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All English Fact Checks
Public Health Fakes: cholera outbreak in Kyiv and the epidemic of tuberculosis in Zaporizhzhia. Issue #34 After the blowing up of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, social media began spreading a false claim this year about a cholera outbreak in Kyiv or other cities in Ukraine. In addition, Russian collaborator Volodymyr Rogov saw the influence of the “Western hand” in Zaporizhz (Source: Vox Ukraine)
False: Photo showing the victims of an Islamic terrorist attack in France. As plans to rebuild a mosque in the South Korean city of Daegu encountered vocal opposition from residents, a photo was shared in Korean-language posts that falsely claimed it showed victims of an attack by an Islamic terrorist group in France. But the photo in fact shows victims of a crackdown by Egypt's military-backed government in August 2013 and was taken by an AFP photographer in Cairo. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
Treasonous Mimicry: Fugitive Collaborators in Moscow Promote a “Peaceful” Plan on Behalf of the Ukrainian People On May 23, 2023, the “Representation of the Ukrainian People” published an allegedly peaceful plan for ending the “hybrid war between NATO countries and Russia on the territory of Ukraine”. The Representation presents itself as an official and legitimate structure, formed by the (Source: Vox Ukraine)
Barely-True: Barack Obama said that Iran has a “right” to nuclear technology, including weapons. Critiquing Democrats’ foreign policy, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, asserted that President Barack Obama supported Iran’s right to nuclear technology. Obama said any country, including Iran, should have the right to access "peaceful nuclear power" if it complies with the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.Nuclear power is different from nuclear weapons, but the two share some of the same technology and both need nuclear fuel. (Source: PolitiFact)
False: Labour took £1.5 million from Just Stop Oil. Over recent weeks Full Fact has seen a number of misleading and unevidenced claims about the environmental protest group Just Stop Oil and the Labour party. In February we wrote about the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, claiming that Just Stop Oil "bankroll[s]" the Labour party. The (Source: Full Fact)
False: Chester Zoo is offering a prize giveaway on Facebook, shared by a page called 'The Chester Wildlife Park'. A Facebook post written as if it was shared by Chester Zoo is offering a fake giveaway. The official Chester Zoo page has warned that this is not a genuine offer. The post appeared on a Facebook profile called "The Chester Wildlife Park" on 3 June. The profile has the same displa (Source: Full Fact)
Public Health Fakes: a “documentary” film about the victims of vaccination against COVID-19. Issue #35 This time, a pseudo-documentary video is circulating on the internet, claiming that famous athletes, celebrities, and TV presenters are dying after receiving the COVID-19 vaccination. The footage shows them suddenly losing consciousness on the field or during live broadcasts, sup (Source: Vox Ukraine)
Pants-Fire: Trump "hasn't been 'indicted.' It's all part of the Operation.” A federal grand jury indicted former President Donald Trump on 37 counts relating to the mishandling of classified documents. Trump is expected in court June 13. (Source: PolitiFact)
Misleading: Viral video of satellite images is not evidence that Quebec fires were orchestrated attacks Satellite images captured fires in Quebec spreading rapidly throughout June 2 and experts have attributed these fires to documented weather conditions. Posts on social media, however, have shared a clip speeding through this satellite footage to claim it shows that the fires star (Source: Reuters)
False: Photos show animals affected from flooding caused by dam attack in Ukraine After the destruction of a major dam in Ukraine unleashed devastating floods, social media posts and news reports falsely linked old photos to the disaster. The pictures of dogs swimming and livestock stranded by the deluge were not taken in Ukraine but during previous flooding in Thailand, Australia and Russia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
Debunked: Cycle ride...: Debunked: Cycle ride misreported to link it with controversial issues involving trans athletes (Source: TheJournal.ie)
Mcontext: Nigeria's vital Seme land border with Benin reopened in 2020 not 2023 as claimed online IN SHORT: The sudden closure of land borders in 2019 hurt Nigeria's economy. But the Seme land border in Lagos state has been open for years. A video posted on Facebook in June 2023 in Nigeria claims that the Seme land border has reopened. Located in Lagos state in western Nigeri (Source: Africa Check)
Fake: Has streaming giant Netflix released a movie about Kenya's Shakahola cult? No, trailer is fake IN SHORT: A viral video about the recent deaths by starvation inside a Kenyan cult is fake. A fabricated Netflix trailer could damage the streaming service's brand, mislead viewers and spread misinformation. A video posted on TikTok in April 2023 claims to be a trailer for a movi (Source: Africa Check)
