An overview of the week's most popular and trending stories and visuals. Although widely shared on social media, none of these items are legal, the Associated Press confirmed. We present the information:
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Russia's attack on Kiev did not destroy Zelensky's office
Allegation: Ukrainian media reported that President Volodymyr Zelensky's office was destroyed as a result of a rocket attack.
Fact: The building was not destroyed and the mainstream Ukrainian media did not mention it. Pro-Russian Twitter accounts published an unsubstantiated claim that Zelensky's office was among the buildings hit by rockets in the Ukrainian capital on Monday. "Zelensky's office destroyed by rocket attack: Ukrainian media" wrote on the pro-Russian account, which has more than 2,000 retweets and 6,500 likes. The user reposted a video about the war from a separate account of UkraineNews. Although it is called "Ukrainian media", Ukraine News often publishes pro-Russian messages. The account posted a video Monday showing smoke rising over the horizon, with a caption that indicated Zelski's office may have been the target, while the message was "unclear." But AP reports and other videos from the scene show that the government building where Zelensky works was not destroyed. Associated Press correspondents on the ground in Kyiv confirmed that the building was not hit. Satellite image taken by Planet Labs Inc. An aerial photo of the building obtained by The Associated Press on Monday showed the structure still standing. Statements issued by the Ukrainian president's office on Monday and Tuesday did not mention the attack on the building, instead saying that "civilian infrastructure" was targeted. Zelensky also made a video appeal in front of the presidential administration on Monday. The video captures most of the building's exterior and courtyard with no visible damage. Kyiv mayors Vitaly Klitschko and Zelensky said that the explosions took place in the Shevchenko district, which includes Kyiv's historic Old City and government offices. Although some of the attacks were carried out near government districts where Parliament and other important landmarks are located, no official has said that these government buildings were bombed. Footage of the damage captured by The Associated Press shows the rubble and a hole in the ground at a playground in Taras Shevchenko Park near the city center. Monday's strikes outside Kiev knocked out power in 12 other regions and killed at least 19 people. Russia has launched a large-scale offensive in response to an explosion that destroyed a bridge connecting the country with Crimea over the weekend.
–This report was co-authored by Sophia Tulp of The Associated Press in New York.
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Fake tweets spreading false claims that Pelosi bought marijuana stock
Allegation: Reuters reports that US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently bought 10 million shares of a cannabis company.
Fact: Reuters published no such report, and financial records show Pelosi had no record of such stock purchases. After President Joe Biden announced on Oct. 6 that he would pardon thousands of Americans charged with federal marijuana possession, social media users falsely tweeted that Pelosi could benefit from the decision. The messages contained screenshots of what appeared to be a tweet from popular Twitter account Breaking911. However, the tweet was actually posted by an account under a different username. The screenshot reads: "Meeting: Nancy Pelosi buys $10,000,000 worth of stock 4 days ago: Reuters." A second tweet shows Canopy Growth Corp., which trades under the ticker WEED on the Toronto Stock Exchange, rose on Oct. 6. But Reuters never published that claim, and there is no evidence that Pelosi recently bought Canopy Growth stock. Corporation or the Roundhill Cannabis Exchange-Traded Fund, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WEED. Reuters spokeswoman Heather Carpenter confirmed in an email to The Associated Press that the news agency had not published the complaint. "This is not a Reuters article," Carpenter wrote. Online records of Pelosi's financial disclosures do not show such purchases by members of Congress or a House official in her family, although lawmakers have 45 days to report the transactions under a 2012 law called the Securities Exchange Act. A spokesman for Pelosi's office said the tweet was inaccurate. "There was no such transaction," Drew Hamill, Pelosi's deputy chief of staff, said in an email. Pelosi said she does not trade stocks herself. However, her husband, Paul Pelosi, is an investment banker who has traded millions of dollars in stocks and options. Critics argue that members of Congress and their family members should not be allowed to trade individual stocks because they could benefit from inside information obtained in the course of their official duties.
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Political donation reporting misrepresentation at Home Depot
Allegation: Home Depot recently donated $1.75 million to Herschel Walker's US Senate campaign.
