The Taliban vowed to respect women's rights, forgive those who fought them, and ensure Afghanistan does not become a haven for terrorists as part of a publicity blitz aimed at reassuring world powers and a fearful population.
Snopes→ Taliban Allowing ‘Safe Passage’ from Kabul in US Airlift
The Taliban have agreed to allow “safe passage” from Afghanistan for civilians struggling to join a U.S.-directed airlift from the capital, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser said.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Miami-Dade Police Department Did NOT Issue Warning About A Sexual Assault Scheme That Uses Children To Target Women
Did the Miami-Dade Police Department issue a warning about a sexual assault scheme that uses children to target women? No, that's not true: A public information officer from the MDPD confirmed with Lead Stories that the letter, which has
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: ‘867-5309’ Is NOT A Number To Call To Report Maskless People — It’s From An Old Pop Song, And The Post Is A Joke
Can people wanting to report someone for not wearing a mask do so by phoning "867-5309"? No, that's not true: The number that appears in the claim is the title of a popular 1980s song, "867-5309/ Jenny" by Tommy Tutone. This number has be
FactCheck.org→ Timeline of U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan
The blame game has begun over who lost Afghanistan. The fact is, President Joe Biden and his predecessor, Donald Trump, were both eager to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan and end what Biden referred to in his Aug. 16 speech as “America̵
FactCheck.org→ Marine General Supports Vaccinations for Military
SciCheck Digest The secretary of defense announced that COVID-19 vaccination will be mandatory for all service members by mid-September. But social media posts have shared an article from a dubious website that falsely claimed that the leader of the Ma
Snopes→ Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Tests Positive for COVID-19
Abbott, who was vaccinated in 2020, was isolating in the governor's mansion in Austin and receiving monoclonal antibody treatment, spokesman Mark Miner said in a statement.
Snopes→ Does a Video Show Firefighters Catching a Suicidal Woman in Mid-Air?
The heroic exploits of two Latvian firefighters gained prominence online in August 2021.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: U.S. Military Equipment Is NOT Moving Around Country ‘Under Commander In Chief Donald J. Trump’
Is U.S. military equipment moving around the country "under Commander in Chief Donald J. Trump"? No, that's not true: Trump is no longer president per Article 20 of the U.S. Constitution, by which Joe Biden became president on January 20,
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Tweet That Parents Divorced Over Debt And U.S. Medical System Does NOT Exist
Did a Twitter user named "Becky Lynn Paige" tweet that their parents divorced over $288,000 in debt and "the American medical system"? No, that's not true: There is no evidence that such a Twitter account ever existed, plus the counterfei
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘King George VI Having Fun’
On August 15 2021, the Facebook page “Classical Art Memes” shared an image titled “King George VI Having Fun”: Although the image was popular and generated engagement, no additional information was included alongside it. A rev
Snopes→ Is Isaac Newton’s Apple Tree Still Alive?
How do you like them apples?
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: It Does NOT Take Gallons Of Water To ‘Flush’ Energy Drinks Out Of The Kidneys
Is it true that for every 20 ounces of Monster Energy that you drink, you'll need 6.3 gallons of water to flush it out of your kidneys? Is it also true that for every 20 ounces of Red Bull you drink, you'll need a gallon of water to flush
Snopes→ Heath Ledger Did Not Improvise in the Hospital Scene in ‘The Dark Knight’ After a ‘Mishap’
A video with more than 30 million views falsely claimed that Ledger "completely improvised" the hospital explosion scene after a "mishap."
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Harvard Did NOT Terminate A Student’s Admission ‘As A Result Of Speculating Your Social Media Accounts’
Did Harvard terminate a student's admission "as a result of speculating your social media accounts?" No, that's not true: The letter from "Harvard College Office of Undergraduate Education" is a hoax, a Harvard spokesperson told Lead Stor
Snopes→ Does Pic Show Healthcare Worker Who Treated COVID Patients for ‘573 Days’?
In August 2021, a viral photo showed a woman in medical scrubs who opposed vaccine mandates, claiming she had treated COVID-19 patients for "573 days" without suffering any harm.
Truth or Fiction?→ Flight Out of Afghanistan
Just before 5PM on August 16 2021, high-profile Facebook accounts shared an image labeled as a “flight out of Afghanistan”; the same image had been shared to Reddit’s r/pics two hours prior: One of the flights out of Kabul.
Snopes→ RECALL: FDA Expands Recall of Frozen Shrimp Linked to Salmonella Outbreak
Dozens of product names were distributed across the U.S. from November 2020 to May 2021.
