Tag Archive for: #FactCheck

Fact-check: Did doctors in the U.S. find new cancer in human beings caused by silver nitro oxide?

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The compound silver nitro oxide does not exist, and there is no proven evidence to show that the silver coating on recharge cards causes skin cancer.

Writer: Ochaya Jackson

A WhatsApp message being forwarded to groups claiming that doctors in the United States had found new cancer in human beings caused by silver nitro oxide is false. 

The claim, which emphasises that people forward the message widely, also claims that recharge cards contain a silver nitro oxide coating, which can cause skin cancer. 

“WhatsApp is free, so share it, please. Please read and forward this. 

Doctors in the United States have found new cancer in human beings, caused by Silver Nitro Oxide.  Whenever you buy recharge cards, don’t scratch your nails, as they contain Silver Nitro Oxide coating and can cause skin cancer. Share this message with your loved ones,” reads the WhatsApp message.

The screenshot of the WhatsApp claim

The same claim was also posted here (archived here) on October 3rd, 2023, and here (archived here) in 2021.

Further queries on Facebook about “Silver Nitro Oxide” returned that the claim was shared here and here years ago.

Claim Verification:

A keyword search on Google using “Doctors in the United States have found new cancer in human beings” returned that the same claim was fact-checked by the AFP in 2020 and found to be false. 

From the results, any information about discoveries does not mention any cancer caused by silver nitro oxide.

211 Check also found a report by The New Indian Express that debunked the same claim in 2016.

Again, a keyword search on Google for “Silver Nitro Oxide” returned another fact-check report that debunked the claim as a hoax.

Further, there is no chemical substance called “Silver Nitro Oxide,” according to PubChem and ChemSpider, which are databases for chemical information. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), skin cancer is caused by overexposure to ultraviolet light (radiation) from the sun or artificial sources like devices (tanning beds) that emit ultraviolet radiation.

A study published in the National Library of Medicine in 2014 on recharge card coatings in Nigeria showed that silver coatings of major recharge cards contained high levels of heavy metals such as iron, zinc, copper, nickel cadmium, lead, silver, chromium, manganese.

However, the study noted that ‘despite the high concentration of the metals in the coating, the health risk index (HRI) indicated that the users of mobile phones recharge cards could only experience low health risk associated with these metals. 

The study also noted that long-term exposure could be a source of worry. It recommended that regular washing of hands after scratching off coatings on the recharge cards should be practised to avoid food contamination.

Additionally, a 2018 study by the Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological, and Chemical Sciences (RJPBCS) on heavy metals concentrations in mobile phone recharge cards in Iraq indicated high levels of heavy metals in recharge cards. The study recommended that blunt razor blades or any special scraper should be used instead of fingernails so as not to contaminate foods and drinks and avoid ingestion. 

However, both studies did not link the compound used on scratch cards to skin cancer. 

211 Check also contacted a Juba-based Medical Officer, Case Thomas Nicholas, who works with the German Leprosy Association, for comment. According to Nicholas, the claim is unfounded, and silver nitrooxide does not exist among carcinogenic substances.

“The claims about silver nitro oxide are wide off the mark. Such claims are unfounded and must be disregarded. The silver nitro oxide doesn’t exist as people say and it’s not related to any cancer cause. People talked of nitrous oxide and nitric oxide but none are found to cause any form of cancer. Just know that the list of carcinogenic substances doesn’t include silver nitro oxide because it [silver nitro oxide] doesn’t exist,” wrote Nicholas in response to the query.

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the claim that doctors in the United States found new cancer in human beings caused by silver nitro oxide is false. The compound silver nitro oxide does not exist, and there is no proven evidence to show that the silver coating on recharge cards causes skin cancer. 

This fact check was published by 211 Check with technical support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance (AFCA).

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: Does this picture show part of Bor in Jonglei State? 

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No, the image was taken from Miami Beach, Florida, US

Writer: Jibi Moses

A Facebook post with a picture published on Facebook by Juba Eye claiming to have been taken in Bor, Jonglei State, is false.

The picture, which was posted on November 21, 2023, had the caption “Good morning from Kuch’ngo Bor, Jonglei State”.

The post garnered 366 reactions and over 80 comments in less than three hours. Although the picture alone is questionable, some comments raised suspicion, such as one that read: “I cannot wait to be in Miami, Bor.”

