax claims about the purported coronavirus symptoms and remedies. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Transgender weightlifter knocked out of 2021 Olympics due to injured testes (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows man’s head hitting concrete during arrest by Australian police A video showing a police officer violently arresting a man has been viewed thousands of times online in posts that claim it was filmed in Australia. But the video has been shared in a false context: it shows a police officer detaining a man in Canada. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Abiy Ahmed was shot dead A Facebook post shared in Ethiopia claims to cite a news report from the state-owned Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC / ETV) announcing the assassination of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The claim is false; Abiy is alive and has attended two inauguration ceremonies in his country’s capital Addis Ababa since the claim started circulating online. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Biden climate plan will cut American meat consumption Republican politicians, pundits and media reports claim that President Joe Biden’s climate plan would require Americans to cut red meat consumption by 90 percent. But the figure comes from a study published more than a year before Biden took office, authors of which said dietary changes are not needed to meet climate goals, and the president’s plan makes no mention of US eating habits. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Man sentenced to death in Syria for preaching the gospel An image has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook purporting to show a man who was sentenced to death in Syria for preaching the gospel. The claims are false; the picture is of Majid Kavousifar, an Iranian man who was convicted of assassinating a judge in Iran. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos of ANC launching safety lights in KwaZulu-Natal A post circulating on Facebook claims to show an African National Congress party counselor inaugurating new lights in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province. In Kenya, several articles claim the photos show a mud hut commissioned by a politician for a widow. In fact, neither is true -- the photos show Tanzania’s Energy Minister Medard Kalemani visiting a rural electricity project. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US President Joe Biden tweets referring India's Narendra Modi as ‘world leader’ Shortly after US President Joe Biden took office on January 20, 2021, an image surfaced online that purported to show a tweet from him thanking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and referring to him as a “world leader”. The claim is false; the tweet was published on an imposter account that has since been suspended. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte won a case against China on April 22, 2021 A video viewed more than a million times on Facebook and YouTube claims to share “breaking news” about Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte winning a case against Beijing over the South China Sea in April 2021. But the claim is misleading: the video shows years-old news footage about maritime tensions between Manila and Beijing; no cases against China were filed or won in April 2021, the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs told AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ole Lenku named chair of Kenya’s Council of Governors As Kenya’s newly-elected governors were busy at an orientation retreat, posts started circulating on social media claiming that Joseph Ole Lenku from Kajiado county had been “elected” chairperson of the Council of Governors (CoG). But the claim is false: it was in fact Kirinyaga county’s Anne Waiguru who was chosen by consensus to become the council’s new chairperson. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows anti-war protest in Russia after Ukraine conflict in 2022 A video of a violent clash between demonstrators and police officers has been viewed tens of thousands of times on social media alongside a claim it shows Russians protesting against Putin's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. But while thousands were detained across Russia over Ukraine protests, the video had been shared in a misleading context. The footage has previously circulated in reports since January 2021 about a Chechen student who fought with riot police in Moscow during protests calling for the release of a Kremlin critic. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows an ATM robbery in suburban Sri Lankan A video showing a woman being robbed at knifepoint has circulated in Facebook, WhatsApp and YouTube posts that claim the mugging happened in a suburb outside the Sri Lankan capital Colombo and warn locals to be vigilant. The claim is false; the incident occurred in Banjarmasin, Indonesia in June 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Chinese police strangling Uighur Muslim woman A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook alongside a claim it shows a Chinese police officer strangling a Uighur Muslim woman after he caught her praying. The claim is false; the video has circulated in media reports since at least December 2018 about a Chinese police officer pinning down a drunk Chinese woman at a hotel in Shenzhen, China. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of opposition supporters confronting Kenyan police As anti-government rallies were staged in Kenya on March 20, 2023, a video of rival groups clashing on a dusty field emerged on social media alongside claims it showed opposition supporters battling police in the capital Nairobi. But this claim is false: the footage shows two youth gangs in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) fighting after a football tournament in 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows crowds of shoppers in Malaysia during Ramadan 2021 A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times after it was shared on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim that it shows crowds of shoppers at a mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan this year. The claim is false; while the video was filmed during Ramadan 2021, it shows shoppers at a market in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, not in Malaysia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt's cellulitis linked to AstraZeneca vaccine A claim that Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt has suffered cellulitis caused by an AstraZeneca Covid-19 jab has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook and Twitter. The claim is false: according to medical experts, cellulitis is a skin infection that may occur when bacteria enter the skin; Hunt suffered from cellulitis on his leg, not his arm where the vaccine was administered. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Pfizer Vax Ingredient ALC-0315 Is 'Not for Human Use' An article and social media posts claim an ingredient in Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine is not safe for humans, citing a data sheet from a US chemical corporation. This is misleading; the company says it does not manufacture the compound in the shot -- and the document pertains to research-grade chemicals, which health experts say do not undergo the same strict regulatory approval process. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pakistani anti-corruption official dancing with a woman A video of a man and woman dancing has been shared tens of thousands of times in Facebook posts which claim it shows a Pakistani anti-corruption official caught partying with a dancer. The claim is false; the video actually shows Indian social media influencer Nikita Sharma dancing with her father, who is reportedly a former Indian defence personnel. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Benjamin Diokno berating Karen Davila A video with tens of thousands of views claims an incoming member of Philippine president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr's cabinet "shamed" a journalist on national television for allegedly attacking Marcos. But the video had been digitally manipulated, and an AFP review of journalist Karen Davila's actual interview with incoming finance chief Benjamin Diokno found the video's claim is fabricated. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US president tweets plans to visit to Nigeria on way to Northern Ireland Social media users have alleged that US President Joe Biden tweeted plans to briefly visit Nigeria on his way to an official visit to Northern Ireland in April 2023. The claim started circulating days after Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie wrote an op-ed addressed to Biden condemning the United States for congratulating Nigeria’s president-elect Bola Tinubu on his victory at the polls. But the claim is false: there is no tweet on Biden’s official Twitter account announcing the visit. The West African country did not figure on Biden’s itinerary either before or during his trip to Northern Ireland. Additionally, his official public calendar does not list an April visit to Nigeria. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of an Apple Daily Hong Kong press pass and a note in support of police. An image purporting to show a handwritten pro-police note on top of a press pass from Hong Kong-based newspaper Apple Daily has been shared thousands of times on Facebook alongside a lengthy text caption. The caption is supposedly a "letter" from an Apple Daily reporter questioning the paper's impartiality during recent protests in the city. But the image has been doctored to include the note and the pass is from Apple Daily’s Taiwan bureau – not Hong Kong. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Vitamin D prevents coronavirus Multiple Facebook, Twitter and YouTube posts claim vitamin D can help reduce the risk of novel coronavirus infection. The claim is misleading; health experts told AFP there is insufficient science to definitively say vitamin D can protect from the viral epidemic. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Videos shows retirees' protest over healthcare reform in Shanghai, China. A video of protesters has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in Chinese-language social media posts that falsely claim it shows a demonstration against reforms to China's vast public health insurance system in the country's second-largest city Shanghai. The video in fact shows a rally against the reforms in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, not Shanghai. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Gunmen attack convoy of Nigerian governor A video has been widely shared on social media with claims that it shows the moment gunmen recently attacked the convoy of the governor of Nigeria’s southeastern Imo state, Hope Uzodinma. However, this is false: the clip was filmed in Kenya when police broke up a political rally and has been online since January 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows cloud caused by HAARP in Syria after 2023 earthquake A video of a massive cloud forming over a coastal city has been shared repeatedly in multiple social media posts alongside the false claim it shows a "strange HAARP cloud in Syria" after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake devastated large swaths of the country as well as neighbouring Turkey. The posts misleadingly refer to a former US military project called High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP), often cited by conspiracy theorists as the cause of various climate and weather anomalies. But the clip actually shows a storm cloud over Australia's Gold Coast and there is no evidence that HAARP was linked to the Turkey-Syria earthquake. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: New Zealand town to remove trout statue due to 'offended vegan' An image of a purported news article by New Zealand media site Newshub has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook. The purported article states a rural New Zealand town is set to remove a statue of a trout after an “offended vegan” threatened to pull it down. The claim is misleading; Newshub said it did not publish the hoax article seen in the screenshot; in response to the hoax, the local authority in New Zealand where the statue is located said it had no plans to remove it. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows the helicopter of Myanmar military shot down by the ethnic armed groups in March, 2021. Three photos have been shared hundreds of times on Facebook alongside a claim that they show a Myanmar military helicopter that was shot down in March 2021 by the Karen National Union and the Kachin Independence Army, two armed ethic groups in Myanmar. However, the claim is false; the photos in fact show a Syrian military helicopter that was shot down in northern Syria in February 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Face masks are dangerous for children A post spreading on social media claims that wearing face masks to help stop the spread of Covid-19 will cause children physical and psychological problems. But medical and psychological experts say the claims it makes about masks are false, and the post is part of a larger disinformation campaign. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Hepatitis outbreak in children is related to Covid-19 vaccines Online articles shared hundreds of thousands of times on social media claim the global outbreak of severe hepatitis in children is linked to Covid-19 vaccines, citing an April 2022 study as evidence. But health authorities and independent experts dismissed the idea that the shots are to blame, saying most of those affected were too young to be vaccinated and that the study refers to the case of an adult with a different type of hepatitis. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Students forced to come to school to welcome Thai PM during pandemic visit A photo of Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha posing with schoolchildren has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook alongside a claim the children were forced to attend school for his visit, despite Covid-19 rules that they should study at home. The claim is misleading: the school told AFP that its students had never switched to online classes during the pandemic because local virus infection rates were low. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: More than 1.3 million joints required for marijuana overdose Social media posts claim a person would have to smoke more than 1.3 million joints in 15 minutes to overdose on marijuana, and that the drug is safer than water. While it is virtually impossible to die from cannabis use, experts say excessive consumption can cause a variety of adverse effects, and dismissed the idea that marijuana is safer than water. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Fire incident involving a truck that killed two toddlers in Indonesia A photo has been shared in multiple Facebook posts and blog articles alongside a claim it shows a gas truck fire that killed two toddlers in Indonesia. The photo has been shared in a false context. It has circulated since January 2022 in news reports about a fire in Indonesia's Jambi province, which police said caused no fatalities. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Footage from an anti-lockdown rally in London A video has been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim that it shows a rally against coronavirus restrictions in the British capital of London. The claim is false; the footage shows an anti-government protest in Belarus in August 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: New banknote issued to honor ex-Philippine dictator Marcos Facebook posts shared thousands of times purport to show a new Philippine banknote featuring the image of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. However, the image -- which many social media users appeared to believe showed a genuine banknote -- comes from a satirical Facebook page. The Philippine central bank said on November 9 it had not issued a new banknote design. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misrepresented: A video shows Florida children in a flooded school during Hurricane Ian A video viewed millions of times on social media claims to show children in a flooding school as Hurricane Ian battered the US state of Florida. This is false; the clip depicts elementary school students in Houston, Texas during Tropical Storm Imelda in 2019, and most Florida school districts were closed during Ian. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Civil-war like situation erupts in Pakistan After Pakistani media reported on a dispute between police and the army over the arrest of an opposition politician in Karachi, scores of Facebook and Twitter posts claimed Pakistan was on the brink of civil war. The posts were amplified by mainstream Indian media, which broadcast false and misleading information, including reports that ten police officers had been killed. While Pakistan’s army and police did have a disagreement over the politician’s arrest, the government said no shots were fired and dismissed reports of civil war as “malicious and fabricated”. The misleading posts used old and unrelated photos; Pakistan has requested that Twitter remove accounts spreading misinformation about the incident. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: CBC reported that Justin Trudeau's youngest son came out as transgender Social media posts claim CBC published an article announcing that Justin Trudeau's youngest son came out as transgender. This is false; the story does not appear on the Canadian public broadcaster's website, and the outlet confirmed to AFP that it did not publish the piece. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: California allows personal belief exemption for newly mandated immunizations Social media posts linked to a California anti-vaccine group claim that a state bill allows for a personal belief exemption to new vaccine mandates for children. This is false; the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the office of the state senator who sponsored the bill confirmed that since 2015 the most populous state in the US only recognizes medical exemptions to vaccination requirements. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos of Pakistan taken February 27, 2019 after Indian airstrikes Photos that have been shared hundreds of times on Facebook claim to show a devastated area of Pakistan on February 27, 2019 after Indian airstrikes. The claim is false; the images are AFP photos showing the aftermath of a 2005 earthquake which killed tens of thousands of people in Pakistan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US military arrested Bill Barr An online article claims US Marines arrested former attorney general Bill Barr, held him at Guantanamo Bay until trial, and convicted him of treason. This is false; the Navy says the claims are “fabricated,” and Barr has been interviewed since his alleged arrest. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Monash University study found ivermectin effective against Covid-19 (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Opposition politician Sanjay Raut serves tea to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi An image has been repeatedly shared on Facebook and Twitter purporting to show a meeting where Indian politician Sanjay Raut supposedly served tea to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But the image has been doctored. The original photograph of the meeting does not show Raut serving tea to Modi; it was digitally altered to insert his image. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: A Canadian law is linked to a secret weather modification program Social media posts claim a Canadian law is evidence of secret weather modification programs. This is misleading; the legislation cited in the posts dates back to 1985 and requires companies to report techniques such as cloud seeding, which is used to initiate rain or limit hail damage. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: UK government is concealing the true number of deaths related to the Covid-19 vaccination drive Multiple Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim the British government blocked the UK’s Office for National Statistics from releasing data on deaths related to Covid-19 vaccinations. The claim, however, is missing context: the ONS is not the agency that maintains or publishes statistics on adverse effects related to Covid-19 vaccines. UK health officials told AFP the claim in the Facebook posts is “completely inaccurate”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of Indian Muslims offering prayers on a road After members of Hindu right-wing groups were arrested in India for disrupting Muslim prayer gatherings, an image showing Muslims praying on the street circulated on Facebook and Twitter with a claim that it was shot in India. The claim is false; the image shows Muslims praying outside a mosque in Bangladesh -- not in India. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows Myanmar airstrike near Thai border in 2021? Three photos have been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim they show an air strike near the Thai-Myanmar border in March 2021. The images surfaced after the Myanmar military launched attacks in eastern Kayin state in March 2021. However, the photos have been taken out of context: they have previously circulated in reports and social media posts since at least 2018 about other military events in Myanmar. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Sri Lankan President bans protests in the country from March 7 Social media posts have repeatedly shared a miscaptioned clip they misleadingly claim shows Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe announcing a ban on protests in the crisis-hit island nation, starting from March 7 this year. Although rights groups have criticised the Wickremesinghe government's use of force against protesters, nowhere in the video or his full speech did the president announce such a ban. There have been protests held in Sri Lanka since March 7, according to local media reports. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Coconut water causes abnormal genital size in newborns Misleading Thai-language Facebook posts have sought to dissuade pregnant women from drinking coconut water, baselessly claiming it contains high amounts of "female hormones" that will cause the infant's genitalia to develop abnormally. Medical experts told AFP the claim has no scientific basis, explaining that an estrogen-like compound found in coconut water has not been found to cause genital abnormalities. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Foetus cells are used as a flavouring in fast food Posts that claim aborted human foetus cells called HEK 293 are being used as flavouring in processed and fast food have been shared repeatedly across Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. The claim, however, is false. The researcher who created the cells from a legally aborted foetus decades ago told AFP they are only used when testing medicine and food products that are still under development. The cells do not end up in the finished product. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows train China made for The Belt and Road Initiative A video has been viewed hundreds of times in social media posts that claim it shows an actual train running from China to Europe as part of the former's massive infrastructure push under its trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative. But the video in fact shows computer-generated imagery; it had previously been shared in an account that frequently posts train simulations. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: WEF wants to ban eggs after research shows they stop Covid-19 Multiple social media posts have falsely claimed the World Economic Forum (WEF) called for a ban on eggs following a study that purportedly concluded they can "cure COVID naturally". In response to the posts, the WEF told AFP it had not called for a ban on eggs. According to a researcher in the study cited in the posts, it is inconclusive whether eating eggs can prevent Covid-19. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of Pakistani cricket players being frisked during match against India An image purporting to show Pakistani cricket players undergoing airport security-like checks has been shared in multiple Facebook posts that claim the Pakistani players are being "frisked" ahead of a match against India. The claim is false; the image originated as satire; part of it has been doctored from a 2018 AFP photograph. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sanitary pads taxed as luxury items in Thailand? Multiple posts shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter claim the Thai government has introduced up to 40 percent tax on sanitary pads after reclassifying them as luxury items. The claim is false; the Excise Department told AFP the claim was “false”; the director of Thailand's Tax Planning Bureau said sanitary pads were subject to seven percent VAT and that taxation for sanitary pads would not be increased. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows Kenya’s Odinga in hospital recently A video shared thousands of times on TikTok shows veteran Kenyan politician Raila Odinga recuperating in hospital. The clip resurfaced on August 16, a day after Odinga lost the 2022 presidential election to his main rival William Ruto. But the post is misleading: it fails to provide any context and creates the impression that the footage is recent. In reality, the video dates back to June 2010 when Odinga was treated for a blood clot on his brain. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Missing Indian student poses with Islamic State group fighters in Syria A photo has been shared hundreds of times online in posts that claim it shows an Indian student, who disappeared from a Delhi campus in 2016, posing with Islamic State group fighters in Syria. The claim is false; the photo was taken in Iraq in 2015 by international news agency Reuters and shows Shiite militia fighters, not IS members. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: These photos show Russian-made air defence system destroyed in attack on Armenia in 2020. Two photos have been shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts alongside a claim they show a Russian-made air defence system that was destroyed in an October 2020 attack on Armenia. The claim is false; the photos have circulated online since 2016 in reports about an air defence system that was damaged after an accident in Russia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This map shows high sulphur dioxide levels in Wuhan due to ‘burning of organic matters’ A map has been shared tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube which claim it shows elevated sulphur dioxide levels in Wuhan, the Chinese city at the epicentre of the novel coronavirus epidemic. The posts, published in multiple languages, claim the high levels of the gas could be evidence of mass cremation in and around the city. The claim is false; NASA, whose data was used to create the map, told AFP the imagery was created based on forecast figures of man-made sulphur dioxide emissions and volcano gas, not real-time satellite recordings. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Chinese shouting racist words as US athlete arrive Beijing Winter Olympics? As athletes touched down in Beijing ahead of the Winter Olympics, a video showing a crowd chanting a racial slur spread in social media posts that claimed it showed "Chinese racists" verbally abusing US competitors arriving at the Games. The posts are misleading; the video shows basketball fans racially abusing a player in Changchun in northeast China on January 13, 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ottawa will euthanize pets of arrested truckers Social media posts and online articles claim Canada's capital authorized the euthanasia of pets owned by protesters arrested for participating in a weeks-long anti-vaccine mandate demonstration. This is false; a longstanding city law allows authorities to recover pets when owners cannot look after them, they become eligible for adoption after eight days, and the clearing of the Ottawa protest did not lead to animals being put down. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Is this a video of Islamic terrorism in India? A video that has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Facebook purportedly shows Islamic terrorism in the eastern Indian state of Bengal. The claim is false and the footage actually shows a clash between two factions of a Muslim group in Bangladesh’s Tongi town in December 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows US consulate staff in China's Chengdu after forced closure in July 2020 A photo has been shared in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and Weibo alongside a claim it shows staff from the US consulate in China’s Chengdu "cheering for China" after Beijing closed its premises on July 24, 2020. The claim is false; a similar image of the same group of people was published in an online report in February 2020; the report stated the photo shows a gathering of United Airlines staff after its flights were suspended to parts of China due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows exorcism at NATO meeting A video has been viewed more than one million times on social media alongside a claim it shows an exorcism at a NATO meeting. This is false. The footage shows a dance performance at a Belgium university in 2017. Both the university and the theatre group told AFP that the performance had nothing to do with NATO. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of Sri Lankan activist Wasantha Mudalige holding Guinness World Records certificate An altered photo has been repeatedly shared in social media posts falsely claiming it shows a Sri Lankan student activist Wasantha Mudalige holding a Guinness World Records certificate for being enrolled in the same university degree programme for the longest period of time. The original photo shows Mudalige holding a placard with a slogan protesting privatisation of the country's universities. A Guinness World Records spokesperson told AFP that the record is in fact held by Robert Cronin, who took more than 50 years to graduate from an American university, and Mudalige holds no records with the organisation. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Graphene oxide found in dissolved Nurofen tablets Videos showing black particles swirling about in a glass of dissolved Nurofen tablets have been shared in a string of social media posts claiming they are graphene oxide. However, the claim is false. The pain relief medication's manufacturer said the particles are black iron oxide, which health authorities and experts say is widely used as a colouring agent in the pharmaceutical industry and is safe for consumption. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Real photo of surfer with a whale A photo has been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim it shows a man surfing with a whale. The claim is false; the photo has been doctored from a 2006 photo of a surfer to include the whale. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows shredded Trump ballots in Pennsylvania. A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube which claim it shows shredded Trump ballots in the US state of Pennsylvania. The claim is false; the clip actually shows fliers sent out by Republicans in Pennsylvania with applications for mail-in ballots. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Gen Z coup fighters have successfully tested low-cost PVC missile launcher Several images have been shared repeatedly on Facebook alongside a claim they show anti-coup fighters in Myanmar successfully testing "low-cost missiles". The claim is false: the images have circulated in various reports since 2011 about festivals in northeastern Thailand. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Billie Eilish cried because she wanted to be poor Social media users mocked Billie Eilish after posts shared an apparent People magazine article that claimed that the American singer cried because she wanted to be poor so she could connect with her fans. But the celebrity-focused weekly confirmed the article is fake, as did Eilish's brother. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This photo shows Ancient Egyptian carving of human playing with cat. A photo has been shared thousands of times on multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr which claim it shows an Ancient Egyptian carving of a human playing with a cat. The claim is false; the image shows an artwork created by an Australian sculptor in 1999. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: BP executive Brice Cromwell critiqued US energy policy Social media posts claim a statement from a BP executive criticizes US energy policy by saying domestic production has been curbed in favor of imports. That is false; the company says the posts are not from BP, that no executive by that name exists, and the messages are identical to older posts from critics of President Joe Biden. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Money for Indonesia’s healthcare programme used to build toll roads Multiple Facebook posts shared thousands of times feature a picture of a signboard with a text saying money for Indonesia’s healthcare programme has been used to build toll roads. The image has been doctored; the genuine one contains different text with no references to toll roads. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Photo shows Indian soldier with soiled trousers A photo shared repeatedly on social media in Pakistan appears to show a Pakistani border guard shaking hands with an Indian border guard who has a wet patch on his trousers. The photo, however, has been altered to make it look as though he has soiled himself. The original image shows the men shaking hands at a border crossing between Pakistan and India. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Evangelical churches in the US did not receive $7.3b worth of COVID-19 loans Multiple posts on Facebook claim that US “Evangelical churches got $7.3 billion” in government loans distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The claim is false; the US federal government has distributed US$7.3 billion in loans during the pandemic to a wide variety of religious organisations, not just evangelical churches, according to official data. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered: Video shows actor yelling obscenities at Marjorie Taylor Greene American actor Michael Rapaport shared a video in which he appears to shout obscenities at Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene during a protest against former president Donald Trump's arraignment in New York City. But the clip is manipulated; the original footage taken by a BuzzFeed News journalist does not include Rapaport's comments. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: 40,000 US veterans resigned in solidarity with people of Iraq Afghanistan A video has been viewed many thousands of times in Facebook posts that claim 40,000 American soldiers who served in Afghanistan and Iraq discarded their medals in solidarity with the two countries. The posts are misleading; the footage is from 2012 and shows 50 US veterans discarding their medals in protest against the US invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indonesian President Jokowi appoints opposition politician Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono as new sports minister A video purporting to be a news report has been viewed millions of times in posts that falsely claim Indonesian President Joko Widodo, known as Jokowi, appointed opposition politician Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono as the archipelago nation's new sports and youth affairs minister. As of March 24, 2023, Jokowi had appointed an interim replacement for the role -- and it was not Agus. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Green energy is more destructive to the Earth's environment than implied Text shared thousands of times on social media claims green energy is "more destructive to the Earth's environment than meets the eye." But the posts make various inaccurate claims, including that 40 percent of electricity generated in the United States -- and used for electric cars -- comes from coal and that solar panels or wind turbine blades cannot be recycled. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows New Year Firework show in Beijing? A video of a futuristic fireworks display has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts that claim it was taken from a firework show in Beijing on New Year's Eve 2021. However, the claim is false; the video was a digital animation based on scenery from the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao. The video creator told AFP that the "fireworks" seen in the footage were computer generated. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Four photos claim villages burned down in Kani Four photos have been shared thousands of times in Facebook posts that claim they show homes in Myanmar burned down by the military. The posts are misleading; the photos have circulated in news reports since 2017 about Rohingya villages burned down by the military. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Tanzanian president and co-wives at a family meeting with their husband Facebook posts claiming to show Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan with her co-wives during a meeting convened by their husband have been shared multiple times in Kenya. The claim is false: the picture features Hassan during the memorial of Zanzibar’s first president Abeid Amani Karume, and the women seated next to her are not her co-wives. AFP Fact Check was able to identify two of the three women as senior government representatives of Zanzibar. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pediarix vaccine contains unsafe amount of aluminum Instagram and Facebook posts claim that the Pediarix vaccine, which protects against polio and other diseases, injects an unsafe amount of aluminum into infants. The claim is false; Pediarix was tested for safety and has been approved for use since 2002, aluminum increases the immune response to the vaccine, and the amount contained in a dose is less than that ingested by infants via breastmilk or formula. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Suez port spelled out ‘thank you’ after trafficked children rescued from Ever Given. Multiple Facebook posts have shared an aerial image of containers spelling out THANK YOU alongside a claim that trafficked children were rescued from the Ever Given, a container vessel that got stuck in Egypt’s Suez Canal for almost one week in March 2021. The claim is false: the image was taken in September 2020 -- months before the vessel blocked the canal. AFP has previously debunked claims that a US Navy SEALs mission had found trafficked children and dead bodies on board the Ever Given. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Chinese health workers forcing woman to get vaccinated A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times on social media platforms alongside a claim it shows health workers attempting to forcibly vaccinate a woman in China. The claim is false: the video has circulated in reports about healthcare workers approaching a woman who "refused to go to quarantine" in Vietnam. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Home that survived Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas In the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, a striking image of one home still standing amid the devastation was shared with the claim that the house is in the Bahamas. The claim is false; the photo is from 2008 and it shows a home that survived Hurricane Ike in Texas. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Image of politician receiving a vaccine seven times? A collage of seven photos featuring Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder receiving vaccinations has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook, purporting to show the evidence of “fake jabs” as countries including Germany and Australia roll out their Covid-19 vaccination campaigns. The claim is misleading: the photos actually show Söder receiving different vaccinations at separate events between 2009 and 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

