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☆ Embattled US Rep George Santos won't run for reelection after damning ethics report
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Moira Warburton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Julia Nikhinson/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 16 (Reuters) - U.S. House Representative George Santos said he will not run for reelection after a damning House Ethics Committee report referred "additional uncharged and unlawful conduct" by him to the Justice Department on Thursday. I will however NOT be seeking re-election for a second term in 2024," Santos said in a post on the X social media site. "Representative Santos’ conduct warrants public condemnation, is beneath the dignity of the office, and has brought severe discredit upon the House" of Representatives, the bipartisan committee said in a statement. Ethics Chairman Michael Guest, a Republican, intended to file a motion to expel on Friday, according to media reports. Santos survived a vote to expel him from the House brought by fellow House Republicans from New York state in early November.

Persons: George Santos, Julia Nikhinson, Santos, Santos ’, Michael Guest, Moira Warburton, Andrew Goudsward, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Rep, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, . House, Justice Department, Department of Justice, Republican, Republicans, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, New York

WASHINGTON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson's plan to avoid a partial government shutdown secured tentative support from top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer on Monday, even as some of Johnson's hardline Republican colleagues pushed back against it. Without changes, the Texas Republican said he would oppose efforts to bring the bill to the floor. The bill is intended to pressure the House and Senate to agree on spending bills for fiscal 2024 by the assigned dates. Johnson warned Democrats that House Republicans would impose a full-year CR for 2024 "with appropriate adjustments to meet our national security priorities" if Congress fails to reach agreement on full-year spending. Failure to hit that benchmark led to McCarthy's ouster, but some House Republicans suggested Johnson deserved more time.

Persons: Mike Johnson's, Chuck Schumer, Schumer, Chip Roy, Roy, Hakeem Jeffries, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, Johnson's, centrists, Mike Johnson, Elizabeth Frantz, Johnson, Good, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Warren Davidson, Scott Perry, Andrew Clyde, Republican George Santos, Perry, Karine Jean, Pierre, Biden, McCarthy, David Morgan, Moira Warburton, Steve Holland, Scott Malone, Andrea Ricci, Richard Chang Organizations: . House, Senate, Texas Republican, Republican, Democratic, U.S . House, U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Food and Drug Administration, House, White, Caucus, White House, Republicans, Social Security, Total U.S, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S

☆ Hardline Republicans push back on US House speaker's plan to avert shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The bill is intended to pressure the House and Senate to agree on spending bills for fiscal 2024 by the assigned dates. Johnson warned Democrats that House Republicans would impose a full-year CR for 2024 "with appropriate adjustments to meet our national security priorities" if Congress fails to reach agreement on full-year spending. Democrats had worried that Republicans would put defense and other party priorities in the first tranche and then let the remaining programs shut down. Failure to hit that benchmark led to McCarthy's ouster, but some House Republicans suggested Johnson deserved more time. The brutal infighting among Republicans this year, including the party's own rejection of three seasoned nominees for House speaker, coincides with falling federal revenues and mounting costs for interest, health and pension outlays.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Elizabeth Frantz, Johnson, Bob Good, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, Johnson's, centrists, Good, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Warren Davidson, Scott Perry, Andrew Clyde, Chip Roy, Republican George Santos, Perry, Chris Murphy, Biden, McCarthy, David Morgan, Scott Malone, Andrea Ricci, Richard Chang Organizations: U.S . House, U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, . House, Republican, Democratic, Senate, Food and Drug Administration, House, White, Caucus, White House, NBC, Republicans, Social Security, Total U.S, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Washington, Louisiana

