Latest news with #falseclaims
Washington Post
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
The Fact Checker rose in an era of false claims. Falsehoods are now winning.
When 400 fact-checkers from around the world gathered in Rio de Janeiro in June for an annual conference, the mood was tense. After years of exponential growth, political fact-checking was in retreat and under fire. And somehow, even as fact-checking surged in the past decade, so had the wave of false claims and narratives swamping the world.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Posts share false Bangladesh jet crash death toll
A school in Bangladesh said 22 students died after a fighter jet crashed into its campus in the capital Dhaka, contrary to false claims circulating online that put the death toll at 247. A spokesperson for the school said the numbers mentioned in the false posts are impossible, as they exceeded the number of people on campus at the time. "Dead -- 247; injured -- 522. Source: Milestone School authority," reads a Bengali-language Facebook post shared on July 23, two days after the disaster. Pupils had just been let out of class when a Chinese-made F-7 BJI aircraft slammed into the private Milestone School and College in Dhaka (archived link). The post generated over 100 comments from users who appeared confused over the figures mentioned, which were higher than official reports. Some suggested there was a cover-up while others appeared to believe the false claim. "How cruel! We are always the scapegoats," one said. Another wrote, "Many die and they say 26/27 people died." Similar Facebook posts also racked up more shares but the school dismissed the claims. "This is completely baseless and wrong information," Milestone School and College coordinator Lutfunnessa Lopa told AFP on July 24. The claims are "impossible", she said, as the number of injured people mentioned in the false posts -- 522 -- exceeded those present at the campus at the time of the crash. AFP found no report on the school's website or Facebook page that stated the number of dead in the crash as 247 (archived here and here). The school authority released a statement on the day stating 22 students had died so far in the disaster, while many critical patients are receiving treatments in different hospitals (archived link). Lopa said that the number only covers the children who died, while the government's official death toll includes parents, teachers and staff who were killed. Special prayers were held across Bangladesh on July 25, as the death toll from the disaster rose to 32 (archived link). Bangladesh's Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate also separately refuted the posts. "It has been observed that widespread rumours are being spread on social media regarding the death toll at Milestone School and College. Many people are unknowingly believing these rumours," reads a statement the agency issued to the media (archived link). AFP has debunked misinformation around the crash here.
Free Malaysia Today
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
MCMC probing individual over online post on chief justice
MCMC said the online post is believed to contain false claims regarding the appointment of the chief justice. PETALING JAYA : The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission is investigating an individual for allegedly uploading offensive content about the judiciary. MCMC said the post is believed to contain false claims regarding the appointment of the chief justice. However, it did not provide any details on the claims that were made. In a statement, it said the individual was called in for questioning at the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters at 2.30pm. A mobile phone and SIM card were seized as part of the investigation. MCMC said it views the spread of false and offensive content involving the judiciary seriously, and warned that any misuse of social media in such a manner could erode public trust and disrupt national harmony. It also said firm action will be taken under the law. The case is being investigated under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, relating to the improper use of network facilities or services, and provides for a fine of up to RM500,000, up to two years in prison, or both, upon conviction. Last night, the office of the chief registrar announced that Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh had been appointed the new chief justice, replacing Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who retired earlier this month. In a statement, the office said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong also consented to the appointments of Abu Bakar Jais as Court of Appeal president, and Azizah Nawawi as chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak. All three will be sworn in and presented with their letters of appointment at Istana Negara on July 28.
CBS News
17-07-2025
- CBS News
Los Angeles woman federally charged for allegedly making false claim that she was kidnapped by ICE, DOJ says
A woman from South Los Angeles has been federally charged for allegedly making false claims that she was kidnapped by immigration officials, the U.S. Department of Justice says. Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon, 41, is charged in a federal criminal complaint with conspiracy and making false statements to federal officials. The complaint cites a June 30 news conference held by Calderon's family and attorneys from Movement Legal, where they claimed that five days before, Calderon had been kidnapped by "masked men" at a Jack in the Box restaurant parking lot in downtown LA and taken to the border in San Ysidro. The family also claimed that while there, Calderon was presented to "[a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] staffer" and given voluntary self-deportation paperwork. When she allegedly refused to sign the paperwork, she was "punished" and sent to a warehouse at an undisclosed location. The complaint also alleges that Calderon's daughter set up a GoFundMe page to help her. The Justice Department says surveillance video of the Jack in the Box parking lot shows Calderon getting into a sedan. Investigators also point to phone records that they say show she was in communication with her family during the time that she was allegedly in custody. The DOJ adds that on July 3, while Calderon was still purportedly missing, federal agents confirmed she was not in immigration custody. The DOJ says agents from Homeland Security Investigations found Calderon two days later at a shopping plaza parking lot in Bakersfield. The complaint alleges that Calderon and her family knew that law enforcement officials were searching for her but failed to come forward. It adds that she fabricated "rescue" photos that were "made to look as if she was abused while in ICE custody and planned to hold a press conference on July 6 to increase donations to the GoFundMe page and to obtain other benefits." "The conduct alleged in today's complaint shows this hoax 'kidnapping' was a well-orchestrated conspiracy," said U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. "The defendant and all those involved will face the full consequences of their conduct under federal law." CBS News Los Angeles has reached out to her attorneys at Movement Legal for a comment and is waiting for a response. Calderon is expected to make her first court appearance in the coming weeks in the U.S. District Court in downtown LA. If convicted of all charges, she could face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for conspiracy and up to five years for the false statements charge.
Irish Times
15-07-2025
- Irish Times
Two doctors and a secretary accused of stealing money appear in court
Two doctors and a secretary charged with multiple counts of stealing money under a state-funded healthcare reimbursement scheme and submitting false claims to the HSE have appeared before Longford Circuit Court. Doctors Muhammad Azam (59) and Waqas Farooqi (46) and secretary Gillian McCord (56) were before Judge Kenneth Connolly on Tuesday. The court heard the three had only recently been served with the book of evidence and counsel needed more time to go through it. The three defendants face a combined total of 135 charges, including 20 counts of theft and 22 counts of using false general medical services claims or out-of-hours payment forms. READ MORE Those false claims related to 12 different patients at the Primary Care Reimbursement Services, Exit 50, North Road, Finglas, Dublin 11. Dr Azam, of The Rocks, Stonepark, Co Longford, faces a total of 48 charges. Dr Farooqi, of Belvedere Hills, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, is facing 47 charges. There are 42 charges brought against Ms McCord, of Knockanboy, Co Longford. It is alleged the three accused used false medical documentation to indicate that patients had received medical services. Dr Azam and Dr Farooqi were also charged with multiple counts of money-laundering within the State between October 2017 and December 2019. All three were remanded on continuing bail to reappear in court on October 28th.