These Were Thai Victims Of The 2004 Tsunami And Not People Killed In Ethiopia’S Tigray Conflict: Image shows Amharas slaughtered in Tigray A photograph has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook alongside the claim that it shows victims of a massacre perpetrated against Amharas – one of Ethiopia’s major ethnolinguistic groups – in the northern town of Mai-Kadra, located in the restive Tigray region. However, this claim is false; the image shows victims of a tsunami that hit Thailand and other Asian countries in 2004. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Flu cases are falling, which is evidence that Covid-19 cases are falsely being passed off as the flu A graphic purporting to show that flu cases have fallen dramatically since 2020 has been shared by Facebook users worldwide alongside a claim it proves health authorities are falsely passing influenza cases off as Covid-19 cases. The graphic, however, has been shared in a misleading context: it compares confirmed positive flu tests in the United States for 2020-21 with estimated cases for 2019-20. Health experts told AFP that the decline in flu cases since 2020 was likely due to lockdowns, mask-wearing and better hand hygiene during the coronavirus pandemic. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a Taiwan market in 2020 A video has been viewed hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim it shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un walking through a market in Taiwan in 2020. The video was shared following heightened speculation about Kim's health. But the claim in the posts is false; the video has circulated online since at least December 2018; the clip has circulated in reports about a Kim Jong Un impersonator; a spokesperson for Kim Jong Un impersonator Utane Luangsangthong told AFP the video showed him at a market in Hong Kong. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hurricanes are being controlled and weaponized A TikTok video viewed more than 12,000 times claims hurricanes can be controlled and used as weapons. This is false; the clip cites two abandoned patent applications for proposed methods to avert disasters, and experts say no such technology exists. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo of Ronaldo playing in front of empty seats in Riyadh Cristiano Ronaldo’s move from Manchester United to Saudi side Al-Nassr FC has caused some pundits and football fans to suggest that the deal marks the end of the iconic player’s football career. A recent Facebook post circulating in Cameroon purports to show a photo of the Portuguese striker playing a match “in front of empty seats” with his new team. But the claim is false: the image shows Ronaldo and his Al-Nassr teammates during a training session in Riyadh. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Did a dog lift its leg to urinate against Raila Odinga’s campaign vehicle Facebook posts claiming to show a dog urinating against a vehicle bearing the face of Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga have been shared more than a hundred times. The claim is false; the image is a composite of two separate and unrelated pictures. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Prize of maize flour has risen to 353 Kenyan shillings The increase in the cost of living in Kenya has led to a spate of online falsehoods, with supporters of the government and the opposition squaring off by sharing misleading posts about food prices. One claim purported to show that the price of a 2-kilogram packet of maize flour had risen to 353 Kenyan shillings ($2.58), while another alleged that its price had actually decreased to 154 Kenyan shillings ($1.21). Both assertions are misleading: they referred to specific promotions, with the more expensive offer including a large bottle of a popular soda brand. AFP Fact Check found that maize flour is retailing at an average of 190 Kenyan shillings ($1.50) in Nairobi’s major supermarkets. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hackers posting on your Facebook page without you knowing A meme shared thousands of times on Facebook warns the website’s users of a supposed hack where sexual content can be posted on their walls without their knowledge. The claim, which has been widely shared for years and in various forms, is false. Facebook told AFP that content can’t be posted on an individual’s wall in a way that cannot be seen by them. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigerian electoral body to probe Bola Tinubu over US drug cash A press release attributed to Nigeria’s electoral authority claims that the ruling party's presidential candidate Bola Tinubu is being investigated over a US drug case from 1993. The statement circulated in Facebook posts with pictures of court documents as alleged evidence. Some online users speculated Tinubu faced disqualification from the election as a result. But these claims are false: although the US court documents are genuine, the press release is fake and the country’s electoral commission has denied launching a probe. In any case, Nigerian law only bans contenders from running if they have been convicted of criminal offences in the decade preceding the election. A Nigerian TV station was fined and forced to apologise after it ran a news piece about the press release as being real. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Crows flock to Wuhan, China, after coronavirus outbreak A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube published in February 2020 alongside a claim that it shows a murder of crows in the sky over the Chinese city of Wuhan following the novel coronavirus outbreak. The video has been shared in a misleading context; it shows scores of crows in the Chinese city of Xining, more than 1,000 miles northwest of Wuhan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Image shows Sri Lankan Police official with his family A photo has been shared in multiple Facebook posts that claim it shows former Sri Lankan police official Ajith Rohana reunited with his children after he was hospitalised with Covid-19. The posts are misleading; the picture shows Rohana with a local musician and his wife before his ordeal with Covid-19. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows the eruption of Indonesia's Mount Merapi in March 2023 A video of Indonesia's Mount Sinabung erupting in 2018 has been viewed millions of times alongside a false claim it shows the archipelago nation's Mount Merapi erupting in March 2023. The footage -- which has circulated online since February 2018 -- corresponds with Google Street View imagery of an area near Sinabung on Sumatra island. The head of the volcano's monitoring post told AFP that it shows Sinabung erupting in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows mass grave found in Ethiopia Ancient Greece (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows a victim of 2023 earthquake in Turkey An old photo of an elderly man crying in front of a destroyed building has been shared in posts misleadingly linking it to the deadly earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria in February 2023. The photo has actually appeared in news reports since November 1999 about a powerful quake that jolted the northwestern part of Turkey that year. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of Indonesian student who invented "permanent weight-loss formula" Social media posts purport to show a photo of an Indonesian student who invented a "permanent weight-loss formula" at a US university in 2019. The claim is false; the photo shows Indonesian students who grabbed meteorological, psychological and geosciences awards at a scientific competition in Los Angeles in 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: A 1922 report disproves human-caused global warming Social media posts are sharing a century-old report on the warming of the Arctic Ocean to question the science of climate change. But the posts are misleading; the original article did not predict imminent threats to coastal cities from sea-level rise, and experts say observations from 1922 do not disprove the effects of human-caused global warming on polar ecosystems. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Explainer: Australian political party the Greens modified its website to show support for backburning A purported screenshot from the website of the Australian Greens party has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim that it shows the party altered its policy to support backburning in November 2019, just as deadly bushfires intensified in Australia. The claim is misleading; digital archives show the Greens have maintained supportive policy positions on hazard reduction burns and backburning on their website since at least March 2019, months before the bushfires began in September 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows "genocide" against the Rohingya in Arakan, Myanmar A photo has been published on multiple news sites, blogs and on Facebook alongside a claim that it shows an instance of “genocide” against the Rohingya people in Arakan, Myanmar. The claim is false; the photo has circulated online since March 2015 in media reports about a student-led protest in the town of Letpadan, Myanmar, more than two years before a military crackdown on Rohingya Muslims in the country. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Mixed: Muslims convert to Hinduism, demolish mosque in Sri Lanka Photos of a mosque being destroyed have been shared on Facebook and Twitter around two months after the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks in Sri Lanka. The posts contain references to Sri Lankan Muslims converting to Hinduism. The photos are being used in a misleading context; they have been taken from news reports about the mosque’s destruction that do not mention Hinduism; local police told AFP that “no religious conversions took place”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows Muslims celebrating and taking out funeral procession after Home Minister tested positive for COVID-19 A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter which claim it shows a mock funeral procession to "celebrate" Indian Home Minister Amit Shah testing positive for the novel coronavirus. The claim, however, is false; the video shows a mock funeral procession staged during an anti-citizenship law protest in the east Indian state of West Bengal in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Historical images from the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea Two images, one of fighter jets bombarding a valley and another of a burning truck, have been shared on Facebook in Ethiopia with claims that they show photos taken during the Ethiopian-Eritrean war in the late 1990s. However, the claims are false: AFP Fact Check found that one of the images was doctored while the other one was shot in 2016 during labour protests at a cement factory in Ethiopia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows the current prosecutor general of Ukraine Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a photo was shared repeatedly in Facebook posts that claim it shows Ukraine's female prosecutor general, who they say has "caught the public's attention" because of her "stunning" looks. In fact, the photo shows the former attorney general of Crimea, Natalya Poklonskaya, who was appointed by Russia after it annexed the Ukrainian peninsula in 2014. Ukraine's current chief prosecutor is Iryna Venediktova. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: This photo shows ndia's ruling party politician’s sister in interfaith marriage with a Muslim man A photo of a bride and groom at an Indian wedding has been shared thousands of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts published in 2020 which claim the bride is the sister of Kapil Mishra, a prominent politician in India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The claim is misleading; the photo has circulated in reports since 2016 about the marriage of a different Hindu woman and a Muslim man. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video of protest against healthcare policy reform in Wuhan in February 2023 Chinese-language Twitter posts, shared alongside a video of a group of people gathered in a square, misleadingly claim it was filmed in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where hundreds of retirees had staged a protest in February 2023 against reforms to the public health insurance system. The video alongside the posts has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times. In fact, it was filmed in the northeastern city of Dalian, which also saw seniors demonstrating against the reforms. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows huge fire in Singapore car park A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and YouTube alongside a claim it shows a fire at a car park in Singapore. The claim is false: the video actually shows a fire in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: South Korea is the only country in the world where the recommended healthy blood pressure level is 120/80mmHg. A claim has been shared repeatedly on Facebook in March 2021 that South Korea is the only country that recommends a healthy blood pressure level that is lower than that endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The claim is false: South Korea and the WHO recommend the same healthy blood pressure level, which is also recommended by several other international health authorities. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Photos show Hillary Clinton detained in Guantanamo Bay Images purporting to show former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton detained in Guantanamo Bay have been widely shared by social media users. But the images have been doctored to digitally insert Clinton into unrelated photos. No credible news reports indicate she was detained at Guantanamo Bay as of May 3, 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False Claim: Father of five-year-old rape victim protesting outside Indian parliament. A video of a man carrying a small girl while he shouts and waves a poster has been shared in multiple social media posts that falsely claim it shows a father protesting at the Indian parliament after his daughter was raped. But the video has circulated since December 2019 in posts and reports about an opposition party leader protesting about the rising number of violent crimes against women. The politician, Sachin Chaudhary from the Congress party, told AFP he staged the protest with his daughter after a doctor was raped and murdered in Hyderabad in November 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Samsung Alternative Medicine Institute shared Covid-19 prevention tips Facebook users in South Korea have shared a list of purported Covid-19 prevention tips, which they claim was issued by the “Samsung Alternative Medicine Institute”. The claims are false: the purported remedies are not proven treatments for Covid-19, according to health experts. There is no evidence the “Samsung Alternative Medicine Institute” exists. Separately, the Samsung Medical Center, an affiliate of Samsung Group, said it had not issued the purported tips. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pakistan government increases petrol, diesel price for March 2021 Multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter claim the Pakistani government raised petrol and diesel prices on March 1, 2021. The claim is false. In February 2021, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan decided to maintain current petrol and diesel rates despite a recommendation from the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority to increase prices, his advisor said in a tweet on February 28, 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered: A video shows Kamala Harris saying, "Tomorrow will be today, tomorrow" A video shared online purports to show Kamala Harris saying "tomorrow will be today, tomorrow" in a nonsensical monologue about time. But the clip has been digitally altered to change the US vice president's words; the original footage and official White House transcript show her making no such remark. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bill Gates offered a blank cheque to a journalist during an interview Multiple social media posts in various languages have shared an image they claim shows Microsoft founder Bill Gates offering a journalist a blank cheque to teach them about the importance of not missing opportunities. According to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this interaction did not happen. The photo used in the misleading posts shows Gates accepting a gift after appearing on a British TV show in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The Chief Master Sergeant of the United States Air Force wrote a pro-Trump Facebook post A Facebook post attributed to the most senior enlisted member of the United States Air Force, and featuring his picture, has been shared 20,000 times. But Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth Wright did not write the post, which disparages former US president Barack Obama and voices support for his successor Donald Trump. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Hong Kong Yuen Long bus driver’s mad driving skills A doctored video has been viewed millions of times in social media posts that falsely claim it shows a dangerous driving incident that led to the apprehension of a Hong Kong bus driver in 2020. In reality, the video was filmed in Japan and has been uploaded to YouTube since at least 2011. It has been digitally sped up and altered to add Cantonese-language audio of screaming passengers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Grape seeds cure cancer Social media posts claim that consuming grape seeds or grapeseed oil can cure cancer. But cancer specialists say supplements from the fruit are still being studied and there is not enough scientific evidence to support the claim, while US health regulators warn against purported cancer cures promoted on social media. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows former Thai beauty pageant winner holding anti-monarchy sign? A photo has been shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook posts that claim it shows a former Thai beauty pageant winner holding a sign declaring she will refuse to accept any job until Thailand “doesn't have a monarchy”. The posts circulated online after large youth-led pro-democracy protests were staged in Thailand. However, the claim is false; the image has been manipulated to show a doctored placard; the original photo shows the former beauty pageant winner holding a sign promoting justice for everyone. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photograph shows late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos with Jose Rizal A photo has been viewed tens of thousands of times in footage on TikTok and YouTube with a false claim that it shows late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos photographed with Jose Rizal, a writer and prominent figure in the country's fight for independence. The photo in fact shows Marcos with Filipino religious leader Felix M. Melgar. Multiple historical records show Marcos was born in 1917 -- 21 years after Rizal's death in 1896. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Images show recent bombing in the Gaza Strip A Facebook post with photos of large fires in a city purports to show the aftermath of a recent bombing in Gaza City. This is misleading. While there was indeed a bombing in April 2021, the pictures show older events. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Cheetah brought from Namibia eating cattle in India's Kuno National Park As India prepared to reintroduce cheetahs into a national park, a video was viewed thousands of times in social media posts in the Hindu-majority country claiming it shows one of the imported big cats killing a cow in September 2022. The posts also claim cows -- considered sacred by Hindus -- are being offered as "fodder" for the cheetahs. However, the video is from a media report about a leopard -- not a cheetah -- that circulated at least a month before the cheetahs were brought to India. A spokesperson for the national park also told AFP that the cheetahs are not being fed live animals while they are still in quarantine. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows German farmers protesting in 2021 in support of Indian farmers An image has been shared in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts alongside a claim it shows a tractor protest organised by German farmers in Berlin in February 2021 to support Indian farmers protesting against new agricultural laws. The claim is false: the photo, taken by Associated Press news agency, shows demonstrations in Berlin in November 2019, a year before Indian farmers' protests began. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Women should avoid taking Covid-19 vaccine for five days before and five days after their period Facebook posts circulating online in India claim women should avoid receiving the Covid-19 vaccine on specific dates during their menstrual cycle. The claim is false, health experts said. Vaccine manufacturers in India have not warned that a woman's menstrual cycle affects the efficacy or safety of Covid-19 vaccines. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: South Korean candidate Yoon Seok-yeol retracted gender equality pledge As South Korea geared up for a presidential election in March 2022, a screenshot of a purported news report featuring the main opposition candidate Yoon Suk-yeol circulated in Facebook posts claiming it showed him backtracking on his pledge to scrap the government's gender equality ministry. Yoon, a former prosecutor-general, has maintained a narrow lead over ruling party candidate Lee Jae-myung in recent opinion polls. However, the image has been doctored; the original report was about Yoon reiterating his plans to abolish the gender equality ministry. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: This post does not show only five British MPs attended UK parliament motion on the Uyghur Muslim genocide in China’s Xinjiang. Social media posts shared hundreds of times claim that a recent UK parliament “vote” on the alleged Uyghur Muslim genocide in China’s Xinjiang was only attended by five British MPs. The claim is misleading: the UK parliament passed a motion, not a vote, on April 22, 2021 declaring that China’s Uyghur Muslims were victims of genocide. Official records show 23 MPs contributed to the debate -- some in-person and some via video call. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US proposed nations "cede their sovereignty" over health care to the WHO Former US congresswoman Michele Bachmann claimed in an interview that the Biden administration has proposed giving the World Health Organization (WHO) control over national health care decisions. This is false; the US proposed amendments to WHO regulations aimed at beefing up the agency's response to future disease outbreaks, but the global agency, US officials and experts say the proposals would not give the WHO power to override domestic policies. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Covid-19 vaccines are the “most rushed vaccines ever developed” A video posted on Facebook by a New Zealand-based anti-lockdown page makes a number of claims, including that Covid-19 vaccines are the “most rushed vaccines ever”. The claim is misleading: according to experts, Covid-19 vaccines have been developed in ground-breaking time because governments have poured unusual amounts of resources into the development process. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Taliban member who shot himself in the head while trying out US rifle A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times on social media platforms alongside a claim that it shows a Taliban member who shot himself in the head as he was trying out a US rifle. The claim is false: the video has circulated since at least 2019 in reports about a man who accidentally shot himself during wedding celebratory gunfire in Pakistan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US President Donald Trump threatens to attack Nigeria Two images shared in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp in Nigeria claim to show tweets from US President Donald Trump warning he will attack the West African country for supporting Iran in the wake of rising tensions between the two sparring nations. However, both images have been digitally altered to look like they were sent from Trump’s personal account and are false. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Dr Kevin Stillwagon's Covid-19 comments at Board of County Commissioners During a meeting in Orange County, Florida, a retired chiropractor made several false claims about Covid-19 and vaccines. A three-minute video of his testimony has been shared widely on social media. In the video, Kevin Stillwagon repeats previously debunked myths about Covid-19. AFP Fact Check takes a look at them. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Amazon sprays its shipping boxes with "toxic pesticides" Social media posts claim that Amazon sprays its shipping boxes with "toxic pesticides to kill warehouse rodents" and that they are dangerous for cats. But the claim, which has circulated for months, has been dismissed by the retail giant, a box manufacturing association and a veterinary association. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This photo shows a political rally for Asaduddin Owaisi in India A photo has been shared hundreds of times in multiple social media posts that claim it shows a large rally for an Indian Muslim politician during the pandemic. The claim is false: the photo shows an Islamic procession in Bangladesh in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows US protesters kneeling to the Chinese flag A photo purporting to show people kneeling in front of the Chinese flag has been shared in multiple posts on Weibo, Twitter, Facebook and various forums alongside claims that it was taken during the ongoing nationwide protests against police brutality in the US. This claim is false; the photo has been doctored to include a placard and the Chinese flag. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows cattle washed away in August 2020 flood in China A video of cattle being washed away by flood waters has been viewed thousands of times on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube alongside a claim the incident occurred in China in August 2020. The claim is false; the video has previously circulated in a July 2020 report about severe flooding in Mexico during Hurricane Hanna. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Chinese soldiers taking action against Indonesian police and military A video has been viewed thousands of times on social media posts alongside a claim that it shows Chinese soldiers in an altercation with Indonesian police and military. The claim is false. The video has circulated in news reports about a confrontation between Indonesian authorities and local residents -- not Chinese soldiers -- when police tried to arrest suspected illegal miners in Indonesia's Aceh province. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photos show new bridge linking Cebu and Bohol in the Philippines Facebook posts shared thousands of times contain multiple photos of bridges alongside references to a planned infrastructure project connecting two Philippine towns including the phrases "open bridge" and "we can now roam around". The posts are using the photos in a misleading context; none of them were taken in the Philippines and construction of the planned Philippine bridge has not yet begun. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Images show military training in Eritrea Three pictures — one of trucks loaded with missiles, another of tanks and a third showing jets flying over a building — have been circulating on Facebook in Ethiopia with claims that they show a recent military exercise in Eritrea. But the claims are false: AFP found that the post uses old, unrelated images. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bill Shorten tweeted “Immigration of people from the Middle East is the future Australia needs”. Multiple Facebook posts have shared a screenshot that purports to show a tweet from Australian Labor leader Bill Shorten which says: “Immigration of people from the Middle East is the future Australia needs”. The claim is false; the Twitter handle in the picture is different to Shorten’s verified account and there is no record of Shorten posting such a tweet. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show Hallie Biden's Twitter account Social media users are sharing photos of a Twitter page that purportedly belongs to Hallie Biden, the widow of US President Joe Biden's son Beau. This is false; the foundation that Hallie Biden chairs told AFP she is not active on Twitter, and the account has been suspended for violating the platform's rules. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Experimental bacterial meningitis vaccine caused the 1918 Spanish Flu outbreak Multiple Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic was actually “not a flu at all” but was instead “caused by random dosages of an experimental 'bacterial meningitis vaccine'”. The claim is false; experts agree that a novel strain of the H1N1 virus caused the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic and that no bacterial meningitis vaccination program was carried out in 1918. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian Sikh politician holding photo of Indira Gandhi An image has been shared repeatedly on Facebook alongside a claim it shows Sikh politician Navjot Singh Sidhu displaying a photo of former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi at a rally. However, the image has been doctored. The original photograph shows Sidhu holding a photo of revolutionary hero Bhagat Singh. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Elections Canada data show Justin Trudeau may not be a valid prime minister Social media posts claim data from the nonpartisan federal agency responsible for Canadian elections show Justin Trudeau may not have been legitimately elected in 2021. This is misleading; Elections Canada says it counted all valid ballots that arrived on time, and independent experts say there is no evidence suggesting the prime minister's win was illegitimate. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: David Beckham wearing 'Free West Papua' T-shirt A blog post containing a photo of English footballer David Beckham wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words “Free West Papua” has been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim it shows Beckham visiting a town in Indonesia’s Papua region. The claim is false, the photo has been doctored from a photo of Beckham wearing a plain white T-shirt during a visit to neighbouring Papua New Guinea in 2015. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows blast in Kabul in August 2021 A video of a huge explosion has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Twitter and Facebook, alongside a claim it shows a suicide bombing in the Afghan capital Kabul in August 2021. The claim is false: the video has circulated in media reports since August 2020 about an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Babies in image were delivered via C-section as they were holding hands A photo of newborn twins appearing to hold hands has been shared hundreds of times in Facebook posts which claim a mother had a caesarean delivery as the "sister was holding her brother's hand tightly". The claim is misleading; the US hospital where the babies were born said the caesarean was a pre-planned procedure for the safety of the monoamniotic twins, not because they were holding hands. The twins are girls, not a boy and a girl as the posts claim. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sri Lanka approves use of abortion pill False social media posts circulating in Sri Lanka in May say the government has approved the use of abortion pills. But a health official told AFP abortions remain illegal in the island nation. The text shared in the posts actually matches the headline of a news report in April about Japan approving the abortion pill. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Gameof Thrones actress Bella Ramsey breakdancing A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and YouTube which claim it shows Game of Thrones actress Bella Ramsey breakdancing. The claim is false; the video shows a young Russian dancer called Liza Petrikova. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Philippine mobile money app GCash introduces new fees starting October 1, 2020 Multiple Facebook posts shared in September 2020 purport to list new fees introduced by Philippine money transfer app, GCash, from October 1. The claim is misleading; in response to the posts, the company said on October 1, 2020, that the fees listed were not accurate. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Zimbabwean children find their own way out of cyclone Idai wreckage Social media users have claimed that a photo circulating online shows a group of Zimbabwean children who were left to find their own way to safety after the deadly Cyclone Idai, without any help. In fact, soldiers were at the scene in the town of Chimanimani helping them to cross the wreckage left by a mudslide after the cyclone struck. The photo was taken by an AFP photographer who confirmed that members of the Zimbabwean military were at the scene but asked not to be photographed. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: George Soros Arrested in Switzerland Several online sources claim that billionaire George Soros was arrested in Switzerland on February 3, 2019. This is false: the Hungarian-born US philanthropist was not arrested, as Swiss police and his Open Society Foundations confirmed to AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show reconstruction of collapsed bridge in Surigao in southern Philippines A photo collage has been shared in multiple Facebook posts that claim it shows the reconstruction of a collapsed bridge in the Philippines. The claim is false; the photos in fact show bridges in Indonesia and Japan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Several Facebook posts claim CNN journalist named son after Peter Obi Nigerian opposition figure Peter Obi is among the candidates hoping to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023. He is popular among young Nigerians, with a large following on social media. Facebook accounts recently claimed that a CNN journalist named her son after Obi and pointed to this as proof of his growing popularity outside Nigeria. However, the claim is false; the journalist gave birth to a boy in 2018, but she did not name him after Obi. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: New Indonesian bill cannot be used for transactions Multiple posts shared hundreds of times on Facebook and Twitter claim that the new Indonesian 75,000 rupiah banknote is only “merchandise” not legal tender, therefore it cannot be used for financial transactions. But the claim is false; the Bank of Indonesia says that the new banknote is legal tender. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Images of recent Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh Nine images have been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts that claim they show a recent rebel attack in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh that injured several paramilitary forces. But the images have been shared in a misleading context: they have previously circulated online in reports about other rebel attacks in India, while one image actually shows a scene from a Star Wars film. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Singapore shut down train station for disinfection after novel coronavirus case A Facebook post claims Singapore closed a subway station in January 2020 after discovering a case of novel coronavirus. The claim is false; Singapore’s Ministry of Health and Ministry of Transport denied that any part of its mass rapid transit (MRT) network had been shut down for disinfection. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Erdogan refusing to sit with Macron at event in 2020 A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim it shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan refusing to sit and shake hands with French President Emmanuel Macron in 2020. The claim is false; a longer version of the video shows Erdogan sitting next to Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin during a summit on Syria in October 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows a new species of coral found off the Galapagos Islands An image of a black and white object has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook alongside a claim that it shows a new coral species found near the Galapagos Islands. But the claim is false; the image has been digitally created using computer software and does not show coral. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: People flee Kashmir as India starts war in Pakistan A video that has been viewed more than a million times on Facebook purportedly shows people in Kashmir fleeing to safety after war between India and Pakistan begins. The claim is false; the footage has circulated online since 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Zimbabwe High Court sentenced a gay couple to house arrest Blogs and social media posts in several African countries claim that a Zimbabwean judge sentenced a gay couple to 12 months house arrest and ordered them to produce a child in that time, failing which they would receive the death penalty. This is false: while Zimbabwe maintains some of the strictest laws governing same-sex marriage and gay intercourse, AFP Fact Check found that the “judge” does not exist and the purported ruling is a hoax. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows a crowded train station in Kolkata in November 2020. A video that shows a huge crowd on a railway station platform has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter that claim the scene was filmed in the Indian city of Kolkata in November 2020. The posts claim train passengers breached social distancing guidelines following the resumption of local railway services. The claim is false; the video has circulated online since September 2018 in reports about police exam candidates at a train station in the northeastern Indian state of West Bengal. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: ‘Rocket’ car made in Biafra An image of a white car with sharp angles has been shared thousands of times on Facebook in Nigeria, alongside claims that it was made in Biafra – a collection of states seeking independence in southern Nigeria. This is false: the photo was taken at a launch attended by AFP in Libya in 2009 and shows a car presented to the press as the brainchild of former leader Moamer Kadhafi. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigeria's Dangote Refinery is recruiting 4,000 staff Widely shared posts on Facebook and Twitter claim that Dangote Refinery, a huge Nigerian petrochemical site under construction by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has begun recruiting more than 4,000 people. This is false. The posts originate from a fake job advert with no links to the Dangote Group. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Trump congratulates Ethiopian PM on his re-election Old hoax (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A photo shows Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky holding hands Social media users are claiming a photo from Joe Biden's surprise trip to Kyiv shows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky holding his US counterpart's hand to keep him nearby. This is false; the image has been digitally manipulated to re-position the leaders' hands, the New York Times photographer who took the picture confirmed to AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nancy Pelosi flies to California every weekend on a Boeing 757 A years-old claim that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi travels routinely to her home district on a Boeing 757 that costs millions of dollars annually in fuel has resurfaced on Facebook. This is false; Pelosi’s office denied the claim, analyst estimates of fuel costs are far lower, she has not spent each entire weekend in San Francisco, and has flown there commercially in the past. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The crowd chanted an anti-Biden slogan during Joe Biden's gun reform speech A video viewed nearly 200,000 times on Instagram appears to show a crowd interrupting US President Joe Biden with an expletive-laden chant during a speech on gun reform. But the clip has been manipulated; the original footage of the address shows Biden reacting as the father of a school shooting victim stood up to call for a greater response to gun violence. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Syrian refugees purposely travel to New Zealand instead of nearby countries Three photos have been shared in multiple Facebook posts that claim they show Syrian refugees traveling to New Zealand to seek asylum. However, this claim is false: none of the photos show refugees making their way to New Zealand; they in fact show migrants in several European countries. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Palestinians covered in makeup in an effort to make “Israel look bad” As deadly clashes escalated between Israel and Hamas, a video surfaced online accusing Palestinians of applying fake blood to “make the world feel sorry for them”. The video is a hoax: the footage in fact shows a training exercise from 2017, in which make-up artists painted wounds on Gaza residents to train medics. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Pakistani athlete defeating Israeli opponent in Tokyo A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in Facebook posts that claim it shows a Pakistani athlete defeating his Israeli opponent in a karate match at the Tokyo Olympics on July 25. The claim is false: the video predates the Olympics. It has circulated online since May 2021 in posts about a karate match between Russia and Montenegro. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Rain cloud machine developed by NASA A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube which claim the footage shows a “rain clouds generator engine” developed by US Space Agency NASA. The claim is false; the video has been taken from a 2010 episode of the BBC’s Top Gear program; NASA said the footage actually showed tests of rocket engines. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show Rafale fighter jet crashed during training in India in September 2020 Four photos have been shared in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim that they show a crashed Dassault Rafale fighter jet in India in September 2020, just two months after India procured the jets from France in a deal that sparked months of political controversy. However, the claim is false; three images have separately circulated online since February 2019 in reports about the crash of another fighter jet, while one image is a stock photo of a Rafale fighter jet. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows flyover collapse in Delhi A video has been viewed hundreds of times in social media posts falsely claiming that a pillar at a building site in the Indian capital Delhi collapsed and caused several casualties. The video, however, shows a portion of an under-construction flyover that collapsed in Varanasi, a city 700km (435 miles) east of Delhi in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh in May 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of Malaysian prison officers waiting to take ex-PM Najib Razak to jail in August 2022 Social media users in Malaysia have shared an image that they claim shows prison officers waiting to take the country’s former prime minister Najib Razak to jail on August 23, 2022, when the top court rejected his appeal against a 12-year sentence for corruption. However, the claim is false. The photo was shared in 2015 -- seven years earlier -- in posts that say it shows prison officers transferring jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to a hospital in Kuala Lumpur. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Image of a storm in South Carolina An Instagram post that purports to show a dramatic storm in the United States has been liked hundreds of times. However, the claim is false; the image’s creator told AFP Fact Check he produced the digital artwork using stock pictures. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: UNICEF issues instructions to prevent risk of novel coronavirus infection An advisory about the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has been shared repeatedly in multiple posts on Facebook and WhatsApp alongside a claim that it was released by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The claim is false; UNICEF said that the agency did not release the information; significant parts of the message are contrary to health experts’ advice about the coronavirus. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bangladeshi comedian Showkat Ali Nipu died in June 2021 A photo of Bangladeshi comedian Showkat Ali Talukder Nipu has been shared in multiple Facebook posts that claim ‘grandson’ -- the popular role he played on television -- had died in early June 2021. But the posts are misleading: Nipu’s photo had been shared alongside an unrelated report about the death of a different Bangladeshi celebrity. Nipu confirmed to AFP on June 15, 2021 that he is still alive. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Manipulated Image: Bill Gates Foundation has a Center for Global Human Population Reduction Social media users have shared a photo that claims to show a “Center for Global Human Population Reduction” affiliated with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The image, however, has been manipulated. The stone signage it captures is the foundation’s Discovery Center in Seattle, which is not home to a depopulation effort, nor are the Microsoft co-founder and his wife behind any such initiative. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte fired Comelec spokesman James Jimenez in May 2021 Multiple Facebook and Twitter posts shared thousands of times in mid-May 2021 claim that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte fired the only spokesman for the country’s poll body. The claim is misleading: Duterte’s communications office said it had not fired the spokesman, who has continued to represent the poll body in media interviews as of May 31, 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows Israeli air force preparing for an attack on Palestine in 2021 Multiple Facebook posts in Sri Lanka have shared an image which they claim shows a squadron of Israeli fighter jets lining up on a runway in preparation for an attack on Palestine in May 2021. But this claim is false: the image shows US fighter aircraft during a demonstration at a military base in South Korea in December 2012. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows couple fighting over bride’s infidelity A video showing members of a wedding party arguing in the street has circulated in numerous social media posts. The footage purportedly shows a groom confronting his bride for cheating on him with one of the groomsmen. This is false; the footage is actually a scene from a skit written and directed by a comedian. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows two women carrying a fake body during the COVID-19 pandemic A stock photo of two actors posing as medical workers while carrying a fake body bag has been shared hundreds of times in misleading Facebook posts which promote coronavirus pandemic denial. The original photo agency that licensed the image clearly labelled it as a staged photo. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Satellite temperature data in January 2023 proves global warming is a hoax A graph purporting to show the fluctuation of global temperatures over the last four decades has been shared thousands of times in social media posts that misleadingly claim it proves "CO2-driven warming is a hoax" and undermines the theory that all CO2 emissions warm the planet. But experts told AFP the graph shows a warming trend and that social media users had "cherry-picked" its data. Climatologists have measured how emissions from human activities have caused global warming. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Baseball legend Hank Aaron’s death is related to his Moderna Covid-19 vaccination Social media posts and an online article link Atlanta baseball legend Hank Aaron’s death to his Moderna Covid-19 vaccination, with some posts seeking to raise fears among Black people about the safety of vaccines against the disease. But the vaccines have been tested for safety, and a medical examiner as well as Morehouse School of Medicine, where Aaron was vaccinated, said his death was unrelated to the immunization. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pictures show Nashville shooting suspect Audrey Hale Social media users claim four photos show the person who killed three children and three staff members in the Covenant School mass shooting in the US state of Tennessee. This is false; the pictures do not depict Audrey Hale, who police killed at the scene and later identified as the assailant. The images are unrelated and, in one case, recycled from a long-running internet hoax. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Hindu holy man, or sadhu, beaten by Muslim man in India A video is circulating in social media posts in Hindu-majority India that claim it shows a Muslim man harassing a Hindu holy man and chopping off his hair. However, police said the attacker was Hindu, not Muslim, and that the incident was not religiously motivated. Local media reported that the accused was drunk and attacked the man following an altercation. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows food donated to Turkey, which is on lockdown due to the novel coronavirus pandemic A video of food packets deposited on a street has been viewed millions of times on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube alongside a claim it shows food donations for people in Turkey during a novel coronavirus lockdown. The claim is false; the video shows donations for victims of a deadly earthquake that struck eastern Turkey in January 2020, almost two months before Turkey recorded its first case of the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows Dutch minesweeper that avoided Japanese capture during WWII Facebook posts which claim it shows a camouflaged Dutch minesweeping vessel that evaded Japanese capture during World War II. The claim is misleading: the Swedish Navy said the photo shows an old model of its Göteborg-class destroyer; the Netherlands Marine Museum said the ship was not a “Dutch naval vessel”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: This photo shows a protest for mail-in voting An aerial photo of a large crowd in an urban area was shared on Facebook with the claim it shows Democrats in the US city of Seattle protesting for mail-in voting. This is false; the photo is from a June 2020 Black Lives Matter protest in Seattle, and was originally shared as a joke. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Patent filed for coronavirus, covid-19, in 2015 Multiple Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim that a person named Richard A. Rothschild filed a patent for novel coronavirus tests in 2015. The claim is false; the image shows a supplemental application that was filed in 2020 following the submission of another patent application in 2015 that was not related to the coronavirus; a spokesperson for the financial services firm Rothschild & Co. said the patent’s applicant had no link to the company. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: International Space Station is fake as an astronaut drops a ball A video that appears to show a globe dropping from under a NASA astronaut's arm has been viewed thousands of times in posts around the world which falsely claim it proves the International Space Station (ISS) is "fake". Experts have told AFP that the astronaut actually pushed the globe "downwards" in the space station. They also said other objects in the video -- including a microphone -- can be seen floating among crew members, proving the clip was filmed in a weightless environment. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: 70 percent of voters told they already voted in California recall election Allegations of fraud in California's gubernatorial recall election spread online after Democrat Gavin Newsom survived the vote aimed at unseating him. But claims that the state refused to count in-person votes, that some polling stations told 70 percent of voters they had already cast their ballots, or that the result was determined too rapidly, are false. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video claims Bongbong Marcos is new Philippine vice president A video viewed hundreds of thousands of times in multiple Facebook, TikTok and YouTube posts claims a newspaper reported that Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is the new Philippine vice president. The claim is false; the article referenced in the video does not report Marcos Jr. is new vice president, it actually reads that the Philippine Supreme Court ordered proceedings in the ongoing election dispute between Marcos Jr. and sitting Vice President Leni Robredo. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows bus accident of umrah pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. Footage of a vehicle engulfed in flames has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in social media posts that falsely link it to a deadly bus crash in Saudi Arabia in March 2023. The video has in fact circulated online for years in reports about a fatal accident on the same road in Saudi Arabia six years earlier. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Brazil truckers expressing solidarity with Canada protesters Social media posts claim a video clip shows Brazilian truckers expressing solidarity with protesters in Canada who oppose vaccine mandates. This is false; the footage was posted online months before the Canadian trucker demonstration began. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Travel to and from Metro Manila, Philippines suspended from March 15, 2021 until April 14, 2021 As Covid-19 infections surge in the Philippines, multiple Facebook posts have shared a purported news graphic that states the government is shutting down all transportation in and out of Manila for a month beginning March 15, 2021. The claim is false: the dates seen in the text graphic have been digitally altered; the original graphic was published in 2020 and reports on travel restrictions implemented at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Luxembourg prime minister and his spouse A photo has been shared hundreds of times on Twitter, Facebook and Weibo alongside a claim that it shows the prime minister of Luxembourg and his spouse. The claim is false: the photo in fact shows Austrian singer Conchita Wurst and her business manager at the 2019 Vienna Opera Ball. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows flood victims rescued after Typhoon Vamco hit the Philippines A video of a flood rescue operation has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in multiple Twitter and Facebook posts alongside a claim that it was filmed in the Philippines shortly after Typhoon Vamco hit the country. The claim is false; the video in fact shows a rescue operation in Guatemala following Storm Eta in early November 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of the Indian police beating suspect in Hyderabad rape-murder case A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts that claim it shows police beating a suspect in a high profile rape and murder case that happened in Hyderabad on November 27. The claim is false; the video actually shows police in the neighboring state of Andhra Pradesh hitting a man accused of rape; the footage had circulated online prior to the Hyderabad attack. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Image shows Ukrainian military convoy in Iraq Facebook posts shared hundreds of times purport to show a photo of a Ukrainian tank in Iraq. They accuse Ukraine of hypocrisy for condemning Russia's invasion, despite apparently having played a role in the Iraq War. In fact, the tank photo has been doctored to add a Ukrainian flag and coat of arms. While Ukrainian troops did serve in Iraq, the photo resembles images of American troops at the Iraq-Kuwait border during the Gulf War. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Budesonide, steroid used in asthma inhalers, cures COVID-19 Multiple posts shared repeatedly on Facebook claim that budesonide, a steroid used in asthma inhalers, can "cure" COVID-19. The claim is misleading; as of July 2020, health experts say there is no scientific evidence that budesonide can cure or treat COVID-19; the Philippine health department dismissed the claim as "fake news" and warned the steroid should only be used with a doctor’s prescription. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Saudi Arabia has permanently banned cinema theatres Facebook posts shared hundreds of times in January 2022 claimed Saudi Arabia had permanently banned cinemas from operating in the kingdom, reversing a 2017 decision to allow them to operate. These posts are false; as of February 16, 2022, Saudi Arabia's entertainment authority has not announced any ban on cinemas. Two cinema chains told AFP they continue to operate in the kingdom and were selling tickets for cinema showings as of February 16. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Hoax: Moon and Mars will appear of equal size in night sky Facebook posts shared thousands of times claim that the Moon and Mars will appear to be the same size in the night sky on August 27, 2020. The claim is a frequently-repeated hoax that can be traced back to 2003, and US space agency NASA has explained that, even with magnification, Mars will not appear as large as a full Moon. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Jen Psaki said Taco Bell value menu is affordable alternative to Thanksgiving dinner A Christian blog about parenting values shared a post on its official social media pages attributing a quote to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. Fast-food chain Taco Bell's value menu "is just as tasty and a lot more affordable" than a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, Psaki reportedly said to journalists. But the quote is made-up and its origin can be traced to a satirical website. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows chair made by a serial killer from human remains Two photos of a "creepy" chair have been shared hundreds of times on Facebook alongside a claim it was created by a notorious American serial killer from actual human remains. But the claim is false. The photos show a chair that was created by an Australia-based special effects artist using latex. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: South Korean lawmakers submitted a bill forcing mandatory vaccinations and quarantine Misleading social media posts shared in South Korea claim that a proposed legislative bill on wastewater testing would make vaccinations and quarantine mandatory for residents in areas where viruses such as Covid-19 were detected. In fact, the draft bill from an opposition Democratic Party lawmaker makes no mention of forced vaccinations and quarantine. A spokesperson for South Korea's disease prevention agency told AFP that while it had started testing wastewater for disease-causing viruses, there was no plan to introduce forced vaccinations or quarantine for residents. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Switzerland gives every citizen a gun A meme being shared in South Africa claims that Switzerland gives every citizen a gun, trains them to use them, and that the country has the world’s lowest gun violence rates. Switzerland does indeed have relatively high rates of gun ownership and low rates of violence, but it’s an exaggeration to claim that the state gives “every” citizen a firearm. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photos show flooding in China in 2022 Images of flooded city streets have been shared hundreds of times in Facebook posts that claim they show flooding in China in July 2022. However, the claim is misleading. The pictures circulated previously in social media posts and reports about a flood that hit Zhengzhou in central China in July 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sharing COVID-19 messages declared a punishable offence in India A claim that India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has made it a “punishable offence” for citizens to publish posts on social media about the novel coronavirus has been shared repeatedly on Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp. The claim is false; India’s official Press Information Bureau said it had made no such law; an online search for the purported government minister who issued the alleged ban yielded no results. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows Afghan president fleeing to Tajikistan? As Taliban fighters seized control of the Afghan capital Kabul, a video was viewed thousands of times in Facebook and Twitter posts purporting to show President Ashraf Ghani fleeing the country. However, the posts are misleading; the footage in fact shows Ghani heading to a conference in Uzbekistan in July. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Romana Didulo is head of state and commander-in-chief of the “Republic of Canada” Online videos claim that a person named Romana Didulo has been appointed head of state and commander-in-chief of the “Republic of Canada.” This is false; Canada remains a constitutional monarchy headed by Queen Elizabeth II -- who cannot be removed unless Canadian legislators agree -- and the monarch’s representative in Ottawa holds ceremonial command of the military. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A motorcade escorting Indonesian president in his visit to France A video has been watched more than one million times in multiple social media posts that claim it shows an motorcade escorting Indonesian President Joko Widodo during his visit to France. The claim is false; the clip shows a motorcade for Queen Elizabeth II when she visited the German capital of Berlin in 2015. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: UAE bans three-month tourist visas for Nigerians Widely-shared articles and social media posts have claimed the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has placed a ban on issuing three-month tourist visas for Nigerian passport holders, following the arrest of five Nigerians in the country in connection with a robbery. But travellers need not worry: UAE authorities have confirmed that the visa policy has not changed. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered: Justin Trudeau tweeted that fuel shortages were due to Hurricane Fiona Social media posts share an image of a purported tweet by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau linking fuel shortages to a major storm that swept through eastern parts of the country. This is false; no such post can be found on the Liberal leader's official Twitter account, and the Prime Minister's Office confirmed that his team never published it. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: 1,100-acre food forest in the Netherlands? A meme that has been shared thousands of times in Zambia claims that a “food forest” in the Netherlands produces 5,000 tons of fruit and nuts every year on a plot of 1,100 acres. This is misleading; while the pictures showing Foodforest Ketelbroek are real, the meme introduces a number of inaccuracies about the forest’s size and the amount of food it produces, according to one of the project’s founders. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Genuine news report says Australian scientists found bananas prevent COVID-19 A video has been shared repeatedly in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube which claim it shows a genuine news report about Australian researchers discovering bananas can help prevent infection by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The claim is false; the video has been doctored from a news report by the Australian television channel ABC to include references to bananas; the scientist cited in the report told AFP the claim is untrue. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Woman carries poster about Arabs during 2020 US anti-racism protests? An image that purports to show a protester holding a poster that bears text about Arabs has been shared in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter in June 2020 alongside claims that the sign was displayed during ongoing protests in the US against racism and police brutality. The claim is false; the image has been doctored. The original photo, which shows the protester holding a different poster, was published by Reuters during anti-racism protests in the US in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This photo shows a street covered with potholes in Rahul Gandhi's parliamentary constituency Wayanad, Kerala. A photo has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim it shows a road lined with potholes in a district in the southern Indian state of Kerala where opposition politician Rahul Gandhi has served as member of parliament since May 2019. The claim is false; this photo has circulated in reports about the north Indian state of Bihar since at least 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows Canadian government puts up billboards thanking India for COVID-19 vaccines Photos of billboards in Canada thanking India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sending Covid-19 vaccines to the country have been shared thousands of times in Facebook and Twitter posts which imply that the billboards were installed by the Canadian government. The posts, however, are misleading; the billboards were in fact put up by a Canadian nonprofit Hindu organisation. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: $1.9 trillion pandemic relief act includes enough money to pay every American $1 million. Social media posts claim the $1.9 trillion pandemic relief act includes enough money to pay every American $1 million, and there would still be funds to spare. This is false; it would cost more than $300 trillion for all of the country’s citizens to receive that amount. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of President Buhari’s funeral A video showing a body wrapped in a Nigerian flag and carried by military officers through a crowd has been shared thousands of times online, with claims that it documents the funeral of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. This is false; the footage comes from an Associated Press video showing the burial of former Nigerian leader Umar Musa Yar’Adua, who died in May 2010. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Using a mobile phone while it charges is dangerous A video shared hundreds of thousands of times warns against using mobile phones while they charge because “electric waves” will pass through your body. This advice is misleading, according to experts who say other appliances would also exhibit similar harmless voltage leakage, while the real danger -- though slim -- could come from faulty batteries and low-quality chargers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows announcement of return of Covid restrictions in Chinese city As China battled a wave of coronavirus cases in December 2022 in the wake of the government's sudden decision to lift years of lockdowns, quarantines and mass testing, a video was viewed thousands of times in social media posts that falsely claimed this loosening of Covid restrictions was being reversed. The posts said authorities in the central city of Xi’an had announced that citywide Covid tests would be carried out and a negative result would be needed to enter shops and public areas. The video, however, shows a government official’s statement from a year earlier. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: False claim circulates on Facebook that authorities announced Myanmar will acquire Covid-19 medication and vaccine before end of 2020 Multiple Facebook posts shared thousands of times in October 2020 claim that Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has announced that medication for Covid-19 will be made available to Myanmar citizens before the end of 2020. This is misleading: in the televised speech cited in the misleading posts, Aung San Suu Kyi said only that some emergency Covid-19 patients in Myanmar would be given access to the antiviral remdesivir. The posts also claim that the World Health Organization has said an authorised Covid-19 vaccine will be offered in Myanmar at a cost of 4,000 Myanmar kyats ($3) per dose. This claim is false: as of October 14, 2020, the WHO has not formally approved any of the Covid-19 vaccines being tested in clinical trials around the world for use. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pakistan government reduces petrol price to 100 rupees As Pakistan grapples with a power crisis, multiple Facebook posts have repeatedly shared the false claim that a local television channel reported a decrease in petrol prices in the South Asian nation. However, the posts feature a news report from Geo News that in fact states demand for petrol -- not petrol prices -- has decreased. The government announced an increase in petrol prices starting from July 1, 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hydroxychloroquine is the cure for COVID-19 US President Donald Trump used Twitter to spread footage of a doctor who claims a combination of medicines including hydroxychloroquine will cure COVID-19. But there is currently no cure for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, and the false information the video contains has left social media companies scrambling to remove it. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: An upcoming airport near Noida in India is the largest in Asia Politicians from India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have shared videos and images claiming that a new airport being built outside the capital Delhi will become "Asia's largest airport". However, the claim is misleading; it will be far smaller in size than Saudi Arabia's King Fahd airport and is not predicted to see the same air traffic as some of China's airports. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Uighur Muslims in detention camps in China Three images purported to show Uighur Muslims in detention camps in China have been shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook. The photos have been shared in a misleading context; they were shot, separately, during a protest in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2018, a demonstration in China's Xinjiang region in 2009, and at a migrant shelter in Thailand in 2014. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Biden announced free dental coverage for all seniors through Medicare Facebook posts claim US President Joe Biden announced a Medicare stimulus to provide free dental work to all seniors. But the posts features footage of Biden speaking on the campaign trail in 2020, not announcing new benefits after taking office, and Medicare does not cover most types of dental care. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Canine Carry Outs dog treats recalled A popular post warns internet users of the toxicity of Canine Carry Outs, a type of dog treat, alleging that they have been recalled after the death of a dog. This is false: the US brand has never been subject to a recall, and the hoax continues to circulate despite several rebuttals from the brand and pet health websites. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Sri Lankan Finance Minister photographed engaging in fire walking ritual Social media users in Sri Lanka have shared an image that they claim shows the island nation's finance minister performing a fire walking ritual. The claim is misleading: the image actually shows a local police officer, according to individuals who took part in the ceremony. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Photo shows Imran Khan supporter waving gun during rally in 2023 A doctored photo that appears to show a man pointing a gun from a vehicle has been shared thousands of times in posts that falsely claim it shows a supporter of former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan at an election rally in March 2023. It circulated online after local media reported that Khan had suspended an election rally in Lahore, Pakistan's second-largest city, following arrests of his supporters. The weapon shown in the photo has been digitally inserted into an image from a rally that Khan led in August 2014. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: World Health Organization meeting cancelled after Geneva airport explosion Claims that a planned World Health Organization (WHO) meeting in May 2022 was cancelled after "massive explosions" at Geneva Airport in Switzerland have been shared in several social media posts. However, the claim is false. Although flights to and from Geneva were disrupted following a fire next to the airport, the WHO meeting went ahead as scheduled. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows UAE monarch in Buddhist temple A photo of a man in traditional Arab clothing standing next to two Buddhist monks has been shared in multiple Facebook posts that claim that it shows “the king” of the United Arab Emirates in a temple he constructed. The claim is false: the image in fact shows popular YouTube content creator Khalid Al Ameri visiting a temple in Dubai. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: King Charles III proclaimed Donald Trump winner of the 2020 election Online posts claim King Charles III signed a proclamation declaring Donald Trump winner of the 2020 US election and threatening war if President Joe Biden does not leave the White House. This is false; the image shared shows the English monarch signing an oath to uphold the security of the Church of Scotland. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Postponing elections is international norm during coronavirus pandemic? A graphic aired by Hong Kong channel TVB appeared to show that countries including Canada, the UK and New Zealand had postponed key elections due to the novel coronavirus. The graphic was broadcast after Hong Kong delayed its September elections for a year because of the pandemic. Some social media users criticised TVB in posts on Facebook and Twitter for what they claimed was a false comparison. Of the four countries listed in the graphic only New Zealand has postponed its national election -- the other countries have postponed local elections. TVB corrected the graphic but said the social media posts were a "smear tactic". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image of mail dumped on the side of the road contains 2020 ballots cast for US President Trump A tweet shared thousands of times claims an image of mail dumped on the side of the road shows ballots cast for US President Trump, feeding into concerns that mail-in ballots are not a safe way to vote in the 2020 presidential election. This is false; the image is from 2018, when Trump was not up for re-election, and the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General said the mail pictured was safely delivered. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Wife of Pfizer CEO died of complications from Covid-19 vaccine An online article said Myriam Bourla, wife of Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, died of complications arising from a Covid-19 vaccine. The claim is false, the pharmaceutical company and the hospital mentioned in the article told AFP, and Myriam Bourla attended a public event after the article erroneously announced her death. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Rwandan president Paul Kagame deports 18 Chinese nationals? Posts claiming that Rwandan President Paul Kagame ordered the deportation of Chinese nationals for mistreating Rwandan workers have been shared hundreds of times on Facebook. However, there is no public record of such an order, and representatives of both the Rwandan and Chinese governments said this never happened. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: WHO says bubonic plague in China is likely to trigger epidemic; CDC says bubonic plague can be spread via cough droplets Multiple Facebook and Twitter posts shared thousands of times claim the World Health Organization (WHO) has said a case of bubonic plague detected in China in early July 2020 is likely to trigger a "severe epidemic". The posts include an additional claim that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said bubonic plague can be spread through cough droplets. The claims are misleading; the WHO has said the bubonic plague case is not high-risk and is “being well managed”; the CDC states bubonic plague is usually caused by flea bites. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Images of train toilet shows plight of sanitation in Sri Lankan railways Two images of a dirty toilet have been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim they show a toilet on a Sri Lankan train in July 2020. The images, however, have been shared in a misleading context; the Facebook user who first uploaded the photos said he took them in 2018; Sri Lankan railway officials said its train toilets have since been updated. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pandemics recur every 100 years An Instagram video with more than 600,000 views claims pandemics recur like clockwork once a century. This is false; the clip has incorrectly dated some of the widespread infectious disease outbreaks, and medical historians say it ignores many others while including a localized epidemic from France. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Duke, UNC and ECU are "transitioning toddlers" An article from an American conservative group claims three major health care providers in the state of North Carolina are "transitioning toddlers." This is false; the university networks mentioned in the story offer mental health services for children with gender dysphoria, but their policies don't allow transition surgery on minors. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bola Tinubu's daughter warned him not to rig Nigerian election A day before Nigeria’s electoral commission declared Bola Tinubu the winner of the presidential race, a Facebook page published a video with claims that it showed his daughter warning him not to rig the election. But this claim is false: the woman in the video is not Tinubu’s daughter – she is Nigerian activist Adetoun Onajobi. AFP Fact Check debunked another claim about Onajobi and the video before the election. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows controversial Thai general’s uniform overloaded with medals? A purported image of General Apirat Kongsompong, former Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army and a controversial public figure in Thailand, shaking hands with the chief of staff of the U.S. Army has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim that it shows Gen Apirat in a uniform covered by multiple medals. The claim is false; the image has been doctored to include more medals on Gen Apirat’s uniform. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Person on top of spinning helicopter rotor A video that appears to show a person flung into the air after perching on top of a spinning helicopter rotor has been viewed tens of thousands of times in Chinese social media posts. Some people appeared to believe the footage showed an extraordinary stunt. However, the video shows computer-generated imagery created by a visual artist. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Two banks are burning in Nigeria amid cash crisis The Nigerian government’s push to retire the country’s old currency and replace it with new bills is leaving many Nigerians frustrated and without access to their money ahead of the February 25 election. A TikTok video viewed more than one million times claims to show a branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on fire in Benin City. Another social media post alleges that a Zenith Bank branch was ablaze in eastern Nigeria. But the claims are false. AFP Fact Check found both videos were taken in 2021: the first shows a supermarket on fire in Nigeria's capital Abuja, while the second is of a branch of Zenith Bank that caught fire in Port Harcourt in southern Nigeria. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Emirates airlines plane that caught fire in Sharjah airport A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim that an Emirates airlines passenger plane caught fire at Sharjah International Airport in the United Arab Emirates. This is false; the clip has circulated in reports since 2019 about a Russian passenger plane catching fire during an emergency landing at an airport in Moscow. AFP found no official reports that an Emirates plane caught fire at Sharjah airport as of April 22, 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Screenshot of a genuine news report about South Korean president drinking A fabricated news article shared in Facebook posts in South Korea has misleadingly suggested that President Yoon Suk-yeol cancelled a nuclear plant visit in 2022 because he would rather drink alcohol. The article included an old photo of Yoon drinking soju from a 2021 news report, prompting some Facebook users to claim he cancelled the plant visit because he "wanted to drink". The original South Korean newspaper report -- which included a different photo of Yoon -- stated the trip was cancelled due to extremely cold weather. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Colin Powell death from Covid-19 complications means vaccines not effective Social media posts claim that Colin Powell's death from complications caused by Covid-19 means vaccines against the disease are ineffective. This is misleading; Powell had a type of cancer that experts say undermines the efficacy of the shots, and data shows his age left him especially vulnerable. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: US Postal Worker Caught at Canadian Border With Stolen Ballots In Car Trunk A tweet saying that a United States Postal Service (USPS) worker was caught at the Canadian border with “stolen ballots” was retweeted more than 17,000 times. This is misleading; a postal employee was arrested with undelivered mail, but only three blank absentee ballots were found among the 813 items retrieved in his vehicle, and he was not charged with election interference, according to the US Department of Justice. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Graphene oxide in Covid-19 vaccines manipulated during Astroworld concert Facebook posts claim the deadly crush at rapper Travis Scott's Astroworld Festival was caused by graphene oxide in Covid-19 vaccines that allowed concertgoers to be controlled. This is false; the substance is not an ingredient in any of the shots authorized in the United States, and authorities are still investigating events at the Houston, Texas, concert. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Facebook Posts Mislead On Is Suspects Shamima Begum And Lisa Smith: IS suspects Lisa Smith and Shemima Begum treated differently under law Facebook posts shared hundreds of times in Kenya claim that suspected Islamic State (IS) group brides Lisa Smith and Shamima Begum received different legal treatments, with one able to resume a normal life at home while the other faced punishment, including losing her citizenship. But the claims are missing vital context as they fail to mention that the women don’t share the same nationality — the former is Irish, the latter British — and that their governments take different approaches to the issue of returning IS suspects. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of gas station in Tuban, Indonesia's East Java province, burned down by mob due to fuel price hike A video has been viewed more than a million times in posts that claim it shows a gas station in the Indonesian province of East Java that was burned down by a mob following the government's decision to raise fuel prices. This is false. According to the local fire brigade, it actually shows a fire at a gas station in the province that was caused by a fuel tank leak. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Luggage of dead African migrants displayed in Italian museum An image of backpacks hanging on a wall has been shared in social media posts claiming to show “bags of Africans who died while trying to cross the Mediterranean sea” in an Italian museum on the island of Lampedusa. The posts raise concern over risks associated with illegal migration, but the accompanying image was taken at a US exhibition of objects found on the border of the country with Mexico. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indians destroy statues because of Covid-19 A video shared hundreds of times on Facebook in South Africa claims that people in India are throwing away religious status because the deities supposedly failed to protect them from the Covid-19 surge sweeping the country. But the claim is false: the clip dates back to 2015 - four years before the pandemic erupted in December 2019. It shows a ritual during a Hindu festival dedicated to the Hindu god Ganesh. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show revellers partying in Itaewon a day following crowd crush Pictures of revellers in Seoul's Itaewon entertainment district have been shared alongside a false claim that they show people celebrating Halloween in the neighbourhood just one day after a crowd crush killed at least 156 people in the area on October 29, 2022. But the images were taken from a video that appeared on YouTube hours before the incident unfolded. The YouTube user who posted the video said it was filmed on October 28, 2022, one day before the fatal crush. AFP photos show the incident site and its surrounding area were cordoned off to the public. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Italian church that lost many of its congregants due to COVID-19 A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and YouTube alongside a claim it shows an empty church in Italy after almost all of its congregants died from the novel coronavirus. The claim is false; the video shows a church in the US state of Mississippi during an online Easter service in April 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows Nigerian separatist leader out on bail A video of Nnamdi Kanu, head of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), leaving a Nigerian courthouse has been shared thousands of times on Facebook as evidence that the separatist leader was recently bailed following his arrest abroad. This is misleading; the video in question shows events from 2017 when Kanu was freed on bail during his first trial. As of November 26, 2021, Kanu remains in custody in Nigeria awaiting trial on fresh charges. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pakistani fighter jet shoots down an Indian plane in Kashmir Video posts viewed millions of times on Facebook purport to show a Pakistani fighter jet shooting down an Indian Air Force plane. The posts were uploaded hours after Pakistan said it had shot down two Indian planes in disputed Kashmir in February 2019. The claim is false; the footage has been circulating online for three years. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Rebel Wilson lost weight by taking CBD gummies A Facebook post shares what appears to be a news article about Australian actor Rebel Wilson achieving significant weight loss by consuming cannabidiol gummies. But the story is actually an ad for CBD gummies that includes fabricated quotes, doctored images of the star's Instagram posts, and her publicist told AFP its claims are false. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Showering at night will cause rheumatic illness Posts circulating on TikTok and Twitter claim that taking a shower at night will cause rheumatic illness. The claim is misleading. Experts told AFP that showering at night would not cause a rheumatic condition, but advised those suffering from one to avoid showering in the evening as it may worsen their symptoms. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Police dispersing Bobi Wine’s supporters in the UK A video viewed thousands of times has been shared in Facebook posts claiming to show UK-based supporters of Ugandan presidential candidate Bobi Wine being dispersed by police while demonstrating outside their country’s embassy. The claim is false; the people in the video are members of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) political party, who were marching against alleged racism at a Cape Town school where a whites-only dance party was allegedly organised. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Pupils sleeping under a tree in South Sudan An image of children sleeping under a tree being has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook, alongside the claim that it shows schoolchildren in South Sudan. However, the claim about the location is false; the photo was taken in Nigeria at a neglected school that was later renovated by an outreach organisation. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Turkish actor Burak Ozcivit helping earthquake victims in 2023 Days after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Turkey and Syria in February 2023, a video of Turkish actor Burak Ozcivit surfaced on social media with the false claim that it shows him helping victims at the scene of the jolt. In fact, the clip was taken from the Turkish TV drama "Kara Sevda", which aired from 2015 to 2017 and featured Ozcivit as the protagonist. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Mixing salt with urine is a test that shows whether a woman is pregnant Social media posts circulating in the Philippines have repeatedly shared the false claim that women can test if they are pregnant by observing how their urine reacts when it is mixed with salt. This claim has no scientific basis, multiple health experts in the archipelago told AFP. They say actual urine test kits can detect the presence of a pregnancy hormone but salt cannot. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Another convict, a former politician pardoned by President Rajapaksa After Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa came under fire for pardoning a former minister convicted of murder, Facebook posts accused him of pardoning another politician. The claim is misleading: the posts shared an old newspaper report about a politician who was pardoned in 2019, before Rajapaksa took office. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows flooding in Thailand in 2011 An image has been shared tens of thousands of times on Twitter and Facebook alongside a claim it shows flooding in Thailand's capital Bangkok in September 2021. However, the image has been shared in a misleading context. It has circulated online in posts about flooding in Thailand since 2011. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: [Hoax circulates online that Aung San Suu Kyi plagiarised a historic Russian poem] -- Expensive poem -- (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bees use “acoustic levitation” to fly -- FALSE A claim that bumblebees use “acoustic levitation” to fly has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook. The claim is false; bees use a specific aerodynamic phenomenon called “leading edge vortices” to fly, not “acoustic levitation”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows foreign Chinese workers protesting in Indonesia A video has been viewed more than a million times after it was shared alongside a false claim that it shows foreign Chinese workers protesting in the Southeast Asian nation. The posts circulated after a fatal clash at a nickel plant in Indonesia's Sulawesi island in January 2023. However, the video clip actually shows Afghan refugees protesting in Indonesia's Riau islands, in 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Reheating cooked rice after refrigerating reduces the amount of sugar Multiple posts shared repeatedly on Facebook claim dieters should refrigerate and reheat cooked rice in order to reduce its sugar content. This is misleading. Nutritional experts told AFP there was no evidence that this method can reduce the sugar content in rice, and said dieters should instead control the amount of rice they eat. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: These images show Maharashtra state police abusing journalist Arnab Goswami. An image has been shared thousands of times in multiple posts in November 2020 on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim it shows an Indian television journalist being assaulted by police in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The claim is false; the image was published in media reports about police beating an alleged thief in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in January 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Face shields, Covid-19 tests, vaccine cards are required on election day Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok posts circulating ahead of the Philippines' polls on May 9 claim voters are required to present proof of Covid vaccination or a negative coronavirus test in order to vote. This is false: voters only need to wear a face mask to vote, according to the country's elections agency Comelec. The video featured in the posts -- watched over a million times -- shows an erroneous news report aired on local broadcaster TV5 that was later corrected. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of giant Indonesian flag hoisted in Independence Day ceremony led by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan in August 2022 A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan leading a major flag-raising ceremony at the National Monument in the Indonesian capital Jakarta to mark Independence Day. Some social media users praised Anies, expressing hope that he would one day replace President Joko Widodo as leader of the Southeast Asian country. Although Anies did lead a smaller flag-raising event in August 2022, the posts shared footage of a ceremony held in December 2014 -- years before he became governor. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Woman holds up 'Go back Modi' sign in Indonesia during G20 summit A doctored image has been shared repeatedly on social media along with a false claim that it shows a woman protesting in Indonesia against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G20 summit in November. The posts surfaced after the summit concluded in Bali on November 16. The journalist who took the original photo told AFP it was in fact taken in the United States in July, after the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the country's federal right to abortion. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of forest fires in Pakistan's Balochistan province A video showing plumes of smoke rising from burning trees has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in posts that claim it was filmed in a forest in Pakistan. Although a huge fire broke out in a large pine nut forest in Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan in May 2022, the video has been shared in a false context. The footage shows a bushfire in Australia in December 2019, when the country was ravaged by catastrophic blazes fuelled by climate change. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows Queen Elizabeth II crying after husband's death An image of Queen Elizabeth II has been shared thousands of times on social media alongside claims that it shows the British monarch crying after the death of her husband Prince Philip in April 2021. This is false; the image was taken during a Remembrance Day service on November 7, 2002, outside Westminster Abbey in London. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ancient Ayurveda medicine recipe to treat COVID-19 A photo of a prescription for an ancient herbal drink has been shared thousands of times on Facebook and WhatsApp alongside a claim that it is an effective remedy for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The prescription was purportedly written and shared by an Ayurveda doctor in Sri Lanka. The claim is misleading; medical experts advise against using herbal remedies to treat the coronavirus, and urge those experiencing symptoms to seek professional medical assistance. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Satellite photos of Noru typhoon making landfall in Vietnam in 2022 Facebook posts shared thousands of times claim to show photos taken from space of Typhoon Noru hurtling towards Vietnam in September 2022. However, the satellite images are actually of two different typhoons – one also named Noru in 2017 and Typhoon Trami in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Daylight Donuts is giving away a dozen donuts on Facebook A Facebook post advertising free delivery of a dozen donuts has been shared more than 88,000 times. But the offer is a scam, according to Daylight Donuts, the US company impersonated in the post. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Supporters of Ferdinand Marcos Jr stormed GMA Network A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on YouTube alongside a claim it shows supporters of Philippine presidential frontrunner Ferdinand Marcos Jr storming a local broadcaster's headquarters after he declined their invitation for an interview in January 2022. This is misleading: as of February 14, 2022, there have been no official reports that his supporters stormed the broadcaster's building. Most of the footage shows his earlier campaign rallies and one clip shows his supporters singing in a car. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows Nigerian youths celebrating Twitter's suspension An image showing a crowd walking along a highway has been circulated on social media with claims that it shows residents of Kano state in Nigeria’s northwest celebrating the suspension of Twitter operations in the west African country. However, the claim is false: the photo has been circulating since at least 2012 in reports about demonstrations against the removal of fuel subsidies in Nigeria. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Heightened security at Kenya funeral home after official's death Photos are from February 2020 (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: South Carolina truckers headed for anti-vaccine mandate rally Supporters of Canada's "Freedom Convoy 2022," an anti-vaccine mandate protest on wheels, shared a video of a trucker convoy from South Carolina claiming it showed US sympathizers also heading to the rally in Ottawa. This is false; the video was taken in August 2021 in South Carolina during a Special Olympics fundraiser, the man who shot the clip told AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: “How To Hit A Woman So No One Knows,” was searched on Google 163 million times in 2020 Social media posts claim that the words “How To Hit A Woman So No One Knows” were searched on Google 163 million times in 2020, during the pandemic. This is false; the claim is based on a study whose author admitted to using flawed methodology that produced inaccurate results. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