☆ Moody's changes US ratings outlook to negative, affirms AAA
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 10 (Reuters) - Moody's on Friday changed the outlook on the government of United States of America's ratings to "negative" from "stable". Moody's affirmed the long-term issuer and senior unsecured ratings at "Aaa". COMMENTS:REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE ANDY HARRIS, ON X SOCIAL MEDIA“Moody’s just downgraded our credit rating outlook to negative because of our out-of-control government spending and deficits. "I don't think that there is a significant consequence. WALLY ADEYEMO, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY"While the statement by Moody’s maintains the United States’ Aaa rating, we disagree with the shift to a negative outlook.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, Moody's, ANDY HARRIS, JOHN CORNYN, ” STEVEN RICCHIUTO, you've, ” THIERRY WIZMAN, MACQUARIE, “ Moody’s, ” MICHAEL GREEN, JACK ABLIN, CHICAGO “, it's, ”, ” QUINCY KROSBY, CAROL SCHLEIF, We've, CHRISTOPHER HODGE, KARINE JEAN, PIERRE, Moody’s, WALLY ADEYEMO, Biden Organizations: REUTERS, Aaa, Moody’s Investors Service, Capitol, FX, NEW, Republicans, Democrats, BMO, KARINE, Republican, Congressional Republicans, States ’ Aaa, Biden Administration, Global Finance, Markets, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, United States, MIZUHO, Japan, CHICAGO, CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, MINNEAPOLIS , MN, American

☆ Fact Check: Video does not show Israeli soldier saying Netanyahu is ‘deceiving’ people
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A 45-second clip was shared repeatedly on Facebook (archived) and X social media (archived) captioned “Israeli soldier after returning from Gaza - We fought with ghosts, I was saved from hell. Netanyahu deceives his people with video and says we are winning.”However, a Reuters translation of the man’s remarks in Hebrew in the video clip is: “I am in pain about Yigal along with you. A video of an injured Israeli police officer sending a recorded message to members of his unit does not accuse Israel's prime minister of deception. This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu deceives, Yigal, Netanyahu, “ Yair Wisner, Wisner, Israel's, Read Organizations: Israel’s, Facebook, YouTube, Kipa, Israel Police, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza

'X' logo is seen on the top of the headquarters of the messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, in downtown San Francisco, California, U.S., July 30, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS/STOCKHOLM, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Elon Musk's X social media platform has just 2,294 content moderators to ensure users comply with EU online content rules, significantly fewer than Google (GOOGL.O) and TikTok, a senior European Commission official said on Friday. X has triggered concerns after Musk laid off many employees responsible for monitoring and regulating content amid the spread of disinformation on the platform. According to reports the companies submitted to the EU in September, X's 2,294 EU content moderators compared with 16,974 at Google's YouTube, 7,319 at Google Play and 6,125 at TikTok, the senior Commission official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Regulators are hoping that X will feel the pressure to boost its number of content moderators to catch up with its rivals, the official said.

Persons: Carlos Barria, Elon Musk's, Musk, Foo Yun Chee, Jan Harvey Organizations: REUTERS, Google, European Commission, EU's Digital Services, Apple, Microsoft, EU, YouTube, DSA, Big Tech, Thomson Locations: San Francisco , California, U.S, BRUSSELS, STOCKHOLM, X's, TikTok, EU

☆ Fact Check: Gal Gadot has not joined the army during the 2023 Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Israeli actor Gal Gadot has not joined the army amid the 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson and a representative for the actor have said in response to an old photograph of Gadot circulating online. A post on X social media shared the dated image of Gadot with the caption: “BREAKING: Israeli actress Gal Gadot who played Wonder Woman in the Hollywood movie turns up at for army service.” The claim also surfaced on Facebook, garnering comments suggesting the image is current. Israel requires most of its citizens to compulsorily serve in the military from the age of 18. Gal Gadot has not joined Israeli armed forces following the outbreak of the 2023 Israel-Hamas war, an IDF spokesperson and a representative for the actor have said. This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team.

Persons: Gal Gadot, Gadot, Melissa Raubvogel, “ Gal, Shaul Golan, “, ”, Yediot Ahronot, Golan, Read Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, Hollywood, Facebook, Washington Post, IDF, Reuters, Army, Jewish News, Thomson Locations: Israel, Lebanon

☆ Migrants Reaching Spain's Canary Islands Near 32,000 This Year
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

MADRID (Reuters) - Nearly 32,000 migrants have reached Spain's Canary Islands on fragile boats from west Africa this year, passing a previous record posted in 2006, regional authorities said on Sunday. So far this year, 31,933 people have reached the islands, compared with the 2006 small boats crisis when 31,678 people made it to the Canaries, regional authorities told Reuters. Fernando Clavijo, the Canary Islands regional chief, said the figures showed the scale of the humanitarian crisis faced by the islands and called for more help from the Spanish government and the European Union. Its seven islands have become the main destination for migrants from Senegal and other African countries trying to reach Spain, fleeing conflict or seeking a better life. The Spanish government said it would create additional emergency accommodation for some 3,000 migrants in military barracks, hotels and hostels.

