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All English Fact Checks
Aligns Laws: California is considering a bill that will send children as young as 12 years old to group homes without the parent or guardian permission allows minors gender affirming care ab665 Aligns LawsIs California considering a bill that will send children "as young as 12" to be sent "to group homes without the parents permission," potentially allowing minors to receive gender-affirming medical or surgical care? No, that's not true: AB665 is a proposed bill to alig (Source: Lead Stories)
False: Demanding ransom is accepted in Buddhism. A politician in Sri Lanka who was convicted of extorting money from a businessman has been misquoted as saying that extortion "is not a violation of Buddhist principles" in a fabricated news graphic circulating on Facebook. The original news graphic quotes Prasanna Ranatunga speaking on an unrelated issue. An academic told AFP the posts feature a Buddhist verse about offering beverages, not about extortion. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
Misleading: Genuine images of Mayon volcano's eruption in 2023 Images that appear to show the Philippines' Mount Mayon spraying a tall fountain of lava in the air has been shared tens of thousands of times online as the volatile volcano spewed ash and rocks in June 2023. The images have been generated using an artificial intelligence tool and do not reflect Mayon's activity as of June 22, a researcher for the agency that monitors the archipelago's volcanoes told AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
Flase: Video shows Biparjoy cyclone footage from India A video of a town devastated by flooding has been viewed hundreds of times alongside social media posts that falsely claim it shows the destruction caused by Cyclone Biparjoy after it hit coastal areas of Pakistan and India in June 2023. The video has circulated alongside reports of massive flooding after heavy rains in September 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: Video of crowd booing suspended Nigerian central bank chief Posts have been shared on social media along with a video purportedly showing the suspended head of Nigeria’s central bank being booed outside court. But this is false: the clip shows politician Lamidi Apapa being jeered by Labour Party supporters who accuse him of trying to take control of the party and sabotaging presidential candidate Peter Obi’s legal challenge to nullify the outcome of February’s general election. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: Video of Ugandan ADF rebels celebrating school massacre A video of smiling armed men walking uphill as they are cheered on by an unidentified videographer has been viewed thousands of times in online posts claiming it shows rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) returning after carrying out a massacre at a Ugandan school. Ugandan authorities have blamed ADF for the attack on June 16, 2023. However, the video has been online since June 2022, a year before the school attack in which at least 42 were killed, including 37 students. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: These visuals shows landmines planted in Manipur by Kuki militants. Several pictures are going viral on the internet with users claiming that they show landmines planted in Manipur's Heikol by 'Kuki militants'.What have users said?: While some users shared the image to claim that a landmine blast happened in Manipur, others targeted the Kuki comm (Source: WebQoof - The Quint)
Mostly False: Eating blueberries treat UTIs Are berries capable of treating UTIs?No, not really. There is no scientific evidence to support the use of berries in the treatment of urinary tract infections, despite the fact that they have a high antioxidant content. Given that bacteria are frequently the cause of urinary tra (Source: Thip Media)
False: PM Modi's photo on the front page of The New York Times. Vishvas News fact-checked the viral post about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claimed coverage on the front page of the New York Times and found the purported screenshot to be fake and the claim to be false. The New York Times also confirmed that it has not published any such art (Source: Vishvasnews)
False: Boris Johnson will receive a £115,000-a-year pension for life. A number of claims about what Boris Johnson might be entitled to financially as a former Prime Minister have been circulating on social media. The claims have emerged in the wake of his resignation as an MP on 9 June and the subsequent publication of the Privileges Committee repo (Source: Full Fact)
Personal allowance t...: Personal allowance threshold changes mean someone working full time on the minimum wage has seen a "£1,000 reduction in their tax". "We have provided record increases to the personal allowance, meaning that a person working full time on the minimum wage has seen a £1,000 reduction in their tax." Oliver Dowden MP, 7 June 2023 . "We have reduced the income tax and national insurance paid by someone on the avera (Source: Full Fact)