The facts: Home Depot co-founder Bernard "Bernie" Marcus, who left the company in 2002, contributed a total of $1.75 million to political action committees supporting Walker, not The Home Depot. Social media users confused the former Home Depot executive's donations with the company's political spending during a critical race for a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia this week. Walker, a political newcomer and former University of Georgia football star, is seeking to unseat his Democratic challenger, incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock, as Republicans seek to seize control of the Senate in the upcoming midterm elections. Commenting on Monday's race, one Twitter user urged people to boycott Home Depot. "Home Depot just backed Herschel Walker with $1.75M. Please buy at Lowe's," the user wrote. The lawsuit alleges that on Oct. 7, another user asked, "Will you join me at Home Depot County to donate $1.75 million to the Herschel Walker campaign?" The company was asked to reject this letter. The Home Depot account responded, "The company does not participate in this promotion." "The contribution was made by our co-founder Bernie Marcus, who left Home Depot more than 20 years ago." Federal Election Commission records confirm that neither Home Depot nor its PAC, Home Depot PAC, donated directly to Walker's campaign or to related political action committees created solely to support his campaign. Instead, FEC records show two donations of $1.75 million to Marcus, a PAC dedicated to supporting Walker, an employer listed as the Marcus Foundation. According to the database, Marcus donated $1 million to PAC 34N22 on March 21, 2022, and another donation of $750,000 was made to the same PAC on November 8, 2021. Marcus co-founded Home Depot in 1978 and served as chairman and board member until his retirement in 2002. "His views do not represent the interests of the company," his spokeswoman Sarah Gorman wrote in a statement, adding that "Home Depot PAC did not donate campaign information to Walker's or Warnock's FEC for the 2021-2022 election cycle. PACs on both sides of several constituencies Campaigns and PACs found to have donated to the committee used the money to run ads against Walker's Georgia challenger, Warnock, to elect Republicans to the 2022 Senate National Security Council seat.
– Sophie Taleb
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Stacey Abrams was not opposed to big events in Atlanta
Allegation: Stacey Abrams lobbied to move the 2021 Major League Baseball games from Georgia and the 2022 Midtown Music Festival to Atlanta.
Fact: Abrams, the Democratic candidate in Georgia's gubernatorial race, has not called for any out-of-state events. As Georgia's gubernatorial race enters its final month, false accusations that he is calling for action in response to Republican-backed gun laws and votes have resurfaced on social media. Several Facebook posts read: "Never forget. Stacy Abrams lobbied to move Allstars and Music Midtown. Cost Georgia over $150 million. Not Kemp." Abrams, who is running against Republican incumbent Brian Kemp, fought against the legislation. However, an analysis of Abrams' public comments shows that he did not ask Georgia to reschedule either of these events and, in fact, opposed both. The Associated Press reports that the association is protesting changes to Georgia's election laws that include new restrictions on mail-in voting and increased legislative oversight of election administration. He said: Please don't interrupt us. In a tweet the day MLB announced the All-Star Game, Abrams wrote, "Like many Georgians, I am disappointed that MLB has postponed the All-Star Game," adding, "I like me a lot. I'm boycotting .Respectfully, I don't want Georgia families to be affected and lose their jobs. In a later interview with the AP, when asked if he supported corporate boycotts like the All-Star Game movement, Abrams replied, "I do." Currently, the boycott is for the victims of these laws. I don't think it's helpful." In August 2022, Music Midtown announced that "due to circumstances beyond our control, Music Midtown will not be held this year." That's because Repeal was not upheld, but the AP reported that no. Some believe the decision is the result of a 2019 Georgia Supreme Court ruling that limited the ability of private companies to ban publicly owned firearms. The move is related to a state law passed in 2014. weapon range. He expanded the stone. The venue for the canceled festival was Piedmont Park, a public-private partnership." In tough economic times for many Georgians, this cancellation will cost the Georgia economy $50 million," Abrams said in a statement posted on his campaign website. "This means Music Midtown and the small businesses and workers who rely on their massive economic events. impact is now being deprived of income that helps put food on the table and a roof over their heads." Abrams campaign spokesman Alex Floyd confirmed to The Associated Press that she did not lobby for the outcome of any event. "Stacey Abrams never called for a boycott of the All-Stars or Musick did not support the cancellation of Midtown and has already spent his career bringing more jobs and opportunities to Georgia," Floyd said in an email.
Associated Press reporter Melissa Goldin in New York contributed to this report.
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