RARE PHOTOS: 2 | Vintage Vibes

Why are fake covers of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo circulating in Russia?

There have been at least six fake covers of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo circulating online, especially on Russian Telegram channels, over the past six months. And Charlie Hebdo isn’t the only magazine targeted – fake covers of numerous international media outlets have also been circulating online since the start…

France 24 · Dec 11, 2022

How EU-made shotgun cartridges are being used to repress protests in Iran

An investigation by the FRANCE 24 Observers team has found evidence that shotgun cartridges manufactured by French-Italian manufacturer Cheddite have been used in the repression of protests in Iran. Shotgun cartridges using Cheddite components have been widely used for hunting purposes in Iran since at least 2011, an apparent violation…

France 24 · Nov 25, 2022

No, this Ukrainian general isn’t wearing a bracelet with a swastika on it

Did the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces publish a photo of himself wearing a bracelet with a swastika on it? That’s what some Russian media outlets and pro-Russian social media accounts have been reporting since October 9, 2022. While the photo is authentic, the compression of the image and the…

France 24 · Oct 12, 2022

'Old Witch', 'Pelosi get out of Taiwan!': Public billboards hacked on US Speaker's visit

Public concern about Taiwan’s national security arose after monitors in multiple convenience stores and a train station in Taiwan were hacked as US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi began a controversial visit. The government of China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province and had expressed strong opposition to the visit. The…

France 24 · Aug 3, 2022

A retired Russian general forced to fight in Ukraine? The fake news story shared by tabloids

Several British and American tabloids in late June published a photo they claimed showed a retired Russian general who had been plucked out of retirement by the Russian army and sent to fight in Ukraine. The articles claimed that the story was proof that Russia doesn’t have enough officers to…

France 24 · Jul 26, 2022

Russia: train saboteurs attempt to prevent transfer of military equipment to Ukraine

Activists in Russia are trying to sabotage railways to prevent trains from taking military equipment to Ukraine. They have been posting pictures of damaged rails on Telegram, as well as instructions on how to carry out such sabotage acts. The Observers team spoke to a member of an anarchist organisation…

France 24 · Jul 25, 2022

Three videos falsely accusing Zelensky of using cocaine

In recent weeks, people have been sharing at least three videos purporting to show Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky either using cocaine or making incoherent remarks after allegedly consuming drugs. But these videos have been cut misleadingly and sometimes even digitally manipulated.

France 24 · Apr 28, 2022