The government has r...: The government has reduced the income tax and national insurance paid by someone on the average wage by about £1,100 a year. "We have provided record increases to the personal allowance, meaning that a person working full time on the minimum wage has seen a £1,000 reduction in their tax." Oliver Dowden MP, 7 June 2023 . "We have reduced the income tax and national insurance paid by someone on the avera (Source: Full Fact)
One in 10 pagers cur...: One in 10 pagers currently being used across the world are owned by the NHS. Only one company in the world still manufactures pagers, with the NHS estimated to own 1 in 10 pagers still in use. Labour press release, 13 June 2023 . The NHS is using 79,000 pagers, an estimated one in ten of the total globally. The Times, 14 June 2023 . Last week the Labour p (Source: Full Fact)
Debunked: Guardian a...: Debunked: Guardian article doesn't say, as fake pic implies, hot June weather proves climate change (Source: TheJournal.ie)
Debunked: No evidenc...: Debunked: No evidence for claims by anti-immigrant activist of attempted abduction in Kerry (Source: TheJournal.ie)
Public Health Fakes: Kennedy Jr. confirms the development of bioweapons in Ukraine. Issue #37 At the beginning of June, the Russian media spread the comments of Robert Kennedy Jr. regarding biolaboratories in Ukraine. The American politician allegedly confirmed the development of bioweapons in Ukrainian laboratories under the leadership of the United States. However, they (Source: Vox Ukraine)
False: A photo and a voter document prove Michelle Obama is a man Twitter users and websites claim a voter document from the US state of Illinois and a photo of Michelle Obama prove the former first lady is actually a man. This is false; the image is altered, and the Illinois State Board of Elections said it did not produce the purported voter record shared online. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
Miscaptioned: Donald Trump and Walt Nauta photo predates court ban on communication A photo of former U.S. President Donald Trump signing autographs with his aide and co-defendant Walt Nauta standing beside him predates a court order barring Trump from communicating with potential witnesses, including Nauta, about the federal case against Trump for mishandling c (Source: Reuters)
False: An image shows a CNN news story that reported the OceanGate submersible on its way to the Titanic wreckage site was found empty. As rescuersrace against the clockto find the Titan, the lost submersible operated by OceanGate Expeditions, social media users on Wednesday shared a fabricated CNN report that falsely claimed the vessel has been found with no one inside. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)
False: Video shows China launched an artificial sun A video has been viewed millions of times after it circulated on various social media platforms alongside a false claim that it shows the launch of China's artificial sun. The clip actually shows the launch of NASA's Artemis I rocket in November 2022 at the Kennedy Space Center in the US state of Florida. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: Video of Uhuru Kenyatta recently rebuking Kenyan President William Ruto Kenyan President William Ruto announced in a speech on June 1, 2023 that his administration plans to introduce affordable electric motorbikes to the country within a few months. Soon afterward, a video emerged online purporting to show former president Uhuru Kenyatta rebuking him. But the clip has been posted out of context: the video is old and dates back to July 2022, when Kenyatta took a swipe at an unnamed “political leader” whom he accused of spreading falsehoods about the country’s Naivasha dry port. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: No, video doesn't show dollars found in Nigeria's ousted central bank chief's house IN SHORT: After the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria was not only suspended but arrested, too, rumours have swirled in the country. But this viral video of piles of dollar bills being counted is from Sudan over three years ago, and was not shot in the ex-governor's house. (Source: Africa Check)
Scam: It's a scam! Beware of Facebook account claiming to offer loans in the name of Kenyan politician Aisha Jumwa IN SHORT: A cabinet secretary offering loans to Kenyans would entice many to sign up. This account claiming to belong to her hopes people will fall for its scams. The Facebook account Hon Aishia Jumwarh has announced loan offers available to Kenyans. The account's profile picture (Source: Africa Check)
Scam: Nigerians beware, a fake AIT news Facebook account is out to scam you! IN SHORT: Africa Check has exposed several Facebook accounts falsely claiming to offer investment services. This is another one impersonating broadcaster AIT, promising Nigerians to double their money. The Facebook account Air News Nigeria is offering investment plans to Nigerian (Source: Africa Check)
Pfalse: No, police officer Mohammed Umar Abba has not taken over as acting chair of Nigeria's financial crimes commission after Abdulrasheed Bawa's suspension in June 2023 IN SHORT: A photo of police officer Mohammed Umar Abba is circulating on social media in Nigeria, with the claim that he has been appointed chair of the EFCC following former chair Abdulrashaeed Bawa's suspension. But this is old news and not true. A few hours after Nigerian pres (Source: Africa Check)