No Evidence: Answering a text message allows human traffickers to track your location Facebook posts claim that interacting with a text message from a woman who seems to have contacted a wrong number will allow human traffickers to track the location of the respondent's phone. But organizations in Canada and the United States that work to prevent human trafficking say such texts are not a common tactic used by traffickers, and that sharing this type of warning message may ultimately cause more harm than good. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Images show beached shark in Australia Digitally created images of a beached shark have been shared hundreds of times in false Facebook posts that say they show an incident in Australia. Local authorities said there had been no reports of a shark washed up at Coolum Beach in Queensland or Tuckamore Beach in South Australia, as the posts say. An Instagram user told AFP he created the images using editing software. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This image shows the US has honoured India's first law minister by displaying his portrait on public bus. An image that purports to show a portrait of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, India’s first law minister, and his wife displayed on the side of a bus has been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter. The posts claim the image shows the United States honouring Dr. Ambedkar for his writings that, they claim, helped establish the US economic system. The claim is false; the image has been doctored to superimpose the portrait of the Ambedkars on another photo of a bus in the United Kingdom. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows hail in Hong Kong in March 2023. A video of what appears to be a hailstorm near a river has been viewed tens of thousands of times in social media posts that falsely claim it was filmed in Hong Kong. The posts shared the video on March 25, 2023 -- shortly after Hong Kong's weather forecaster issued a rare warning that hail could affect the city. But the video had in fact circulated a few days earlier in posts and reports about inclement weather in Jiangxi, a province in southeast China about 600 kilometres (373 miles) north of Hong Kong. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Covid-19 case numbers in 2020 and 2021 indicate vaccines are not effective Social media posts claim peak active cases of Covid-19 were lower in 2020 than after the rollout of vaccines in 2021, suggesting this means the shots are ineffective. But experts say hospitalizations and deaths -- which are much likelier to occur among the unvaccinated -- are the key metrics of how well the shots work. (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)