This prompted 211 Check to investigate and find the exact location where the picture was taken.

A screenshot of the picture is shown in the post by Juba Eye.

Claim Verification:

211 Check ran a Google Reverse Image Search, and the results showed the image is of Miami Beach in Florida, USA.

Similarly, Yandex’s results  also show that the image is of Miami Beach.

A screenshot of the same image, as posted by one of the users on Yandex

In one instance, Depositphotos posted the picture alongside other similar pictures with the caption: Aerial view of Miami Beach and Ocean Drive on a beautiful spring day. — Photo

Some other instances where the image was used, all confirming it was from Miami Beach, US, can be seen here, here, and here.

Miami Beach, Florida, USA:

According to Latlong.net, the coastal city of Miami Beach is located between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay in southeastern Florida, United States. It is a very popular tourist destination courtesy of its wide beaches, hotels, clubs, bars, and pastel-coloured buildings. 

Conclusion:

211 Check has found that a Facebook post with the image of a beach shared on Facebook, claiming to be Bor, Jonglei State, is false. The image is of Miami Beach, Florida, US. 

This fact check was published by 211 Check with technical support from Code for Africa’s  PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance (AFCA).

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: This America Visa Lottery 2023/24 Application website is a hoax

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The website is not legitimate since it’s not the official U.S. Department of State link. 

Writer: Makur Majeng

A WhatsApp message claims that the American government plans to issue over 55,000 visas plus permanent resident cards, and applications are currently open for students, workers, and families with no age limit. 

It provides a link to apply.

The screenshot of the claim on its first click

Claim Verification:

When analysing the provided link and the information on the website, 211 Check discovered that the claim is a hoax.

A Google keyword search using “America Visa Lottery application form 2023/2024” yielded no credible results or official announcements related to such a lottery.

The 211 Check verification process involved examining the website mentioned in the WhatsApp message. 

According to the investigation conducted by 211 Check, the website claims to offer benefits like no application fee, instant work permits, free accommodation, monthly allowances, and work and study permits. 

However, these promises are often indicators of fraudulent schemes.

Screenshot of the information on the site’s webpage

The website requires individuals to enter personal information such as their name, country, gender, and password. This is a potential red flag, as scammers often exploit personal information for identity theft or other malicious purposes.

Furthermore, after providing personal details, the website requests that users validate their names and proceed to the next step. It then prompts them to choose a visa type. 

However, the website does not provide concrete information about the visa process, eligibility requirements, or official U.S. Department of State website links.

The website asks participants to share the promotion with multiple groups or friends on WhatsApp, signalling a typical tactic employed by scams to broaden their reach.

The URL provided in the WhatsApp message is flagged as phishing, malicious, and malware by VirusTotal, an online tool that assesses suspicious websites.

The US Green Card Lottery:

The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV Program) makes immigrant visas available to citizens of countries with low immigration rates.

The United States Department Web site says, “The 2025 Diversity Visa Program (DV-2025) is now open. The entry submission period for DV-2025 is from noon EDT (GMT -4) on October 4, 2023, to noon EST (GMT -5) on November 7, 2023. The entry form will only be available for submission during this period.”

Here is the official website for the Electronic Diversity Visa Program.

Whois Domain Information:

The imposter website domain was registered on 29 August 2023, meaning it is less than a year old.

Conclusion:

The claim of the America Visa Lottery 2023/2024 application form being open, as shared through a WhatsApp message, is a hoax. 

The provided website exhibits several red flags, including promises of instant benefits, soliciting personal information, and a need for official credentials or links. The URL itself is flagged as potentially malicious and phishing. 

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any. It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: The South Sudan Football Association Director of Finance hasn’t resigned

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In a press release, the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) leadership has refuted claims that its Finance Director, Mobutu Isaac, has resigned.

Writer: Kei Emmanuel Duku

A Facebook post widely shared on various social media platforms claiming Mobutu Isaac, SSFA Finance Director, has resigned is false, according to the South Sudan Football Governing Body, SSFA.

Screenshot of the Facebook post as posted by SSD Sport’s On Time

Posted on September 27, 2023, it claimed that Mobuto Isaac had resigned, citing reasons of financial mismanagement by the current leadership of the South Sudan Football Association.