Persons: Fernando Clavijo, Graham Keeley, Giles Elgood Organizations: Canaries, Reuters, Spanish coastguard, Spanish Civil Guard, Canary, European Union, State Locations: MADRID, Africa, El Hierro, EU, Africa's, Senegal, Spain

☆ Migrants reaching Spain's Canary Islands near 32,000 this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Rescue workers search for bodies after a boat with 46 migrants from the Maghreb region capsized in the beach of Orzola, in the Canary Island of Lanzarote, Spain June 18, 2021. REUTERS/Borja Suarez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Nearly 32,000 migrants have reached Spain's Canary Islands on fragile boats from west Africa this year, passing a previous record posted in 2006, regional authorities said on Sunday. Fernando Clavijo, the Canary Islands regional chief, said the figures showed the scale of the humanitarian crisis faced by the islands and called for more help from the Spanish government and the European Union. Its seven islands have become the main destination for migrants from Senegal and other African countries trying to reach Spain, fleeing conflict or seeking a better life. The Spanish government said it would create additional emergency accommodation for some 3,000 migrants in military barracks, hotels and hostels.

Persons: Borja Suarez, Fernando Clavijo, Graham Keeley, Giles Elgood Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Canaries, Reuters, Spanish coastguard, Spanish Civil Guard, Canary, European Union, State, Thomson Locations: Maghreb, Orzola, Lanzarote, Spain, Rights MADRID, Africa, El Hierro, EU, Africa's, Senegal

☆ Fact Check: Video does not show Putin announcing Russian support for Palestinians
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A video clip of Russian President Vladimir Putin giving a speech at a military parade in 2021 has been misleadingly captioned to suggest it shows Putin stating his support for Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war in 2023. The snippet of Putin’s speech was shared on Facebook and X social media with the caption, “Vladimir putin announced Russia will openly help to Palestine. Uraaaaaaaaaaa.”The video and the speech, however, are unrelated to the 2023 Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which began after Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7. A Reuters translation of Putin’s comments in Russian in the video clip is: “Glory to the Victorious Nation! A video shows Vladimir Putin making a speech in 2021 where he did not mention Palestine or the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, “ Vladimir putin, ”, Read Organizations: Facebook, YouTube, Komsomolskaya Pravda, Reuters, Nazi, Putin’s, Thomson Locations: Israel, Russia, Palestine, Soviet, Nazi Germany, Putin’s Russia, Russian, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria

☆ Alphabet, Match settle Google Play antitrust claims before US trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Mike Scarcella | Companies Need To Integrate Climate Reporting Across Functions To Comply With California S New Law | Henry Engler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Annegret Hilse//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 31 (Reuters) - Alphabet (GOOGL.O)'s Google has settled claims by dating app developer Match Group that it monopolized Android app distribution with its Play Store, leaving “Fortnite” maker Epic Games as the sole plaintiff in an antitrust trial against Google set to begin Nov. 6. Match said in a filing in San Francisco federal court on Tuesday that it had resolved its allegations against Google. In a statement, Google said it was “pleased to reach a settlement agreement with Match Group.” Google also recently settled related antitrust claims from U.S. states and consumers for undisclosed terms. Epic and Match accused Google of maintaining an unlawful monopoly in the distribution of Android apps. Google is separately facing U.S. and state antitrust allegations in other U.S. courts over its advertising technology business and its dominance in the web search industry.

Persons: Annegret, “, District Judge James Donato, Tim Sweeney, Mike Scarcella, David Bario, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Google, Arena, REUTERS, Epic, Match, U.S, District, Apple, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, San Francisco federal, U.S, San Francisco

Tensions between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups have sprung up on some U.S. campuses, including several in New York, prompting university officials to tighten security. "There is no place for hate in America, and we condemn any antisemitic threat or incident in the strongest terms," White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told a regular briefing. The Jewish leaders included representatives of the campus Jewish organization Hillel, the Anti-Defamation League and the National Council of Jewish Women, the White House official said. Cardona and White House domestic policy adviser Neera Tanden will visit a university and meet with Jewish students later this week, the official said. Over the weekend, threats were posted online to Jewish students and the Center of Jewish Living at Cornell, according to the student newspaper and the campus Hillel group.

