Your weekly fact-checks
#Health
False: During the "COVID lockdowns," the average American gained 29 pounds.
The cited clinical data suggest the pandemic did not have a significant overall effect on weight and, instead, followed a trend of an increase in the average weight of Americans that has existed since well before the pandemic. (Source: Snopes)
Misinterpreted: Lithium mining operations caused widespread air quality problems for large portions of the USA on June
The large plume of smoky air from Canada, which spread poor air quality conditions to many places in the U.S. in late June 2023, originated from from forest fires, and not from gold and lithium mining operations. (Source: Lead Stories)
Misleading: Amish Death Rates 90 Times Lower Than Rest of America
There is no definitive research on how the pandemic affected the Amish, who live in a variety of rural settlements across multiple US states. Still, available data suggests the traditionalist community experienced death rates equal to or higher than the overall US population. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
#French riots
False: France said it would shut down internet services “to control the riots.”
Two French governmental agencies issued statements describing as fake a purported news release saying the government had decided to restrict internet access. There is no evidence that France announced a stoppage of internet services amid riots over the fatal police shooting of a teen. (Source: PolitiFact)
Partly False: Britain's Foreign Office has warned its citizens not to travel to France because of the riots.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has advised people to avoid areas where riots are taking place, monitor local media and follow the advice of local authorities and travel operators. It has not advised against travel to France. (Source: Full Fact)
#Nordics
False: The EU Nature Restoration Law will turn Lapland's capital into a forest
The Nature Restoration Law requires an increase in the “total national area of urban green space”, not the increase of green space in each urban area. There is nothing in the proposed law that will require entire cities to be turned into forests. (Source: TheJournal.ie)
#Other
False: Bibles have been banned in California.
The claim that Bibles have been banned in California is false. The claim is based on a five-year-old video about legislation that was initially amended, due to concerns it could restrict sales of the Bible, and then withdrawn before it went to a final vote. (Source: Australian Associated Press - AAP)
False: 1883 ‘photograph’ of bigfoot or sasquatch found
An image generated using artificial intelligence showing a man standing next to a tall hairy creature was falsely shared on social media as photographic proof that the bigfoot or sasquatch is real. (Source: Reuters)
#WTF?! What The Fact?! of the week
False: “In Switzerland, it is illegal to flush the toilet after 10 p.m. in apartments to avoid disturbing neighbors.”
This is an urban myth, according to news reports. In Switzerland, local authorities set quiet hours and apartments often have long lists of house rules. But these regulations and rules do not prevent people from flushing toilets late at night. (Source: PolitiFact)
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