The claim was posted in Arabic, but with the help of Google Translate, “The mismanaged money amounted to USD 500,000. The African Football Governing CAF sent the money and another $1,600,000 from FIFA.”

The claim further stated that Mobutu Isaac was one of many staff members said to have resigned from the association in addition to Konga- Konga, the receptionist, John Lodu- the board member, and another unnamed staff member holding the docket of photographer within SSFA are said to have resigned at the start of the year, because of nonpayment of their salary arrears for the last two years. 

C:\Users\Kei\Desktop\SSFA.PNG
Screenshot of the Google Translate text

It’s worth noting that SSFA receives funding from FIFA, CAF, and the government and funds from other cooperating institutions that support the various national teams.  

Claim Verification:

In a letter dated September 28, 2023, written by Victor Lawrence Lual, the association’s General Secretary denied the claim about any mismanagement of cash from FIFA, CAF, and other organisations, saying the claims were fake. 

“We would like to thank FIFA, CAF, the Government of South Sudan, and other well-wishers for their generous and continuous support of SSFA. The amount mentioned in the article published and circulated on social media is incorrect,” reads part of the statement in part.

211 Check also contacted SSFA’s finance director, who said he is on leave and has not resigned.

SSFA acknowledged receiving money from the Government of South Sudan amounting to 400,000,000 SSP, as indicated in the claim; however, it denied saying the money was meant for the U-20 National Team in their recent triumph in the U-20 competition held in Sudan and Egypt. 

But is SSFA Receiving funds from FIFA and CAF? 

Despite SSFA not revealing how much they are getting from CAF and FIFA, 211 Check conducted desktop research to determine how much every Member Association affiliated with FIFA and CAF receives. Our finding indicates that the Federation of Uganda Football Association, a South Sudan neighbour in 2020, received $500,000 as an annual grant from FIFA, which was paid to 210 of all Member Associations (MA) registered with FIFA, including SSFA, as a way of recovering funds from COVID-19 as reported by Eye Radio. 

Apart from the COVID-19 grants, every member association receives money from FIFA. 

Other grants from CAF to all the  MA are sent quarterly  $500,000 from FIFA, amounting to $1 million. This money is intended to fund activities of the respective associations, including the payment of salaries to staff, and another part of it goes to the local football governing association in every country, as explained by FUFA Communications Director Ahmed Hussein. 

However, the letter issued by SSFA stated that much of the money received from FIFA and CAF was used for funding national teams. Yet, national teams are solely the responsibility of the government through the Ministry of Sports as it hires and pays for the national team coach—a company paid for the current South Sudan National Team head coach position. Again, SSFA claimed in their press release that they spend some money on infrastructure, yet the ongoing construction work at Juba Stadium is solely funded by FIFA. 

Therefore, it remains to be seen what infrastructural development the association is currently undertaking, as claimed in the press release issued by the office. 

It is not only FIFA that sends money to its MA, but also CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, who, while on his tour to Uganda, reaffirmed his commitment to increasing funding for member associations. This is to help with administrative costs.  

History of mismanagement of FIFA and CAF funds within the SSFA 

In 2016, through its adjudicatory chamber of the independent ethics committee, FIFA found Mr Chabour Goc Alei, former president of the SSFA, guilty of having misappropriated FIFA funds, which led to his suspension from related football activities.  

Suppose this claim posted on SSD Sport’s timeline is to attract investigation by FIFA and other audit firms. In that case, it is because of the similarity it shares with the previous claims of 2016 because, before investigations by FIFA in 2016, Tobby William Okot, former Secretary General of SSFA, and his deputy resigned following allegations of mismanagement of funds from FIFA. 

Secondly, the claims also have something in common regarding the amount of money said to have been mismanaged in 2016, which is the exact figure of $500,000 from FIFA. 

Conclusion: 

211 Check finds the claim that the South Sudan Football Association’s Finance Director has resigned false. A press release from the football governing body dismissed the claim.

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: WhatsApp message advertising UN AID funds for South Sudan is a hoax

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The viral WhatsApp message containing an application for UN AID Funds to South Sudanese is a scam.

Writer: Abraham Athian 

A WhatsApp message being forwarded to several users and groups with a title that reads, “UN AID FUNDS FOR SOUTH SUDAN” is a hoax.