Persons: Karine Jean, Pierre, Biden, Kamala Harris's, Douglas Emhoff, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Deborah Lipstadt, Israel, Hillel, Cardona, Neera Tanden, Kathy Hochul, Hochul, Doina Chiacu, Andrea Shalal, Trevor Hunnicutt, Howard Goller Organizations: Columbia University, REUTERS, Rights, Biden, White, Israel, Cornell University, Defamation, Education Secretary, Department of Education's, Civil Rights, Defamation League, National Council of Jewish Women, White House, Islamic Relations, Center of Jewish, Cornell, Hillel, FBI, New, Jewish, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Gaza, New York City, U.S, New York, America, Israel

☆ Impeding relief aid to Gaza may be a crime under ICC jurisdiction, prosecutor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Stringer Acquire Licensing RightsCAIRO Oct 29 (Reuters) - Impeding relief supplies to Gaza's population may constitute a crime under the International Criminal Court's (ICC) jurisdiction, the court's top prosecutor told a news conference in Egypt on Sunday. United Nations officials have said the aid supplies are limited and do not correspond to the huge need on the ground. Khan said he was not able to get into Gaza but hopes to visit the Gaza strip and Israel while he is in the region. Israel, which is not a member of the ICC, has previously rejected the court's jurisdiction and does not formally engage with its investigations. Khan has previously said that the ICC has jurisdiction over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during both the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel and in the territory of Gaza.

Persons: Stringer, Karim Khan, Israel, Khan, Stephanie van den Berg, Bart Meijer, Hatem Maher, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Sunday, United Nations, ICC, Thomson Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Egypt, CAIRO, The Hague, Cairo

☆ Israel-Hamas war live updates: UN warns fuel in Gaza will run out by tonight; Israel says Hamas is stockpiling existing supplies
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache Matt Clinch | Ruxandra Iordache | Matt Clinch | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Hospitals in Gaza have been warning that they would have to shut down if they don't receive more fuel. Other supplies, such as water, medicine and food, continue to run low. The Israel Defense Forces insist that fuel is present in Gaza but monopolized by Hama. "The grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the horrific attacks by Hamas. Those horrendous attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people," he said on the X social media platform, previously known as Twitter.

Persons: Antonio Guterres Organizations: United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Israel Defense Forces, Twitter Locations: Gaza, Hama, U.N

☆ Tesla to top $9 bln spending target this year as it rolls out new models
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of Tesla is seen in Taipei, Taiwan August 11, 2017. The company's spending is, however, expected to return to the $7 billion and $9 billion range in the next two years, a regulatory filing showed. He warned that rising interest rates could impact demand at Tesla, on top of a margin-sapping price war this year to maintain sales. Tesla shareholders -- including Gary Black, managing partner of The Future Fund, which owns Tesla stock -- have been calling for the automaker to advertise, saying that price cuts have only had a limited impact on demand. Reporting by Aditya Soni and Juby Babu; Editing by Maju Samuel and Savio D'SouzaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, Tesla, Elon Musk, Musk, Gary Black, Aditya Soni, Juby Babu, Maju Samuel, Savio D'Souza Organizations: Tesla, REUTERS, Fund, Thomson Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, Mexico

☆ Fact Check: Tel Aviv mass protest video predates October 2023 demonstrations
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nighttime aerial footage of a mass protest in Tel Aviv in March 2023 is woven into a montage video about demonstrations in response to the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, misrepresenting the scale of protests in the Israeli city. The first part of the montage (0:00 - 0:12) showing aerial footage of protestors crowding roads is from March 11, 2023 and originally part of a video report by The Telegraph. The YouTube video description says the video shows news reporter Matt Gutman among “dozens of protestors who are demanding Israel do more to find hostages.”There is no evidence of recent mass protests in Tel Aviv involving thousands of people. Local media reported on demonstrations in which “hundreds” demanded the release of abductees held by Hamas. A video montage showing public reaction in Tel Aviv amid the Israel-Hamas war misrepresents the size of protests in October 2023 by including months-old footage of a different mass protest in the city.