Misleading: Record snow cover is evidence against global warming Social media posts claim record snow cover in the northern hemisphere in November 2022 is evidence against climate change. This is false; experts say a single month's measurement does not disprove the overall global warming trend, and data show snow extent varies and that cover has decreased. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian Muslims brandished weapons when stopped for not wearing helmets A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim it shows a group of Indian Muslim motorcyclists brandishing weapons after they were stopped for not wearing helmets. The claim is false: the original video was actually staged by an Indian road safety campaigner for a short film. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Images show Chinese-Canadian pop star Kris Wu in prison Two images were shared in social media posts which claim they show Chinese-Canadian pop star Kris Wu in prison. The posts circulated online after Wu was detained by Chinese police on suspicion of rape on July 31, 2021. But neither of the two images shows Wu: one has been doctored; the other has circulated online in posts that predate his detention by more than a year. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Victoria Falls is bone dry A video viewed more than 40,000 times on YouTube sparked claims that Victoria Falls, bordering Zimbabwe and Zambia, was 'almost bone dry'. The alarm comes as Southern Africa is suffering one of its worst droughts in decades. However, the video and subsequent media reports downplayed the seasonal dry period which affects the water flow every year, while the visuals left out the fact that the Zimbabwean side of the waterfall has been faring much better. (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: 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: Amazon is launching sales of a cryptocurrency 'token' Social media posts claim online retail giant Amazon has begun a "presale" of its own cryptocurrency tokens. But the company says the claim is false, and an internet security firm says the messages are part of scams aimed at stealing money and harvesting personal data. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Campaign material showing a Filipino opposition senator taking credit for a Manila Bay cleanup? A post that has been shared thousands of times on Facebook purportedly shows an election campaign image from opposition senator Paolo 'Bam' Aquino in which he claims credit for the cleanup of a polluted bay in Manila. The image has been doctored from an original campaign poster which said Aquino was the author of a bill reducing the price of fuel. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Participants chant blasphemous slogans during women's day march in Pakistan Facebook and Twitter posts share a video they claim shows women chanting blasphemous slogans during the women’s day march in Pakistan in March 2021. The claim, however, is false: the misleading video clip has been inaccurately subtitled; in the original footage published by the event's official organisers, no blasphemous slogans were chanted. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Foreign commanders spotted directing Hong Kong protests A photo has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Weibo and Twitter, which claim it shows “Caucasians” directing a pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong from an “action command centre”. The claim is false; American broadcaster ABC News said the photo shows its staff working at the protest; AFP separately identified one of the men seen in the photo as an ABC News journalist. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pro-Beijing lawmaker Starry Lee seen erecting barricades during Hong Kong protests Two photos have been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts which claim to show Hong Kong pro-Beijing lawmaker Starry Lee erecting barricades across major streets. The claim is false; Lee originally posted the photos on her Facebook page stating that she was removing the barricades. Other footage posted online the same week as the misleading post shows Lee clearing away bricks following protests. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Unproven: Stiff-Person Syndrome is a side effect of the Covid-19 vaccine Canadian singer Celine Dion recently announced she is suffering from Stiff-Person Syndrome, inspiring claims on social media that her diagnosis is linked to Covid-19 vaccination. This is unproven; experts say there is no evidence the shots cause the rare neurological condition, and a Pfizer document purported to show a connection was misrepresented. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Warm coconut water kills cancer cells Facebook posts circulating in Sri Lanka have repeatedly shared purported advice from a leading cancer treatment facility that claims coconut water can cure the disease. Experts told AFP the claim is not backed by credible scientific evidence; and the Tata Memorial Hospital in India has previously warned it did not issue the "fake" message. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Justin Trudeau repealed a law in order to allow pedophilia A disinformation campaign in Canada continues to link the repeal to a law making anal sex illegal for under 18s with support for pedophilia. The law was found unconstitutional in 1995 and struck off by Canada’s parliament in 2019, as it was deemed discriminatory against the LGBTQ community. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A woman gives birth to 11 babies A Facebook post with more than 21,000 shares purports to show images of a woman who gave birth to eleven babies. The claim uses two misleading images as evidence — one showing the famous American “Octomom” who gave birth to eight babies in 2009, and the other showing eleven babies born on the same day in India, to different mothers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Trump cannot run in 2024 if indicted, convicted or in jail Posts on Twitter claim Donald Trump's historic indictment in New York will bar him from entering the 2024 presidential race. This is false; even if the former president is convicted of a felony, this would not necessarily disqualify him from running for office under the US constitution, legal experts told AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: 78 Nigerian soldiers face firing squad An image of uniformed men standing in front of a person tied to a post has been shared multiple times in Nigeria alongside claims that Nigeria was “again” executing Nigerian soldiers who had asked for better arms to fight Boko Haram terrorists. This is false; the image shows an execution in Somalia in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 vaccine by Oxford university a success, 72 people 'cured' A report circulating in Sri Lanka claims that a COVID-19 vaccine trial at the University of Oxford in England has been "successful". The purported news article, which has been shared repeatedly on Facebook, states 72 out of 100 COVID-19 patients recovered from the virus after receiving the vaccine. The claim is false; as of May 4, 2020, researchers said the trial was ongoing and only included people who have never tested positive for COVID-19; the purported report was published on a blog site named "CNN Lanka", which has no relationship to the US-based media channel CNN. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Noah's Ark in Kentucky was recently damaged by floods An article about Noah's Ark, an attraction in Kentucky, has been shared widely on social media after deadly summer 2022 flooding. The story is real, but it is unrelated to the recent floods -- it was published in 2019 and focuses on a different part of the US state. (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: Poster from UK government promoting vaccine injury scheme A screenshot of a poster about Covid-19 vaccines that was purportedly issued by the UK government is circulating on Facebook. It urges people to apply for compensation if they were not "made fully aware of the health risks" of the jab. However, the poster is a fabrication; a government spokesperson said it was not an official publication and used government logos "without knowledge or permission". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Bathing in hot water can prevent novel coronavirus A post shared repeatedly on Facebook claims that taking a hot bath is an effective remedy against the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The claim is misleading; health experts say there is no scientific evidence that bathing in hot water can prevent people from catching the virus; the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that bathing or showering in very hot water can be “harmful”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Medical examiner said George Floyd's death should have been ruled an overdose American conservative political activist Charlie Kirk claimed in a video viewed hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook that a medical examiner said George Floyd’s death should be ruled an overdose. This is false; the doctor, who conducted Floyd’s autopsy, testified that he stands by his assessment of the cause of death and his classification of it as a homicide. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Image shows Delhi water crisis in 2021 A photo has been shared in multiple Twitter and Facebook posts in June 2021 alongside a claim it shows “the state of water in Delhi”. Indian ruling party politicians shared the posts as they urged the state’s leader, who is from a rival political party, to “do something”. The photo has been shared in a misleading context: it actually shows a water crisis in Delhi in 2009, not 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Malaysia is the second largest indebted country in Asia after Sri Lanka Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that Malaysia has the "second largest debt in Asia after Sri Lanka". However, the claims are false; the organisation has never issued such a statement about the Southeast Asian country. Malaysia's debt is also not the second largest in Asia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Putin's dog barking at Japanese delegation A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in Facebook posts that claim it shows Russian President Vladimir Putin trying to embarrass a "Japanese delegation" by bringing his dog to an official meeting. The posts -- which circulated online after Russia's invasion of Ukraine -- refer to Japan's alignment with the United States and other countries, which have imposed sanctions on Moscow. But the video has been shared in a false context. It shows Putin bringing his dog to an interview with Japanese journalists at the Kremlin in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Canada pandemic aid was $2,000 per person A tweet claiming Canadians were given $2,000 a month by the government during the Covid-19 pandemic was shared across social media in posts criticizing the US Congress for backing a one-time $600 stimulus payment for most Americans. But the tweet misrepresents the relief available in Canada, where most financial support was reserved for individuals who lost their jobs due to the public health crisis. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Dominion servers gave Biden votes in Georgia Social media posts claim an examination of Dominion vote-counting equipment revealed it automatically gave president-elect Joe Biden a 26 percent lead in Georgia’s Ware County. This is false; officials said there is no truth to the allegations, and while a tabulation error in the hand count did misallocate 0.26 percent of the county's votes, it was caught and corrected. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: IPS officer speaking against corruption in Indian politics A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on Twitter alongside a claim it shows a veteran Indian police officer speaking about alleged corruption in the Indian political system. This is false: the man seen in the video is a YouTuber, not a police officer. The YouTuber told AFP that he originally posted the video in July 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show 350 people 'accepted' Islam in New Zealand after Christchurch mosque shootings Photos of three women wearing hijabs were shared thousands of times in Facebook posts alongside a claim that 350 people had “accepted” Islam in New Zealand after the Christchurch mosque shootings in March 2019. The posts are misleading: the photos are unrelated to the Christchurch attack and have circulated widely online since 2016 or 2018. (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: Taps bugle melody comes from a captain grieving his son A Facebook post shared more than 20,000 times credits “Taps,” a melody played at military funerals in the US, to “Union Captain Robert Elli” said to have composed it as an homage to his dead son. This is false; General Daniel Butterfield came up with the music, “Taps,” an adaptation from an existing bugle call “Tattoo,” while his brigade was camped in Confederate territory. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows police detaining female protesters in Indian-administered Kashmir after Article 370 was scrapped. A video that shows female protesters being dragged into a police bus has been viewed millions of times and shared hundreds of thousands of times in August 2019 social media posts that claim it is live footage filmed after India's government abolished the special autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir state. The claim is false; the footage was taken during a 2017 protest by teachers in the north Indian state of Haryana. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video of shaking kitchen shows earthquake in Turkey in February 2023. A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in posts that misleadingly claim it shows a hotel kitchen shaking in Turkey after the devastating earthquake that hit the country and neighbouring Syria in 2023. In fact, the clip has circulated in reports since October 2020 about another deadly earthquake that rocked the Turkish province of Izmir. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: CNN praised Taliban for wearing masks during Afghanistan attack Social media posts feature an image of an apparent CNN report lauding the Taliban for wearing masks to protect against Covid-19 during their offensive in Afghanistan. But the claim comes from a satirical article, CNN confirmed it is not real, and the background photo was taken in Pakistan in 2007. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Hindu actor of film The Kerala Story with her Muslim Husband An Indian actress who defended a controversial film about women joining the Islamic State group has been targeted with a photo falsely shared as her posing with her Muslim husband. The posts criticised Devoleena Bhattacharjee for speaking out in support of "The Kerala Story", which critics have branded anti-Muslim, while herself being married to a Muslim. However, the photo shows Bhattacharjee with a co-star, not her husband. The posts also claim she starred in "The Kerala Story", which is not true. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows war between Ethiopia and Eritrea A Facebook post claims to show a video from an emerging conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea in May 2023. However, this is false: a voiceover in the clip, which shows images of both countries’ leaders, discusses the deteriorating relations between the neighbours. It also features an audio translation of an article by international media exploring whether Ethiopia and Eritrea could be drawn into a war in Sudan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Nigerian governor threatening to leave party A video of the governor of Nigeria’s southern Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, speaking in front of a laptop has been shared on social media with claims that it shows the politician threatening to leave the country’s main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should he be denied the chance to stand as a candidate for vice president in next year’s general elections. However, the clip has been shared out of context; the video was filmed on July 1, 2021, when Wike spoke in a television interview about the defection of former PDP governors. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Emmanuel Macron was slapped for violating Covid-19 sanitary protocols Posts circulating in several African countries claim that French president Emmanuel Macron was slapped across the face for not respecting social distancing and other restrictions in place to reduce the spread of Covid-19. According to the social media posts, Damien Tarel, the man who slapped France’s leader, was given only a three-month prison sentence and a fine of 1,500 euros because Macron broke social distancing protocols. This is false. Although Tarel slapped the French president, it was not because Macron violated social distancing protocols, and Tarel’s lawyer did not present any such argument in court. Furthermore, the man was handed an 18-month prison sentence, 14 of which were suspended. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Nigeria singer Davido’s son drowning Facebook posts sharing CCTV footage of a toddler drowning in a swimming pool claim the clip shows the son of popular Nigerian singer David Adedeji Adeleke, known as Davido. The footage has been viewed thousands of times but the claim is false. The video is of an incident in China involving a two-year-old and was recorded in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Vaccines violate principles of Nuremberg Code Facebook and Instagram posts shared thousands of times claim that vaccines directly violate the Nuremberg Code, a set of research ethics principles for human experimentation established after World War II. This claim is false; medical ethics and legal experts said the principles, named after the Nuremberg trials, are compatible with vaccination. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Guidelines for Sinovac vaccination from “Beijing Vaccination Prevention Center” Multiple Facebook and Twitter posts have shared a purported list of China’s guidelines for its CoronaVac jab, produced by Chinese biopharmaceutical firm Sinovac. The posts claim the list was released by the “Beijing Vaccination Prevention Center”. The claims are false: the official guidelines for China’s vaccination program -- released by its National Health Commission -- are not specific to CoronaVac. They also do not correspond with the guidelines listed in the misleading social media posts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows Jacinda Ardern at Hindu temple after 100 days of no COVID-19 cases A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim it shows New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visiting a Hindu temple after declaring the country had reached its 100th consecutive day of no local coronavirus transmissions. The claim is misleading; the video shows Ardern visiting the temple on August 6, 2020, three days before the country hit its 100-day milestone; on August 11, New Zealand recorded four new locally transmitted COVID-19 infections after 102 consecutive days of no community infections. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows an Indian palace 7000 years ago A photo has been shared hundreds of times in Chinese-language social media posts that claim it is a "rare" image of the ruins of a 7,000-year-old imperial palace in India. The claim is false; the image shows the Vettuvan Koil, a temple in South India that dates back to the 8th century. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Is this a video of a man in Dubai who caught fire after his cell phone overheated? A video which has been viewed more than a million times on Facebook claims to show a man who caught fire in Dubai after the cell phone in his pocket overheated while being charged with a powerbank. Dubai authorities have said no such incident took place in the emirate and a reverse search found the video showed an incident in Morocco. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: New York Times front page showed rainbow flag with bullet holes Posts on social media are sharing an image that appears to show the New York Times front page from November 20, 2022, following a mass shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub in the US state of Colorado. But the bullet-riddled rainbow was not printed by the newspaper, it was painted by an independent artist. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Muslims beating Hindu leader in Bangladesh A video has been viewed thousands of times in posts alongside a claim it shows a Muslim mob assaulting a Hindu leader in Bangladesh for not attending a Ramadan dinner. However, the clip has been shared in a misleading context: it has previously circulated in reports about an incident in the north Indian state of Haryana. Local police told AFP that four people were arrested following the Haryana attack, which they said was not related to communal tensions. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The video shows a woman being auctioned on the streets in Afghanistan A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Twitter and Facebook posts that claim it shows Afghan women being auctioned on a street. The post circulated online in August 2021 after Taliban insurgents seized control of Afghanistan. The video, however, has been shared in a false context: the footage in fact shows a stunt by Kurdish activists in London in 2014. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show Barack Obama and George Clooney after molesting a child Social media posts tied to the QAnon conspiracy theory suggest that photos show former US president Barack Obama and actor George Clooney abusing a child. This is false; the photographer who took the photos in Italy said he did not see anything suspicious, and other images suggest the girl is Obama’s niece. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: All COVID-19 patients in Victoria are entitled to a $1,500 government payment Multiple Facebook and Twitter posts shared repeatedly in July 2020 claim the local government in the Australian state of Victoria has begun handing out an AUD1,500 (USD1,044) payment to “anyone who tested positive for COVID-19”. The claim was shared by one Facebook page with almost 1.5 million followers. The claim, however, is misleading; as of July 7, 2020, the Victorian government said the payment is only being issued to people under certain circumstances, namely workers whose sources of income have been affected by a government-imposed lockdown, and claimants must not be receiving any other forms of government income support to be eligible for the payment. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Malaysian police investigating 'slash and grab' robberies using business-card knives A claim has circulated on social media in Malaysia that warns police are investigating a string of slash-and-grab robberies on motorists in which the culprits used knives disguised as business cards. The claim, which has circulated online since at least 2014, is false; Malaysian police said it has not received any reports of robbers using any such tactic. The posts shared photos from two incidents that were unrelated to the claim. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hong Kong Airport turned lights off A photo has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter, forums and websites in various languages alongside a claim that lights at the Hong Kong International Airport had been switched off during a protest at the airport on August 12, 2019. The claim is false; the airport confirmed with AFP that no lights were turned off that day. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Italy discovered Covid-19 is caused by bacteria and 5G, can be cured by Paracetamol A video has been shared tens of thousands of times by Pakistani Facebook users that claims Italian doctors discovered Covid-19 is caused by a bacteria. The video goes on to claim the bacteria is somehow spread through the "poisonous waves of 5G", causing an infection that is curable by taking paracetamol or aspirin. These claims are false, according to international health experts. Italy’s health ministry previously told AFP the claims were a “hoax" after they circulated online in the Philippines. (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: Replacing farmland with solar panels worsens global warming A Facebook post shared thousands of times claims that putting solar farms on agricultural land contributes to global warming because an acre of corn can capture 36,000 pounds of carbon while the panels cannot. This is misleading; corn absorbs carbon into its biomass via photosynthesis but most of it is later released, and using solar panels to replace fossil fuel energy sources avoids the production of greenhouse gases in the first place. (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: Video shows swimming pool inside building in Shenzhen that wobbled in May 2021 A video has circulated on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook alongside a claim it was filmed inside a wobbling Chinese skyscraper that was evacuated in 2021. The claim is false: the video, which has circulated online since 2018, shows a different building in China. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered: Kenyan cult leader’s shirt branded with logo Raila Odinga-led party Online posts have shared an image of Kenyan cult leader Paul Nthenge Mackenzie wearing an orange T-shirt purportedly featuring the logo of opposition leader Raila Odinga’s political party. They claim Mackenzie – accused of inciting and possibly forcing his followers to starve themselves to death – is a member of Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). But this is false: the image was altered by adding the ODM logo to Mackenzie’s shirt and Odinga's spokesman has denied any connection between the party and Mackenzie. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows flooding in China’s Chengdu city A video has been viewed thousands of times in Twitter posts that claim it shows the flooding in Chengdu, a city in southwest China. The claim is false: the video actually shows flooding in a village in China's Bazhong city, which is more than 300 kilometres northeast of Chengdu. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: China reports military clash in Henan province in 2022 Social media posts purport to show a news report by Chinese state-owned broadcaster CCTV about "armed resistance" of corrupt officials against government arrest in Henan province in January 2022. However, the posts are likely satirical; the screenshot of the purported news report has been doctored to combine a fabricated headline and unrelated photos. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Biden in 2020 on a plane without a mask Richard Grenell, an envoy for US President Donald Trump, tweeted that Democratic candidate Joe Biden wears a mask outside but not on aircraft, including two photos as evidence. But the image of a maskless Biden on a plane is from 2019, before health authorities began recommending mask use to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. (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: Photo shows an opposition rally in Pakistan A photo of tens of thousands of people at a rally has been shared thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts which claim it shows an opposition march in Pakistan. The claim is false; the photograph actually shows an anti-government protest in Chile. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Picture shows Covid-19 vaccination certificate warning of side effects on penis A picture has been shared widely on Facebook and Twitter in Singapore alongside a claim that it shows a Covid-19 vaccination certificate that contained a warning that the shots will prolong erections and increase penis size. The claim is false; the hospital denied the allegation and genuine vaccine recipients contain no mention of the warning. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows three Indonesian MPs arrested for allegedly accepting bribes from murder suspect Ferdy Sambo A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows the Indonesian anti-corruption agency arresting three lawmakers for accepting bribes from a high-ranking police officer, now a suspect in a murder case. But the claim is false. The footage comprises several unrelated clips. The anticorruption agency has not announced any such arrests. (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: ABS-CBN, GMA and CNN did not report on Marcos Jr's housing programme Facebook and TikTok posts with hundreds of thousands of views claim mainstream media ignored the launch of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's flagship housing programme. The posts accuse broadcasters of bias against the leader, the son of a controversial dictator. However, the outlets mentioned in the posts did report on the launch, with major news channel ABS-CBN running it as a top story. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sri Lankan Opposition leader and parliamentarians abstained from voting for China backed Port City bill Facebook users in Sri Lanka have shared an image that they claim shows opposition legislators not voting against a controversial bill allowing a China-funded infrastructure project to move forward. The claim is false: the image was taken from a live broadcast of the parliamentary proceedings before the legislators had cast their votes; the full video shows them voting against the passage of the bill. (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: South Africa Post Office advertises jobs on Facebook Two posts shared hundreds of times on Facebook in South Africa claim to offer 100 job openings at South Africa’s Post Office. However, this is a scam, and the postal service has warned that it does not advertise any jobs on Facebook. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Dr. Josephine Rojo promotes a cereal and mixed nuts brand for weight loss Photos that appear to show a Filipino doctor endorsing brands of cereals and mixed nuts have been repeatedly shared in Facebook posts that claim the snacks are effective for weight loss. But the posts are a "scam" according to the doctor, whose photo has been doctored to make it seem as though she endorsed the products. A Filipino nutrition expert told AFP that people hoping to lose weight should adopt a healthy diet and lifestyle rather than consuming specific products. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian economist Raghuram Rajan appointed as governor of Bank of England A photo of Indian economist Raghuram Rajan has been shared in multiple social media posts alongside a claim that he has been appointed as the Bank of England's governor. But the claim is false. Andrew Bailey is the current governor of the United Kingdom's central bank, and his term ends in 2028. Rajan, a professor at the University of Chicago, said in a 2019 interview that he had never applied for the job. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: FIFA set to extend match time by 10 minutes Facebook posts have claimed that football’s ruling body FIFA is set to make World Cup matches in Qatar longer by extending playing time from 90 minutes to 100 minutes. This is false; FIFA denied rumours that games at the 2022 World Cup would be extended. The International Football Association Board, which upholds the rules and laws of the sport, also confirmed matches will remain 90 minutes. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: These photo show a Hindu woman who was killed after marrying a Muslim man. Two photos — one of a young woman and one of a female corpse — have been shared in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter that claim they show a Hindu woman who was killed after marrying a Muslim man. The photos were published alongside an image of an invitation to an interfaith wedding. The claim is false; these are old photos that show an actress and the body of a Muslim girl who was reportedly murdered in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Photo of Indian chief minister Adityanath drinking water from water pump A photo has been shared thousands of times in Facebook posts that claim it shows Indian ruling party politician Yogi Adityanath drinking from a water pump in the street. The posts praise the firebrand Hindu monk for living an apparently simple and unpretentious life despite being re-elected chief minister of India's most populous state Uttar Pradesh. However, the photo was taken in 2016, more than one year before Adityanath was first elected as chief minister. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Leni Robredo campaign rally is biggest in Philippine history As the raucous presidential election campaign season kicked off in the Philippines, social media posts claimed a rally for opposition hopeful Vice President Leni Robredo in February was the "biggest in the history of Philippine politics". The posts included purported crowd estimates from local police and the Associated Press (AP) news agency. However, representatives for the Philippine police and AP separately told AFP they did not issue the crowd estimates indicated in the false posts. An official in the city where Robredo's rally was held estimated it drew a maximum 18,000 attendees -- fewer than previous election campaign rallies. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Plymouth Rock is evidence that sea levels are not rising quickly A popular tweet claims a photo of Plymouth Rock in the US indicates sea levels are not rising quickly, as the monument has stayed "in the exact same spot" for hundreds of years and it is not underwater. This is false; the boulder has been moved and fragmented over the years, and scientists agree that sea levels are rising due to global warming -- including in New England. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: mRNA Covid-19 shots cause irreparable harm to children's vital organs A video viewed hundreds of thousands of times online features researcher Robert Malone making a series of claims about mRNA Covid-19 shots causing harm to children. But experts say the claims are inaccurate, and a physician from a leading children's hospital called the video "dangerously and flagrantly incorrect." (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr declared vice president in March 2021 A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in Facebook and YouTube posts that claim it shows a "breaking news" report that Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, the son and namesake of a former Philippine dictator, has been declared Philippine vice president in March 2021. However, the claim is false: the video in fact shows unrelated clips that do not indicate Marcos has been declared vice president; and Marcos in fact lost his electoral case in February 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Survival rates of COVID-19 in these countries over 99.9% Multiple posts shared repeatedly on Facebook and Twitter claim that seven countries, including the United States, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom, have "survival rates" of more than 99.9 percent for people who contract the novel coronavirus. The claim is misleading; as of May 2020, several medical experts said global COVID-19 survival rates remain unknown for various reasons. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Monkey selfie wins 2020 iPhone photography contest A photo that appears to show a monkey taking a selfie with four women in the background has been shared hundreds of times on Twitter, Facebook and Weibo alongside a claim that the photo won the selfie category in the 2020 iPhone Photography Awards. The claim is false; this photo is not a winner in the 2020 iPhone Photography Awards contest, which has no selfie category. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Joe Biden announced unvaccinated Americans will be sent to camps Instagram posts claim US President Joe Biden announced that unvaccinated Americans will be sent to "quarantine camps" if they do not receive Covid-19 shots by 2022. But the claim originates from a satirical site, and the White House website makes no mention of such a plan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Philippines adopts new law requires students to plant trees before they graduate Media reports which have been shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook claim that a new law has been adopted in the Philippines requiring students to plant at least 10 trees before they graduate. The reports are misleading; the student tree planting legislation has been passed by the Philippines’ lower house but not by the Senate; according to the country’s constitution, both houses must approve legislation and send it to the president for signing before it actually becomes law. The bill's author told AFP he did not believe the measure would become law before the Senate adjourns June 7, 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Afghan cricket captain Mohammad Nabi kissing Pakistani flag A video has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook alongside a claim it shows the Afghan cricket player Mohammad Nabi kissing the flag of Pakistan. The claim is false: an image comparison found that the video shows a TikTok user kissing the flag, not Nabi. The cricketer's management team dismissed the Facebook posts as "rumours". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: environmentalists hypocritical over stance on lithium, fracking A photo montage circulating online suggests environmentalists are hypocritical for opposing fracking, by pointing to the ecological devastation of lithium production for electric cars. However, the post misleadingly uses a photo of a copper mine to illustrate lithium extraction and experts told AFP it's difficult to call one industry more environmentally destructive than another. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of ‘poor’ N’Golo Kante before he was a football star A photo of a man with a wheelbarrow has been shared thousands of times on social media in Africa and beyond, alongside a claim that it shows French-born football star N’Golo Kante in 2009 before he became famous. But this is false: contacted by AFP Fact Check, Kante’s former trainers confirmed the person in the image was not the Chelsea midfielder. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This photo shows a woman with Syphilis circa 1890 before the invention of penicillin. A photo has been shared repeatedly on Facebook, Twitter and Reddit alongside a claim it shows a 19th century woman suffering from syphilis. The claim is false: the photo shows a woman afflicted with tuberculosis of the skin in 1895, according to a US archivist who acquired the original image. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Images of meteor visible in northern Thailand in June 2021 Images that show a meteor have been shared widely in Twitter and Facebook posts that claim these were shot in Thailand in June 2021. But this claim is false: the images are unrelated to recent meteor sightings in Thailand and have in fact circulated online since October 2015. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos of leftist vandals thrashed over JNU anti-brahmin graffiti Photos of three young people with bloodied faces are circulating in Facebook posts that falsely claim they were beaten up for scrawling graffiti against India's Brahmin upper caste at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. The people in the pictures were in fact attacked for taking part in a rally demanding the release of a professor at a different university who was arrested in 2014. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Obama was arrested for espionage According to online claims spurred by the Conservative Beaver, a two-month old website, former US president Barack Obama was arrested on November 28, 2020 on espionage charges. This is false; all the evidence used in the article was plagiarized from a Department of Justice news release about a former CIA officer arrested in August 2020 in Hawaii. No other news outlets reported on the arrest. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Aspirin, lemon juice and honey mixture as home remedy for COVID-19 Multiple Facebook posts claim that aspirin, lemon juice and honey have been combined to make a "home remedy" for COVID-19 in Italy. The claim is misleading; the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned against self-medicating for COVID-19, saying there is no current medicine that can effectively treat the disease; official guidance released by the Italian Ministry of Health about the coronavirus does not mention the purported home remedy. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Beware of organised crime gang using children to lure victims A message has been repeatedly shared on Facebook and WhatsApp in crisis-hit Sri Lanka warning that an organised crime gang is using children to lure victims for organ harvesting and theft. But the warning is a hoax, according to the Sri Lankan police force and the government's Home Affairs Ministry. The purported message was credited to the "Ministry of the Interior Affairs" which does not exist. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show armed men at campaign rally in Nigeria A Twitter post shared hundreds of times claims that two photos show armed men who participated in a rally for the presidential and governorship candidates of Nigeria’s ruling party in Lagos. But the claim is false; AFP Fact Check found that the pictures were taken during a protest against a jihadist group in 2011. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Image shows a mother and baby separated due to Covid-19 in Sri Lanka A photo that shows a health worker carrying a baby while a tearful woman looks on has been shared thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts that suggest it shows the separation of a mother from her baby in Sri Lanka. The claim, however, is misleading; the photo in fact shows a mother in Myanmar who tested postive for Covid-19, according to the photographer and a local health worker. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Videos show Antifa at the January 6, 2021 US Capitol riot A former US political candidate shared videos purporting to show far-left activists involved in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol. This is false; one clip depicts a comedian, not an anti-fascist leader, while another appears to have been manipulated to darken the clothing of the Donald Trump supporters who first breached the building. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Chinese citizens wearing indigenous costumes travelling to Indonesia's future new capital Two videos have been viewed thousands of times on Facebook, Instagram and Telegram alongside a claim they show Chinese citizens wearing outfits associated with an Indonesian indigenous group on a flight bound for Indonesia's East Kalimantan province. The posts refer to a 1967 massacre of ethnic Chinese minority in Kalimantan and suggest the Chinese passengers may suffer a similar fate. The claim is false; the videos have actually circulated in social media posts and reports about a group of indigenous people from Sarawak -- a Malaysian state on the island of Borneo -- flying to the Malaysian state of Sabah. A representative for the group told AFP that both videos show Malaysian indigenous people on a domestic flight in the country. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Wisconsin counted more votes than it has voters Social media posts shared thousands of times accused Wisconsin of election fraud, shortly before projections showed Joe Biden winning the key battleground state. But the claim is false; the posts use old data that do not match official figures from the Wisconsin Elections Commission. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Death row letter blaming mother A post on Facebook with over 22,000 shares tells a story of a death row inmate writing to his mother. He writes that if she had been a stricter parent, he may have not ended up facing the electric chair for bank robbery and murder. The post may be intended as a cautionary tale against lax parenting, but readers should bear in mind that the large photo accompanying the text does not show a death row inmate at all, but Jeremy Meeks, the American convict nicknamed the ‘hot felon’ by US media. Meeks became a media sensation in 2014 after his mugshot went viral. While he has served time behind bars, he was never on death row for bank robbery or murder, and has worked as a fashion model since his release in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Singapore halts the rollout of influenza vaccination due to deaths in South Korea An image has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts in January 2021 that claim Singapore stopped “the vaccination”, referring to the rollout of two influenza vaccines, after 48 people reportedly died. The claim is misleading: Singapore temporarily halted the administering of two influenza vaccines in October 2020. According to the Singapore Ministry of Health, the rollout was paused after 48 deaths were reported in South Korea but was reinstated after South Korean investigators found no significant evidence of a link between the vaccines and deaths. Separately, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said in November 2020 that no “causality” between the deaths and the vaccine had been found. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: NSW passed a new law to ask employers pay for Covid-19 vaccine side effects Multiple social media posts have falsely claimed the state government of New South Wales (NSW) in Australia passed a law requiring employers who put in place vaccine mandates to compensate staff for any adverse reaction. The posts go on to say affected staff will continue to receive compensation "for the rest of their lives". While a similarly worded proposal was filed by a state lawmaker in 2021, parliamentary records show the bill was voted down and did not become law. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sikhs trample on Indian flag during farmers protests on Delhi-Haryana border in 2020 A photo of a man trampling on the Indian flag has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim it shows Sikh farmers desecrating the flag during protests in India over new agriculture laws. The claim, however, is false; this photo has circulated online since at least 2013 in reports about a protest in the UK. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Antifa vandalized senator Josh Hawley's DC home Missouri senator Josh Hawley claimed on Twitter that “Antifa scumbags” vandalized his DC area home, threatened his wife and baby, and attempted to pound open the door. This is false; local police said demonstrators did gather in front of the Republican’s residence to protest his refusal to accept the 2020 presidential election results, but footage of the event shows they only chanted slogans and left a constitution on the doorstep and chalk drawings on the sidewalk. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: New York City to ban meat New York City's popular pastrami, corned beef and hot dogs are not going away anytime soon. Social media posts claiming Mayor Eric Adams is banning animal products are false; while the city encourages residents to consume more plant-based foods to decrease their carbon footprint, it is not prohibiting meat consumption. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Sri Lankan bans massage therapists from massaging the opposite sex Social media users in Sri Lanka have shared a misleading claim that massage therapists in the crisis-hit island nation have been banned from taking clients of the opposite sex. It circulated after a local newspaper reported the government was drafting regulations to allow only same-sex massages to minimise "the rapid spread of sexually transmitted diseases". A government minister told parliament there is no truth to the claim and, as of January 26, Sri Lanka has not imposed any such ban. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Footage of Boko Haram forcefully converting victims to Islam in Nigeria's Niger state Nigeria’s ex-aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode tweeted a video of a crowd, claiming that the footage captured members of Nigerian Islamist groups Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa forcefully converting people to Islam in Nigeria’s northern Niger state. This is false; the social media user who originally posted the video clarified that the footage shows a religious event in Ivory Coast. AFP Fact Check confirmed the occurrence of this event with a local journalist in Ivory Coast. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show Seyi Makinde at rally for Peter Obi Supporters of Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi have been staging marches across the country as election fever ramps up ahead of national polls set for February and March 2023. Several Facebook accounts have shared photos with claims that they show the governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde, attending a pro-Obi rally in the capital city of Ibadan on September 3, 2022. The authors of the posts also allege he provided security at the event. But the claims are false: the images of Makinde were shot at an anti-government march in 2021 while a separate photo of armed security officials was taken in 2019. Neither Makinde nor Obi attended the gathering in Ibadan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Kenyan newspaper exposes poll bribery scandal Whispers that Kenyan election officials colluded with a politician to award a controversial ballot printing deal have surfaced just a month before national polls open in August. Amid the rumours, multiple Facebook posts shared an image of a purported newspaper front page with a headline claiming commissioners in charge of the electoral body were investigated by Interpol and found guilty of receiving $3 million (KSh 354 million) in kickbacks to influence the tender for printing ballot papers. The headline, however, was fabricated. AFP Fact Check confirmed the original front page was digitally altered while Interpol also scotched the claim, saying they have no mandate to act as investigators. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows indigenous Australians protesting against forced vaccinations A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in multiple social media posts that claim it shows indigenous Australians defending themselves with bows and arrows against compulsory Covid-19 vaccinations. The claim is false: the video predates the pandemic. It shows indigenous groups in Brazil protesting in 2019 against a proposal to transfer indigenous health services from the federal government to municipalities. Covid-19 vaccination is only compulsory at a national level for certain key workers in Australia, as of October 27, 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Footage of March 10 Ethiopia Airlines crash Images purporting to show scenes onboard an Ethiopian Airlines plane just before it crashed and others allegedly showing the wreckage after the crash are old pictures that have been re-posted on social networks. They do not show scenes of the March 10, 2019 crash near Addis Ababa. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Betty White's death linked to Covid-19 vaccine booster Social media posts claim that five-time Emmy award-winning actress Betty White died a few days after receiving a Covid-19 vaccine booster, suggesting that it caused her death. This is false; one of White's agents says she had not received a booster, and a media outlet that some posts tied to an alleged quote about the star getting the shot says it is fake. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows authentic media release announcing extension of Sydney lockdown An image shared repeatedly on Facebook purports to show an official notice from Australia's New South Wales Ministry of Health announcing that a lockdown in greater Sydney will be extended until December 2021. The image, however, has been doctored from a July 14 announcement extending the lockdown to July 30, 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The first Muslim US governor A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim that it shows the first Muslim governor in the United States. The claim is false; the video shows Abdul El-Sayed, a Muslim candidate for governor in Michigan state in 2018 who lost in the Democratic Party’s primary. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Airports worldwide will ditch liquid carry-on rules by 2024 A video viewed millions of times on social media claims airports "across the world" will end the 3.4-ounce (100 ml) limit for liquids in carry-on items by 2024. This is misleading; the United Kingdom announced such a measure, but this has not been adopted globally. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered: A chyron on Tucker Carlson's Fox News show warned of "gay hypnosis" A widely shared image purports to show a banner warning about "gay hypnosis" on screen during Fox News host Tucker Carlson's primetime television show. But the photo is doctored; the US cable news channel told AFP the chyron is fake, and the Twitter account that created the image said the post was intended as satire. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Man's fall is linked to defacing of monuments A video shared more than 62,000 times on Facebook shows a man falling from the statue that dominates Place de la Republique, Paris's most famous public square, and links the event to the recent defacing of historic monuments during anti-racism protests. This is misleading; the incident happened in 2015 during a techno festival and is unrelated to politics. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Shanghai residents rehearsing to celebrate lifting of lockdown A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in Chinese-language social media posts alongside a claim it shows Shanghai residents celebrating the lifting of a weeks-long Covid lockdown that has paralysed China's largest city. In reality, the video featured in the posts was filmed in Yiwu city in China's eastern Zhejiang province. Shanghai authorities have announced a gradual reopening of businesses but as of May 17, it remains unclear when the lockdown will be fully lifted. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: "$4 trillion jobs plan" unnecessary because 2020 unemployment was lowest ever without it Social media posts shared thousands of times question the merits of US President Joe Biden’s “$4 trillion jobs plan” by claiming unemployment was the lowest in history a year ago, when Donald Trump was in office. This is inaccurate; the plan is projected to cost at least one-third less -- $2.7 trillion -- than the amount claimed, and joblessness did not reach an all-time low under Trump. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: McDonald’s and Coca-Cola to stop hiring white people for leadership positions A screenshot shared on Facebook in South Africa claims that both McDonald’s and Coca-Cola have announced plans to cease hiring white people in leadership positions. However, the claim is false; both companies distanced themselves from the claim, confirming with AFP Fact Check that this is untrue. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Merck Scraps COVID Vaccines; Says It’s More Effective To Get The Virus And Recover An article shared on social media claims US pharmaceutical company Merck discontinued Covid-19 vaccine research and said recovering from the virus would be more effective. This is inaccurate; the company said it scrapped its vaccine candidates because they did not offer the same level of protection as other shots and produced an immune response “inferior” to that of natural infection, while medical experts said immunization is the safer option. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: This video shows only Islamic prayer was played during Delhi's tableau at Republic Day parade A video circulating online shows a replica of Delhi’s historic Red Fort at India's Republic Day parade in January 2021 while the Islamic call to prayer plays in the background. The clip was shared alongside a claim that the Delhi float only celebrated Islam. But the video has been misleadingly edited: in a longer version of the video, prayers for other religions, not just Islam, can be heard. Floats representing shrines from religions other than Islam can also be seen at the parade. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Social distancing was not practiced at John Lewis's funeral Social media posts shared more than 100,000 times claim social distancing aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus was not practiced at the funeral of civil rights icon John Lewis, and that the church was full. This is false; photographs clearly show space between mourners, and a spokesperson for the church said it reached only a fraction of capacity as people stayed six feet apart, except for members of Lewis’s grieving family. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Omicron XBB sublineage is five time stronger, more deadly than Delta variant Misleading posts shared widely by Facebook users in multiple countries have warned that the Covid-19 subvariant Omicron XBB is "five times stronger" and "more deadly" than the Delta variant. The posts circulated shortly after Singapore reported the increase of Covid-19 cases in October 2022 mainly because of the Omicron XBB subvariant. Health experts told AFP there was no evidence that the subvariant is "five times stronger" than Delta, but said it remains a "variant of concern" according to the World Health Organization (WHO). (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: 132,000 ballots from Georgia's Fulton County may be ineligible Social media users and online articles claim that 132,000 ballots from Georgia’s Fulton County may be ineligible, which would likely tip a state where Joe Biden is in the lead to Donald Trump. But the county’s registration and elections director described the claims as “false and baseless.” (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: WHO’s Tedros re-elected A post shared on Facebook in Ethiopia claims that Tedros Adhanom has been re-elected to serve a second term as the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO). But the claim is false; Tedros is still serving his first term in office, and elections for the post are slated for May 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Russians queuing up to purchase their final McDonald’s meal A photo has been shared hundreds of times in social media posts that claim it shows Russians queuing to purchase their final meal at a McDonald's restaurant before the American fast-food giant closed all outlets in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. Although local media reported that Russians flocked to McDonald's restaurants after the closure was announced, the photo has been shared in a false context. It was taken by an AFP photographer in January 1990 at the opening of the first McDonald's restaurant in the Soviet Union. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Video: Kenya’s Ruto admits to growing his career off corruption A video clip of Kenya's Deputy President William Ruto purportedly admitting to a career built on the proceeds of corruption during an interview with the BBC is circulating on social media. The clip, however, has been edited to make it sound like Ruto had admitted to financial wrongdoing. In the original interview, Ruto in fact said he grew his career from “nothing”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Hindutva mob beating a Muslim man in Tripura A graphic video of two people attacking a man with weapons has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts that claim it was filmed during a spate of violence against Muslims in the Indian state of Tripura. The claim is false: the video has circulated in news reports since May about an unrelated incident in Bangladesh. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Global COVID-19 death toll tops 1.6 million A Facebook post that made an exaggerated claim in May 2020 about the global death toll from the novel coronavirus has been amplified across the world, especially on social media accounts posting religious content. The most recent versions of the post claim that more than 1.6 million people have died from COVID-19, but this is false; the real number of deaths counted is currently less than half of that. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This photo shows Trump ‘crying in public’ after he lost US election A photo has been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Twitter and various Chinese social media platforms alongside a claim that it shows US President Donald Trump “crying in public” after he lost the 2020 US presidential election. The claim is false; the image is actually an AFP photo taken before the 2020 election that has been doctored to include a single tear on Trump’s face. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Justin Bieber linked his facial paralysis to the Covid-19 vaccine Social media users shared an article that claims Justin Bieber said his facial paralysis was due to the Covid-19 vaccine. This is false; there is no evidence that Bieber made such a public comment, and the article comes from a website that has previously published false claims under the guise of "satire." (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ghana leads Africa in COVID-19 testing per million people Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo claimed in a speech that his country had administered more COVID-19 tests per million people than any other country in Africa. However, the claim is false; AFP has found from available statistics that Ghana comes behind South Africa and at least two other African countries. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: A video showing a tsunami in Darwin, Australia A video was viewed hundreds of thousands of times on social media in late December 2021 alongside a claim about a tsunami that purportedly hit Darwin, the capital of Australia's Northern Territory, following an earthquake. But the video has been shared in a misleading context: the clips used to create the video have actually circulated prior to December 2021 in reports and posts about events outside Australia. No tsunami warnings were recorded in Darwin at the end of 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: News report stated unvaccinated people will be fined for sneezing A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in social media posts that claim "unvaccinated" people in Australia faced hefty fines and jail time for "sneezing or coughing in public" under new coronavirus measures introduced on December 17, 2021. But the posts are misleading; the video was taken from a longer news report about pandemic measures brought in to protect frontline workers in Australia's Queensland state. The Queensland government's Department of Health clarified to AFP that the measures -- introduced in May 2020 -- apply to everyone, regardless of their vaccination status. (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)

