Is what Northern Ireland buys from Great Britain four times more valuable than from Ireland?

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CLAIM: Northern Ireland purchases from Great Britain are four times more valuable than those from Ireland.

CONCLUSION: ACCURATE. In 2019, the ratio of the estimated total value of Northern Ireland purchases from Great Britain (£13.4bn) to purchases from Ireland (£3.0bn) was 4.5:1. The ratio has been similar since 2013. However, the figures may not tell the full story as they do not provide information on transport/shipping routes or the country of origin of any goods purchased. Continue reading Is what Northern Ireland buys from Great Britain four times more valuable than from Ireland?

An open letter to YouTube’s CEO from the world’s fact checkers

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An open letter to YouTube’s CEO from the world’s fact checkers
12 January 2022

Ms Susan Wojcicki,

It’s been almost two years since the COVID-19 pandemic started. The world has seen time and time again how destructive disinformation and misinformation can be for social harmony, democracy, and public health; too many lives and livelihoods have been ruined, and far too many people have lost loved ones to disinformation. As an international network of fact-checking organizations, we monitor how lies spread online — and everyday, we see that YouTube is one of the major conduits of online disinformation and misinformation worldwide. This is a significant concern among our global fact-checking community. Continue reading An open letter to YouTube’s CEO from the world’s fact checkers

Seasonal flu and COVID-19

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What is seasonal flu?

“Seasonal flu” is a very common illness, and tends to be more severe than the common cold. The most common symptoms are a sudden high temperature, sore throat, cough, headache, tiredness and general aches and pains. Flu can also cause nausea, loss of appetite, a runny or blocked nose, sneezing, and cause you difficulty sleeping. The World Health Organisation explains that “in temperate climates, seasonal epidemics occur mainly during winter, while in tropical regions, influenza may occur throughout the year”. Continue reading Seasonal flu and COVID-19

COVID-19 and excess deaths in Northern Ireland and the world

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There has been a lot of discussion in relation to “excess deaths” and COVID-19. This term is not specific to this pandemic and has been used by statisticians globally for many years. This explainer article updates our previous analysis of excess mortality, otherwise known as “excess deaths”. Continue reading COVID-19 and excess deaths in Northern Ireland and the world

FactCheckNI: Editor Role

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FactCheckNI are recruiting an editor!

FactCheckNI is Northern Ireland’s first and only dedicated fact-checking service. We investigate claims and publish articles on contemporary and contentious topics. We work to foster a culture of critical thinking within a deeply divided society, and have trained thousands of people in the region in fact -checking and critical thinking skills. FactCheckNI is a verified signatory to the International Fact-Checking Network’s Code of Principles, with commitments to nonpartisanship, fairness, and transparency. Continue reading FactCheckNI: Editor Role