Persons: ”, Matt Gutman, abductees, Benjamin Netanyahu, Read Organizations: Facebook, The Telegraph, ” Reuters, ABC, Hamas, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel

☆ Fact Check: Video shows Tajikistan flood survivor, not Gaza child victim
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A video of a 7-year-old boy being rescued from an August 2023 flood in Tajikistan has been falsely captioned as showing “a traumatized child in Gaza,” as hundreds of children continue to be caught in the crossfire of the Israel-Hamas war that began on Oct. 7, 2023. “Another traumatized child in Gaza!” reads the caption of a post sharing the dated video on X social media. The report adds that the child was swept away along with members of his family, in a flood on the night of Aug.27 in the village of Choyangaroni Vakhdat. On Aug. 28, Reuters reported that mudslides triggered by heavy rains had killed 13 people in Tajikistan, according to government estimates. The video predates the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023 and according to news reports from September, it shows a boy rescued from a flood in Tajikistan.

Persons: “, Mirzazoda, Read Organizations: Facebook, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Tajikistan, Gaza, ”, Israel, Radio Free Europe, Vakhdat, Choyangaroni

Facebook parent company Meta and Chinese-owned social media app TikTok have both been given a deadline of Oct. 25 by the European Commission to share information on their response to the Israel-Hamas war, which has seen misinformation in the digital sphere spread alongside the physical conflict. The European Commission on Thursday said it is making both requests under the Digital Services Act. A TikTok spokesperson told CNBC the firm had "just heard from the European Commission this morning and our team is currently reviewing the RFI [request for information]." The EU wants to see how Meta and TikTok have looked to keep misinformation about the war off their platforms. Meta and TikTok both have until Oct. 25 to share information related to their response to the crisis in Israel, the commission said.

Persons: Meta, TikTok, Elon Musk's Organizations: Facebook, Meta, European Commission, European, Digital Services, Hamas, Twitter, CNBC, Commission, DSA, EU Locations: Israel

Ousted Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif gestures as he boards a Lahore-bound flight due for departure, at Abu Dhabi International Airport, UAE July 13, 2018. REUTERS/Drazen Gorgic/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsISLAMABAD, Oct 19 (Reuters) - A Pakistan court on Thursday barred authorities from arresting a former three-time prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, upon his expected return home on Saturday from four years in self-imposed exile, his lawyer said. Nawaz Sharif was in 2018 convicted on corruption charges, which he denied, in two cases and sentenced to a total of 14 years in prison. Upon his return on Saturday, he would address a rally in his old stronghold of Lahore, Tarar said. Sharif returned to Pakistan and to politics in 2007.

Persons: Nawaz Sharif, Drazen Gorgic, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, Tarar, Pervez Musharraf, Musharraf, Asif Shahzad, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Robert Birsel Organizations: Pakistani, Abu, Abu Dhabi International Airport, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Lahore, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Rights ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, London, U.S

☆ X social media to test $1 subscription for posting content, like, reply
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

The logo of social media platform X, formerly Twitter, is seen alongside the former logo in this illustration taken, July 24, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 17 (Reuters) - Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, said on Tuesday it will test a $1 annual fee under a new subscription model for posting content, replies, likes, reposts or quoting other accounts' posts, and bookmarking posts. The purpose of introducing "Not A Bot", the new subscription model, is to combat bots and spammers, X said. Reporting by Shubhendu Deshmukh in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu SahuOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, X, Shubhendu Deshmukh, Subhranshu Sahu Organizations: REUTERS, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Fact Check: Clip shows Arma 3 gameplay, not Israel’s laser weapon system
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

“History : First video of the Israeli Iron Beam, new laser air defense system, intercepting enemy rockets, from today”, reads the caption of a Facebook post sharing the gameplay footage. The video was also misrepresented on X social media, by an account impersonating Mossad, Israel’s intelligence service. Pavel Krizka, public relations manager at Bohemia Interactive, which developed the Arma 3 game, said in an email that the miscaptioned video online contains footage from Arma 3. Reuters Fact Check has previously reported on Arma 3 gameplay footage being misrepresented as authentic war imagery after violence between Hamas and Israel broke out on Oct 7. The video shows gameplay footage from Arma 3, not Israel’s "Iron Beam" intercepting rockets amidst the Israel-Hamas war in 2023.