False: No, Ugandan president Museveni is not dead. 'State House Uganda' tweet announcing his demise is fake IN SHORT: While president Yoweri Museveni contracted Covid-19, he is alive and well, according to official reports. "With deep sorrow and regret, we announce the sudden demise of the number one citizen of the republic of Uganda H.E Gen. Yoweri Museveni who died peacefully at 18:3 (Source: Africa Check)
False: No evidence that Nigeria's president has ordered all local oil refineries be fully operational within six months IN SHORT: President Bola Tinubu has made some bold calls since he was sworn in on 29 May 2023. But ordering ailing oil refineries into operation is not one of them. At his inauguration , Nigeria's president Bola Tinubu announced the removal of the country's controversial fuel sub (Source: Africa Check)
Scam: No, Citizen TV news presenter Trevor Ombija not offering loans to Kenyans on Facebook IN SHORT: Promotions by one of the country's well-known media personalities would ordinarily draw the attention of many. But this one is not legitimate. The Facebook account Trevor Ombija Citizen Tvv has been running promotions on a Facebook group in Kenya that has over 83,000 me (Source: Africa Check)
False: "Mel Gibson ha hecho cuatro documentales tremendos sobre este tema: tráfico de niños". El publicista de Mel Gibson dijo que él no está haciendo ningún documental.PolitiFact busco declaraciones o artículos verídicos que dijeran que Gibson había o estaba trabajando en documentales de tráfico de niños, pero no encontró prueba de esto. (Source: PolitiFact)
False: A lawyer for former President Donald Trump released new proof of 2020 election fraud. The video footage featured in this claim is not new. It’s from 2020 and has been previously debunked. (Source: PolitiFact)
Partially False: UK emergency services can’t track your location if you dial 55 in silent 999 call Emergency services in the United Kingdom cannot track someone’s location if the caller dials 55 during a silent 999 call, contrary to claims made online. One Facebook user (here) uploaded an image of text which reads: “If you ever find yourself dialling 999 and you can't speak pr (Source: Reuters)
Miscaptioned: Video depicts B-2 bomber flying over Miami Beach during Memorial Day show Footage of a U.S. military aircraft flying over Miami Beach on May 27, during an event for the Memorial Day holiday, has been misrepresented in social media posts claiming that the clip shows unusual military activity. “B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber Flying Over Miami. Reports from mi (Source: Reuters)
Posts Make False Cla...: Posts Make False Claim About Cause of Gender Dysphoria Recent research suggests that gender dysphoria is likely caused by a combination of factors, including hormone exposure before birth. But social media posts make the baseless claim that it could be caused by a vaccine containing DNA from an aborted fetus of the opposite sex. Ther (Source: FactCheck.org)
False: A user is searching for their 80-year-old grandma who has dementia and has gone missing. Posts on social media claiming that an 80-year-old grandmother with dementia has gone missing are hoaxes. One of the posts , which appears in a community group for Middlesbrough and has over 300 shares, says: "Help!!!- MISSING!! #middlesbrough My grandma who is 80 took off yester (Source: Full Fact)
Research found that...: Research found that a third of UK home-workers have no dedicated workspace at home. Research from the University of Leeds [...] found that a third of UK home-workers have no dedicated workspace at home. MailOnline, 16 June 2023 . A MailOnline article said that research from the University of Leeds showed that about a third of people who work at home have no dedi (Source: Full Fact)
Miscaptioned: No evidence photo of man in military fatigues and a Union Jack patch is a ‘NATO mercenary’ A photo of four men in military fatigues, including one who has a British Union Jack patch on his arm, has been falsely claimed online to be proof that NATO mercenaries are fighting in Ukraine. Tens of thousands of people have seen the claim on Twitter, Facebook and TikTok. One e (Source: Reuters)
False: Fake CNN report claims missing Titan sub was discovered empty CNN did not publish an article saying that OceanGate’s Titan submersible vehicle that went missing on June 18, 2023 was recovered empty, a spokesperson for the U.S.-based media company said. A screenshot of the CNN headline claiming the sub was recovered after three days is fake, (Source: Reuters)
All German Fact Checks
Unbelegt: Die nächsten Lockdowns stünden an, diesmal unter dem Vorwand des Hitzeschutzes. Als in einer Pressekonferenz, unter anderem mit Bundesgesundheitsminister Karl Lauterbach, die Rede von Notstand, von einer „Katastrophe im Gesundheitswesen“” und einer möglichen Überlastung des Gesundheitssystems die Rede war, erinnerte das Manche an die Corona-Pandemie. Der näc (Source: Correctiv)