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All English Fact Checks
False: An injured dog shown in a photograph has been found at the side of the road in Plumstead, London. Thousands of people on Facebook have shared a hoax post appealing for the identity of a dog allegedly found injured at the side of the road in Plumstead, southeast London. The post, shared 3,700 times at the time of publication, says: "Hello. If anyone is looking for this sweet g (Source: Full Fact)
False: A video proves that “our own government is acknowledging that they’re spraying the skies” with toxic chemicals. Former CIA Director John Brennan did not say that the government is spraying toxic chemicals into the air.Brennan spoke in 2016 at the Council on Foreign Relations about stratospheric aerosol injection, a proposed method of geoengineering that could mitigate the effects of global warming. It involves spraying particles, like sulfur dioxide, into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight. The technology is not currently in use.Congress last year directed the federal Office of Science and Technology Policy to prepare a five-year research plan assessing the risks and hazards of climate interventions, known as geoengineering. The research would not involve releasing materials into the atmosphere, a spokesperson for the office said. (Source: PolitiFact)
Mostly-True: Missouri’s attorney general has a website “where people can report trans individuals and the people who help them.” On March 23, Missouri’s attorney general launched a webpage for people to submit a "complaint or concern about gender transition intervention" they have experienced or observed in the state. The so-called "tip line" was created as part of an attorney general’s investigation into a specific transgender clinic, but it solicits responses beyond that investigation.The attorney general issued an emergency rule April 13 restricting access to gender-affirming care. Critics are concerned the new tip line could be used to report identifying information about trans people and their health care providers to the state. (Source: PolitiFact)
Originated As Satire: In April 2023, basketball legend Michael Jordan ended his partnership with Nike over the company's partnership with trans celebrity Dylan Mulvaney. Advertisment: About this rating In early and mid-April 2023, claims that Basketball Hall of Fame star Michael Jordan had ended his partnership with sports goods company Nike over the latter's previous partnership with trans star Dylan Mulvaney surfaced on social media and online (Source: Snopes)
Missing Context: Post implies Scandinavian sea levelsshowglobal sea levels aren't rising Fact check: Rates of sea level rise vary worldwide. The three cities show no sea level rise, minimal sea level rise and negative sea level rise, respectively. In Copenhagen, sea level rise is outpacing isostatic adjustment by a thin margin, leading to the slight sea level increase described in the video. Due to these and other factors, local rates of sea level rise vary across the Earth, and some areas have experienced very rapid sea level rise. However, publically available sea level rise information from the Environmental Protection Agency, NASA, NOAA and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change clearly state that sea level rise is not uniform and varies between locales. (Source: USA Today)
False: 'Toxic' levels of aluminum found at Mt.Shasta due to 'geoengineering' Fact check: False claim 'toxic' levels of aluminum found at Mt. Claire Hardwick, USA TODAYThe claim: 'Toxic' levels of aluminum found at Mt. Shasta area – both in 2014 and now – found safe levels of aluminum, based on Environmental Protection Agency and California state standards. Some of the speakers in the video claim that abnormally high aluminum levels have been found in the air, rainwater and snow around Mt. Shasta Wastewater Treatment Plant's treated wastewater discharge in 2014 found aluminum levels ranging from 16 to 437 micrograms. (Source: USA Today)
False: Guddu Muslim has been arrested by the UP STF from Nashik. Authors Vasudha Beri Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joi (Source: Newschecker)
Misleading: The Marcos government and the United States are discussing a deal to build a nuclear facility in the Philippines A video posted on YouTube and Facebook (FB) claims that the Marcos government and the United States are discussing a deal to build a nuclear facility in the Philippines. This is misleading. The U.S. has only offered to share technical assistance, not build a nuclear facility.The (Source: Vera Files)
False: Risa Hontiveros benefitted from PhilHealth's illegal bonuses in 2014 A YouTube video which is also circulating on Facebook (FB) has revived the false claim that Sen. Risa Hontiveros benefitted from Philippine Health Insurance Corp.'s (PhilHealth) illegal bonuses in 2014. Records show Hontiveros was not involved in the mess.This false claim has bee (Source: Vera Files)
False: Thousands of American and Filipino soldiers were sent to the South China Sea to drive out Chinese ships in the area. A video on Facebook (FB) is claiming that thousands of American and Filipino soldiers were sent to the South China Sea to drive out Chinese ships in the area.This is false. The troops being referred to are participating in the 38th iteration of the Balikatan Exercises off the coa (Source: Vera Files)