False: Nigeria's new president Bola Tinubu appoints 27 ministers? No, ignore circulating list IN SHORT: As the country awaits a new cabinet, lists circulating on social media claim to name those who've made the grade. But it's not to be trusted. A list of 27 names, posted in a 1 June 2023 Facebook post , claims to be of "new appointees and some new ministries" made by Nig (Source: Africa Check)
False: No evidence church was struck by lightning in the US during a marriage ceremony for homosexual couple IN SHORT: A video going viral on social media in Kenya is captioned as showing a church struck down by lightning as a gay wedding ceremony was being performed. But this is pure fabrication. A video going viral on Facebook and Twitter in Kenya shows a building being consumed by fi (Source: Africa Check)
False: Illegal fake alcohol made in South Africa – or Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia? No, photos mostly snapped in Ivory Coast and Cameroon IN SHORT : Counterfeit liquor can be deadly, and is illegally produced in South Africa. But a social message warning of the dangers of these "fake alcoholic beverages" uses photos of police raids elsewhere on the continent. "Beware of fake alcoholic beverages being manufactured i (Source: Africa Check)
False: No, governor of Nigeria's Lagos state hasn't ordered traffic agency to stop arresting motorists IN SHORT: Social media posts claim that Babajide Sanwo-Olu has warned the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority not to arrest drivers. The claims are false, the traffic agency says. A message circulating on Facebook in Nigeria claims that Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-O (Source: Africa Check)
False: Idiroko border reopening video from 2022 not 2023, says Nigeria Customs Service IN SHORT: As Nigeria transitions into a new government, claims about the achievements of the incoming leadership are already being made. But the evidence does not stand up to close scrutiny. A video circulating on Facebook in June 2023 in Nigeria claims that the Idiroko border cr (Source: Africa Check)
False: Ignore false claims that the former chair of the Kenya's electoral commission has died Several social media posts claim that the former chair of Kenya's Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Wafula Chebukati, has died. The IEBC is responsible for managing elections in the East African country of 47 million people . A slideshow on TikTok shows seve (Source: Africa Check)
False: No, local flight bound for Lagos, Nigeria didn't crash-land in the bush IN SHORT: Social media posts have claimed that a plane had to make an emergency landing. But this is not true, according to the operator of the flight. The claim has been made on Facebook in Nigeria that a United Nigeria plane flying from Ebonyi state to Lagos state crash-landed (Source: Africa Check)
False: Former Lagos commissioner denies being appointed Nigeria's presidential spokesperson IN SHORT: Bola Tinubu is building his administration, but rumours that he has appointed a former Lagos state commissioner to the key post of spokesperson are not substantiated. Social media posts claim that Nigeria's president Bola Tinubu has picked Dele Alake, a former Lagos sta (Source: Africa Check)
False: Quote about truth and fools is falsely attributed to Mark Twain American writer Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known by his pen name Mark Twain, did not say, “The truth has no defense against a fool determined to believe a lie,” according to experts familiar with his life and work. A post (here) with more than 40,000 likes at the time of publishin (Source: Reuters)
False: Clips show fire-fighting helicopters, not Canadian wildfires being intentionally started Footage of helicopters using flame-throwing torches to light fires has been misrepresented online, with social media posts claiming the clips show that the 2023 Canadian wildfires are being lit deliberately. The U.S. Forest Service says (here) that during wildfires controlled bur (Source: Reuters)
False: Video showing an ‘alien’ in Las Vegas mixes CGI video and news report audio The audio from a news report about an alleged alien spotting has been edited onto a digital creation showing an alien-like being. Posts online, however, thought the edited clip was a real news report. A tweet (here) with over 10,000 likes at the time of publishing included the te (Source: Reuters)
False: California state map shows results of 1984 presidential election A predominantly red map of California shows the 1984 presidential election results, where former U.S. President Ronald Reagan won in a landslide. Online posts are falsely saying it shows results from the 2020 general election. An example nearing 4,000 retweets at the time of publ (Source: Reuters)
False: Benadryl-brand antihistamine products contain xylitol. About this rating In June 2023, we received emails from readers about a years-old rumor that was being copied and pasted on Facebook that claimed one or more forms of the allergy relief product Benadryl contain xylitol, asugar alcoholthat is toxic andeven deadlytodogs. This rumor (Source: Snopes)
True: Members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces helped produce a Bollywood-style video that started going viral in May 2023. About this rating Of all the performers in the clip, it was unclear who, exactly, was a member of the military or a civilian. However, an orchestra with the Ukrainian Armed Forces Navy was depicted on screen and listed in the video's YouTube caption, proving that at least some pa (Source: Snopes)