False: Malaysia is included in the US Visa Waiver Program A web page that resembles an online news report claims that Malaysia, along with nine other countries, has been added to the US Visa Waiver Program. The claim is false; Malaysians still need to apply for a visa to visit the United States; the Malaysian foreign affairs ministry said the information in the report was “incorrect”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Joe Biden's uncle, a horse thief being hanged A black-and-white photo of a man on gallows is circulating on Facebook with the claim that it shows a distant uncle of US President Joe Biden before he was hanged for robbery. This is false, the man pictured is train robber Thomas "Black Jack" Ketchum, and the photo has been repeatedly used to poke fun at politicians, with the fictitious "uncle" linked to Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and others since the early 2000s. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Henry Kissinger made these pro-Trump remarks Facebook posts shared tens of thousands of times attribute flattering comments about President Donald Trump to former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger. The remarks are fabricated; his office described them as “inventions,” and there is no record that he made them. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Eat yoghurt, lime and honey every day to treat gallstones Thai-language Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim that eating yoghurt, honey and lime as well as drinking at least three litres of water a day can "heal" gallstones. However, multiple health experts told AFP that while eating a healthy, high-fibre diet may prevent a person from developing gallstones, surgery is usually required to remove existing ones. (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: Video shows assassination attempt against Ferdinand Marcos Jr in 2022 A news report about a bullet hole found at the office of Philippine presidential front runner Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr has been viewed millions of times in social media posts that link the clip to an alleged assassination attempt against him in 2022. The video has been shared in a misleading context; the report was aired by local broadcaster GMA News in 2015. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 vaccine stored below 80 degrees celsius is “genetic manipulation” effort A claim that a vaccine “stored at -80 degrees isn’t a vaccine” and is instead a “living transfection agent” that will cause “genetic manipulation” has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook. The claim is false; multiple experts say the Covid-19 vaccine that requires storage at extremely cold temperatures cannot alter human genomes. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Bill Gates purchases Telegram messaging app A screenshot of a purported news report claiming Bill Gates has purchased the encrypted messaging app Telegram has been shared repeatedly in Facebook posts in April 2021. The claim is false: Telegram and the Gates Foundation separately denied the claim on April 9, 2021. The screenshot shared in the social media posts has been doctored. (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)

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: 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)

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: Mothers in the Philippines will receive P10,000 Covid-19 cash aid Multiple Facebook posts have shared a purported news report claiming mothers in the Philippines became eligible for a 10,000 pesos (USD200) handout after a Covid-19 lockdown was announced in some regions. But multiple government officials told AFP the claim is false. The hoax report was originally posted by an imposter site. (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)

False: Three Western countries issuing Ethiopians ‘free’ asylum visas Clickbait post (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Trudeau went to Barbados during 2020 holiday season Tweets and an article claim that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spent the end of the year vacationing in Barbados despite government recommendations to avoid unnecessary travel during the Covid-19 pandemic. The claim is false; Trudeau spent Christmas and New Years “at home” in Canada with his family, according to his office. (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)

Missing Context: Imran Khan meets opposition member ahead of no-confidence vote After Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was left scrambling to fight a no-confidence vote, a photo was shared hundreds of times on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim it shows Khan meeting with the head of an Islamist party to shore up support. But the photo has been shared in a misleading context: it shows Khan's meeting with the leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan party in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Filipino doctor endorses magnetic underwear for penis enlargement Facebook pages have surfaced in the Philippines impersonating popular doctor Winston Kilimanjaro Creones Tiwaquen to sell magnetic underwear that purportedly increases penis size. Tiwaquen said he did not endorse the garment, which medics said cannot enlarge the male genitalia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US Congresswoman Katie Porter said pedophilia is a sexual identity Social media users claim Democratic US Congresswoman Katie Porter said during a hearing that pedophilia is not a crime, but an identity related to sexual orientation. This is false; the posts misrepresent the California representative's comments on anti-LGBTQ narratives. (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)

False: Man 'looking like a mummy' rescued from bear cave Graphic images of a man covered in blood, sores and dirt have appeared in articles by publications including the Daily Mail and LADbible which claim they show a man in a “mummified state” rescued after spending a month in a bear cave in Russia. The same images and similar claims have appeared in media reports in countries from France to Indonesia, and have been shared on social media accounts with tens of millions of followers. But the claim is false; the images actually show a patient with a chronic skin disease receiving treatment in a hospital in Kazakhstan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This Image Shows The Memorial Service For Lol Mahamat Choua, Chad’S Fourth President Who Died In 2019: Image shows former Chadian president Idriss Deby’s funeral An image showing men praying in front of a coffin has been shared hundreds of times alongside a claim that it was taken at the funeral of Chad’s former president Idriss Deby Itno, who died on April 19, 2021. But the claim is false; the image shows the memorial service of another former Chadian leader, Lol Mahamat Choua, who died in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: USPS is not losing money and has no debt A dispute between Congress and the Trump administration over funding to help the United States Postal Service (USPS) through the novel coronavirus led tens of thousands of people to share an old Facebook post claiming that the agency is not losing money and has no debt. This is false; the USPS had a net loss of $8.8 billion in 2019, and its total liabilities exceed $97 billion, according to official disclosures. (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: This photo shows a girl and a koala who escaped Australia’s bushfires An image that shows a masked girl holding a koala while a large fire rages in the background has been shared tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Twitter and Instagram published in January 2020. The posts claim the photo shows a scene in Australia during the country's deadly bushfires. The claim is false; the posts show a virtual image created by an Australian artist using several photos. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Philippine physician Dr Willie Ong promotes a mixed nuts brand as meal replacement Two Filipino doctors and a local celebrity had not promoted a brand of mixed nuts that can replace regular meals, contrary to false Facebook posts that have shared their fabricated endorsements. While different types of nuts have various health benefits, experts say they do not provide adequate nutrition to substitute for daily meals. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows fire at Israeli gas plant Facebook posts shared thousands of times contain a video they claim shows a deadly blaze at an Israeli gas plant after hundreds of Palestinians were killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza in May 2021. But the claim is false: the footage actualy shows a fire at a chemical plant in Texas in 2011 and an explosion at a gas facility in Mexico in 2012. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show flooded stadium in Nigeria’s Oyo state Three photos of a flooded stadium are circulating in social media posts claiming to show shabby reconstruction work carried out at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex in Nigeria’s southern Oyo state. However, the claim is false: the photos were taken in 2007 during floods in Sheffield in the United Kingdom. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Philippine politician Ninoy Aquino’s death sentence in 1977 hidden from public A photo that shows Philippine politician Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. being sentenced to death in 1977 has been shared thousands of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts that claim the event was “hidden” from the public. The claim is misleading; multiple news organisations reported on the sentence in 1977 and the photo of the sentencing is publicly available in historical records. (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 Indonesian President Joko Widodo congratulating Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan for receiving 'international hero' title A photo has been shared in multiple Facebook posts that claim it shows Indonesian President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, congratulating Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan for receiving an "international hero" award. The claim is false: the photo actually shows an event in 2018 during which Jokowi gave Anies’ grandfather — the late Muslim intellectual AR Baswedan — a "national hero" title. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US Supreme Court ruled against mandatory vaccination A post shared on Facebook in South Africa claims that the US Supreme Court “overturned” mandatory vaccination following a lawsuit filed by attorney Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This is false; the precedent for mandatory vaccination dates back to a Supreme Court decision from 1905 and has not been challenged since. Furthermore, getting vaccinated against Covid-19 is currently not mandatory in the United States. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows a caretaker sleeping with cheetahs at a Hindu temple in Rajasthan, northern India A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts which claim it shows a “caretaker” lying next to several cheetahs at a Hindu temple in India. The claim is false; the video shows an American animal rights activist with cheetahs at a breeding centre in South Africa in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Snake grass kills cancer cells in 24 hours Multiple Facebook posts claim a herbal drink made from a "snake grass" plant, also known as "clinacanthus nutans", can kill cancer cells "in 24 hours". The claim is misleading; health experts told AFP there is no evidence that snake grass can kill cancer cells. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows crowd outside Imran Khan's house in Lahore, Pakistan. A photo of crowds packed onto a street has surfaced in social media posts that falsely claim it shows the chaotic scene outside the home of Pakistan's ex-prime minister Imran Khan, where supporters fought off police trying to arrest him. The photo was actually taken at Lahore High Court weeks before the clashes, when Khan supporters gathered as the ex-leader appeared seeking protective bail. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows cat armour made by former King of England, Henry VIII A photo has been shared tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest alongside a claim it shows armour that King Henry VIII, who reigned as England's monarch from 1509 to 1547, made for his cat. The claim is false; this photo actually shows a piece of art created by a Canadian sculptor in 1992. (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: Anti-Hindu song composed by Muslims ahead of a state election in India Multiple Facebook and Twitter posts circulating in India have shared a song with the claim that it had been "composed by Muslims" to stoke anti-Hindu sentiment months before the elections in the country's northern Uttar Pradesh state. But the composer of the song told AFP he is Hindu -- not Muslim. News reports describe the composer as a right wing Hindu nationalist with anti-Muslim views. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Australian state’s suicide rate for the month September 2020 is the same suicide rate for the whole of 2019 Multiple Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim the Australian state of Victoria recorded the same number of suicides in September 2020 during a coronavirus lockdown as it did for the whole of 2019. The claim is false; the Victorian Suicide Register shows there were 49 deaths from suicide in September 2020, compared to 534 for 2019 until September 30 that year. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Starbucks declared haram in Malaysia Facebook posts have recirculated a years-old false claim that a Malaysian Muslim preacher has said Starbucks is "haram" -- forbidden in Islam -- in the Muslim-majority nation due to certain products he purportedly says it sells. The Malaysian government agency responsible for Islamic affairs (JAKIM) has confirmed that Starbucks, which does not sell pork products in Malaysia, holds the official halal certificate. A Starbucks Malaysia spokeswoman told AFP the company uses products that are vetted by JAKIM in all its outlets. The Islamic preacher named in the post has also denied that he made the false claim and asked social media users to stop sharing it. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Strokes happen often in the bathroom because people wet their heads before their bodies in the shower Multiple Facebook posts claim that people often have strokes while in the bathroom because they are showering in the "wrong sequence" by wetting their heads before their bodies. The posts claim this sequence "causes the body to adjust its temperature too quickly", potentially causing a stroke. The claim is false; stroke experts told AFP there is no evidence to show that wetting your head before your body while showering can lead to a stroke. (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: Video shows bodybuilder reacting to caste discrimination A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in social media posts that falsely claim it shows a bodybuilder reacting angrily after facing discrimination because of his caste. The video in fact shows a bodybuilder in Bangladesh protesting over the outcome of a competition, not because he was insulted about his caste. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Philippine celebrity Willie Revillame tells President Rodrigo Duterte to sell government assets for typhoon aid A graphic has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts purporting to show a genuine quote from a Philippine television personality published by a Philippine broadcaster. The alleged quote and the posts suggest the television personality urged Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to sell government assets to help victims of the recent Typhoon Vamco. The claim is false; the graphic has been doctored from a post on the Philippine broadcaster's Facebook page; the television personality denied making the alleged remarks. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows people mourning after Afghanistan earthquake in 2022 A video of people prostrating has been viewed more than a thousand times in social media posts that claim it shows crowds mourning following an earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan in June 2022. However, the claim is false; the video has circulated since September 2021 in reports about the Taliban celebrating after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. (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: 'Breaking news' footage of Kashmir leader under house arrest A Pakistani television channel shared a video on their YouTube channel, which has more than 2.5 million followers, in early August 2019 claiming it was "breaking news" footage of Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani under house arrest. The claim is false; the video has circulated online in reports since at least April 2018; one of Geelani’s relatives told AFP the video was filmed in April 2018 while Geelani was under house arrest. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Video: US Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden greeted Florida voters with “Hello, Minnesota!” Videos appearing to show US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden greeting Florida voters with “Hello, Minnesota!” -- making it seem like the former vice president didn’t know where he was -- have spread online just before the election campaign ends. This is misleading; the rally took place in Minnesota, as Biden said, but the video was altered to make the background read “Tampa, Florida.” (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: People besieging troops in China's Chongqing A video of a huge crowd surrounding a procession of vehicles has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Twitter alongside a claim it shows people in the southwest Chinese megacity of Chongqing besieging military troops who tried to crack down on a protest. This is false. The video has circulated in state media reports about Chongqing residents bidding farewell to firefighters from nearby Yunnan province after they helped to fight wildfires in the region. (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: 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)

Explainer: China coronavirus: the correct way to wear a face mask Misinformation about the correct way to wear disposable face masks has spread on Facebook and WhatsApp following the global outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus. The posts were shared hundreds of times by Facebook users based in Sri Lanka and the Philippines. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Deaths counted as Covid-19 related within 20 days of contracting the virus, no matter what other factors were involved? Multiple Facebook posts claim that anyone who dies within 20 days of testing positive for Covid-19 -- whatever the actual cause of death -- will be counted as a coronavirus fatality. The posts also claim that if people die within 24 hours of being vaccinated, the vaccine is not listed as a cause of death. Both claims are false: neither US nor Australian Covid-19 fatality reporting guidelines contain any such criteria; US health authorities told AFP Covid-19 is only listed on a death certificate if it "caused or contributed" to the death; deaths occuring within 24 hours of vaccination are not excluded from Covid-19 fatality reporting, Australia's drug regulator said. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Indonesian President Joko Widodo is appointed to lead UN's crisis group A video of an Indonesian academic claiming Indonesian President Joko Widodo has been appointed to lead the United Nations' new Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance (GCRG) has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on TikTok, Facebook and YouTube. But the claim is missing context: the group is actually chaired by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, and the Indonesian president is appointed as one of the group's six global advocates. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Billiards champion Efren Reyes died in January 2021 Multiple Facebook posts shared repeatedly in early January 2021 claim Filipino pool champion Efren Reyes had died at the age of 65. The claim is false: in response to the hoax reports, Reyes told AFP on January 19, 2021 that he was "still alive". The doctored screenshot in the Facebook posts has been manipulated from a July 2017 report about Reyes discussing his intention to retire from professional pool. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: First time Kenyans or Nigerians heard music A photo shared in multiple Facebook posts claims to show Kenyans or Nigerians hearing music from a speaker for the first time, in either 1932 or 1895. These claims are false; the photo was taken in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1952. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image of dilapidated Lagos bridge An image of a badly damaged pier has been circulated in numerous social media posts claiming it shows the state of the Third Mainland Bridge in Nigeria’s commercial hub Lagos. The posts allege that the bridge has “opened up” and is “shaking”, potentially putting the lives of commuters at risk. However, the claim is false: the photo was taken back in 2008 during an experiment conducted by a Japanese research institute to test the effects of earthquakes on bridge piers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Colorado rigged its 2022 midterm elections by sending non-citizens a mailer Supporters of former US president Donald Trump are claiming that Colorado's secretary of state intentionally solicited 30,000 non-citizens to vote in an attempt to rig upcoming midterm elections. This is misleading; while the office did send mailers to those individuals encouraging them to register, the mailer was meant for potentially eligible voters but went to the non-citizens because of a database name matching error. The mistake was quickly identified, and non-citizens remain ineligible to vote. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian politician Priyanka Gandhi campaigning for Bihar elections Multiple Facebook posts have shared a photo they claim shows Indian Congress party politician Priyanka Gandhi campaigning for upcoming elections in Bihar state. The claim is false: the image is actually from 2009 and shows Gandhi visiting a temple in Uttar Pradesh while campaigning for her brother Rahul Gandhi ahead of India’s national elections. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: South Korea threatens to jail Hong Kong police and families on entry An article circulating online claims that South Korea, in response to human rights concerns, has announced it will arrest and imprison members of the Hong Kong police and their families if they try to enter the country. The claim is false; the purported article was mostly taken from two reports by Hong Kong news site Stand News and adds a misleading headline; South Korea has not issued any new immigration regulations on Hong Kong police; Seoul’s consulate in Hong Kong said the claim was false, and that the country did not block visitors’ entry on the basis of their occupation. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posing for camera inside bathroom An image of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi washing his hands has been shared hundreds of times alongside a false claim that it shows him posing for a photo op inside a restroom. In fact, the photo shows Modi washing his hands at the entrance of a Sikh temple, also known as a gurdwara, in New Delhi. It is a custom to wash one's hands before entering a gurdwara. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos showing Indonesian identity cards issued to Chinese workers A Facebook post shares two photographs that it claims show that Indonesia's electronic ID cards have been issued to Chinese migrant workers. The photographs are actually an old stock image of ID cards and a picture of evidence in a fraud case; neither has any links to foreign workers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 outbreak in PNG is just the “seasonal flu” A Facebook post circulating in Papua New Guinea warns that Covid-19 vaccines are being trialled on people in the country and advises them to “stay away from hospital” if they develop symptoms. The post adds that the disease is “just a seasonal flu” and advises at-home treatments. The claims are false: the vaccines being rolled out in Papua New Guinea have been rigorously tested for safety in other countries and experts say those who develop flu-like symptoms should get a Covid-19 test and seek medical help if needed. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: This photo shows farmers want restoration of Kashmir's special status in November 2020 protest. A photo has been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter in December 2020 alongside a claim that it shows Sikh farmers participating in anti-government protests in India. The posts were shared as farmers in India demonstrated against new agricultural laws. The claim is misleading; the photo actually shows Indian Sikhs staging an anti-government protest in August 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows India-China border clash in December 2022 A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in multiple social media posts alongside a misleading claim that it shows a border clash between Chinese and Indian soldiers in December 2022. In fact, the clip has circulated in Indian media reports since at least June 2020, purportedly showing another clash between Chinese and Indian troops on their disputed frontier. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Tasuku Honjo, a Japanese Nobel Prize-winning scientist, says he has been subjected to “false accusations and misinformation” over remarks that novel coronavirus was "manufactured in China" Multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and on various websites have shared a purported quote about the novel coronavirus from Japanese physician Tasuku Honjo, the 2018 winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The posts, shared thousands of times, quote Dr Honjo as stating that the virus is “not natural” and was “manufactured in China”, as well as stating he previously worked at a laboratory in Chinese city of Wuhan for four years. The claim is misleading; Dr Honjo said he never made the purported comments, dismissing the posts as “misinformation”; his biography on the Kyoto University website shows he has never held a position at a laboratory in China. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sinovac packaging shows vaccine is only for clinical trial Multiple Facebook and Twitter posts in Indonesia claim that Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines distributed in the country's inoculation drive are unsafe as they are marked "for clinical trial" only. The claim is false; the posts show a photo of the Sinovac vaccine packaging from August 2020, when the vaccine was not yet available to the public. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: CNN broadcast says Yoweri Museveni dictorship is ending? An image shared hundreds of times on Facebook claims to show a CNN broadcast reporting the imminent end to Uganda’s “dictatorship” under long-serving President Yoweri Museveni, in favour of a political movement led by musician-turned-politician Bobi Wine. However, AFP Fact Check found the image is a hoax. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Image of recent Kenyan military aircraft crash A Facebook post circulating in Uganda claims to show images of a recent Kenyan military aircraft crash that left at least 10 soldiers dead. But the claim is partly false: although one of the photos is from the June 2021 accident, the other was captured nine years ago after a Somali-bound Ugandan military plane crashed at Mount Kenya. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: This video shows Indian soldiers celebrating Hindu festival in Galwan Valley. Footage of Indian soldiers celebrating the Hindu festival Ganesh Chaturthi has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts alongside a claim that the video shows troops in the Galwan Valley in India’s Ladakh region. The claim is misleading; the video in fact shows troops celebrating in the Shingo River Valley, at least 230 kilometers west of the Galwan Valley. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: PCR tests can't tell flu from Covid-19 In a video shared across social media, a man makes several false statements in testimony to a school board meeting in the US state of Texas, repeating previously debunked claims about Covid-19 tests, face masks, vaccine data and treatments. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: US newspaper The New York Times and German broadcaster Deutsche Welle have endorsed China’s Covid-19 vaccines A claim that US newspaper The New York Times and German broadcaster Deutsche Welle have endorsed China’s Covid-19 vaccines has been shared in multiple Facebook posts, alongside a list claiming the top four safest Covid-19 vaccines in the world are all Chinese-made. The posts are misleading: they cite a New York Times opinion piece, and reference a Deutsche Welle news article from October 2020 that listed Covid-19 vaccines that were then in third-phase clinical trials. Neither the opinion piece nor the news article ranked the safety of the Covid-19 vaccines. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Muslims rallying in honour of Prophet over blasphemy in India A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in Facebook posts that claim it shows people from multiple Muslim-majority countries protesting against controversial remarks about the Prophet Mohammed made by an Indian ruling party official in 2022. However, the claim is false; it in fact shows a religious congregation commemorating the death of a Muslim cleric in Pakistan in January 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Three carrots give you energy to walk three miles Posts on social media make a series of claims about the benefits of eating certain fruits and vegetables, including that three carrots provide enough energy to walk three miles. This is misleading; experts say the posts contain multiple inaccuracies, and make broad generalizations about the foods that do not apply to everyone. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows snow in Pakistani city of Karachi A photo of a snow-covered street has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter in November 2020 that claim it was taken in the Pakistani city of Karachi. The claim is false; the photo was actually taken by an Afghan photographer in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul; weather data for Karachi shows there has been no snowfall in the city in November 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Overseas Filipinos wear pink to support VP Leni Robredo A photo has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook alongside a claim it shows overseas supporters of Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo wearing pink -- the colour of her 2022 presidential campaign. The claim is false: the photo shows a fundraising event for cancer research in Italy. It has circulated online since at least 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Doctored front page with image of Australian PM An image has been shared repeatedly in social media posts ahead of the Australian federal elections that purports to show a front page from a News Corp paper urging readers to vote Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison out of office. However, the image has been doctored to add Morrison's face onto the body of former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who was originally pictured on the paper's front page in 2013. A spokesperson for the paper told AFP the image circulating in misleading social media posts was a "digital manipulation". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Kenya's Odinga apologising for protests A video surfaced on TikTok claiming to show Kenyan opposition leader apologising to President William Ruto for spearheading violent anti-government protests in late March. But this is false: the footage was filmed at a national prayer breakfast in 2018 where Odinga apologised to former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta over insults traded between the two rivals during the 2017 presidential elections. This was spliced together with another scene from the same breakfast where Odinga shook hands with Ruto, who was deputy president at the time. However, he did not apologise to Ruto. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos of a Pakistani coal miner's daughter who topped civil service exam Multiple Facebook and Twitter posts shared hundreds of times purport to show photos of a Pakistani coal miner’s daughter who topped the Pakistani civil service exam in 2020. The claim is false; the photos show an Afghan woman who topped her country’s national university entrance exam in 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image of charred baby shows unrest in Oyo state Nigeria’s ex-aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode published on Instagram an image of a man holding what appears to be a charred baby with claims it shows victims of last weekend’s deadly attacks that supposedly killed “over 50 innocent souls” in Igangan, in Nigeria’s southern Oyo state. However, the claim is false; the image predates the violence and is actually a screenshot of a video clip filmed after a crisis in Cameroon’s northwestern town of Batibo. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indonesian religious teacher Herry Wiryawan is executed for raping his students Various blog articles shared on Facebook claim a religious teacher in Indonesia convicted of raping 13 students was executed for his crimes. The claim is false; Herry Wirawan was sentenced to life in prison, not execution, according to court documents and news reports. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of Indonesian president's son in T-shirt with communist symbol An image shared thousands of times on Facebook purports to show the youngest son of Indonesian president Joko Widodo wearing a T-shirt with a hammer-and-sickle symbol. This claim is false; the photo has been doctored from an original showing him in a plain black T-shirt. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows French immigrants threaten to "rape and beheading people” A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple social media posts that falsely claim it shows immigrants in France threatening to "rape and behead" people as "Europe now belongs to them". The clip, which has circulated since at least July 2019, in fact shows football fans celebrating in Paris during the Africa Cup of Nations tournament and speaking about how peaceful the crowd was. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The adhan, the Islamic call to prayer, recited at a Hindu temple in Malaysia A video has been viewed millions of times after it was shared on Facebook and TikTok alongside a false claim that it shows a Hindu reciting the Islamic call to prayer -- the adhan -- at a temple in Malaysia. In fact, the clip was filmed at a Hindu shrine in Kerala, a state in southern India. The adhan recital was part of a performance of a ritual dance called Theyyam, which sometimes showcases Muslim characters. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Yogi Adityanath provides for orphan child at Diwali celebrations in 2019 Facebook and Twitter posts share a photo of Indian politician Yogi Adityanath that they claim shows him pledging to support a newly orphaned child. The claim is false; the photo shows Adityanath greeting local children in Uttar Pradesh during Diwali celebrations in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Philippine Foreign secretary Teddy Locsin Jr said it is fine if Vice President Leni Robredo dies because she is not essential to the country A purported news graphic has been shared thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows disparaging remarks made about Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo by a top diplomat. The claim is false: the graphic has been doctored from an original news report that contained a different quote from the diplomat. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows flower that blooms once every 3,000 years. A YouTube video with more than 100,000 views falsely claims to show a mythical flower said to bloom once every 3,000 years discovered on a roadside in Sri Lanka. The footage actually shows the eggs of an insect called the green lacewing, experts said, pointing out that the Udumbara flower does not exist. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Image shows elephant injured in collision in Sri Lanka After a popular Sri Lankan actor was reportedly injured in a car crash involving a wild elephant, Facebook posts shared thousands of times showed a photo that they claimed showed the animal after it was hit by the car he was travelling in. However, the photo has circulated in reports about an elephant killed after it was hit by a train in India in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: 750,000 people attended anti-lockdown rally in London on April 24, 2021 Facebook posts claim that a rally in the British capital of London against coronavirus rules on April 24, 2021 attracted 750,000 protesters. This figure, however, has been exaggerated; British media reported the rally attracted around 10,000 protesters -- an estimate which is borne out by photos and videos of the event. An AFP journalist who covered the rally on the ground said there were “certainly not hundreds of thousands” of protesters. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Protesters call for Taiwan leader's resignation weeks before elections A video has been viewed hundreds of times in multiple Facebook and YouTube posts that claim it shows a protest calling for the resignation of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen between November and December 2019. The claim is false; the video has circulated online since at least December 2016 in reports about an anti-gay marriage protest in Taiwan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Stanford study found masks are ineffective to block transmission of Covid-19 Online articles claim a study from Stanford University found that mask wearing, which is recommended to help slow spread of Covid-19, is “ineffective” and harmful. But the paper was retracted, the study’s author is not employed by the prestigious California university, and it repeated previously debunked claims about the use of face coverings during the pandemic. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Interpol tweet on Turkish national’s arrest in Kenya Facebook posts sharing a screenshot of a tweet allegedly written by Interpol purport that the international police organisation has commented on the arrest of a Turkish national in Kenya. The claim is false; the image was digitally manipulated to add a fake comment. Those who created it used the Twitter handle @Interpol, which actually belongs to a US rock band by that name -- not the international police organisation. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The 2020 election is rigged As America’s tortuous presidential election appeared headed to a conclusion, Donald Trump addressed the nation, claiming without evidence that he was being robbed of a second term. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Japanese energy minister bowing to apologise for 20-minute power cut A photo of a man bowing in front of journalists was shared by Facebook users in Myanmar alongside a claim that it shows Japan's energy minister apologising to the public for a 20-minute power outage in the country. The posts circulate as blackouts continue to plague the Southeast Asian country. However, the claim is false; the photo in fact shows Takahiro Hachigo, then CEO of Japanese carmaker Honda Motor, holding his first press conference in 2015 after assuming the top job. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US President Donald Trump and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretly watermarked ballots to catch Democrats using fakes to win Social media posts claim US President Donald Trump and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretly watermarked ballots to catch Democrats using fakes to win, and that the National Guard is counting the real ones. This is false; state and local authorities create and distribute ballots, DHS’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said it does not design, print or audit ballots, and the National Guard said there is no truth to the claims. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: There is no ebola outbreak in Uganda In Uganda, multiple social media posts have claimed that there is no Ebola in the country. However, local authorities and international organisations have confirmed an ongoing outbreak. Uganda’s health ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an outbreak of Ebola in the country on September 20, 2022, after a young man showed symptoms of the disease and died. The NGO Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which is working alongside local health workers to fight the outbreak, told AFP Fact Check that the virus has been spreading. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows US official detailing India-based telefraud scheme after Indian Chronicles investigation in December 2020 Footage of a US law enforcement official speaking at a podium has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Twitter and Facebook posts that claim it shows her announcing details of an Indian call centre fraud scheme that was exposed in December 2020. The claim, however, is misleading; the video in fact shows a US Department of Justice official talking about a different Indian call centre scam in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: South African scientist achieves HIV breakthrough Widely-shared social media posts claim that a young South African scientist recently made a medical breakthrough by successfully removing HIV from numerous semen samples. However, the claims are misleading, as was pointed out by the intern herself, whose tweets about learning the procedure were taken out of context. The process she referred to has been successfully performed for decades and is a common technique in reproductive biology. (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)

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)

Missing Context: Communist Party of India listed as one of the '20 deadliest terror groups'. A graphic from a global think tank's report on terrorist attacks that mistakenly lists an Indian political party as one of the "20 deadliest terror groups of 2022" has been misleadingly shared by multiple social media users in the country. The Global Terrorism Index produced by the Institute of Economics and Peace incorrectly included the Communist Party of India in its ranking instead of the similarly named Communist Party of India (Maoist), which is on the Indian government's list of banned terrorist organisations. The think tank said in a tweet that it corrected the error as soon as it was made aware of the mistake. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows floods that hit Gresik in Indonesia's East Java province in February 2023 A video of cars being washed away on a flooded highway in Malaysia has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook and YouTube after it was shared with a false claim that it shows a disaster in Indonesia in February 2023. But the clip has been in circulation since December 2021, when a huge flood hit several areas in Malaysia. AFP traced the location of the video to the Malaysian city of Shah Alam. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows a man smoking amid corpses of coronavirus victims A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in Facebook and Twitter posts claiming it shows “dead bodies piled up from Covid”. One of the purported corpses can be seen smoking a cigarette, prompting claims that he could be a “crisis actor”. The claims are false: the clip does not show coronavirus victims. It has circulated online in social media posts since September 2020 about the filming of a Russian music video. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Photo of Seoul Halloween crush victim's father with North Korean portraits An image showing the South Korean father of a Halloween crowd crush victim sitting for an interview with a local media outlet has been doctored to include portraits of two former North Korean leaders on the wall behind him. The photo prompted mocking comments from social users, some of whom appeared to believe it was genuine. AFP found the image had been merged with a 2016 photo captured by the Associated Press news agency. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Aryan Khan publicly urinating at US airport Footage of a man urinating at an airport terminal has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts that claim he is Aryan Khan, the son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan. The video surfaced after Aryan was arrested in a drugs bust in October. The claim is false; the footage circulated in reports from 2013 that name the man as "Twilight" star Bronson Pelletier. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: CNN described Afghanistan as 'violent but mostly peaceful' Social media posts feature an image of an apparent CNN report describing the situation in Afghanistan as "violent but mostly peaceful." However, the picture is a composite made from an unrelated broadcast in the US as well as a still photo from Kabul, and the network says the post is doctored. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ferdinand Marcos wealth from commission on 640,000 metric tons gold in 1949 Social media posts shared hundreds of times claim the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos and an associate "became the richest men in the whole world" in 1949 after a client paid them "30% commission from 640,000 metric tons of gold". The posts are false. The Philippine Supreme Court ruled multiple times that Marcos accumulated his wealth through fraud. To date, only 244,000 metric tons of gold have been discovered in the world in its entirety, according to the US Geological Survey. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh in July 2022 Following attacks on Hindus in southwestern Bangladesh in July 2022, a photo was shared repeatedly in Facebook posts alongside a claim that more attacks would happen in the Muslim-majority country in the future. The photo, however, has been shared in a false context. It has actually circulated in local media reports since March 2021, when protests erupted in response to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh. AFP geolocated the photo to the city of Brahmanbaria in eastern Bangladesh. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Captured Indian Air Force officer dancing with Pakistan soldiers A video that has been viewed tens of thousands of times on social media purports to show an Indian fighter pilot who was shot down, captured and then released by Pakistan, dancing with Pakistani soldiers while in captivity. The claim is false; the footage was posted online before the Indian pilot was captured; the pilot does not appear in the video. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Genuine GMA News report about mother of flight attendant Christine Dacera gunned down in 2021 Multiple blogs have shared a video report that claims the mother of flight attendant Christine Dacera, whose death triggered a high-profile crime investigation in the Philippines, was gunned down in January 2021. The claim is false; the video in fact shows an unrelated news report aired by local media organisation GMA News in January 2019; the blogs that posted the video are imposter sites. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows an anti-lockdown rally in Austria A video has been shared multiple times on social media in South Korea alongside a claim it shows a protest against Covid-19 restrictions in Austria. The claim is false: the video was first posted online in November 2019, at least one month before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. It shows football fans marching along a street ahead of a Europa League match in Austria. (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)

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: Walmarted looted during a December 25, 2022 snow storm A video shared on social media purports to show the looting of a Walmart store during a massive snowstorm in Buffalo, New York. This is false; the video was recorded in Philadelphia two years prior to the storm and is being shared out of context. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of female fighter pilot who carried out strikes in Pakistan A photo that has been shared repeatedly on social media purports to show a female Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter pilot called Urvashi Jariwala who carried out an air strike in Pakistani territory. The claim is false; the woman in the picture is an IAF flight lieutenant called Sneha Shekhawat; the names of pilots involved in the strike have not been released. (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)

