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Fatima Tlis

Produced by Fatima Tlis

May 06, 2020
Journalists Are Attacked, But Brazil’s Bolsonaro Only Saw ‘Joy of the People’

After Bolsonaro stirred up supporters at a May 3 rally, some in the crowd turned on journalists. They punched and kicked a photographer, pushed a driver to the ground and verbally harassed other reporters.
May 04, 2020
Hong Kong, China Misrepresent Criticism of Protester Arrests

The UK and U.S. condemned China and Hong Kong for prosecuting people who took part in last year’s mass pro-democracy protests. China’s rebuttals ignore obligations under the 50-year treaty Beijing signed to take over the city from the UK.
April 24, 2020
Russia Seasons Escalating Trump-Iran Tensions With Disinfo

Sputnik’s claim is a rehash of a debunked claim that Iran’s attack killed 80 American troops in Iraq. Coalition forces from U.S.-allied countries at the bases reported no casualties. The U.S. initially said no one was hurt but later confirmed that 110 suffered traumatic brain injuries.
April 21, 2020
‘Miracle of Miracles’: Russia’s Star Doctor Wrongly Says Children 'Do Not Die' of COVID-19

Global statistics and studies show that children are less susceptible to COVID-19 infection -- but they are not immune. The severity of symptoms depends on the age of the child, with infants at highest risk.
April 17, 2020
COVID-19 Positive in Kazakhstan? The City Will Seal Your Door from the Outside

The city of Aktau, Kazakhstan, dismissed as incorrect social media posts showing that the doors of apartment buildings where people with COVID-19 live had been sealed from the outside. To prove it, the city posted its own Instagram video – confirming that it’s been locking people inside.
April 15, 2020
Radiation Levels And Wildfires Near Chernobyl

After wildfires raged in the protected area around the entombed Chernobyl nuclear reactor, several sources reported what they said were elevated radiation levels.
April 08, 2020
China’s Official Coronavirus Timeline Starts Out Weeks Too Late

Evidence suggests Chinese authorities knew about a mysterious illness in early December but waited to disclose that information and later went after some who sounded the alarm.
April 03, 2020
Four Russian Governors Quit – ‘Nothing to Do with Coronavirus’?

Four Russian regional governors have resigned, saying they failed their constituents. Observers believe it is connected to growing public discontent over the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
April 02, 2020
Misleading Mashup: Russia’s COVID-19 'Aid' to U.S.

The Kremlin’s claim of providing humanitarian assistance for the U.S. coronavirus epidemic is misleading. It turns out that supplies that arrived on April 1 were purchased by the U.S. and a Russian investment fund.
March 30, 2020
Did Serbia Ban Dog Walking Because of COVID-19?

On March 28, the Serbian government revoked its decision to rule to let people take pets out for a 20-minute evening walk during overnight coronavirus curfew hours.
March 27, 2020
That ‘Special Drug’ China Gave Turkey for Coronavirus

Confronting a rising coronavirus contagion, Turkey raised hopes by announcing that China had sent a “new” drug to treat patients. The drug is neither new nor Chinese – it was devised in Japan decades ago to treat the flu.
March 25, 2020
Are Universities Punishing Students ‘Over Common Cold’?

Colleges and universities have canceled classes or moved them online in response to the COVID-19 epidemic, prompting a backlash from some students. But claims that the disease is like the common cold are false.
March 24, 2020
The Great Phony: F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Fake Quarantine Letter

The “Scott Fitzgerald quarantine letter” has gone corona-viral in Russian and English. It is a fake – the original was published as satire by the humor website McSweeney’s on March 13, 2020.
March 20, 2020
Did a Russian Journalist Justify Terrorism? Nyet!

After a terrorist bombing, journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva commented that oppressive regimes deprive their citizens of peaceful means to dissent. She also denounced terrorist violence as “monstrous.”
March 18, 2020
Infowars’ Jones Hawked ‘Nanosilver Toothpaste’ Fake Coronavirus Cure

Among many fake coronavirus cures on the internet was a toothpaste hawked by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. His claim that ‘nanosilver’ -- claimed as an ingredient in Infowars toothpaste can kill the virus is unsupported.
March 13, 2020
Erdogan to Europe: ‘Who Are You Lying To?’ He’s Not Entirely Honest

The EU agreed to provide 6 billion euros of financial support for Syrian refugees in Turkey, not to the Turkish government. Out of two 3 billion euro tranches, one was allocated and the second is behind.
March 11, 2020
Don’t Panic! Russia Boosting Oil Production Good For the Country, Officials Say. Except It’s Not

Despite optimistic government assurances, Russia’s decision to boost oil production has sent the ruble tumbling, threatens the long-term economy and could raise prices for working-class Russians, experts say.
March 09, 2020
Iran’s Immunity from the Coronavirus? Kiss a Holy Tomb

Videos have emerged on social media of men and children in Iran licking and kissing the walls and doors of holy shrines. While they claim the shrines are immune from the coronavirus, Qom is the epicenter of Iran’s COVID-19 outbreak.
March 04, 2020
Sputnik Misreports Biden’s ‘Rejection’ of Comey’s Endorsement

Like Russia’s Sputnik, many U.S. media reported on the Biden campaign’s “rejection” of Comey’s endorsement, but, unlike them, Sputnik ignored the campaign’s subsequent clarification.
March 03, 2020
Russian Academy of Sciences Takes Aim at Musk’s SpaceX Satellites

Out of about 5,554 satellites orbiting the Earth, fewer than 300 belong to SpaceX. But there is concern about obscuring the night sky once all 12,000 planned Starlink satellites are in orbit.

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