Snopes→ Fake ‘Afghan News’ Accounts Spread Racist Misinformation About ‘Missing Reporter’
Peddlers of misinformation attempted to sow confusion in the wake of the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.
Snopes→ Biden’s Teleprompter Did Not Say ‘Leave Now’ at End of Afghanistan Speech
A doctored picture was shared in the moments after U.S. President Joe Biden gave a speech on the Taliban's efforts to take over in Afghanistan.
Snopes→ Susan B. Anthony Photo, Found in Attic, Now Going to Auction
A rare framed photograph of Susan B. Anthony is being auctioned with a starting price of $5,000.
Logically→ A person who has been vaccinated against COVID-19 can get infected.
Some reports have confirmed that vaccinated individuals could potentially still get COVID-19.
Snopes→ Naomi Osaka Briefly Leaves Zoom Press Conference Before Western & Southern Open
The tennis star was in tears after an exchange with a reporter.
Full Fact→ Samaritans doesn’t have a text number anymore
A post on Facebook which has been shared more than 20,000 times claims that anyone who is feeling depressed or suicidal can text a number and receive a response from a crisis counsellor connected to Samaritans. This information is out of date and
Snopes→ Is This Journalism Before and After Taliban Takeover?
The threat to female journalists in the region is undoubtedly real.
Snopes→ Woman Using Gun’s Laser Sight to Play with Cat Shoots Friend
A Wisconsin woman accidentally shot a friend while using the laser sight on a handgun to play with a cat.
Full Fact→ French ambassador hasn’t left Kabul as Robert Peston claims
As the Taliban advanced towards Kabul on Sunday, 15 August, the French ambassador in Afghanistan David Martinon tweeted a video of him in what appears to be a helicopter saying he was leaving the Afghan capital’s former “green zone”.
AllSides→ Does Video Show Taliban Welcomed Into Kabul by Crowd of Residents?
https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-does-video-show-taliban-welcomed-kabul-crowd-residents-1619657 Avid
Logically→ 40 percent of migrants have been tested positive for COVID-19 in Laredo, Texas.
COVID-19 positive rate among migrants in Laredo increased to 40 percent in some groups, said a complaint filed with the U.S. Southern District Court.
Snopes→ Food Stamp Benefits to Increase by More Than 25% in October
President Joe Biden's administration has approved a significant and permanent increase in the levels of food aid available to needy families — the largest single increase in the program's history.
Logically→ Doctors in the U.K will be forced to have COVID-19 vaccines.
Most U.K doctors are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Authorities have said it is their duty to get vaccinated, but it is not a legal requirement.
Poynter→ Reverso builds a culture of accountability ahead of Argentina’s midterm elections
Speed and reach are the cornerstones of the second iteration of Reverso — a collaboration of Argentinian media organizations fighting election misinformation organized by fact-checking organization Chequeado. Originally launched in 2019, Reverso br
Logically→ Lebanon is witnessing fuel shortage and massive power cuts amid the financial meltdown.
The country's economic collapse has left the government without enough fuel to provide electricity for most of the day.
Poynter→ Science shows mask-wearing is largely safe for children
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is one of a handful of GOP governors trying to block school districts from requiring masks in the classroom. Under DeSantis’ direction, the state health department adopted a rule that gives families the ability to opt out
Washington Post→ Biden, Trump and Afghanistan: Statements that haven’t aged well
As events have unfolded in Afghanistan, former president Donald Trump, President Biden and members of the Biden administration have made statements that were wildly off in light of recent events.
Snopes→ AP: Taliban Leader Reported in Kabul for Talks
Senior Taliban leader Amir Khan Muttaqi is said to be in the Afghan capital negotiating with Kabul’s political leadership, including Abdullah Abdullah, who once headed the country’s negotiating council, and former President Hamid Karzai.
Snopes→ California Drought Takes Toll on World’s Top Almond Producer
Almond orchards are thirsty permanent crops that need water year-round, clashing with a worsening drought and intensifying heat waves tied to climate change.
Snopes→ Misinformation at Public Forums Vexes Local Boards, Big Tech
“I hope no one is making any medical decisions based on what they hear at our public forums," said County Councilwoman Lisa Clancy, who supports mask wearing and said she believes most of her constituents do too.
Snopes→ Sources: US to Recommend COVID Vaccine Boosters at 8 Months
Federal health officials have been actively looking at whether extra shots for the vaccinated would be needed as early as this fall.
Snopes→ Falcons First NFL Team to Have 100% of Players Vaccinated
Atlanta becomes the first team able to have all its players not wear masks around the facility and eat and work out together.