Missing Context: Philippine senator apologised to President Duterte after public spat A video has been viewed more than one hundred thousand times in Facebook posts that claim it shows Philippine Senator Richard Gordon "apologising" to President Rodrigo Duterte after a public quarrel. But the posts are misleading. The video actually shows Gordon apologising to another senator after interrupting him during a legislative hearing. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: CCTV cameras installed at Sydney Mardi Gras link to social credit system A TikTok user has shared "oversimplified" claims about a crowd monitoring system used at Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade, misleadingly linking it to a "social credit system", surveillance experts in Australia say. The user's video -- viewed more than 850,000 times -- suggested people who looked "angry" at the parade would "get a bad score" and trigger a police response. However, a surveillance researcher and a digital rights group told AFP there was no evidence Australia was building a social credit system. The company that provided the event's monitoring system said it was used to prevent crowd crushes, while a spokesperson for the parade said the suggestion that police deployment was based on the crowd's mood was "made up". Police said just four people were arrested at the event for offences including assaulting police officers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Indian politician in West Bengal expressing support for Rohingya refugees A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in Facebook posts that claim it shows an Indian lawmaker from the regional party All India Trinamool Congress expressing support for Rohingya refugees in eastern India. The claim is false; the video actually shows a street play staged by workers for India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in March 2018. (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: This image shows to-be-built convention centre in South Korea An image of a building has been shared repeatedly in Korean-language Facebook posts alongside a claim it shows a new convention centre set to be built in the South Korean city of Gwangju. The claim circulated soon after the convention centre's president announced plans to expand it. However, the claim is false; the image actually shows the existing convention centre in Gwangju, not the planned new facility. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Pakistan opposition party supporters in police van during recent elections Facebook and Twitter posts in Pakistan purport to show a photo of supporters of an opposition party travelling in a police vehicle during recent provincial elections in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The claim is misleading: the image is from 2018 and shows party supporters in the capital Islamabad during national elections that year. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This photo shows the tomb of Prophet Abraham A photo has been shared thousands of times on Facebook in Muslim-majority Bangladesh alongside a claim it shows the tomb of Prophet Abraham, who is recognised as a messenger of Allah in Islam. The claim is false; the photo actually shows the tomb of a cleric in India. Prophet Abraham's tomb is in Jerusalem, an Islamic history professor told AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Abortion is never medically necessary A video posted on Facebook claims abortion is "never medically necessary." This is false; medical experts say that, in some patients, terminating a pregnancy is the only way to save their life. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Tanzanian student smashing televisions at a school in China A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Twitter alongside a claim it shows an international student from Tanzania smashing televisions at a university in China. The claim is false; the video actually shows a skit by a US comedian. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Ron DeSantis held a shirt insulting Justin Trudeau A photo of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis holding a T-shirt that calls Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "useless" is being shared on social media. But the image has been manipulated; the original shows the Florida Republican promoting a visit to the headquarters of US fast-food chain Popeyes in 2019, and he made no such insult in public. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian pilot Abhinandan stars in Pakistani tea advert Multiple Facebook posts share a video they claim shows an advert for a Pakistani tea brand starring Abhinandan Varthaman, the Indian Air Force pilot who was captured by Pakistan and later released. The claim is false; the video is a doctored version of an old advert which has been online since 2010. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Paracetamol painkillers like Panadol cause addiction Multiple Facebook posts shared tens of thousands of times claim consuming painkillers such as Panadol can cause addiction. The claim is misleading; medical experts say that paracetamol-based pain relievers are generally not addictive. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Poll puts Kenya’s Ruto ahead of election rival Odinga Facebook posts in Kenya have shared a graphic that purports to show the results of an opinion poll conducted by research firm GeoPoll ranking the country’s two main election contenders, deputy president William Ruto and arch-rival Raila Odinga. The claim is false; the graphic is entirely fabricated. GeoPoll also denied “conducting any political opinion polls in Kenya”. (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)

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: Bridge damaged by foreign nationals in South Africa Social media users are circulating a picture of a damaged bridge with claims that foreigners in South Africa stripped the structure so that they could sell the materials. This is false: the picture shows damage caused to a bridge in Japan following an earthquake in 2004. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Florida doctor tweeted about Covid-19 vaccines, poison Podcast host Joe Rogan and conservative commentators have amplified an image that appears to show a doctor from the US state of Florida tweeting that she would not regret getting the Covid-19 vaccine "even if it turns out I injected actual poison." But the supposed post is fabricated; the physician confirmed to AFP that she did not author it, and Rogan has since acknowledged the error. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows shows an Algerian Muslim refugee in London spitting on Pizza dough. Stomach-churning footage of a man spitting on pizza dough has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts in February 2021 alongside claims that the incident took place in London and the man is a Muslim refugee from Algeria. The claims are false: the video in fact shows a food vendor spitting on pizza dough at a food stand in the US city of Detroit in September 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Explainer: Local medicinal herb Perumkayam safeguards its users against coronavirus In the days following Sri Lanka's first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus, an article was shared hundreds of times on Facebook claiming that asafoetida, a plant often used in traditional Indian medicine, can prevent all coronavirus infection. This claim is misleading; health experts in Sri Lanka say there is no evidence asafoetida or other herbal medicine can definitively protect people from infection. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered: Image shows Narendra Modi's tonsured head after his mother's death After the death of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother on December 30, a digitally altered image was shared hundreds of times in social media posts that falsely claimed it showed the leader with a shaved head. While some Hindus traditionally shave their heads following the death of a close relative, the Hindu nationalist leader had not done so, as of January 5. The doctored image was taken from a photo of the leader which shows him with a full head of hair. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Drinking bubble tea causes gallstones? A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and Line which claim drinking bubble tea, a popular Taiwanese tea-based drink with tapioca pearls, can cause gallstones. The claim is misleading; health experts, including the US-based doctor who took the original video, told AFP “it is not possible” for tapioca pearls to collect in gallbladders or directly cause gallstones in the human body. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Soldiers killed in Ethiopia’s Tigray crisis As tensions grow between the Ethiopian army and dissident forces in the northern Tigray region, multiple posts shared alongside an image of flag-covered coffins purport to show soldiers killed in the clashes. This is false; the picture in fact shows the caskets of victims of a 2017 bombing in Mali. (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)

Missing Context: Biden says will raise taxes Political action committees are using a video clip of Joe Biden speaking at a campaign event to claim that the Democratic presidential candidate said he would raise taxes. This is misleading; Biden was speaking to a specific person in the audience, not generally pledging to increase taxes. (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: South African aid group offers food relief on Facebook Gift of Givers refutes claim (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Indian High Commission appoints Sri Lankan singer cultural ambassador Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim a popular Sri Lankan singer has been appointed "cultural ambassador" by the Indian High Commission in Colombo. The claim is misleading: the Indian High Commission told AFP that no such formal appointment had been made as of September 25, 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo Of Collapsed Flyover Was Taken In India, Not Nigeria: Image shows collapsed flyover bridge in Nigeria’s Taraba state An image showing a damaged flyover bridge has circulated in numerous social media posts claiming that it shows shabby construction work in Nigeria’s northern Taraba state. However, this is false; the photo showing the collapsed structure was taken in India, not Nigeria. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian wrestlers have called off their protest After top Indian wrestlers gathered in New Delhi to demand the arrest of the sport's federation chief, social media posts falsely claimed to show a photo of the athletes packing up and leaving after they "ended" the demonstration. However, an AFP journalist who visited the protest site on May 9 confirmed it had not been called off. The photo shared in false posts was taken after the protesters spent the night at the site, according to the news agency that published the picture. (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)

Missing Context: Romania is shutting down all of its vaccination centres A video has been viewed thousands of times on YouTube and Facebook in August 2021 alongside a claim that all Covid-19 vaccination centres were set to be closed in Romania due to declining demand for vaccines. The claim is misleading: Romanian health authorities said while some Covid-19 vaccination centres had been temporarily wound down, vaccines were still available at centres across the country. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigeria President Buhari is dead Facebook posts regularly circulate claiming that Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is dead and that the man who has taken his place is a lookalike. This is false; reports of Buhari’s death have been greatly exaggerated since 2017, when supporters for the independence of Biafra, a region in southern Nigeria, first began posting the claim on Facebook as part of their public campaign to secede. AFP Fact Check explains why this rumour refuses to die. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Donald Trump giving defiant televised speech two days before Biden's inauguration Footage of former US President Donald Trump has been viewed tens of thousands of times across social media platforms alongside a claim it shows him giving a defiant televised speech on January 18, 2021, two days before President Joe Biden's inauguration. The claim is false: the video in fact shows Trump addressing US troops in 2017 at an air base in Japan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Turkey never closes mosques during the Covid-19 pandemic An image of Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been shared in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim that he announced no mosque in Turkey would be closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The claim circulated online in Indonesia after the country imposed social restrictions in early July 2021. The claim is misleading: Turkey previously ordered all mosques to close in March 2020 in a bid to reduce the spread of Covid-19. As of July 22, 2021, AFP found no evidence that Erdogan announced he would not close Turkey's mosques in 2020 or 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hindu mob beating temple attacker in UK A video has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows a mob attacking a man ahead of his court appearance for vandalising a Hindu temple in Birmingham, the UK's second largest city. This is false. The clip was filmed in the British capital London and screenshots of the video were used in a news report about a demonstration against the Iranian regime that turned violent in September 2022. (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)

Misleading: Image of Kyiv before and after Russia invaded Facebook posts with contrasting aerial images showing Ukraine’s capital Kyiv both untouched by war and in ruins have been shared hundreds of times with the claim that the pictures show the city before and after Russia’s invasion. The claim is misleading; while the first image of the city intact is fresh, the second showing devastation in the capital was taken about eight years ago during deadly protests that ushered in a change of government. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: World Bank offers loans to small businesses in Africa Facebook posts inviting small business owners impacted by Covid-19 in Africa to apply for loans from the World Bank through the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have been shared hundreds of times. But the claim is false; the World Bank confirmed to AFP Fact Check that the posts emanated from fraudulent accounts linked to cybercrime attacks targeting the institution. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Mixture: Photo shows Conservatives voting to reopen abortion debate A photo shared on Twitter and Facebook claims to show Conservative Party of Canada members voting in favor of reopening the abortion debate. This is misleading. Conservative Party members did win such a vote at the party’s convention in Halifax in 2018, but the proposal was voted down when it was considered by the party’s national delegates. The Conservatives have been criticized for being ambiguous on the topic, but official party policy does not question the legality of abortion. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Trump not guilty of impeachment charges Multiple Facebook posts shared thousands of times in Nigeria claim the US Department of Justice (DoJ) has ruled in favour of President Donald Trump in his looming impeachment battle, declaring him innocent of the charges he is facing. This is false: AFP explains here how US impeachment works and what role the DoJ plays. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: 5G technology in India responsible coronavirus deaths A message shared repeatedly on Facebook and Twitter in India claims that the country's catastrophic second wave of Covid-19 cases was caused by 5G technology. The claim is misleading: the World Health Organization (WHO), radiation experts, and health authorities have said there is no evidence that radiation emitted from 5G is harmful to human health. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo purports to show list of those who recently supported the Myanmar military Facebook posts circulating in Myanmar purport to show a screenshot from state television listing the names of supporters of the military. The posts circulated online after the military seized power in a coup in February 2021. The claim in the posts is false: the screenshot was taken from a 2019 travel documentary and the names listed are people who helped with the production. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video of Rakhi Sawant wearing a hijab to support protestors in Karnataka After a hijab ban in schools in India's Karnataka state sparked nationwide protests in early 2022, a video was viewed millions of times in social media posts that claimed it showed a Bollywood actress wearing the Islamic headscarf in support of the demonstrators. The claim is misleading; the video has circulated since August 2021. The actress can be heard saying she is wearing the hijab to cover up her gym clothes. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Death By Hanging For Hate Speech: Nigeria Senate Set To Pass Bill And To Establish Agency For Hate Speech Facebook and Twitter posts shared more than one thousand times claim Nigeria is proposing death by hanging for anyone who speaks out against the government in an anti-hate speech bill currently before the senate. This is misleading; AFP explains the current state of the controversial bill. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Malaysia has abolished Covid-19 vaccination requirements A video of Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob making an announcement has been viewed thousands of times on social media alongside a claim that the Southeast Asian country's Covid-19 vaccination requirements have been "abolished". This is misleading. The video shows Ismail Sabri speaking at a press conference on March 8, 2022, during which he said vaccination requirements would be abolished for interstate travel and some workplaces. As of April 8, 2022, some activities in Malaysia — such as recreational sports, religious gatherings and dining in restaurants — require participants to have received at least the primary dose of a Covid vaccine. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Chinese man who was lured to Myanmar being assaulted. A video of a man being repeatedly kicked in the head has been viewed tens of thousands of times in Chinese social media posts that claim he was the victim of a job scam in Myanmar. The posts circulated online after officials in Hong Kong and Taiwan separately revealed new details of people lured to Southeast Asia in so-called "boiler room" scams. The video, however, has been shared in a false context. Parts of the footage have circulated in reports since at least December 2020 about a Thai company punishing a worker for alleged embezzlement. A senior Thai police officer who led the investigation told AFP that the victim was a Thai national. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A child died in Barhaven, Ottawa after taking a Covid-19 vaccine Social media posts claim a six-year-old child died near Ottawa, Canada after receiving a Covid-19 vaccine. But the local health authority said a review of data from coroners as well as partners at a children's hospital showed the claim is false, and monitoring systems are in place to investigate potential adverse events following vaccination. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pictures of South Africa's Carlton centre An image shared thousands of times on Facebook purports to show the deterioration of an iconic building in South Africa. The posts are false; it actually shows an abandoned mall in the United States. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered: Donald Trump said in an interview that he "just can't be upset" with Ye A video circulating on social media appears to show former US president Donald Trump saying he "just can't be upset" with Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, in spite of the rapper's anti-Semitic remarks and praise for Adolf Hitler. But the clip has been digitally manipulated; the real footage shows an interview Trump gave to NBC News in 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows 1.3 million protestors against COVID-19 restrictions in Berlin, Germany A photo has been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter which claim it shows a protest against coronavirus restrictions in the German capital of Berlin in August 2020. The claim is false; the photo, which has circulated online since at least 2018, shows a street parade in Switzerland before the COVID-19 pandemic. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hindu festival Maha Shivratri is no longer celebrated in Pakistan's Karachi Social media posts shared repeatedly in India have promoted a false claim that the Hindu festival of Maha Shivratri is no longer observed in Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan, its Muslim-majority neighbour. The claim circulated alongside a black-and-white image supposedly showing the festival being celebrated in the city in the 1920s -- when it was part of British colonial India. In fact, an official at the Pakistan Hindu Council said the festival -- which is listed as an "optional holiday" by the government -- was observed in Karachi in February. AFP also located footage of the festival being celebrated in the city from a YouTube user who said he filmed it this year. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Placard shows Pakistan's General Qamar Javed Bajwa refusing to retire A doctored photo of a sign that appears to show Pakistan's army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa asking people to stop telling him to retire has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on social media. The image -- which appeared to fool some people online -- circulated amid speculation about who would replace Bajwa, who has served as head of the military since 2016. The image has in fact been manipulated from an old photo of a placard of Bajwa's predecessor Raheel Sharif. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show COVID-19 fatalities in Pakistan Three photos showing dozens of body bags have been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook which claim they show the bodies of COVID-19 victims in Pakistan. The claim is false; the photos in fact show covered corpses in Pakistan after a severe heatwave in 2015 that left hundreds dead. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Eye drops brand Shiliwangxiongdanye can 'solve all eye problems' Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim doctors in the Philippines have endorsed a brand of eye drops that can allegedly "solve all eye problems". This is false: the posts show a fabricated medical endorsement for an unregistered product. A representative for the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology told AFP no single medication can "solve all eye problems". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Judge banned media from courtoom during Ghislaine Maxwell trial Social media posts claim journalists are ignoring Ghislaine Maxwell's trial, and that a judge banned all press from the courtroom. This is false; the trial has been extensively covered, with an AFP reporter saying hundreds of journalists were present when proceedings opened in New York, and a judge's order makes clear that members of the media are permitted inside the courtroom. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 vaccines contain tracking devices Social media posts claim Covid-19 vaccines could contain trackers, citing a video showing a positive reading when a device designed to detect pet chips is held over the arm of a vaccinated woman. This is false; the person who posted the video subsequently described it as a joke, and US health authorities say the vaccines do not contain trackers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows aftermath of attack on Olumide Oworu Social media users have claimed that a photo shows the bloodied face of Nigerian Labour Party member Olumide Oworu after he was attacked on the purported orders of a rival days before a state election in Lagos. But the claim is false: the image shows Oworu, who is also an actor, wearing make-up on a movie set. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pneumonia brought on by Covid-19 is actually an allergic reaction Facebook posts claim pneumonia caused by Covid-19 is an allergic reaction that should be treated with antihistamines. But experts dismissed the claim, saying pneumonia associated with the disease is not related to allergies, and that antihistamines have not been proven to be beneficial in treating Covid-19. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: CDC admitted that vaccines are failing An online article claims the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Covid-19 vaccines are "failing" and immunized people can be "super-spreaders" of the disease. This is false; the article misrepresents remarks by CDC director Rochelle Walensky, and the agency says she did not state that vaccinated people are more contagious. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Demodex mite that lives on human face An image of an animal has circulated in multiple social media posts alongside a claim that it shows a mite called Demodex that lives on the human face. However, the claim is false; the picture shows a silkworm caterpillar seen under an electron microscope. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows hundreds of people fainting after getting Covid-19 vaccine in Indonesia A video viewed tens of thousands of times on Facebook, YouTube and TikTok purports to show people fainting after receiving Covid-19 vaccines in Indonesia. The claim is false: the video in fact shows students getting sick after receiving diphtheria vaccines in Indonesia’s Madura island in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows political rally in Singapore in July 2020 A video has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook alongside a claim it shows Singapore’s opposition Workers' Party holding a rally in July 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The claim is false; the video actually shows a by-election victory parade in Singapore in 2012. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Canadians can be fined for passengers using mobile devices An article shared hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook claims that drivers in Canada now face penalties of three demerit points and a $1,500 fine if a passenger in their car is using a mobile phone. This is false; no province has such a penalty and there are no new rules coming into force this summer. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: This video shows Wuhan residents queuing for death certificates after the novel coronavirus outbreak A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Twitter and Facebook alongside a claim it shows residents queuing for death certificates in Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the ongoing novel coronavirus epidemic. The claim is misleading; the footage has previously circulated in reports about Wuhan residents gathering to collect free vegetables. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of US ex-president George W. Bush’s daughter ‘who converted to Islam’ Facebook posts with an image of a woman wearing a hijab claim to show one of former US president George W. Bush’s daughters, who allegedly converted to Islam. The claim is false; the woman in the picture does not resemble either of Bush’s twin daughters. Although AFP Fact Check is yet to confirm the woman’s identity, she appeared in video clips from 2014 described as a “Romanian woman converting to Islam”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: This video shows the moment a Boeing 747 Ethiopian Airlines plane crashed near Addis Ababa on Sunday, March 10, 2019 A video which has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook purports to show the moment a Boeing 737 MAX 8 Ethiopian Airlines plane crashed near Addis Ababa on Sunday, March 10, 2019, killing 157 people on board. But the video is old; it actually shows the moment a US cargo plane crashed near Bagram airfield in Afghanistan in 2013. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of recent bomb test inside a Pakistani mosque Multiple Facebook and Twitter posts have shared a photo that they claim shows the aftermath of a bomb test inside a mosque in Karachi in Pakistan. The claim is false; it originated on a parody Twitter account; the photo is actually an AFP image of a 2004 bomb attack on a Shiite mosque in Karachi. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigerian newspaper calls US army general "Biafran" Nigerian media outlets reported on the promotion of USarmy officer Amanda Azubuike from the rank of lieutenant colonel to brigadier general in early November. Several social media posts claimed to show a screenshot of one such report by a national newspaper describing Azubuikeas as a “Biafran woman”, in reference to the separatist movement in Nigeria's southeast. But AFP Fact Check found that the headline was altered, with the original version calling her “Nigerian”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Electric bus catches fire in Nairobi No fire, says BasiGo (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

This Photo Shows A Libyan Airport: Photo shows Tigray’s regional airport destroyed by dissident forces As Ethiopian forces made inroads into the restive Tigray region last month, a photo of a building in ruins circulated online alongside claims it showed the remains of Aksum airport, torn down by retreating soldiers of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). While the TPLF indeed ripped up parts of the airport’s runway, this photo was actually taken in Libya in 2014. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Symbol of the novel coronavirus and image of Bill Gates found on $10 Australian note Photos of Australian $10 banknotes have been shared multiple times on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim that the note features images representing coronavirus and the billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates. The claim is false; the Reserve Bank of Australia said the images on the notes instead show a tree native to Australia and Australian writer Mary Gilmore. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows driver running over healthcare workers in Chengdu A video of a car repeatedly crashing into a group of people has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in posts that claim the driver ran over health workers locking down a central China neighbourhood following new Covid restrictions in September 2022. However, the claim is false -- the video was filmed in southern China in September 2015, more than four years before the Covid-19 pandemic started. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Holy communion banned in Toronto Articles shared hundreds of times on Facebook in multiple countries claim that holy communion has been banned in Toronto as part of the Canadian city’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. These claims are false, according to Toronto Public Health, Ontario’s Health Ministry and the Catholic and Greek Orthodox Archdioceses of Toronto. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Denmark has stopped vaccination programme all together in April 2022 A claim that Denmark has entirely shut down its Covid-19 vaccination programme has been shared thousands of times in social media posts in April 2022. However, the claim is misleading; the Danish Health Authority says that the voluntary vaccination programme has only been paused for the time being and has not been discontinued entirely. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photos show new Philippine coins and bills Social media posts shared thousands of times misleadingly claim the Philippines released new money, including a 150-peso, 500-peso and 5,000-peso banknote and a 100-peso coin. But the archipelago nation's central bank said it had not issued a 150-peso or released a new 500-peso banknote. The posts also shared photos of a commemorative 5,000-peso banknote and a 100-peso coin which have not been circulated widely. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Muslim women arrested for supporting hijab in India A video has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows police arresting women protesting a hijab ban in schools in the southern Indian state of Karnataka in February 2022. The video has been shared in a false context; while police have detained some pro-hijab demonstrators, the footage has circulated since September 2021 in reports about students protesting changes to the state's education policy. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows armed robbery on horseback in Lesotho A video showing two masked men on horseback carrying out an armed robbery has been shared more than a thousand times on Facebook, alongside the claim that the incident happened in Lesotho. This is false; while the video is genuine, the brazen act took place in a seaside town in Brazil. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Videos show zombie outbreak in China Social media posts claim a video clip that shows frightened passengers fleeing a train car is footage of a zombie outbreak in China. This is false; the footage was taken during a zombie-themed event in Jakarta, Indonesia, inspired by a 2016 movie. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Euthanasia approved for Covid patients in New Zealand Social media posts shared thousands of times globally claim New Zealand has "approved euthanasia for Covid-19 patients" and "would rather kill people than treat them". The posts circulated as the island country battled a wave of infections after being largely virus-free for much of the pandemic. However, these posts misrepresent New Zealand's euthanasia law that passed before the pandemic. The New Zealand health ministry, a medical expert and a legal scholar separately told AFP that Covid-19 patients "have treatment options" and are unlikely to meet the law's eligibility criteria. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: A licence is required to ride bicycles in Germany Social media posts in South Korea claim that Germany requires cyclists to hold a licence, which children across the country receive after taking part in training at school. The posts also claim that a cyclist's driver's licence can be suspended if they are caught cycling while drunk. The claims are misleading: cyclists in Germany do not need a licence and while cycling training is offered in many schools, pupils receive a certificate rather than a licence. A person’s driver's licence can be annulled if they are caught cycling while under the influence of alcohol. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: French police beat firefighters in 2023 pension reform strikes An old clip of French police officers clashing with demonstrators has resurfaced online in posts that misleadingly link it to the pension protest turmoil in France in 2023. The footage has actually circulated in reports about police clashing with French firefighters in the capital Paris in 2020 after they took to the streets to demand better working conditions. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hillary Clinton's Whitewater indictment foiled by Oklahoma City bombing Social media users claim former US first lady Hillary Clinton narrowly avoided indictment in the Whitewater investigation after legal documents were destroyed in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. But the two cases are unrelated; the probe into the Arkansas land deal was closed without charging the Clintons, and the building destroyed in the terrorist attack did not include any related files. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Sri Lankan specialist doctor says vaccines not effective against Omicron Posts circulating in Sri Lanka claim two local experts gave conflicting remarks about the need for people to be vaccinated against the Omicron coronavirus variant. The posts -- which shared two screenshots of local media reports -- circulated online as the island nation reported its first case of Omicron. But the posts are misleading; AFP found that the original comments from one of the experts were misrepresented. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of Turkish President Erdogan carrying a mosque leader’s coffin in Istanbul A photo has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook alongside a claim it shows the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan carrying a coffin containing the body of a mosque leader in Istanbul, alongside a cleaner from the same mosque. The claim is false; the photo shows Erdogan carrying his relative’s coffin. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows China’s population data in 2020. Social media posts circulating in China purport to show the country’s latest population statistics from 2020. However, the figures are false. They include outdated provincial figures from 2018 along with incorrect numbers for Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. China has not yet released its population data for 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: SPAR South Africa selling Trek e-bicycles for only R37 A Facebook page has published several posts claiming that South Africa’s SPAR retailer is running a promotion selling Trek electric bicycles d for only R37 (approximately US$2). The posts are false: different users in the comments section share the same photographs as supposed proof they have received the bikes. SPAR called the posts a scam and Trek in South Africa also said it had no affiliation with the Facebook page. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A government office in Wamena, Indonesia's Papua province, was burned down by protesters in September 2020 An image has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim it shows a fire engulfing a government office in Indonesia’s Papua province following a protest in 2020. The claim is false; the government office cited in the posts was burned during a protest in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Pfizer's Omicron jab only assessed with data from eight mice After the US approved Pfizer-BioNTech's new bivalent vaccine that targets strains of the Omicron variant, Facebook users claimed it was only tested using "preliminary data from eight mice". But experts told AFP this ignores important context, as while the new vaccine was approved after tests on mice, it was based on a previous Omicron jab that underwent clinical trials. They said it was an "established approach" for scientists to use trial data for the previous version of the vaccine in order to approve the bivalent vaccine, similar to the procedure for influenza jabs. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows a vaccinated protestor in Israel discharging smoke from his face A graphic video that appears to show a man with smoke coming out of his face has circulated in social media posts alongside a claim the man was "burned inside out by 5G radiation and graphene in vaccines". The posts further claim the incident was filmed in Israel which leads in Covid-19 vaccinations worldwide. These posts are false; the video has circulated in reports about protesters sprayed with tear gas in Iraq before the coronavirus pandemic; experts told AFP that claims linking Covid-19 vaccines to 5G or graphene are inaccurate. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Real photo of mammatus clouds over Mumbai An image of ominous-looking clouds was shared thousands of times globally on social media alongside a claim it was shot in India's financial capital of Mumbai. Some social media users appeared to believe the image shows a genuine cloud formation, but it is actually a digital artwork created using a stock photo of Mumbai. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Thai Court postpones verdict of 2014 protest leaders to May 2021 Multiple Facebook and Twitter posts shared in February 2021 claim the Thai Court of Justice postponed its verdict on a group of protest leaders charged with sedition over anti-government demonstrations staged in 2014. The claim is false: on February 24, 2021, Bangkok’s Criminal Court found three current government ministers guilty of sedition over the 2014 protests. Following the protests, Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha led a coup to establish a military junta, removing incumbent Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from power. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows roads in Kampala, Uganda Two photos in a Facebook post have been shared hundreds of times alongside a claim that they show the state of roads in Uganda’s capital Kampala “before 1985” and today. But the claim is misleading; the first photo shows a road in Lagos, Nigeria in 1965. The second one was taken during flooding in Kampala. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Flu vaccines contain mercury, antifreeze, phenol, animal blood, animal viruses, formaldehyde A widely-circulated image claims to reveal the ingredients contained in this year’s flu shots. The alleged ingredients include mercury, antifreeze, phenol, animal blood, animal viruses, and formaldehyde. Trace amounts of formaldehyde are present in flu vaccines authorized in the US this year, and the mercury-based product thimerosal is present in some of them. The photo’s list of ingredients is misleading and mostly inaccurate. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows December 2022 China-India border clash Footage has circulated in social media posts that misleadingly claim it shows fighting between soldiers on the India-China border in December 2022. The video has in fact circulated online since at least May 2020 in Indian media reports about soldiers clashing along the disputed border in Ladakh. The Indian army rejected claims at the time that the clip shows a skirmish involving its troops on the border. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Graphic aired on RSBN proves election fraud in Pennsylvania Republican Doug Mastriano, who conceded to his Democratic challenger Josh Shapiro in the Pennsylvania gubernatorial race, shared an image on Twitter featuring incorrect vote counts, implying fraud occurred during in the 2022 midterms. This is false; the broadcaster that aired the graphic said a data entry error was behind the discrepancy, and there is no evidence of widespread fraud in the state. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Egypt's Giza pyramids illuminated with Lebanese flag after the Beirut blasts in August 2020 A photo has been shared repeatedly in posts on Facebook, Twitter and in media reports that claim it shows an image of the Lebanese flag projected onto Egypt’s Giza pyramids. The posts claim the pyramids were lit up with the flag in order to show solidarity with Lebanon after a huge explosion in the port of Beirut in early August 2020. The claim is false; the photo has been doctored to include the Lebanese flag on a photo taken in April 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: This Simpsons episode predicted the 2021 vaccine rollout An image has been shared multiple times in Facebook posts that claim it shows a character from The Simpsons holding a piece of paper supposedly containing a phrase that predicted the vaccine rollout in 2021. The image, however, has been digitally altered: in the original Simpsons episode, the paper has a different phrase unrelated to vaccines written on it. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Nigeria Osun state has five mining licences operated by the Chinese Voters in Osun, a key state in Nigeria's southwest, will choose their governor for a four-year term on July 16, 2022. This marks the last major election before the country goes to the polls next February to elect a new president. Ahead of Saturday's ballot, several debates have been held among the leading candidates, including the two front runners — incumbent Adegboyega Oyetola of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Ademola Adeleke of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). AFP Fact Check has spot-checked claims made by the various contenders and found some to be false. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows an ancient computer sculpted by an Indian king An image that depicts what appears to be an ancient engraving of a person seated in front of a computer has been repeatedly shared in false posts that claim it shows a thousand-year-old temple sculpture carved by an Indian king. A Mexico-based illustrator told AFP the image shows an art piece he made 25 years ago using resin and acrylic, inspired by science fiction, fantasy and Mayan and Aztec culture. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Trump lost as many jobs as Biden gained during his first five months Social media posts share a graphic saying Donald Trump lost as many jobs during his time as president as Joe Biden gained in his first five months in office. But experts say it is misleading because it does not acknowledge the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic or the limits of a president's ability to affect the economy. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian police officer stomps on head of Jamia Millia Islamia student at citizenship law protest in Delhi A photo has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts alongside a claim that it shows an Indian police officer stomping on the head of a student protester from New Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia university. The claim is false; the photo was taken during a protest in the northern Indian city of Lucknow in March 2011. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of a real drone delivering a box of instant noodles A video has been viewed more than a million times after being shared in multiple posts on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter alongside a claim it shows a drone delivering a box of instant noodles before collecting a card payment. The claim is false; the video is actually an animation created by a Nigerian visual effects artist. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Crowd photos show Kano and Lagos rallies for Nigeria’s Bola Tinubu? With election fever ramping up in Nigeria, supporters of the leading candidates have been holding rallies in major cities. Recent posts on social media shared a split image with claims that it showed rallies held simultaneously for the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu in Lagos and Kano states. But the claim is partly false: AFP Fact Check found that the picture labelled “Kano” was taken in 2019 in Plateau state when President Muhammadu Buhari was vying for reelection. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Video shows a disaster unfolding at an Armed Forces Day parade in Spain A video has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows Spain's King Felipe VI shaking his head as a paratrooper crashed into a lamppost at a military parade on October 12. The posts are misleading; the video has been edited to combine two different clips that show the paratrooper's accident in October 2019 and the king shaking his head in response to an improper hoisting of the national flag in June 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Portugal has declared Pakistan safe for travel Multiple reports and social media posts say that Portugal has declared Pakistan “completely safe” or “safe” for its citizens to travel there. The reports came after the Portuguese government released a travel advisory saying the security situation had improved in Pakistan. But the advisory did not declare the country safe; it warned of possible terrorist attacks and said some areas were “particularly dangerous”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Vladimir Putin addressing the state of US democracy A video spreading on social media appears to show Russian President Vladimir Putin remarking on the state of American democracy. But the clip is fabricated; an advocacy group created it using artificial intelligence. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: These are advices on coronavirus prevention Facebook posts shared thousands of times claim to offer expert advice on the novel coronavirus, including symptoms, prevention and how it spreads. This is misleading; experts and health agencies say there is not enough research on the virus to make these specific claims. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Philippine social welfare agency offers students 6,500 pesos 'scholarships' Facebook posts shared tens of thousands of times in the Philippines in August claim "all students" were eligible for cash handouts of 6,500 pesos ($116) through a government scholarship programme. The posts circulated online as the archipelago prepared to fully reopen all schools for the first time since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. The claim, however, is false. The message was shared on imposter accounts for the Philippine social welfare agency, which has not offered universal cash handouts to students. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: These are not photographs of mentally ill people in Indonesia being taken in a trial run to vote in elections A Facebook post features several photos it claims depict a simulation of mentally-ill people being escorted to polling stations so they can vote in Indonesia’s upcoming presidential election. The pictures are from past media articles about the mentally ill, and they have no links to voting or the April elections. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Advice sent to NHS staff on how to prevent novel coronavirus A lengthy text post has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook which purportedly contains advice on how to prevent infection from the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The post claims the advice was issued by a UK hospital to its medical staff. The claim is false; the hospital named in the misleading Facebook posts denied issuing the guidelines; the posts also contained several false claims previously debunked by AFP Fact Check. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Face masks intended to stop the spread of COVID-19, including that they violate US labor standards for oxygen deprivation, cloth masks “do not filter anything” and trap carbon dioxide, surgical masks spread germs, and N95 masks expel unfiltered air. Social media posts shared thousands of times in the United States contain multiple false or misleading claims about face masks used to stop the spread of COVID-19, including that they violate federal standards for oxygen supply, cloth masks “do not filter anything” and trap carbon dioxide, surgical masks spread germs, and N95 masks expel unfiltered air. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigeria’s Lagos not among top 5 states in fiscal performance The candidate for governor in Nigeria’s Lagos state, Olajide Adediran, has accused the incumbent Babajide Sanwo-Olu of frittering away the state’s resources. In a TV interview, he alleged that the state did not rank among the top five in fiscal performance despite leading in internally generated revenue. However, this claim is false: an annual ranking puts the state in third position for 2022 and fourth the year before. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Face masks shouldn't be worn because Dr. Anthony Fauci at one point recommended against them A video viewed more than 2.5 million times on Facebook uses footage of Dr. Anthony Fauci to question his judgment and criticize face mask recommendations aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus. But one part omits a quote from the infectious diseases expert in which he supports masks, Fauci directly urges their use in another, and a third perpetuates outdated advice that was changed after fears of a mask shortage subsided and understanding of COVID-19 evolved. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Tonga eruption was a possible nuclear detonation Social media posts suggest that the recent volcanic activity in Tonga was actually a nuclear blast. This is false; experts say factors including the absence of radiation and the presence of an active volcano make clear that a natural eruption occurred, and dismissed the idea that a nuclear device was detonated on the site. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows US police sexually harassing a female protester during May 2020 protests over police brutality A photo has been shared repeatedly in multiple Weibo posts which claim it shows US police officers sexually harassing a woman at a protest. The posts circulated online in late May 2020 during mass demonstrations across the US against police brutality. The claim is misleading; the photo has circulated online since 2011 in reports about police detaining a woman during the 2011 Occupy Wall Street protests. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Biden’s executive assistant being arrested for spying on Donald Trump A photo has been shared hundreds of times across Twitter, Facebook, Weibo and Instagram alongside a claim it shows US President-elect Joe Biden’s executive assistant being arrested for spying on Donald Trump in December 2020. The claim is false; the photo, taken in December 2015 by US news agency Associated Press (AP), shows FBI personnel escorting a former US county police chief to a vehicle. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Interpol released a report on Kenya cybercrimes hotspots A post claiming that Interpol has identified a small town on the outskirts of Nairobi as a cybercrime hotspot has attracted hundreds of interactions on Facebook. The claim is false: Interpol has confirmed it has released no such data and AFP has traced the original story to a satirical website. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Variety of apples grown in Australia are named after Indian prime minister Narendra Modi Online posts shared hundreds of times claim that Modi apples, a red-skinned variety of the fruit developed in Italy in the 1990s, are named after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The claim is false; their name was inspired by Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Arms smugglers recently arrested in Nigeria Images of a large stock of ammunition have been shared thousands of times on social media alongside claims that they show 200,000 cartridges seized from arms smugglers in Nigeria. This is misleading; while this incident did indeed occur, it is not, as the posts suggest, recent. The images were taken in 2018 during the arrest of two men in central Nigeria who customs officials said were transporting ammunition to the country’s southeast. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ethiopia seizes cash from TPLF officials fleeing the country An image of boxes and suitcases full of cash has been making the rounds on social networks in Ethiopia with claims that it shows money seized from officials of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) who were attempting to flee the country amid conflict in the restive northern region. But this claim is false; the image dates back to 2017 and shows money recovered from the apartment of a Brazilian politician. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: "Then and now" photos of Smokey Mountain dumpsite in Manila Photos shared hundreds of times on Facebook in February 2019 claim to show “then and now” photographs of Smokey Mountain, a dumpsite in the Philippine capital. The posts are inaccurate: the “then” image is actually of a dumpsite in Cambodia and the “now” photo was posted online in 2010. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows flooding at Hyderabad airport in India in 2020 A video of a flooded runway has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram alongside a claim it shows an airport in the south Indian city of Hyderabad after the city experienced heavy rains in October 2020. The claim is false; this clip has circulated in reports since 2017 about flooding at Mexico City International Airport in August that year. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian movie star Shah Rukh Khan arrested in London over CAA Protest A photo of Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts that claim that it shows the Bollywood star being arrested at London’s Heathrow Airport on December 28, 2019 after attempting to protest in the UK against India's new citizenship law. The claim is false; the photo has actually circulated online since 2012 in reports about Khan visiting the BBC office in London for an interview; London’s Metropolitan Police said that they had not arrested Khan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Rothschild bank set on fire in France A video has been viewed thousands of times in Facebook and Instagram posts that claim it shows a "Rothchild [sic] bank set on fire in France" -- a reference to the prominent Rothschild banking dynasty. But this claim is false: the footage actually shows a Bank of France building which was set alight during November 2020 protests in Paris. Bank of France is the central bank of France and is not owned by the Rothschild family, a spokesperson told AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A cleaner was the only person allowed to sit at Kaaba shrine during pandemic An image of a person sitting near Islam's holiest shrine, the Kaaba in Saudi Arabia, has been shared repeatedly in multiple posts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and on online blogs. It was shared alongside a claim it shows a lone cleaner who was the only person permitted to sit around the Kaaba during the coronavirus lockdown. The claim is false; the photo has been doctored to remove two people standing near the Kaaba; the original image has circulated in media reports about a Saudi policeman praying at the Islamic shrine. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Blood rain in Nigeria's Ogun state. Photos and videos showing a busy street submerged by red water during a heavy downpour have been circulating in multiple social media posts claiming the footage shows “bloody rain” in Nigeria’s southern Ogun state. However, there is no evidence of such a phenomenon, which weather experts and a local authority attributed to rainwater mixing with chemicals on the ground. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Photo shows Japanese news anchor smiling while announcing Abe’s death? Shortly after Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated while on the campaign trail, a photo circulated in multiple Chinese-language social media posts that claim it shows a Japanese news anchor smiling as he announced the politician's death. In fact, the photo has in fact been digitally altered. The Japanese anchor did not smile at any point in the original news segment, which aired on July 8, 2022. The anchor's Japanese television station told AFP it did not air any such broadcast after Abe's death. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Afghan nationals entering Pakistan without COVID-19 screening A video of hundreds of people crossing a border has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim it shows people from Afghanistan entering Pakistan without being tested for the novel coronavirus. The claim is false; the video in fact shows Afghan nationals leaving Pakistan after the border was temporarily opened in early April in order to allow Afghans to return home. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Still No Evidence Rwanda'S President Ordered Deportation Of 18 Chinese Nationals After Claim Resurfaces: Rwanda's president orders deportation of 18 Chinese nationals Posts claiming that Rwandan President Paul Kagame ordered the deportation of 18 Chinese nationals for mistreating local workers have resurfaced online. AFP Fact Check debunked the same claim in 2020 and found no evidence backing up the allegations. To this day, there is still no public record of such an order and representatives of both the Rwandan and Chinese governments have confirmed the incident never happened. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Jay-Z and Beyoncé bought DMX's master recordings The death of US rapper Earl Simmons, commonly known as DMX, was followed by claims that Jay-Z and Beyoncé are purchasing his musical masters -- the original recording and licensing of a song -- for $10 million. This is false according to a representative of DMX and family members. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Facebook recrutiment page for Johns Hopkins A Facebook account purporting to represent Johns Hopkins hospitals and facilities claims to be offering jobs at the famed US medical institution, with promises of free visas, tickets and accommodation for successful applicants. However, this is false; the account is fake, as are the job listings. The institution confirmed with AFP Fact Check that the job postings are fake. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Chinese student claiming Gyeongbok Palace copied Forbidden City A YouTube video has been viewed more than 73,000 times alongside the false claim it shows a recording of a university professor refuting a Chinese student's claim that South Korea's Gyeongbok Palace is a copy of Beijing's Forbidden City by telling him the Korean one predates the Chinese imperial residence. However, the incident and the professor named in the video are made-up. Images used in the video actually show Australian philosopher Peter Singer giving a lecture on animal rights in September 2015 and an audience member who asked him a philosophical question about suffering. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The video shows Japan's Prime Minister Suga promising to give India all the Olympic medals in Tokyo if they do not to participate A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times on social media that claims it shows Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga offering to give India all the medals at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics if they do not attend. The claim is false: the subtitles in the clip are fabricated. The footage shows Suga giving a speech that did not reference the Tokyo Olympics. AFP found no evidence he made the purported comments. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Information from a Philippine hospital shows correlation between COVID-19 and grocery shopping A claim that data from a hospital in the Philippines shows a correlation between grocery shopping and COVID-19 has been shared more than 1,000 times on Facebook and Twitter. This is misleading; the hospital refuted the claim, saying "no such observed trend" had been found among its COVID-19 patients. (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)