“The online application for UN AID FUNDS is now available, and the government is urging all the citizens to apply now to receive this aid funds. Payment of funds has just started,” the claim reads in part.

“Application is free for all applicants and is open to all citizens, whether rich or poor,” the message adds. 

Screenshot of the WhatsApp message doing rounds

A link is provided in the WhatsApp message for unsuspecting users to click on. The provided link refers you to a web page where you will see the South Sudan Coat of Arms and the United Nations logo with South Sudan maps in the background. 

Besides, you will also see the alleged number of applicants who are said to have received the claimed aid highlighted in green colour. There are about 9,634 beneficiaries. 

Screenshot of the web claim

In addition, some static comments with unclickable profiles are fake and misleading. 

A screenshot of the fake comments on the web page

While proceeding,  a user is asked for their name and whether the user is a South Sudanese. After submission, the user will see the congratulatory message and eligibility to receive the aid after submitting the details. 

With their tricky plans, conditional steps are given to receive the alleged funds. That is by sharing it with five groups and 15 friends on WhatsApp. “This is what made it go viral.” 

A screenshot of the tricky claim

Claim Verification 

A Google Word Search for “UN aid funds for South Sudan” yields no results. 

WEB Paranoid Results show that the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) link is a scam and a low-trusted website that is suspicious and unsafe for users.

WEB PARANOID RESULTS (Analysis, Review, and Complaints):

Web Analysis 

Web Review 

Web Technical Analysis 

A screenshot of Web Paranoid results 

A further search by Virus Total detected Bitdefender, Fortinet and G-Data as Malware. Avira, Kaspersky and CyRadar Phishing and Malicious, respectively.

A screenshot of Virus Total results 

The overall summary of Virus Total results. Six security vendors flagged this URL  https://un.aid.fund.officialreg.site as malicious. 

A screenshot of the Virus Total results summary 

In comparison, the Whois search shows that the given Link is not the legitimate United Nations URL.

GoDaddy, LLC registered and updated the fake domain on September 22, 2023, in Arizona State, United States. It will expire on September 22, 2024. In most cases, newly registered websites are not trustworthy.

 A screenshot of the fake domain Whois Information

On the other hand, Network Solutions, LLC registered the legitimate United Nations domain on January 31, 1995, in New York State, US. It was updated on January 15, 2018, and will expire on February 1, 2024.

A screenshot of the official UN domain Whois Information

The provided URL https://un.aid.fund.officialreg.site doesn’t match the official United Nations URL https://www.un.org/en/. Making it a fake and illegal domain devised to scam internet users. 

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the claim that the United Nations is running Aid funds for South Sudanese, a hoax devised as a phishing scam to deceive unsuspecting internet users into providing their details. 

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: Is Bill Gates planning to eliminate three billion people?

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There’s no evidence that Bill Gates made such a statement. 

Writer: Ochaya Jackson

A video circulating on WhatsApp claiming that, according to Bill Gates, three billion people should be eliminated is false and misleading. The video claim is accompanied by a statement that urges people to share it on every platform so that they (Africans) can protect themselves and their families.

“Let’s continue sharing this video [on] every platform for the well-being of the Africans. Watch this video now or watch it again and figure out how to protect yourself and your families in the medications that you take or the packaged food that you consume because you’re too busy to pay attention,” read the text accompanying the video claim.

In the two-minute video, a man identified as Doctor Robert O. Young, who appeared on a panel for the International Tribunal for Natural Justice, attributed to Bill Gates the statement that at least three billion people need to die. Young goes on to say that they ‘will start off in Africa’ on the pretext that they are deplorable and worthless, which the viral WhatsApp message focuses on. 

“For the purpose of sterilisation and population control, there’s too many people on the planet we need to get rid of. In the words of Bill Gates, at least three billion people need to die. So we will just start off in Africa. We will start doing our research there and will eliminate most of the Africans because they are deplorable, they are worthless. They are not part of this world economies. Their rights are taken away and suppressed and experimented on (sic),” Young said during the panel described as testimonies from experts.’

Screenshot of the video claim 

Claim Verification:

A Google reverse image search of the video screenshot returned various sources that debunked the claim in the video as false, such as here and here.

A keyword search for “Bill Gates plan to reduce population in Africa” on Google also returned other sources that flagged the claim as false such as here.

