The Latest Fact Checks from the International Fact Checking Network (IFCN) 04/07/2020

The code of principles of the International Fact-Checking Network IFCN at Poynter is a series of commitments organizations abide by to promote excellence in fact-checking. The following fact checks come from IFCN fact checkers. (D. Van Zandt)

	Claim by Donald Trump: Says fired inspector general Michael Atkinson brought a “terrible, inaccurate whistleblower report” to Congress. Politifact rating: Pants on Fire In firing of inspector general, Donald Trump falsely repeats that whistleblower got phone call wrong
	Claim by Obama Watcher: Did Harvard University admit the degrees held by former first lady Michelle Obama are fakes? Lead Stories rating: False Fact Check: Harvard Did NOT Admit Michelle Obama’s Degrees Are Fakes
	Claim by: NewYork One News: Says the NBA is asking Donald Trump to “resign or we’ll never play again.” Politifact rating: Pants on Fire Fake news website republishes satirical story about NBA season, Trump
	Claim via Social Media: A video circulating on social media allegedly shows people in China destroying “5G poles” during the coronavirus outbreak, claiming that it is 5G technology that is making people sick. Reuters Fact Check rating: False False claim: Video shows Chinese people destroying a ‘5G pole’ for causing coronavirus symptoms
	Claim via Social Media: The government is closing businesses to stop the spread of coronavirus even though “the numbers are nothing compared to H1N1 or Ebola. Everyone needs to realize our government is up to something …” Politifact rating: Pants on Fire Fact-checking a viral Pa. Facebook post on coronavirus that says the government is ‘up to something’
	(International) Claim: A message with a video clip is circulating on Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp claiming that US authorities have arrested Dr Charles Lieber, a Harvard professor, for creating coronavirus and selling it to China. India Today rating: False Fact Check: Truth of corona conspiracy theory behind arrest of Harvard professor

Disclaimer: We are providing links to fact checks by the IFCN. If you do not agree with a fact check, please directly contact the source of that fact check.

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