Altered: Pope Francis seen in big white puffer coat An image of Pope Francis wearing a large white puffer jacket took Twitter by storm, with social media users praising his new style. But the image is not authentic, displaying classic signs of AI manipulation, and Vatican experts told AFP the coat in the picture does not conform with papal wear. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: CNN reported US sending troops to Haiti (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indonesian domestic helper arrested at Hong Kong protest A photo has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and Weibo which claim it shows an Indonesian domestic helper who was arrested after participating in a pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong. The claim is false; the Indonesian consulate in Hong Kong said on October 1, 2019, that no Indonesian national had been arrested during the protests. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Prescription drug prices went up before President Trump and down after he took office Posts shared millions of times on Facebook claim that prescription drug prices in the United States rose in the eight years preceding President Donald Trump's term and that costs have since fallen faster than at any point since 1967. But these claims are misleading and show a selective picture of how drug prices are measured, according to health policy experts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Moderna Covid-19 vaccine ingredient SM-102 is not fit for human use An online video says the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine contains a cancer-causing ingredient that is not fit for human use. But the warning in the data sheet used to “prove” the claim is about chloroform, a toxic compound that regulators do not list as being in the vaccine. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Outdated Guidance: Manitoba said masks will not prevent spread of Covid-19 Facebook posts shared hundreds of times in Manitoba claim that the official guidance from Canada’s central province on mask-wearing states it is ineffective at preventing illnesses like the novel coronavirus. The posts feature an image of a document from February 2020 and do not reflect the provincial health department's current advice on wearing masks to help slow the spread of Covid-19. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Photo shows South Korean president holding a Japanese flag An image has been shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook posts that purports to show South Korean President Moon Jae-in holding the Japanese national flag and wearing a Japanese anime T-shirt at a public event. The image, however, has been doctored. The original photo, taken during a marathon event in 2015, shows Moon holding the South Korean national flag and wearing a T-shirt with a different design. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Trump slaps UK MP Footage of Donald Trump slapping a man has been shared thousands of times in Chinese-language social media posts which claim it shows the US President attacking a British MP who insulted him. The claim is false; the video was filmed in 2007 before Trump became president and actually shows him slapping an American professional wrestling executive in a planned stunt at a WrestleMania press conference. (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)

False: Photo of Coca-Cola bottle design to support Indian farmers A photo of two bottles of Coca-Cola has been shared in multiple Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts that claim the global beverage company has come out in support of Indian farmers, who have been protesting against new agricultural laws since November 2020. The claim is false; Coca-Cola India told AFP the image is ‘fake’ and denied launching such a brand campaign. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Animal deworming drug fenbendazole can cure cancer in humans A video circulating on TikTok and Facebook shows a Canadian veterinarian claiming the dog deworming drug fenbendazole cures cancer in humans. This is unproven; some preclinical studies are examining this class of pharmaceuticals as a potential cancer treatment, but it is only approved in Canada as an antiparasitic for animals and a cancer researcher told AFP such drugs have not been shown to effectively treat humans. (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 woman assaulted in suburban Sri Lanka A photo purporting to show a Muslim woman attacked by her community for marrying a Sinhalese man in Sri Lanka has been shared in multiple Facebook posts. The claim is misleading; the image shows an incident that occurred in India in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Wasted tomatoes from Nigerian blockade given to cows An image of cattle eating from a mound of discarded tomatoes on the roadside is circulating on social media with claims that it shows wasted produce after Nigerian food traders blocked supplies from the country’s north to the south. But this is false: AFP Fact Check found that the photo has been circulating since at least 2013 and was taken in India. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Vaccine kills five in Tarlac City, Philippines Multiple Facebook and Twitter posts shared thousands of times in August 2020 claim that five people in the Philippine city of Tarlac died after receiving vaccine shots. The claim is false; the Tarlac City government and the Philippine Department of Health said the claim was “fake”; the World Health Organization (WHO) said the polio vaccine that was administered across the Philippines in August 2020 was safe. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 death rate is lower than flu death rate A claim that the death rate from the novel coronavirus disease, Covid-19, is lower than that of the flu has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts. The claim is false; available evidence from multiple expert sources show the Covid-19 death rate is higher than the flu’s death rate. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows multicoloured sheep in Scotland Facebook posts shared thousands of times purport to show a photo of multicoloured sheep "freshly dyed" by a farmer in Scotland. However, the photo has been doctored; the original image shows a flock of normal, white sheep in the US state of Idaho. (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)

False: No Covid-19 patients die outside of hospitals Multiple Facebook posts circulating in Indonesia claim that nobody has died from Covid-19 outside of the Southeast Asian nation's hospitals. The posts misleadingly question whether the disease is deadly whilst implying Indonesian hospitals are responsible for its virus deaths. The claims are false: thousands of Covid-19 victims in Indonesia have died outside hospitals, according to data recorded by a volunteer group. AFP and other media have reported people died of Covid-19 while self-isolating at home and elsewhere after hospitals became overwhelmed with patients. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows a woman who was assaulted by Indian police Two photos that show a woman covered in blood standing next to Indian policemen have been shared hundreds of times on Facebook in posts that claim there is police brutality against women under the current Indian administration. The images are being used out of context; they have been taken from media reports about a woman seeking police assistance after being assaulted by a gang of men in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos of same woman interviewed after California, Orlando and Las Vegas shootings. A photo collage has been shared in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter which claim that it shows the same woman after three separate US mass shootings. The claim is false; the three photographs in the collage do not show the same woman. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows child trapped in rubble after Turkey's 2023 earthquake A photo of a girl rescued from the rubble of a building is circulating in Facebook posts that falsely claim it was taken following a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on February 6. The picture actually shows a child discovered alive 91 hours after a quake hit the Turkish city of Izmir in October 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: South Korean President Moon Jae-in spoke to an empty crowd at the UN Two photos have been shared repeatedly on Facebook alongside a claim they show South Korean President Moon Jae-in delivering a speech to an empty room at the United Nations General Assembly. The claim, however, is misleading. The images were taken during a preceding event at the UN building addressing climate change. Moon delivered a keynote address at the General Assembly one day later in front of a crowd of delegates. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: There have been 11 deaths from school shootings in the history of Canada A tweet claiming Canada has seen only 11 people die in school shootings in the country's history was recirculated in posts advocating for stricter gun laws following a deadly assault on an elementary campus in the US state of Tennessee. The figure is not supported by official data and is misleading; it excludes shootings at Canadian universities, and without a uniform method to count incidents, cross-country comparisons are inaccurate. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Infrastructure bill features eight cent per mile tax Social media posts claim US President Joe Biden's "Build Back Better" plan would increase taxes via an estimated eight cent per mile levy on road users. This is misleading; while the infrastructure bill being considered by Congress mentions such a measure, it is a voluntary pilot program to test its feasibility and does not set a specific per-mile fee. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows a South Korean mountainside covered in solar panels installed by Moon Jae-in Footage of rolling hills covered in solar panels has circulated in social media posts falsely claiming it shows a mountain in South Korea. The posts accused former South Korean president Moon Jae-in, who pushed for investment in solar energy while he was leader, of spoiling the countryside. While South Korea has various hillside solar panels, the image shows a solar farm in China's southeastern Fujian province. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows bodies being removed from a hospital in Iran during the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemic. A video has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim that it shows bodies being removed from a hospital in Iran during the novel coronavirus pandemic. The claim is false; the video has circulated in reports since at least August 2019 about a funeral procession for pilgrims who died during the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia's Grand Mosque. (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)

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)

Altered Video: Nigeria’s Peter Obi claims he lifted millions out of poverty Edited video (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows Taliban commander's message in 2021 As the Taliban took back power in Afghanistan in August 2021, a video circulated on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim it shows a commander's message "after liberating" the capital Kabul. But these posts are misleading: the video predates the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 and has circulated in reports since at least October 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Indian police clash with protesters in Bangalore A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times on multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim it shows clashes between police and armed protesters in the southern Indian city of Bangalore. The claim is false; the video actually shows police clashing with protesters in West Bengal state, in eastern India. (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)

False: 80% of Australian Navy experienced ‘severe side effects’ from Covid-19 vaccine? Multiple social media posts claim that 80 percent of Australian Navy service members who received the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine are experiencing “severe side effects,” while the remaining 20 percent have “mild side effects”. The claim is false; the Australian Department of Defence said the claim is “not true” and Australian health officials have not reported any abnormal side effects. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Russian, Spanish airlines are telling COVID-19 vaccinated people to not fly Social media posts shared hundreds of times claim airlines in Spain and Russia warned people who have been vaccinated for Covid-19 not to fly because they have an increased risk of developing blood clots. This is false: airlines in those countries have issued no such advice as of May 25, 2022. Health experts say blood clots are a rare side effect of the Covid-19 vaccine and are not the same as those that occur during flights. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: News articles published one day before Dan Andrews’ injury Multiple Facebook posts have shared online news reports about an injury sustained by Australian politician Daniel Andrews that they claim were published one day before the accident on March 9, 2021. The posts suggest the injury may have been staged. But the posts are misleading: the news reports were published on March 9 in Australia. The reports show US timestamps for March 8, as the US timezone is behind Australia. (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: Authorities planted empty body bags in ‘fake’ pandemic plot Facebook posts shared thousands of times accuse authorities of lining the streets with empty body bags in a bid to fool people about the “fake” novel coronavirus pandemic. But the claim is false: the photo was taken at a US protest against the government’s handling of the novel coronavirus crisis. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Judge who criticised Nupur Sharma pictured with Congress president After a judge from India's top court slammed a ruling party official for making controversial comments about the Prophet Mohammed that sparked nationwide protests, a photo circulated in Facebook posts that claim it shows the same judge greeting the president of the main opposition party. But the photo -- shared hundreds of times -- actually shows a former chief justice who was not involved in the row. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Australian PM says flood victims should be "grateful" for govt assistance A purported screenshot of a television broadcast in which Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke about financial assistance for flood victims in southeast Queensland has been shared hundreds of times on social media. The screenshot includes a chyron that reads "PM: flood victims should be grateful for government assistance". However, the broadcaster ABC News said the image was altered to include a false chyron. Official transcripts and video of the same press conference found Morrison made no such statement. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pennsylvania judge allows counting of ballots up until November 14, 2022 Social media posts claim a court ruling in the US state of Pennsylvania allows the counting of mail-in ballots received by November 14, 2022. This is false; the Pennsylvania Department of State says there was no such ruling, and its website indicates the return deadline for absentee votes cast in the midterm elections was 8 pm on November 8. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows UFOs in the sky A video shared across social media after the US shot down four objects in February 2023 purports to show evidence of aliens in the sky. This is false; the clip shows a meteorological phenomenon known as "hole punch clouds." (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: African migrant assaults priest in France Towards the end of 2020, a Catholic priest in Guyana was struck on the head by a man while leading mass. However, a video of the incident has resurfaced on Twitter after an American conspiracist shared the clip and claimed it showed an African migrant attacking a priest in France. The claim is false; the incident occurred in Guyana in 2020 and at the time, Bishop Francis Alleyne told AFP Fact Check the man who hit him was known locally and "mentally ill”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Coffins of coronavirus victims in Italy A photo has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook alongside a claim it shows coffins of coronavirus victims in Italy. The claim is false; the photo has circulated in media reports since 2009 about the coffins of earthquake victims in the Italian city of L’Aquila. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bill Gates has prepared billions of monkeypox vaccines A video has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook and TikTok alongside a claim that billionaire Bill Gates has "billions of doses of monkeypox vaccine on standby" as more than a thousand infections have emerged worldwide. However the video has been shared in a false context. The footage was taken during Gates' visit to a Covid-19 vaccine storage facility in Abu Dhabi in May 2022. His charity, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has told AFP that the claim is untrue. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Journalist Rana Ayyub arrested in money-laundering case A video has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter claiming to show an Indian journalist being arrested for money laundering. However, the claim is false. The video in fact shows the journalist leaving a police station after giving a statement on an unrelated issue seven months earlier. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Anti-government protesters disrupted Queen’s Jubilee celebrations Facebook posts circulating in Thailand claim a video viewed tens of thousands of times shows anti-government protesters disrupting a parade in Britain for Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee. The posts make a comparison with Thailand's anti-government protests, which broke out in the conservative kingdom in 2020. However, a climate change pressure group linked to the environmental movement Extinction Rebellion told AFP the footage shows its activists promoting a campaign for plant-based farming. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Philippine town Guinobatan, in Albay province, is destroyed by Typhoon Goni in 2020 A photo has been shared in multiple Facebook posts that claim it shows a town in the Philippines devastated by the powerful Typhoon Goni. The claim is false; the photo actually shows a Philippine city destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Actual photo of the Himalayas taken from the International Space Station Multiple Facebook and Twitter posts have shared an image that they claim shows an actual photograph of the Himalayas shot from the International Space Station. But the claim is false: the image is not an actual photograph and was in fact created using digital effects software. (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: Visual footage and sound captured by NASA’s Perseverance rover during NASA's latest Mars mission in February 2021 A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in Twitter, Facebook and Weibo posts alongside a claim it shows visual footage and sound captured by NASA’s Perseverance rover during the US space agency's latest Mars mission in February 2021. The claim is false: the video was actually created with a panorama captured by NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hillary Clinton was “on trial” in the first week of June 2020 over the Benghazi attack that occurred during her tenure as secretary of state Social media posts shared more than 200,000 times claim Hillary Clinton was “on trial” in the first week of June 2020 over the Benghazi attack that occurred during her tenure as secretary of state. This is false; Clinton’s spokesman, her lawyer and court records say the case heard that week was about a public records request, and that she is not on trial. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ethiopian politician speaks on Oromo migrants held in Saudi jails A Facebook post sharing links to a YouTube video, claims that it shows Ethiopian opposition figure Jawar Mohammed addressing the plight of jailed Ethiopian migrants in Saudi Arabia, during an interview with the Oromia Media Network (OMN). But this is false: the clip is from a BBC documentary about Ethiopian migrants held in a detention centre in Saudi Arabia. OMN also told AFP Fact Check that the network has not interviewed Jawar about the issue. (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: 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)

False: Queensland chief health officer admits vaccinated dying from myocarditis A video is circulating in multiple social media posts that claim it shows a top Australian health official "admitting" people vaccinated against Covid-19 are dying from myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle. This is false; the clip was taken from longer footage that shows Queensland chief health officer John Gerrard talking about myocarditis deaths in Covid-19 patients, not vaccinated people. Australia's drugs regulator said it had not recorded any myocarditis deaths caused by Covid-19 vaccines. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered: Video shows Elizabeth Warren calling to restrict Republican voting Social media users claim footage shows US Senator Elizabeth Warren calling to restrict Republicans' voting rights to protect "the integrity" of the 2024 presidential election. This is false; digital forensics experts and the video's creator say the clip is manipulated. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows plane downed by Ethiopian military As fresh fighting erupted between Ethiopian troops and Tigrayan rebels in late August after a five-month truce, new falsehoods about the war have spread online. A photo shared in multiple Facebook posts claims to show a plane carrying weapons recently downed by the Ethiopian airforce in Tigray. But this is false: the picture features a light aircraft that crash-landed in the Avra Valley region in the US state of Arizona in 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Service lets Sri Lankans access vehicle registration information via SMS Multiple Sinhala-language Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim to share details of a hotline for Sri Lankan motorists to access vehicle registration details via SMS. The claim, however, is false: government and police officials told AFP that no such service has been introduced. Vehicle owners in Sri Lanka were still required by law to carry a physical copy of registration documents when in their vehicle as of October 13, 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Photo shows Sri Lankan MP supporting protest on violence against women An image is circulating in Facebook and Twitter posts that claim it shows Sri Lankan opposition politician Champika Ranawaka wearing a sticker supporting a campaign against gender-based violence. The image is doctored; the original photo shows a different MP, Buddhika Pathirana. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Taliban in Kabul after takeover A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts that claim it shows a crowd welcoming Taliban fighters in the Afghan capital Kabul. The claim is false: the video was filmed after the Taliban seized Afghanistan's second-largest city, Kandahar. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Indonesian president shuts down liquor factories A video has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook alongside a claim it shows Indonesian President Joko Widodo announcing plans to shut down liquor factories. The claim is misleading; the video shows the Indonesian president talking about revoking a presidential decree that allowed new investments in the alcoholic beverage industry; Indonesia still allows the production and sale of alcoholic drinks. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: A video has been viewed hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter published in August 2020 alongside a claim it shows the aftermath of a tank driving through a crowd of protesters in Portland, US. This claim is misleading; the video previously circulated in reports about a traffic accident in August 2020 in southern Brazil; Portuguese can be heard spoken in the video. This video has circulated online in reports about a traffic accident in Brazil (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Tel Aviv in Israel has been devastated by an earthquake Multiple Facebook posts shared tens of thousands of times contain three photos alongside claims they show the Israeli city of Tel Aviv devastated by an earthquake. The claim is false; the images are old photos of earthquakes in China and Chile. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo of Turkish President Erdogan bowing to US President Biden A photo of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Joe Biden has been shared in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram that claim it shows the Turkish leader “bowing” to his US counterpart. The photo has been shared in a misleading context. It actually shows Erdogan was standing up from his seat — not bowing — as he gave Biden a fist bump during a NATO summit in Brussels in June 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: These Chinese militia boats were blown up by Indonesian authorities in 2019 Multiple Facebook posts shared thousands of times share photos they claim show two Chinese maritime militia vessels blown up by Indonesian authorities in April 2019. The images have been shared in a misleading context: they actually show a Vietnamese fishing vessel and a Nigerian-flagged poaching boat, which was wanted by Interpol. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Florida banned "mass mail-in ballots" and "ballot harvesting" Social media posts claim Florida banned "mass mail-in ballots" and "ballot harvesting," and as a result averted fraud in the midterm elections in which Republican Governor Ron DeSantis was re-elected. This is misleading; while the state did pass new restrictions that sparked lawsuits and complaints of "voter suppression," Floridians can still vote by mail and collect a limited number of ballots on behalf of other people. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Super typhoon to hit the Philippines after Typhoon Rai in December 2021 A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in social media posts that claim a "new super typhoon" was forecast to hit the Philippines days after Typhoon Rai tore through the archipelago in December, killing hundreds of people. In fact, the video shows a forecast for a weather disturbance that Philippine meteorologists initially said had a "low chance of becoming a typhoon" but eventually dissipated on December 23, 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Fiery cloud over Turkey caused by HAARP A disk-shaped cloud filmed over Bursa in Turkey on January 19, 2023, was widely reported and described as a “rare phenomenon”. About three weeks later, Facebook posts began linking the cloud to the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Turkey and Syria, claiming it was caused by a former American military project called High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP). The claim is false; experts told AFP Fact Check it is impossible for HAARP to disrupt the weather in such a way that it creates clouds. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Former Boko Haram fighters join Nigerian army A video of men dressed in military uniform saluting a state governor in Nigeria has been shared thousands of times on social media alongside claims that it shows 103 repentant Boko Haram fighters being absorbed into the Nigerian army. This is false; while Nigeria has a deradicalisation programme for ex-Boko Haram fighters, this footage actually shows members of a joint task force who were absorbed into the army. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Seven dead after forced demolition in China's Anhui province A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, alongside a claim it shows a family that was killed in eastern China after the local government forcibly demolished their home. One post claims the victims "paid with their lives to protect their property rights". In China, tenants enjoy very few rights under a patchwork of contradictory laws, and land can only be owned by the state or collective organisations. But the video has been shared in a false context: it shows the aftermath of a traffic accident in the central Chinese province of Henan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Uganda police spokesperson says Bobi Wine is planning violence A fake Facebook account (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Donald Trump allowed back on Facebook and Instagram Posts on social media claim Donald Trump has been permitted to once again use the Facebook and Instagram accounts he relied on when US president. This is false; the company announced on June 4, 2021 that Trump is subject to at least a two-year ban from both platforms. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered: Tom Hanks arrested on 135 counts of child porn possession Twitter users are sharing a purported screenshot of an article from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reporting the arrest of Tom Hanks. But the image has been digitally manipulated; the story did not appear on the website of the news agency. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Queen Elizabeth II throwing food to poor children A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in social media posts alongside a claim it shows Britain's Queen Elizabeth II throwing food to poor children. This is false. The video is actually a clip from a short film by the Lumière brothers filmed in Vietnam. It was first released in 1901, years before the birth of the late queen. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Images show artwork created using fireflies Facebook posts shared thousands of times purport to show photos of "fireflies photographed in trees". The claim is false; the artist behind the images, Vitor Schietti, said the images were entirely created using fireworks and Photoshop. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of George Soros and Greta Thunberg An image has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Twitter and Facebook which purports to show teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg with Hungarian-born American financier George Soros. The claim is false; the image has been manipulated from a photo of Thunberg with former US Vice President Al Gore. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: This picture shows Moon Jae-in looking at a sign with a hostile message An image appearing to show outgoing South Korean President Moon Jae-in -- who pursued a policy of engagement with North Korea during his term -- confronted with a placard that says he "must die" and "screw off to the North" has been repeatedly shared in Korean-language social media posts. But the placard has been digitally doctored: it originally showed a message asking Moon to support local merchants. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Restored photo of Korean independence activist shows evidence of torture A purported “restored photo” of Korean independence activist Ahn Jung-geun has been shared multiple times online alongside a claim that his moustache in fact a burn scar, proving he was tortured while in Japanese custody for the 1909 killing of Hirobumi Ito, the first governor of Korea under Japanese rule. However, this claim is misleading; AFP found that the “restored photo” was produced by an amateur using a website function, and an expert in photo restoration told AFP that Ahn’s other photos show he did have a moustache. South Korea's state-run Ahn Junggeun Memorial Association also denied the claims, saying that it has "no historical ground", and that the photo had been "manipulated". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bahrain king visits Dubai with a robot bodyguard A video has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter alongside a claim it shows the King of Bahrain arriving in Dubai escorted by a robot bodyguard. The claim is false; the footage has circulated online in reports about a robot called Titan who greeted visitors at a defence show in Abu Dhabi in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Photo shows Aung San Suu Kyi in a prison cell An image purporting to show detained Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a prison cell has been shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook. The claim is false; the image, originally published on online library Wikimedia Commons in 2013, has been doctored to add Suu Kyi’s face. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows 102 year-old American who built his own helicopter (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Sri Lanka recorded the highest global Covid-19 fatality rate on August 8 A claim has been shared in multiple Facebook posts that Sri Lanka "surpassed all other nations and ranked first" in Covid-19 death rates on August 8, 2021. But these posts are misleading: they show incomplete data from a database of global Covid-19 trends. The full database in fact shows at least 20 other countries had higher virus death rates on August 8. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Queen Elizabeth II's corgis being brought back from Balmoral after her death Social media posts claim a photo shows Queen Elizabeth II's corgis "returning to London" from her Balmoral residence after she died. This is false; the image was taken in 1993 and shows the queen mother's dogs. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Kuwaitis disposing French products after boycott call A video has been viewed and shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube alongside a claim that it shows Kuwaitis throwing away French products after boycott calls triggered a standoff between France and some Muslim countries over Islam and freedom of speech. The claim is false; the video has circulated in reports about a Saudi supermarket disposing dairy products in May 2020 – months before the calls to boycott French products. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Explainer: Wombats shepherding animals to their burrows during Australian bushfires Photos of wombats have been shared hundreds of thousands of times in multiple Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Reddit posts alongside a claim that the marsupials shepherd animals into their burrows in a bid to protect them from bushfires in Australia. The fires have killed as many as one billion animals in Australia since September 2019. The claim is misleading; experts say animals have long taken refuge in wombats’ burrows, but they are not invited by the marsupials. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indonesian clerics rally to support incumbent president Joko Widodo Two images shared hundreds of times on Facebook purportedly show clerics from Indonesia’s major Muslim organisation Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) preparing for a rally to support the re-election bid of president Joko Widodo, ahead of April 2019 elections. The claim is false; the photos have been taken out of context and actually show NU events with no links to the election. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Muslims protesting against temple in Kolakata Following reports of violence during a Hindu festival in Bangladesh, Facebook posts shared a video that they claimed shows Muslims disrupting prayers at a Hindu temple in the Indian city of Kolkata. The claim is false; the video was filmed outside a mosque in Bangladesh. Local police told AFP the clip shows a communal incident on October 16. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Kamala Harris was photographed with Jeffrey Epstein Social media posts with thousands of interactions include a photo tying US Vice President Kamala Harris to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. But a reverse image search found that the photograph has been digitally manipulated to include Epstein instead of Harris' husband Douglas Emhoff. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Al Jazeera report shows Ukranian Nazis arrested in Qatar The Al Jazeera news network has denied broadcasting a video claiming Ukrainian fans were arrested in Qatar for adding Nazi graffiti to a picture of the World Cup 2022 mascot. The channel added that its logos had been used without its permission. No such arrest has been announced by the Qatari authorities and Ukraine did not even qualify for this year's football tournament. Additionally, many of the images visible in the clip – which repeats the Russian narrative that Ukraine is under the sway of Nazi ideology – are taken from events unrelated to the global competition. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