However, the search returned an interview Bill Gates did with the Financial Times, in 2018 where he talked about population growth and poverty reduction in Africa. Gates spoke about Africa’s population growth, which would see the number of people in extreme poverty go up if investment in human capital and improvement in healthcare services are not done to reduce it. He did not say the three billion people needed to be eliminated.

Further, according to media reports, in 2010 at a TED Talk conference dubbed “Innovating to Zero” Bill Gates presented his vision for the global energy future. He talked about the growth of the global population and the need to lower it through investment in health. He is not quoted as having made the statement under our investigation. 

“Now, if we do a really great job on new vaccines, health care, reproductive health services, we could lower that by, perhaps, 10 or 15 percent. But there, we see an increase of about 1.3,” reads an excerpt from Bill Gates’ speech as transcribed from minute 4:17.

Who is Doctor Robert O. Young?

211 Check made several queries about Young on Google, which show that he is seemingly a naturopathic practitioner who was convicted of practising medicine without a licence in 2018 and was ordered to pay $105 million to a woman diagnosed with cancer which he falsely promised to cure. This is one among criminal charges as per media reports.

In 2020, the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also warned Young to stop advertising unsubstantiated or scientifically unproven products he claimed for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

Conclusion:

The claim that Bill Gates’ plan to eliminate the three billion people is not true and there is no evidence that he made such a statement. 

On the other hand, Young’s credibility as a medical expert is in question having been accused of practising medicine without a licence.

This fact check was published by 211 Check with technical support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance (AFCA).

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.

Fact-check: Has a new HIV/AIDS variant that causes facial rashes been discovered in Africa?

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No, there are no reports from WHO about a new HIV variant discovered in Africa.

Writer: Abraham Athian 

A picture in a Post shared by Tikambeko News claims, “A new HIV variant has been discovered in Africa, and if you have any of these symptoms, you may be having it,” but this is false.

This is the  URL to the false article. 

It is a form of health misinformation that scares the public on social media and those who have acne on their faces. The attached picture in the post is of a person with acne, not a new HIV variant, as claimed by the imposter. The picture has been online since 2014.

A screenshot of the Facebook post 

The post attracted 160 likes, 83 comments, and 23 shares. Many media outlets also posted it, as you can see here, here, here, here, and here.

Claim Verification:

A Google search engine shows that the picture first appeared online on June 12, 2014. It was shared by WordPress that Forever Living products (Aloe Vera Gelly and Aloe Propolis Creme) are used to treat acne.

A screenshot of a WordPress post 

The other sources where you can find the origin of the picture are here, here, here, here, and here.

Further search for the source of this picture and the claim lands us on the previous fact-check made by Edmo Belux, a fact-checking agency in Belgium and Luxembourg. This verified the false claim made by Julius Malema Speak in South Africa about the new HIV variant. It concluded it was false by providing some evidence attached below. 

A screenshot of the factual report about the new HIV variant 

A screenshot of the refuted claim 

A screenshot of the verified information

You can also read the full Edmo’s fact-check article written by Tendai Dube here. 

The Latest Research on HIV and other infectious diseases continued to be presented at the 2023 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI). Dr Dieffenbach, the Director of the Division of AIDS at NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, highlighted three NIH-supported studies that focused on the effectiveness of long-acting HIV prevention in specific populations and a demonstration of how long-acting HIV treatment can be used to reach people with multiple challenges to treatment adherence. First, he discussed a study presented by Dr. Hyman Scott of the San Francisco Department of Public Health that demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among black men who have sex with men and transgender women who have sex with men, concluding that CAB-LA can be a powerful HIV prevention tool to reduce HIV incidence among these groups that are disproportionately affected by HIV.

 What is acne?

Acne is a skin condition that occurs when the opening on the skin’s surface becomes clogged. Acne causes inflamed growths, which may have whiteheads or blackheads. Causes of acne can include hormonal imbalance, oversecretion of oil glands in the skin, and dirt/impurities clogging the skin pores.

Treatment:

The use of Aloe Vera Gelly and Aloe Propolis Creme can minimise the implications. This skin treatment formula has been used and validated over and over satisfactorily, with over 90% of use resulting in total transformation of troubled areas. It works on all types of acne: Blackheads, Whiteheads, Cysts, Acne Vulgaris, Conglobata, and rosacea. 

