Sweden

Is the world's first permanent electrified road open in Sweden as of April 2024? No, that's not true: Several short sections of prototype electrified roadway in Sweden have been used to test various charging methods for electric cars and trucks. But the first large-scale, permanent and open-for-public-use electrified road has not been constructed. A 13-mile pilot project was to be…

Does a meme about mail-in voting correctly describe which countries forbid it? No, the list is misleading regarding some countries, lacks context in some cases and is inaccurate in at least one case by including Japan, which does allow mail-in voting as of April 2024. Many of the countries listed allow absentee or mail-in ballots for citizens who are living…

Did a video shared on social media genuinely show a UFO that was recorded flying over Sweden? No, that's not true: Lead Stories determined that the original clip shared on Instagram was created as part of a school project by 16-year-old Swedish "3D artist" @qvist_designs. The account holder confirmed to Lead Stories that the video was "fake." A version of…

Did the "zombie deer virus," officially known as chronic wasting disease, spread after Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's foundation vaccinated deer across the country? No, that's not true: The foundation, better known as the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, told Lead Stories it doesn't "fund such a program." Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture clarified that its only "semi-widespread vaccination program" involving wildlife…

Did Sweden confirm the loss of all Leopard 2A5 tanks delivered to Ukraine? No, that's not true. The government of Sweden did not confirm the loss of the tanks, both the press officer for the Swedish Defence Minister and a spokesperson for the Swedish armed forces told Lead Stories. A post making the claim gives no evidence nor does it…

Did professional soccer player Megan Rapinoe have a campaign with the breakfast cereal Wheaties that was canceled after she missed a penalty kick during the 2023 World Cup? No, that's not true: A spokesperson for General Mills, the parent company of Wheaties, confirmed that the claim is false. The claim also started on a satirical website. The claim originated in…

Was Megan Rapinoe, a renowned U.S. women's soccer player, fired from the Seattle "OL Reign" team and the U.S. Olympic team, and did she also lose a multi-million TV deal as a result of missing a penalty kick during the Women's World Cup series? No, that's not true: Rapinoe only announced finishing her professional career after the U.S. was eliminated…

Did NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announce on June 26, 2023, that the international military alliance would change the status of the air force mission protecting the skies of the Baltic states to a "combat" role?" No, that's not true: Stoltenberg said during a press conference that NATO has reached an agreement on a "new rotational model for air and missile…

Has Sweden registered sex as a sport? No, that's not true: The Swedish Sports Confederation denied this claim, saying it had rejected the application from an organization called the "Swedish Sex Federation" to join the nation's sports confederation. A Google News search for Sweden registering sex as a sport has not generated any reports from reputable media outlets. The claim…

Does a video on Mexico's Milenio Television channel show a Mexican cartel member carrying a U.S.-made Javelin anti-tank missile? No, that's not true: Raytheon Technologies, which makes the Javelin, told Lead Stories that the video shows another type of shoulder-fired anti-tank weapon. The claim appeared in a post on Twitter (archived here) by Mexican journalist Azucena Uresti on May 31,…