Labeled Satire: On March 8, 2023, Mark Zuckerberg banned Elon Musk from Facebook. About this rating On March 8, 2023, SpaceXMania published an articleclaiming that Mark Zuckerberg had banned Elon Musk from Facebook: Just in: Mark Zuckerberg bans Elon Musk from Facebook, Elon responds In a surprising move, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced that he will (Source: Snopes)
New data shows that...: New data shows that there's a record number of teachers in England's schools. "New data shows that there's a record number of teachers in England's schools - 468,371!" Department for Education, 8 June 2023 . In a tweet shared on 8 June the Department for Education (DfE) claimed that "new data shows that there's a record number of teachers in England's scho (Source: Full Fact)
False: UN swapped nation flags for pride flags outside headquarters Social media posts claim the United Nations (UN) has replaced the 193 member state banners outside its headquarters with LGBTQ pride flags. This is false; the photos shared as supposed evidence show Rockefeller Center, not the intergovernmental peacekeeping organization. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: Biden ordered Trump's indictment Biden had nothing to do with Trump's indictment in classified documents probe | Fact checkShow Caption Hide Caption Joe Biden says he had no influence over Donald Trump's indictment President Joe Biden said he's never influenced the DOJ as critics raise accusations following Donald Trump's indictment over classified documents. Claire Hardwick, Associated PressThe claim: Biden ordered Trump's indictmentA June 9 Facebook video (direct link, archive link) shows conservative commentator Benny Johnson discussing former President Donald Trump's indictment in the classified documents probe. "Biden ORDERS Trump Indictment Today!- FBI Surrenders Evidence To GOP - Feds PANIC In DC," reads the video's caption. In the classified documents probe, Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith made the decision to indict Trump, not Biden. Fact check: Trump can run in 2024 even if charged in classified documents caseAttorney General Merrick Garland appointed federal prosecutor Smith in November 2022 as special counsel to oversee Trump’s classified documents probe. (Source: USA Today)
Fake: A picture shared online in June 2023 authentically depicted U.S. President Joe Biden in an inflated bubble wrap suit. About this rating In early June 2023, social media usersand meme profilesstarted sharinga picture allegedly showing U.S. President Joe Biden wearing an inflated bubble wrap suit — what at least one post described as "a new costume designed to provide protection against falls" and (Source: Snopes)
False: An order from the chief judge for the Southern District of Florida banning journalists from using cell phones or cameras during Trump's arraignment in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case was unusual or unprecedented. About this rating On June 12, 2023, a coalition of media outlets petitioned the Southern District of Florida court system to make accommodations for journalists covering the June 13 arraignment of former president Donald Trump on charges he violated portions of the Espionage Act (Source: Snopes)
False: A photo shows Judge Aileen Cannon at a Trump rally Social media users are claiming a photo shows Aileen Cannon, the US district court judge assigned to the criminal case against Donald Trump for retaining classified documents, wearing Trump apparel outside one of the former president's rallies. This is false; there is no evidence the picture, which Getty Images captured in September 2022, shows Cannon. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: “They are trying to throw Trump in jail for the rest of his life for having a couple dozen documents that he had authority to declassify.” Former President Donald Trump has been indicted on 37 charges in a case centered on federal documents he took to Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach, Florida, resort.In 2022, the federal government recovered more than 300 documents with classified markings from Mar-a-Lago.Presidents do have the authority to declassify documents, but the Justice Department said Trump gave no indication he declassified any of the sensitive material found at Mar-a-Lago. (Source: PolitiFact)
False: Photo shows US District Judge Aileen Cannon in a 'Team Trump' hat "On the left there that's Judge Aileen Cannon and she's been initially assigned to the new Trump case in Florida so as you can imagine there are some problems here." Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunksOur rating: FalseThe photo does not show Judge Aileen Cannon, who has been assigned to oversee the federal case related to former President Donald Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents. Cannon, a Trump-appointed judge for the U.S District Court of Southern Florida, is set to initially oversee the federal case. Fact check: Trump can run in 2024 even if charged in classified documents caseThe Twitter user who originally shared the claim told the Associated Press they found the image after searching on Google Images for a photo of Cannon. USA TODAY previously debunked a claim that Cannon was fired from her position. (Source: USA Today)