No Evidence Behind Claims Putin Said Russia Would Side With Ethiopia In Nile Dam Dispute: Russia said it would side with Ethiopia in Nile dam dispute A Facebook post shared in Ethiopia claims to show comments from Russian President Vladimir Putin backing the African country in its dispute with neighbours over the mega-dam it has built on the Nile river. However, AFP Fact Check found no evidence that Putin ever made these comments nor issued them in any statement. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Barcode prefixes can show if a product is made in Israel A claim that barcodes with prefixes 729 and 871 mean that a product is made in Israel has been shared in multiple posts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. The claim is misleading. While the barcode with the prefix 729 does refer to Israel, it does not denote where products are manufactured or made. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: UNODA plans Civilian Weapons Confiscation Study Group Facebook users are sharing a fake document from the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), which allegedly outlines a seven-step strategy to strip civilian populations worldwide of all their weapons. UNODA is a real agency with a goal to limit weapons of mass destruction and illegal small arms circulation, but the reference number on the document does not exist, and the agency told AFP the entire document is forged. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Human CO2 emissions too small to be cause of global warming A graphic shared over a thousand times on Facebook claims the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) released by humans into Earth's atmosphere is too small to cause climate change. This is misleading: the claim miscalculates the human input and scientists agree that CO2 has a big impact on the planet's temperature. The level of CO2 in the atmosphere has grown sharply due to humans burning fossil fuels and is driving global heating. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Australian farmers are forced to inject mRNA vaccine to their animals An Australian anti-vaccine campaigner has falsely claimed the state of New South Wales has "forced farmers to vaccinate their herd with mRNA jabs" that allegedly led to dozens of cattle deaths. Whilst mRNA vaccines for viral livestock diseases are in development, as of October 11, no such jabs were available or mandated for use for cattle in Australia. AFP has not found evidence the incident described in the posts actually occurred. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ronaldo refusing to shake hands with Israeli president A video has been viewed millions of times on TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter alongside a claim it shows Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo refusing to shake hands with Israel’s president. The posts claim Ronaldo's gesture was an attempt to show support for Palestinian Muslims after the conflict escalated between Israel and Hamas. The claim is false: the clip actually shows Ronaldo not shaking hands with Michel Platini, then Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) president. The footage was filmed after Ronaldo's former club, Real Madrid, won the FIFA Club World Cup final in 2014. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Picture shows COVID-19 vaccine developed by American scientists An image has been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim that it shows a medicine created by US scientists that can cure the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The claim is false; the photo in fact shows a COVID-19 test kit developed by a South Korean company; as of March 2020, international health experts have said there is no "cure" or vaccine for COVID-19. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Philippine actress urging voters not to support opposition candidates at the midterms A photo shared thousands of times on Facebook claims to show a Philippine actress holding a sign urging people not to vote for opposition candidates in midterm elections. The photo has been doctored; in the original the actress is holding a sign endorsing opposition candidates. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of mainland Chinese people beating up Hong Kong protester A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in Facebook, YouTube and Twitter posts that claim it shows "gangsters hired by China" beating a Hong Kong protester. The claim is false; the conversation heard in the clip is about debts allegedly owed by the man being attacked; the same footage was published by media in Taiwan in 2018; Taiwanese police told AFP that the video showed an assault in Taichung, Taiwan, which was connected to a debt issue. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows French president Macron dancing with his wife 30 years ago A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows French President Emmanuel Macron dancing with his future wife Brigitte 30 years ago. The claim is false; the clip was taken in 2017 from a reality television show. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Lipid nanoparticles in the Pfizer/BioNTech’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine contain computers A video viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook claims Pfizer-BioNTech’s Covid-19 mRNA vaccine contains lipid nanoparticles that could be concealing "little computers”. The claims are false; nanoparticles are microscopic particles that measure less than 100 nanometres, which have no relation to nanocomputers; an infectious diseases expert told AFP no technology currently exists by which computers could be inserted into an mRNA vaccine. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows mass protest against Covid-19 restrictions in Vienna, Austria Social media posts have shared a photo purporting to show a mass demonstration against Covid-19 restrictions in the Austrian capital Vienna in November 2021. The claim is false; the image was taken in Moscow in 1991, during a protest against then Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Car invented in 1970s ran on water 'Water motor' myth (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Time magazine created a list of leaders who would harm the world Social media users in South Korea have repeatedly shared a false claim that Time magazine created a list of leaders most likely to harm the world, with Chinese President Xi Jinping, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Russia's Vladimir Putin topping the ranking. A Time spokesperson said the claim was inaccurate, while AFP found no trace of such a list on the publication's website, as of November 28. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Did former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble join India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party? An image of former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook alongside claims the ex-sportsman has joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The claim is false, the photo is from 2014 and the BJP said Kumble had not joined the party. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Myanmar's high-profile monk on Time 100 list An image has been shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook posts that claim it shows TIME magazine listed a Buddhist monk aligned with the Myanmar military as among its 100 most influential people in 2021. However, the claim is false. The monk was not named as part of the TIME100 list in 2021, the magazine told AFP. The picture has been doctored from an image shared on the monk's official Facebook page. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Map shows CO2 makes the planet greener Carbon dioxide (CO2) contributes to global warming, but social media posts claim an image showing an increase in vegetation over time suggests the greenhouse gas is actually beneficial to the planet. This is misleading; the map is more than five years old, research shows the "greening" trend may end and experts say rising temperatures can harm plants. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Footage of Nigerian separatist Sunday Adeyemo on the way to court in Benin Footage of a crowd surrounding a convoy is circulating on social media with a claim that it shows detained Nigerian separatist leader, Sunday Adeyemo, on the way to court in neighbouring Republic of Benin, where he is on trial charged with illegal migration. However, the claim is false: the clip was filmed in Nigeria and posted online before Adeyemo’s arrest in Benin. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Covid-19 vaccines have killed hundreds in the US A Facebook post shared in South Africa alleges that the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccines have “killed” hundreds of people in the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But this claim is misleading; as of February 22, 2021, the US national public health institute said the reported deaths had “no link with vaccination”. The CDC considers both Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines “safe and effective”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Backers of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte endorse candidates from rival party A photo shared hundreds of times on Facebook purports to show two senators allied with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte endorsing opposition candidates in May's midterm election. The image has been doctored; the original is actually an endorsement of a pro-Duterte candidate. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian university students arrested for making bombs An image has been shared thousands of times in Indian social media posts alongside a claim it shows students who were caught making bombs in a university hostel in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. Police did find crude bombs during a raid on University of Allahabad hostels in 2019, but the image being shared online is not from that operation. It circulated in news reports about a police operation against a prostitution racket in a different state, also in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Facebook is banning US President Donald Trump from advertising for his 2020 re-election campaign A Facebook post shared more than 400,000 times claims the platform is banning US President Donald Trump from advertising for his 2020 re-election campaign. This is false, the Facebook advertisement library yields thousands of ad results from the Trump campaign, and a company spokeswoman said they are not banning the president. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Period products are subject to 19 percent tax in Germany Multiple social media posts have shared a claim that period products in Germany are subject to a tax of 19 percent while books are taxed at seven percent, leading to one company packaging tampons in a book in order to circumvent the higher tax rate. The claim, however, is missing context. "The Tampon Book" was launched in 2019 to protest how period products were taxed in Germany, the company told AFP. The country reduced its tax rate for menstrual products to seven percent on January 1, 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows Covid-19 burial ground in Sri Lanka An image of a burial ground has been shared in multiple Facebook posts which claim it shows a site for Covid-19 fatalities in Sri Lanka. The claim is false: the image actually shows a cemetery in Indonesia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A video shows eggs being destroyed in the United States, causing a shortage Social media posts suggest a video viewed millions of times online shows the mass destruction of eggs in the United States amid a shortage. This is false; the clip comes from an Argentinian company that was ordered to get rid of the eggs while testing for avian influenza. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Monkeys swim in a pool in Islamabad during COVID-19 pandemic A video of monkeys swimming in a pool has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim it was filmed was shot in the Pakistani capital during a COVID-19 lockdown. The claim is false; the video actually shows monkeys enjoying a swim at an apartment block pool in India during the COVID-19 lockdown. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Research in The Lancet shows Covid-19 vaccines offers little to no protection Social media posts claim research by medical journal The Lancet shows that Covid-19 vaccines offer little to no protection. But the posts misrepresent one measure of vaccine efficacy referred to in an article as evidence that the inoculations are ineffective, and its authors say the shots work. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Jane Goodall said reduce world population to solve problems A video has attracted more than one million views in posts that misleadingly attribute a quote about reducing the world's population to primatologist Jane Goodall. However, Goodall did not call for any kind of active reduction in the world's population, but said that we would not have problems such as deforestation if the population was smaller. She did not say that reducing the global population would "solve all the world's problems". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of US military shooting pirates A video that has been viewed more than 1.7 millions times on Facebook purports to show the US military shooting pirates. The claim is false; the footage has been taken from five different videos none of which show the US military engaging with pirates. (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: In trouble: ICC issues arrest warrant for Museveni over war crimes YouTube channels in Uganda with thousands of subscribers are using clickbait headlines to spread disinformation. The videos, which are recorded and captioned in the local language, Luganda, are designed to capture a wide audience with sensational but misleading titles that often have no bearing on the content. One Ugandan fact-checker said the ploy was common and a means of driving up revenue for content creators. AFP Fact Check analysed three examples. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Voting with pencil in Australian federal election means they can be erased As Australians geared up to vote in federal elections, Facebook, Twitter and Telegram posts warned them to fill out ballots with a pen rather than a pencil to ensure their vote was counted. However, the Australian Electoral Commission said that ballots marked correctly with either pencils or pens were valid. The Electoral Integrity Project, which focuses on the democratic quality of elections around the globe, said it was confident that ballots marked with a pencil remained secure. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Picture shows those deceased from COVID-19 in Italy A photo of a room lined with coffins has been shared thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts that claim it shows Italian nationals killed during the novel coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The claim is false; the photo actually shows coffins for a group of dead migrants at an Italian airport in October 2013 after their boat sank off the coast of Italy. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bobi Wine to be sworn in as Uganda’s president Facebook posts shared multiple times with purported screenshots from major news networks have claimed that Uganda’s opposition leader Bobi Wine will be sworn in as president ahead of his rival Yoweri Museveni. The claim is false; the screenshots are fabricated and have been passed off as genuine news items. Wine also dismissed the claims. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows a massive traffic jam around Rawalpindi, Islamabad As supporters of Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan rallied in Rawalpindi in late November 2022 to demand early elections, a video was viewed hundreds of thousands of times in social media posts that falsely claimed it showed a massive traffic jam around the rally site. The video has in fact circulated since 2017, in a news video about traffic in Los Angeles as Americans travelled for the Thanksgiving holiday. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Vaginal steaming can clear blocked fallopian tubes. Posts shared repeatedly on social media falsely claim "vaginal steaming" can treat blocked fallopian tubes, suggesting women suffering from the condition should sit on top of a bowl of steaming water infused with herbs. Multiple doctors told AFP the practice does not work because, they say, fallopian tube blockages should generally be treated with surgery. They also warned women from attempting the technique outlined in the false posts, saying it could lead to burns and infections. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Voting by mail leads to voting fraud A Facebook post with more than 20,000 shares claims that “Voting by mail leads to voting fraud.” Experts say this is false and recent elections show mail voter fraud is extremely rare. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Thai YouTube influencer promoting cash giveaway A photo has been shared repeatedly on Facebook alongside a claim that it shows a Thai YouTube influencer Pimrypie giving out cash to those who comment in the post and claim the money via Line messenger app. The claim is false; the photo is an old, unrelated picture and Pimrypie told AFP that the claim is “fake news”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Photo shows Ukrainian leader sharing a meal with troops in the battlefield A photo of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is circulating in Facebook posts that claim it shows him sharing a meal with soldiers resisting Russia's invasion. The posts are misleading; the photo was taken when Zelensky visited eastern Ukraine on February 17, 2022, days before Russia launched a military operation in the country. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Indian PM Modi consoling a ‘martyr’ widow on the telephone A video posted two days after a deadly suicide attack on Indian paratroopers in Kashmir purports to show Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking on the phone to the widow of a soldier killed in action. The claim is false; the misleading footage is actually from 2013 when Modi spoke to the wife of a man who died at one of his political rallies. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: World Economic Forum chose Kevin McCarthy as House speaker Social media users claim the World Economic Forum chose Republican congressman Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the US House of Representatives days before his election by lawmakers. This is false; the Geneva-based organization holds no such power, the misleading image shared online is from an outdated McCarthy biography, and the claim appears to be tied to long-running conspiracy narratives about the WEF. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hong Kong celebrity visits fellow actor in hospital in 2021 A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter alongside claims that it shows Hong Kong filmmaker and actor Stephen Chow visiting fellow actor Ng Man-tat in hospital shortly before Ng’s death in February 2021. The claim is false; the footage in fact shows Chow in a Hong Kong court in November 2020. (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)

Misleading: Joe Biden said Donald Trump will be re-elected Donald Trump has retweeted two videos in which his Democratic rival Joe Biden appears to admit that the US president will be re-elected. The clips have been misleadingly edited; they omit Biden subsequently saying that will be the result if Democrats target each other in a negative campaign. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Papaya was selected by the WHO to be the most nutritious fruit Social media posts in Thailand claim the World Health Organization (WHO) selected papaya as "the most nutritious fruit" for the second year running. The claim is misleading; the WHO said that while it encouraged the consumption of fruit and vegetables, it did not recommended papaya in particular. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows real giant crocodile that was caught in the Philippines A video was viewed more than a million times on TikTok and Facebook alongside the false claim it shows one of the world's largest crocodiles captured in a populous city in the Philippines. In reality, the clip shows a prop crocodile for a Philippine television show. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pakistani politician Shehryar Afridi stripped search at a US airport Facebook posts shared hundreds of times purport to show a photo of Pakistani politician Shehryar Afridi strip-searched at a US airport in 2021. The claim is false; the image has been doctored from a photo of a man who stripped at an airport in 2012 to protest security procedures. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A picture of a flooded school in Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe, Zimbabwe The image of a flooded classroom with students seated on blocks of concrete has been shared numerous times on Facebook alongside claims that it was taken in Zimbabwe. The claim is false; AFP Fact Check has previously looked into the same picture and found that it was taken in Kenya in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: US Navy SEALs raid cargo ship off the coast of Long Beach, California Multiple Facebook posts have shared a purported news report claiming the US Navy "raided a cargo ship off the coast of California and rescued 200 foreign children". Social media users thought the incident was genuine. But the claim originated on a satirical website. "There is no truth to these claims", a Navy spokesperson told AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows praying Muslims being forcibly removed from a road in France A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube that falsely claim it shows praying Muslims being forcibly removed from a road in France. In fact, the clip shows climate activists from French protest group Dernière Rénovation being removed during a sit-in demonstration in Paris. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: EU warns Uganda’s Bobi Wine over swearing-in ceremony Posts sharing a letter purportedly sent by the European Union (EU) to Uganda's opposition leader Bobi Wine claiming to warn him against swearing himself in as president have been shared more than a dozen times on Facebook and Twitter. The claim is false; the document, which does not appear on any of the EU's official online channels, was rejected as a fake by officials in the organisation’s Ugandan office. Wine had previousy dismissed rumours that he was planning an inauguration ceremony in parallel to the official event. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows Kenyan man killing his baby A video has been shared widely in Kenya with claims that it shows a man killing his four-month-old baby after throwing the child to the ground during a domestic dispute with his wife. While a similar incident did occur in Kenya, the video shows a scene from a new Tanzanian movie. Some Kenyan media have since removed the video from their online reports. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: President Donald Trump's executive order lowered insulin prices Claims that the cost of insulin, a lifesaving medicine used to manage diabetes, has fallen dramatically as a direct result of action by President Donald Trump have been shared hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter. This is misleading; Trump signed an executive order aimed at lowering insulin prices for some in July, but it is not yet affecting drug costs. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Potassium chloride in vaccines is dangerous An image shared on social media claims vaccines are dangerous because they contain potassium chloride, the chemical used to stop the heart in lethal injections. This is misleading; it is a salt that is necessary for organs to function properly, and medical experts say the minimal amount used in vaccines will not harm recipients. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Rana Ayyub advocated for minor child rapists A Muslim Indian journalist has been criticised online after she was purportedly quoted in a tweet by an Indian news channel as defending "child rapists". However, the purported tweet, which has circulated online since at least 2018, is from an imposter account for Republic TV. The news channel said it had never posted the message on its social media, and AFP found no evidence it was published online. Journalist Rana Ayyub -- a fierce critic of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government -- previously refuted the claim in 2019 after similar posts circulated online. (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)

Misleading: Video shows a child who died following Covid-19 vaccine jab Dramatic footage of a distressed man crying next to the body of a dead girl has circulated in social media posts worldwide in January 2022 alongside a claim the child died after receiving a Covid-19 vaccine. However, the journalist who filmed the footage said it shows a child killed by a bomb in Syria in October 2021. A spokesperson for UNICEF told AFP that no children in Syria had received Covid-19 vaccines as of January 11, 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Face masks don't protect from COVID-19 A viral video shared on multiple social media platforms shows a woman outside a US store making several misleading claims about the use of face masks including that they do not protect from COVID-19 and that their use makes you sick. Research backed by leading academic institutions and international health bodies recommends they be used along with other measures to help limit the spread of the novel coronavirus. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of a Hong Kong protester fending off a tear gas canister with a tennis racquet. A photo of a black-clad person preparing to bat away a tear gas canister with a tennis racquet has been shared in Twitter and Facebook posts that claim it shows a protester in Hong Kong. The claim is false; the photo was taken at a 2016 demonstration in the French city of Nantes. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Four people in Thailand have died from consumption of animal meat that are infected with lumpy skin disease virus. Facebook posts shared thousands of times warn that four people have died in Thailand after eating meat infected with lumpy skin disease, a viral infection in cattle. The claim is false. Thai authorities told AFP the reports were baseless, and the disease is not transmissible from animals to humans. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigerian fraudster Hushpuppi a free man A video of Nigerian Instagram celebrity Ramon Abbas, better known as Hushpuppi, who is facing a prison sentence after pleading guilty to internet fraud, has been shared multiple times on Facebook alongside claims that it shows his release from custody. This, however, is false; the video was taken three years before his arrest in 2020 and subsequent extradition to the US where he awaits sentencing for his role in a global cyber fraud enterprise. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: BlackRock owns large stakes in both Fox and Dominion Voting Systems Social media posts claim investment giant BlackRock has major holdings in both Fox Corp and Dominion Voting Systems, suggesting this is why the US television company fired host Tucker Carlson after it settled a defamation case with the election technology firm. This is partly false; BlackRock owns shares in the similarly named Dominion Energy -- not the voting business -- and a minority stake in the media group controlled by the Murdoch family. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nancy Pelosi will resign if Donald Trump is reelected Social media posts claim that US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi will step down if President Donald Trump is reelected in November. This is false; the claim originated on a satirical website and her office said it is not true. (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: Drinking black coffee mixed with lime juice can reduce migraines Multiple posts shared hundreds of times on Facebook claim that drinking black coffee mixed with lime juice can “reduce migraines”. The claim is misleading; health experts told AFP that while coffee may temporarily alleviate pain, combining it with lime could actually worsen headaches; Thailand’s Department of Health advised people suffering from headaches to consult a doctor instead of using home remedies. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar criticising Maryam Nawaz False posts viewed hundreds of thousands of times have shared a video they claim shows a Pakistani soap opera writer criticising politician Maryam Nawaz -- niece of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif -- after she tweeted a controversial remark about a Pakistani journalist who was shot dead by police in Kenya in 2022. However, the video shows a speech that the writer Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar gave in 2020 where he spoke against a female academic and women's rights activists. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: FTX diverted US aid to Ukraine to Democrats running in midterm elections An article shared thousands of times on social media claims FTX, a now-bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange, funneled US aid meant for Ukraine to Democratic candidates running in the midterm elections instead. This is unproven; public records show no evidence supporting the allegation, which Kyiv, the Pentagon, FTX partners and experts have said is inaccurate. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Rare rhino running through town in Sri Lanka A video of a rhinoceros running along a road in a town has been falsely shared thousands of times on Facebook and TikTok by users who claimed it was filmed in Sri Lanka. The video was in fact taken in a central Nepalese town, which is home to a national park inhabited by rhinos, among other tropical animals. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered: Screenshot shows CTV article about isolating unvaccinated people on planes Social media posts claim to show an article from the Canadian outlet CTV News, reporting that Ottawa is considering segregating travelers on airplanes by Covid-19 vaccination status. This is false; CTV News said it did not publish such an article, and the Canadian government denied considering such a policy. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows January 2022 earthquake in Indonesia's Banten province A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in social media posts alongside a claim it shows a 6.6-magnitude earthquake that struck the western part of Indonesia's Java island in January 2022. The claim, however, is false; the video has circulated in social media posts since at least early October 2018, days after a powerful quake hit Indonesia's eastern island of Sulawesi. (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)

Misleading: Bola Tinubu’s presidential certificate withdrawn A video shared multiple times on Facebook in Nigeria alleges that the electoral commission has withdrawn the certificate confirming Bola Tinubu’s win of the 2023 presidential election. But this claim is misleading: a man identifying himself on social media as a preacher says the certificate had been withdrawn and the election annulled “in the spirit”. Moreover, the electoral commission confirmed to AFP Fact Check that Tinubu's certificate had not been withdrawn. Preparations are underway for his inauguration at the end of May. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: An anchor on a news channel run by a Christian religious organisation in the Philippines Photos posted on Facebook claim to show a female television anchor in a low cut blazer presenting on a Philippine news channel managed by a major Filipino Christian religious organisation. The claim is false; the images are of a Vietnamese cable television presenter. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Outdated Video: Traffic seen at Finland's border after Russia's troop mobilization order A video viewed millions of times is claimed to show a miles-long backup of cars at the Russian border with Finland after Vladimir Putin ordered a major mobilization of reservists in an escalation of the war against Ukraine. This is misleading; the video was filmed in August and posted online days before the Russian president's order, and Finnish border officials have said that while the lines at the checkpoint in question intensified in recent days, they remain manageable. (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: The CDC created and patented the coronavirus from Wuhan Facebook posts claim that the coronavirus spreading in China was created by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2015, offering a real patent as proof. This is false; the CDC did register a patent, but in an effort to combat a different strain than the one that caused the outbreak that started in the city of Wuhan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows crack in earth after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Turkey A video showing long rifts in the earth has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in social media posts that falsely claim it shows a long crack in Turkey following a massive earthquake in February 2023. In fact, the footage has circulated on Douyin, China's version of TikTok, since December 2021. Satellite images from Google Maps show identical scenes in northern China. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Marc Marquez dances to dangdut music at 2022 Indonesian motorcyle Grand Prix (MotoGP) As Indonesia was hosting its first motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) in more than two decades in March 2022, a video purporting to show professional racer Marc Marquez dancing to popular Indonesian music at the event was viewed millions of times on social media. However, the claim is false. The video was taken when Marquez visited a performing arts theatre in Indonesia in February 2019. Footage from that visit shows the six-time MotoGP champion dancing to a version of the song "Despacito". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show Indian soldiers reacting after deadly Kashmir suicide attack Two photos of flag-draped coffins and soldiers wiping their eyes have been shared thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter alongside claims they show Indian soldiers reacting after more than 40 paramilitary troops were killed in a recent suicide bombing in Kashmir. The photographs have no link to the February 14, 2019 attack -- one is an old image of Indian soldiers which has circulated online since at least 2014, the other is a 2011 AFP photograph of soldiers in New Delhi wiping their faces of sweat in the heat. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine caused deaths in Norway Multiple Facebook posts shared repeatedly in January 2021 claim 23 people are “dead from” the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine in Norway. The claim is missing context: as of January 22, 2021, health authorities in Norway have said there was no direct causal link between the deaths and the Covid-19 vaccinations. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: George Floyd's death was staged Posts shared thousands of times on Facebook claim that George Floyd’s death was staged, and that “crisis actors” were used to play the roles of the black man and police. This is false; autopsies confirmed Floyd’s death, and personnel files of the officers involved are available online. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Crash in Kenya kills three from South Sudan Facebook posts have shared a disturbing video with claims that it shows the death of three people from South Sudan who were killed when a car drove into them at high speed in Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi. But the claim is false: the footage of the real-life incident was filmed in the US city of Chicago. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show prices of rice dropped in Davao City in May 2022 under Marcos Following Ferdinand Marcos Jr's landslide victory in the Philippine presidential election, photos of rice for sale at a market in the city of Davao were shared tens of thousands of times in Facebook posts that claimed he had already fulfilled a campaign promise to cut the price of the staple food. This is false. The photos have circulated online since December 2019. An agricultural officer in Davao said the posts misrepresented rice prices in May 2022. (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)

Altered Image: Image shows individual worshipping hoarding of Sri Lankan President Facebook posts shared thousands of times purport to show a picture of a motorcyclist at a petrol station expressing gratitude to Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The image has been doctored. The original photo shows the motorcyclist making an apparently sarcastic gesture of thanks to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a fuel price hike. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Harry Styles kissed Ted Cruz at Venice Film Festival A photo has been shared thousands of times in Burmese-language Facebook posts alongside a claim it shows British pop star Harry Styles kissing US senator Ted Cruz. In fact, the photo shows Styles kissing American actor Nick Kroll at the Venice Film Festival. The claim originally emerged in satirical English-language posts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Japanese medical team in Wuhan to aid virus outbreak A photo of healthcare personnel has been shared thousands of times in multiple social media posts alongside claims that the photo shows a team of one thousand Japanese medical professionals going to provide aid in Wuhan, the epicenter of the new coronavirus outbreak in China. This claim is false; the photo in fact shows a Japanese medical team traveling to Chengdu, China following an earthquake in 2008. The Japanese embassy in Manila also told AFP that reports of a Japanese medical team being sent to Wuhan are "not true." (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Soybean and corn price drop is because of Biden’s executive orders A tweet shared tens of thousands of times on social media claims President Joe Biden’s executive orders caused a fall in soybean and corn prices. This is misleading; Biden focused his initial actions on the coronavirus pandemic and priorities outside the agricultural sector, while analysts said the markets were due for a selloff and not linked to a particular decision from the new administration. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: A video claims to show money seized from Nigerian bandits in Ghana Terror gangs commonly referred to as bandits by Nigerian media frequently kidnap people for ransom, especially in the country’s northern region where it has become an illicit but lucrative business. A TikTok video was recently posted on Facebook with a claim that the clip shows Ghanaian police confiscating ransom money being smuggled into the country by Nigerian kidnappers. But this is misleading: AFP Fact Check found that while the video was filmed in Ghana, the cash belonged to a bank and were recovered from the scene of a crash. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Uganda's People Power Movement in a brawl A video showing people with machetes attacking what looks like uniformed officers has been shared alongside claims that it depicts members of Uganda’s People Power Movement led by musician-turned-politician and presidential candidate Bobi Wine clashing with police. But this is false: AFP Fact Check found the clip features an elite unit of the Congolese police conducting a demonstration. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Car slams through Wuhan coronavirus roadblock A video of a car smashing into police vehicles has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Weibo alongside a claim that the incident happened at a police roadblock in Wuhan, the Chinese city at the epicentre of the global novel coronavirus outbreak. The claim is false; the footage shows a staged car crash in China’s Heilongjiang province that was filmed for a Chinese movie released in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows rare flower that blooms only once in every 400 years A photo of a colourful plant has been shared hundreds of times in Facebook posts claiming it shows a rare “Mahameru” flower which purportedly blooms only once every 400 years. The claim is false; the image in fact shows a plant called Salvia ‘hot lips’, a popular garden plant which blooms every summer. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Electric cars were abandoned after battery failure US social media users shared photos of hundreds of electric cars parked in France, alleging that they were discarded because their batteries failed. This is false; the vehicles belonged to a Paris rideshare fleet that was shut down, and the company that produced the cars said their batteries were taken out to avoid deterioration. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: If masks work, wearing them should be optional Social media posts shared thousands of times criticize the use of masks to curb the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, asking why one person should have to wear a face covering if somebody else’s works. This is misleading; according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, masks help prevent people from spreading or contracting Covid-19, and widespread use makes them more effective. (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)

Misleading: France approves hydroxychloroquine as COVID-19 treatment The video of a widely shared news report on Facebook claims that the French government has officially sanctioned anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of the novel coronavirus. However, the claim is misleading: the video is old and predates France’s ban on hydroxychloroquine as a prescription drug for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: "Melting candy" will restore teeth and gums Social media posts claim a probiotic "melting candy" can restore teeth and gums and prevent major dental procedures. This is false; there is no clinical evidence to support the use of the product and it has not been approved for any dental therapy. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: These videos show a kangaroo hugging its rescuers after being saved from Australia’s bushfires Two videos of women cuddling a kangaroo have been viewed tens of thousands of times in Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts that claim the women saved the animal from bushfires in Australia. The claim is false; the videos show the same kangaroo, which lives in a Northern Territory animal sanctuary, far away from the major bushfires in the country’s southeast region. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Russian army choristers got arrested for singing song about peace A video circulating online after Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine has racked up tens of thousands of views alongside a claim it shows members of the "Russian army choir" being arrested for singing about peace in Russian President Vladimir Putin's hometown of Saint Petersburg. In reality, the video corresponds to old footage published in reports since 2015 about a stunt staged to promote the James Bond film "Spectre". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: South Africa’s power utility Eskom loan with Exim Bank of China A widely shared social media post claims that debt-crippled Eskom was given a 33.4 billion rand ($2,41 billion) loan from Exim Bank China and if it defaulted on payment, the bank would take control of the utility. The post is published from a fake Twitter account and an official statement from Eskom has rejected it as false. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Images show suspect in killing of Filipina worker Jullebee Ranara in Kuwait TikTok and Facebook posts viewed tens of thousands of times have shared images that they falsely claim show the suspect in the killing of a Filipino worker in Kuwait in late January. The photos actually show an Iranian protester executed in early January following a trial that was criticised as "unfair" by the United Nations. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows coronavirus victims in India A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook which claim it shows novel coronavirus victims in India. The claim is false; the video shows victims of a major gas leak in an industrial port city in south India in May 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Super Mario video game creator condemns image of Mario and Luigi kissing Two screenshots of two tweets that purport to show the creator of the Super Mario video game series complaining about a picture of characters Mario and Luigi kissing have been shared hundreds of times on Facebook and Twitter. Neither tweet is genuine; both were posted by parody accounts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid vaccines have not been properly tested and pose long-term health risks An American physician and anti-vaccination advocate claims in a video viewed more than 169,000 times that widely used Covid-19 vaccines have not been properly tested and pose long-term health risks. But experts say her claims are inaccurate, the technology used in the inoculations was under development well before the pandemic, the shots were trialed on tens of thousands of people, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that long-term side effects are unlikely. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Walt Disney’s frozen body to be thawed in attempt to bring him back to life (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Austrian MP Eva Holzleitner died during a speech Social media posts in South Korea claim that an Austrian MP died during a speech after receiving a vaccine. The claim is false; while Eva-Maria Holzleitner collapsed in the middle of parliamentary session in October, she later recovered. A spokesperson for her party told AFP she collapsed due to lack of fluid, not because of a vaccine. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indonesian election fraud to help Joko Widodo Multiple Facebook posts share a video that has been watched tens of thousands of times which they claim shows Indonesian electoral officials in the city of Medan getting caught rigging ballot papers in favour of incumbent President Joko Widodo one month before the April 2019 presidential election. The claim is false; the video was posted online before Widodo announced his candidacy; it was not filmed in Medan but shows an unrelated protest against alleged regional electoral fraud in June 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigeria spends 98% of budget on debt servicing Nigeria’s leading opposition party has claimed that the federal government spends over 98 percent of its budget on servicing debts. This is false: while economic indices under the current government have indeed worsened, AFP Fact Check found that less than 25 percent of the 2022 budget will be used to pay debts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows "genuine suicide note" of late South Korean comedian Park Ji-sun’s mother An image purporting to show the "genuine suicide note" of late South Korean comedian Park Ji-sun’s mother has been shared multiple times across social media platforms. These posts circulated online just a day after the comedian and her mother were found dead at their home in Seoul. However, this claim is false; the image actually shows a note featured in a scene in the 2018 South Korean television series “Children of a Lesser God”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Lithuania is providing special aid to Hong Kong immigrants Multiple social media posts shared in August 2021 claim that Lithuania will provide a special immigration pathway for Hong Kongers, regardless of which passport they have or their visa status. The posts -- shared hundreds of times -- circulated online after the political situation in the territory prompted an exodus of Hong Kongers. However, both Lithuania's Honorary Consul in Hong Kong and the Lithuanian government told AFP the claim was false. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US students sing Indian national anthem to thank India for supplying hydroxychloroquine A video of young adults singing the Indian national anthem has been shared on Facebook and Twitter during the COVID-19 pandemic alongside claims that it shows American students performing to thank India for supplying the US with hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug that has been involved in clinical trials for potential COVID-19 treatment. The claim is false; this rendition of the Indian national anthem was produced in August 2017 to mark India’s 71st Independence Day. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Joe Biden did away with Donald Trump's efforts to lower insulin costs Social media posts claim US President Joe Biden took credit for lowering insulin prices after reversing a similar action from predecessor Donald Trump. This is misleading; Trump approved a voluntary program capping insulin costs at $35 for many seniors and issued an executive order that was never implemented, while Biden signed a law mandating low prices and encouraged pharmaceutical firms to limit costs for all diabetics. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Woman in road safety movement in Bangladesh is not a student Two images of a Bengali woman have been shared hundreds of times on Facebook alongside a claim she is "not a student" yet has "infiltrated" a road safety campaign staged by students in Bangladesh. The claim is misleading; the woman seen in the photo supplied documentation to AFP which proves she is a student. The principal of her college also confirmed she is a student there. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: BJP lawmaker assaulted in Indian state of Bihar in July 2020 A video that shows men being heckled and assaulted by an angry crowd has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim it shows a local politician of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) being harassed in Patna, the capital city of the state of Bihar, in July 2020. The claim is misleading; the video includes two separate clips of two different BJP politicians being assaulted by residents in the state of West Bengal in 2017 and 2016 respectively. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US Women's national soccer team disrespected veteran (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows a Myanmar military helicopter crash on May 4, 2021 A photo has been shared thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim it shows a Myanmar military helicopter crash on May 4, 2021. The photo circulated online one day after an armed ethnic group claimed it had shot down a Myanmar military helicopter. The claim is false: the photo in fact shows a helicopter that crashed at an airshow in western Russia in 2015. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Typhoon Rai as it slams Southern Leyte, Philippines A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple social media posts that claim it shows Typhoon Rai -- the strongest to hit the Philippines this year -- wreaking havoc in the central province of Southern Leyte. The posts circulated online as the typhoon tore across the archipelago, leaving at least one person dead. But the clip has been shared in a false context: it has appeared in news reports since November 2020 during Typhoon Goni, which destroyed tens of thousands of homes and killed at least 20 people. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Images from protests against COVID-19 restrictions in Berlin, Germany A photo collage has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim the images were taken during a protest against coronavirus restrictions in Germany in August 2020. The claim is false; all four photos have circulated in reports about Black Lives Matter protests across Germany in June 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Cash found in raid at opposition Aam Aadmi Party leader’s house in India A video that appears to show huge wads of cash being confiscated has been viewed thousands of times in Twitter and Facebook posts that claim it was filmed when authorities raided the house of a local opposition party leader in Gujarat in western India. This is false: Gujarat police told AFP no such raid has been recently carried out. The video actually shows a raid at the house of a businessman charged with mobile gaming fraud in Kolkata, local police separately told AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Footage of Taliban destroying mobile phones Nigerian social media users are circulating a video with claims that it shows Afghanistan’s Islamist Taliban fighters destroying mobile phones in line with a supposed ban on electronic devices. However, the claim is false: the clip was filmed in neighbouring Pakistan where customs officials confiscated and destroyed smuggled goods. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sri Lankan man who applauded a public protest arrested by police Facebook posts in Sri Lanka share photos that they claim show a man arrested for applauding protesters at a student-led march in the capital Colombo on August 30, 2022. However, the photos show two different men - one who was photographed clapping and another who was arrested. A police spokesman and a representative for a protest group said that none of the 25 people arrested at the rally were detained for clapping. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows fireworks set off in Japan that were intended for Tokyo 2020 Olympics A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and YouTube alongside a claim it shows Japanese officials setting off fireworks that were originally intended for the now-postponed Tokyo Olympics. The claim is false; the video is a computer-generated simulation that was created in 2015 by a YouTube user. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Flash floods in Kuala Lumpur in May 2022 A video and a photo of flash floods in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur have circulated in multiple posts on Facebook, TikTok and Twitter alongside a claim they were captured when parts of the city were inundated on May 25, 2022. This is false: the video and the photo both predate May 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Photo shows Louis Armstrong as a child Social media posts shared thousands of times feature a photo of a young boy, suggesting it shows American jazz icon Louis Armstrong as a child. But the US Library of Congress website says the image was taken in the 1930s, when Armstrong was already an adult. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Rothschilds own Reuters and Associated Press Social media posts circulating since at least 2014 claim the Rothschild family, a prominent European banking family, owns global news agencies Reuters and the Associated Press (AP). This is false; Reuters is controlled by The Woodbridge Company, which has no connection with the Rothschild family, while AP is a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Keystone XL pipeline cancellation cost around 60,000 jobs Conservative lawmakers and commentators claim a US Energy Department report shows cancelation of the Keystone XL oil pipeline cost 60,000 jobs. This is misleading; the document does include one such estimate at the upper end of a range -- but the agency says the figure is flawed because it counted jobs in other countries or outside the scope of the project. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)