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the claim that there is a new HIV/AIDS variant to be false. It is health misinformation and disinformation. The picture allegedly of a person infected with the new variant was first used in an advertisement for acne-treating medicines in 2014.

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: This photo is not of NCP defector Anthony Feremato

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The featured image used by the Number One Citizen Newspaper is of Fermo Peter Isara, former Torit County Commissioner

Writer: Theophilous Ochang Andrew  

A featured news article image by the Number One Citizen Daily Newspaper allegedly of Anthony Feremato Jacob is false.

The photo used in a story titled “Senior NCP member joins SPLM”, published on September 4, 2023, was meant to depict Anthony Feremato, a former chairperson of the National Congress Party in Eastern Equatoria State (EES) who is said to have switched to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement as reported by The City Review, The Radio Community, and the Number One Citizen Daily Newspaper.

A screenshot of the featured image as it appears on the Number One Citizen Newspaper website

Claim Verification:

A Google reverse image search returns results of the same image published by Radio Tamazuj on 9 August 2018. It is of Fermo Peter Isara, former Torit County Commissioner in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State.

Screenshot of the featured image as used by Radio Tamazuj on 9 August 2018

A keyword search using “fermo peter isara, torit county commissioner” also returned the same and similar images confirming the Google reverse image search findings.

Similar images of Fermo Peter Isara

The Radio Community, an independent network of community radio stations in South Sudan, published the same story titled, “Anthony Feremato joins SPLM,” with his actual photo.

A screenshot showing Anthony Feremato’s photo as published by The Radio Community

Similar pictures of Anthony Feremato were shared with 211 Check via messenger by Sisto Ohide who works at the Torit SPLM secretariat as the reporter for the state-run  Radio 97.5 FM.

Photos of Anthony Feremato, former National Congress Party chairperson in EES

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the featured image of a news story allegedly of Anthony Feremato, former National Congress Party chairperson in Eastern Equatoria State, false. The featured image used by the Number One Citizen Daily Newspaper is of Fermo Peter Isara, former Torit County Commissioner.

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: This video doesn’t show an African child being urinated on by a French in 2023

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The video is an old clip of artist Regina José Galindo demonstrating women’s suffering and violence. It was filmed in Brazil in 2013.

Writer: Ochaya Jackson

A video clip widely shared on WhatsApp groups with the claim that a Malian citizen was arrested in a French village and humiliated by members of the public taking turns urinating on him in front of a crowd while stripped naked is false and misleading.

The text accompanying the video accused France of human rights violations and claimed that the incident happened after France’s Ambassador was expelled from Mali.

In the video, a black person lies on the ground in front of the crowd while some people take turns urinating on them.

“Let’s make this viral until the people responsible for this human rights abuse are arrested and prosecuted. This is the filth of France, the ugliest scandal of the twenty-first century. In the inhuman and shocking scene of two men and a woman urinating on an African child in one of the French villages, the child, completely stripped of clothes, lies face down on the ground, while the number of French men and women whose country have always shocked the world with the sophistication of their civilisation are watching this obscene, dirty, and abnormal act, without any sign of intervention from any of them,” reads the text accompanying the video clip.

“This was after the state of Mali expelled the French ambassador. The French arrested one of the Malians in a French village and urinated on him publicly. Africa must wake up to see the true, ugly face of France. We regret the ugliness and horror of the scene, but where are the human rights advocates in this? It is unfortunate that globally, Black Africans are associated,” it added.

The screenshot of the WhatsApp video and the accompanying text claim

The claim did not mention the location of the French village or where and when the video was taken.

However, according to a media report, France’s Ambassador to Mali, Joel Meyer, was expelled in January 2022 after the Malian military government issued a 72-hour ultimatum for him to leave the West African country.

Claim Verification:

A reverse image search on Yandex returned that the video was used on other online platforms, including a Russian website,  Pnovosti,  which published an article about the video in 2020. According to the article, a Latin American woman covered herself with coal dust and asked people passing by to urinate on her to demonstrate a woman suffering violence. 

The same claim was posted here and here.

211 Check traced the video’s origin on Yandex’s reverse image search results and found that the person in the video being urinated on is an artist called Regina Jose Galindo. The artist was filmed in 2013 during a performance in Brazil’s city of Sao Paulo to show the humiliation and exploitation women face, according to the description by an Arabic YouTube channel that posted the video in February 2022. 