Persons: Pavel Krizka, Marek Spanel, Israel, Read Organizations: Hamas, Reuters, Bohemia Interactive, Bohemia, Thomson Locations: Israel, Arma

☆ X social media to test $1 annual subscription for basic features
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of social media platform X, formerly Twitter, is seen alongside the former logo in this illustration taken, July 24, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 17 (Reuters) - Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, said on Tuesday it will test a new subscription model under which it will charge $1 annual fee for basic features. The purpose of introducing the new subscription model is to combat bots and spammers, X said, adding that the fee will vary from country to country based on the exchange rate. X said the new method will be first available for users in New Zealand and Philippines. In July, X had introduced a limit on viewing tweets, "to ensure the authenticity" of its user base.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, X, Elon Musk, Linda Yaccarino, Shubhendu Deshmukh, Subhranshu Sahu, Rashmi Organizations: REUTERS, Twitter, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Philippines, Bengaluru

☆ Fact Check: Photos do not show mRNA pioneers wearing masks at Nobel Prize ceremony
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The 2023 Nobel Prize award ceremony will be held on Dec. 10, the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel. Kariko, from Hungary, and her U.S. colleague Weissman, whose pioneering work paved the way for mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, were announced as the Nobel Prize winners on Oct. 2. “Won the Nobel science prize for the mRNA jab yet they wore a mask to collect their award for their vaccine??!!? The photographs of the pair holding the Japan Prize were taken when the COVID-19 pandemic was still active, in April 2022. Photos show Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman with the Japan Prize in April 2022, not the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in October 2023.

Persons: Katalin Kariko, Drew Weissman, Alfred Nobel, Weissman, “, ”, Kariko, Read Organizations: Facebook, Japan, World Health Organization, Reuters Pictures, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Hungary, Tokyo, Japan

☆ Fact Check: Video of convoy with Palestinian flags is from 2021, not 2023 protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A 2021 video showing a convoy of cars in London flying a Palestinian flag and broadcasting antisemitic messages from a megaphone has been misrepresented as footage from October 2023 amidst the war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. “NEW: Palestine supporters parade through the streets of London, flying Palestinian flags while calling on people to r*pe Jewish women”, reads the caption of a Facebook post sharing the video as if recent. British media and Reuters reported on the incident in the video in May 2021. The claims were shared after Jewish charity organization Community Security Trust reported that antisemitic incidents in Britain had tripled since the outbreak of the 2023 Israel-Hamas war. A video showing people shouting anti-Semitic abuse from a convoy of vehicles in London, is from May 2021 not October 2023.

Persons: “, ”, Read Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, Reuters, Metropolitan Police, Crown, Service, Jewish, Community Security Trust, Thomson Locations: London, Israel, Palestine, Britain

☆ Russia pummels east Ukrainian town of Avdiivka in heavy fighting
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Anna Pruchnicka | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

But Kyiv says Moscow has massed troops around Avdiivka and sent in heavy equipment, enabling it to hit back hard. It says Moscow aims to encircle and capture the town, just northwest of the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk, and draw in Ukrainian troops from other fronts. Russia's Defence Ministry said on Thursday its forces had inflicted damage on Ukrainian troops in areas including Avdiivka but gave few details. It estimated that Russian forces have captured 4.52 square kilometres (1.75 square miles) of territory around Avdiivka since the beginning of their offensive on Tuesday. Geolocated footage indicated that Russian forces had likely lost at least a battalion tactical group's worth of armoured vehicles in the Avdiivka offensive, it said.

Persons: Alexander Ermochenko, Avdiivka, Barabash, Andriy Yermak, Anna Pruchnicka, Timothy Heritage, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Russian, Reuters, Russia's Defence, General, of Ukraine's Armed Forces, Thomson Locations: Avdiivka, Russia, Ukraine, Donetsk, Russian, Ukrainian, Moscow, Crimea, American

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