Key Highlights
- Verification of a UPS cargo plane crash in Kentucky that killed nine people.
- Analysis of an AI-generated video circulating as pro-Russian disinformation showing Ukrainian soldiers crying at the front line.
- Facts about foreign prisoners in English and Welsh prisons, including statistics on their nationalities and reasons for incarceration.
- Election results from New York City mayoral race with Zohran Mamdani winning over Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.
Verification of a UPS Cargo Plane Crash in Kentucky
The BBC Verify team has been working to verify footage of a devastating cargo plane crash that occurred at Louisville International Airport, Kentucky. According to the US state’s governor Andy Beshear, at least nine people have died, and eleven others are injured as a result of the incident. The exact cause of the crash is yet to be determined, but experts suggest it could be related to engine failure or structural issues during takeoff.
The team has been analyzing ATC communications from the flight and coordinating with aviation experts Terry Tozer and Marco Chan for further insights into the possible causes of the crash. These experts have provided their analysis based on the available footage, highlighting potential issues such as an engine falling off during take-off or catching fire shortly after.
AI-Generated Video Circulating as Disinformation
A viral video has been spreading online that appears to show a Ukrainian conscript crying at the front line. However, it has been confirmed by BBC Verify to be AI-generated disinformation. The video has origins in a now-deleted TikTok account that shared numerous AI-generated videos of Ukrainian soldiers.
Reverse image searches revealed that this particular video is composed of two short clips edited together and lacks clear watermarking identifying its source.
Experts have noted the brevity of the clips as an indicator of AI-generation, as most models can only produce continuous shots up to 10 seconds. Additionally, the video’s portrayal of a young soldier crying at 23 years old is misleading since conscription in Ukraine applies only to men between 25 and 60 who are fit for military service.
Foreign Prisoners in English and Welsh Prisons
The BBC Verify team has been examining figures related to foreign prisoners in prisons in England and Wales. As of the end of September, there were over 10,700 foreign nationals incarcerated, making up 12% of the total prison population. The most common nationalities among these prisoners include Albanian (10%), Polish (7%), and Irish (6%).
More than 60% had been sentenced while one-third were on remand awaiting trial or sentencing.
The data also shows that the overall foreign prisoner population increased by 3% year-on-year and was 14% higher compared to five years ago. This growing trend in the foreign prison population raises questions about the reasons for incarceration, particularly given recent high-profile cases of mistaken releases from prisons.
New York City Mayor Race Outcome
In New York City’s mayoral election on November 8th, Zohran Mamdani emerged victorious over Democratic Party candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. With nearly two million votes cast, this was the first time since the 1960s that so many votes were recorded in a single election. Mamdani will become New York’s first Muslim mayor at the age of 34.
Despite tech mogul Elon Musk’s claims on social media suggesting the election results were fraudulent due to candidates’ names appearing twice on ballots, this is actually a common practice known as fusion voting in New York state elections. This system allows multiple parties to endorse and list a single candidate on the ballot, ensuring broader representation.
The BBC Verify team continues its work by verifying online content, analyzing video footage, and working with open-source intelligence to ensure accurate reporting of complex stories in today’s digital age.