A review of the video’s description reveals the link to Galindo’s website, where a picture of the artist lying on the ground was published under Works 2013. It was featured with a poetry piece dubbed Stone that states that two volunteers and someone from the audience would urinate on her ‘stone body.’

Galindo covered herself with coal dust to appear black during her performance when being filmed. There is no reference to the humiliation of a black African or a Malian citizen by the French.

Galindo’s 2013 project has also been featured here and here. 

Conclusion:

211 Check finds a video with a claim that a Malian citizen was arrested in a French village and urinated on false. The video is an old clip of artist Regina José Galindo, filmed in Brazil in 2013 while demonstrating women’s suffering and violence.  

This fact check was published by 211 Check with technical support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance (AFCA).

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.


It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.

Fact-check: Does eating food heated in plastic containers cause cancer?

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No, there is no sufficient evidence that eating food from plastic containers exposed to heat can cause cancer.

Writer: Beatrice Amude Paulino

An image circulating on WhatsApp claims that, according to the American Doctors Association, consuming food from plastic materials exposed to heat can cause cancer.

The message states that you should not take tea in plastic cups, eat anything hot in a plastic bag, or heat foodstuff in a microwave using plastic materials. It cautions 

that ‘when plastic gets into contact with heat, it produces chemicals which may cause 52 types of cancer.’

The message ends with a call to action: “Therefore, this SMS is better than 100 useless SMS. Inform your loved ones to be free from such effects. Share with everyone.”

Screenshot from the WhatsApp image

The same claim was also shared on a website called America’s Best Pictures and Videos, which adds that plastic materials can cause cancer cells to grow in the body.

Screenshot from the website.

Verification of the American Doctors Association page and website

According to a  Google Search, there is seemingly no organisation by that name, which suggests it does not exist. Instead, existing organisations include the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons and the American Medical Association. 

According to  Cancer Research UK, an independent cancer organisation in the United Kingdom, drinking hot tea in plastic cups cannot cause cancer. Additionally, using plastic does not increase the risk of cancer, and it is safe to drink from plastic bottles, use plastic containers, cling film, and store food in plastic bags.

Cancer Research UK also added that even when plastics are heated for hours, studies have shown that the food inside remains safe.

Other studies, here and here, indicate that drinking hot tea can increase cancer risk. However, the studies do not mention the increased risk of consuming tea from plastic cups. 

Plastic materials are everywhere in our homes, such as plates, baby feeding bottles, cutlery, food containers, fibreglass, water coolers, etc.

According to Doctor Ashwini Kumar Setya, a senior consultant in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Gastroenterology Institute of Digestive and Hepatobiliary Science, Gurugram- India, when hot food is kept in plastic material, it can produce a chemical which is not scientifically proven to cause cancer.

“…And some of these chemicals, like Bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates, might do strange things to your body, mimicking and disrupting hormones in ways that even scientists haven’t fully understood,” Dr Ashwini K. Setya said

In an interview with 211 Check,  Dr. Catherine Naliaka Nyongesa, a physician radiation oncologist and CEO of Texas Cancer Centre, Nairobi, explained that no substantial literature supports the claim.

She disclosed that: “I think more research is needed to provide evidence to support such claims.’’ 

According to the FDA, there are plastics labelled for microwave use only that are safe to use. The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) has also advised that people can use glass, ceramic, plastic containers and plastic wrap labelled for microwave use. 

Further instructions include:

  • Always follow the label’s instructions when using microwave-safe containers to heat food.
  • Never heat or store food in plastic containers not intended for food. Single-use containers, like margarine tubs, tend to warp or melt in the microwave. This may allow more of the substances in the plastic to leach into the food.
  • Let food cool before adding it to a plastic container, then put it in the fridge immediately. Avoid plastics that are visibly damaged, stained, or have a bad smell.

Conclusion:

According to investigations by 211 Check, scientific evidence suggests that certain chemicals can be leached into food from plastic materials. However, the amounts and potential health risks of these chemicals remain unconfirmed.

Hence, it is vital to choose plastic bags or materials specifically designed for food and labelled as safe by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use them. 

This fact check was published by 211 Check with technical support from Code for Africa’s  PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance(AFCA).

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.