Joshua Cheetham
@joshcheetham
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Open source investigations, BBC Verify 🔍 Conflicts, ships, disinfo [email protected] Signal +44 7929 396 316
Joined October 2014
Houthi fighters say they've sunk a British-owned ship called the Rubymar - but we've obtained pictures from today, showing it's still above the water
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🚨 Delighted to say that, after starting on attachment, I'm now a permanent Open Source Analyst with the BBC's Data Journalism Team. As always, get in touch with stories/tips 📝 I'll be working on investigations into conflicts, disinfo, maritime and aviation, among other beats.
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New: I spoke with Marwa Elselehdar - Egypt's first female ship's captain - who was falsely blamed for blocking the Suez Canal last month. #1 most read on the BBC News website this morning 🥳. Happy Easter!.
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Today we're launching a new ‘content credentials’ feature on the BBC News website - showing how we've verified the authenticity of certain pictures/videos in stories
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We've been analysing videos, still imagery, eyewitness accounts, and on-the-ground reporting to find out what caused a deadly blast at Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City
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The feedback I've had for story has been overwhelmingly positive, but the trolling is quite something. Huge respect to any journos out there covering the disinfo beat who face this kind of online abuse every day
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The internet is awash with videos/images of alleged attacks happening in Ukraine right now - before you share them, take a moment to verify their source 🔍 As @Shayan86 and @alistaircoleman explain, they're not always what they seem
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US + UK air strikes aren't slowing Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea - one of the world's major trade lanes. In recent weeks, maritime traffic in the area has plummeted 29%. Our latest investigation here
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Very, very excited about our launch of BBC Verify (it's been months in the making). The BBC has been a pioneer in Osint investigations and it's a huge honour to be part of this new chapter. Get in touch with stories ideas and tips ✍️
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Want to learn how to do some verifying yourself? Check out this great thread by @Shayan86 from our team.
THREAD: How to verify images online?. Social media is awash with false or misleading images, some of which get millions of engagements. So, here's a simple guide on ways you can quickly check the veracity of an image you see on your social media feeds.
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Until now, the plane that carried Nancy Pelosi around Asia had its latest destination switch off. It's updated to Taipei Songshan Airport. Arrival time 22:44 UTC.
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The bulk carrier was hit by two missiles, and the crew have been evacuated to Djibouti. Its owner, Blue Fleet Group, says it plans to tow the ship to Djibouti as well - but it could still sink before then.
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Even though it's still above the surface, this is the biggest damage to a commercial ship since Houthi attacks began in the Red Sea + Gulf of Aden in November '23.
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Very excited to be shortlisted for the @Cen4infoRes awards with @Beaking_News @KallergisK @Danict89 @FreyLindsayMCP! Huge congrats to all the other nominees.
Meet the shortlisted candidates for our first ever Open Source Film Awards at @Cen4infoRes. There were some absolutely amazing entries, and these are the entries that made the shortlist. Some incredible open source investigative techniques seen in these, so do check them out!
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🚨 I'm really excited to share that I've been chosen as a @JSchofieldTrust Fellow! Can't wait to be involved with the trust and its network, which has supported so many young journalists I admire.
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Russia says two of its warships were attacked by Ukrainian ship drones this week. If you're wondering what these are + how they work, here's an explainer from me
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As US and Canadian authorities rush to find the sub that's gone missing near the Titanic shipwreck, at BBC Verify we've been monitoring search and rescue efforts.
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New info is emerging all the time, so we'll continue to update this article as we learn more and talk to experts about the evidence.
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If you scroll to video at the end of this story and click 'How we verified this', you can see our whole process for verifying two videos from Haiti
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Looking for uni students to interview in London tomorrow PM for a story about spending habits. DM me for more info!.
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Data from @MarineTraffic shows Dali's movements before Baltimore Bridge crash. It was heading quite straight then at 01:25 it veered south and slowed down. Around this time, vid shows all lights on the ship's exterior turned off and smoke began emanating from the ship's funnel.
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WeChat is facing a possible ban on US operations from next month. Trump says it's a threat to national security - but for many Chinese living in America, it's their primary means of staying in touch with loved ones back home. My latest with @ZhaoyinFeng .
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Delighted to say that from December I'll be joining the BBC's World Online team, covering international news for the website. As ever, would love to hear from anyone about stories/tips. Get in touch!
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Two stories of mine are in the @BBC’s Most Read this morning. A wonderful personal milestone as a journalist, but incredibly sad news on both fronts.
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It’s Launch Day today at BBC Verify! 🚀 We’re kicking off with this analysis of Russia’s prep for a Ukrainian counteroffensive, written by @Danict89 @ErwanRivault + Tom Spencer
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Another puff piece from yours truly (Geddit?. puff. nevermind. )
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Waiting at a bus stop. A woman notices my legs and says my CP can be cured with a juicing regime 🤷♂️ #AbledsAreWeird.
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Pictures of Donald Trump being arrested have spread online this week - here’s how to spot they’re fake. By me and @KayleenDevlin
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My latest for @BBCWorld. While it's hard to quantify how much conspiracy content is being shared by yoga influencers, members of the community have been telling me their concerns about its proliferation - and what impact it's having offline.
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Has Bitcoin made you rich? Or poor? Get in touch - I'm writing about Bitcoin investors for @BBCBusiness and would love to hear your story
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Using satellite imagery, vehicle trackers and more, our latest investigation looks at evidence that Russia is stealing grain from Ukrainian farmers
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Banks, mining firms, and an indoor skydiving centre - my latest for @BBCWorld on the business empire funding Myanmar's military
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The Houthi military claimed on 19 Feb that their attack against the Rubymar "resulted in its complete sinking"
بيانٌ صادرٌ عنِ القواتِ المسلحةِ اليمنية. بسمِ اللهِ الرحمنِ الرحيم.قال تعالى:( أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقَاتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ظُلِـمُوا وَإِنَّ اللهَ عَلَى نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ ) صدقَ اللهُ العظيم. إنتصاراً لمظلوميةِ الشعبِ الفلسطينيِّ الذي يتعرضُ حتى هذه اللحظةِ للعدوانِ والحصارِ
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First draft of #Trump's #Inauguration speech just out: "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what your country can do for me."
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First story of mine to hit #1 Most Read on the BBC News website! 🎉
Two thirds of British workers would like to start and end their working day earlier, a survey finds .
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As govs explore how to ease lockdowns, one idea is to expand people's 'social bubbles' to close friends and fam. New Zealand is already doing this & Scotland is considering. But how would it work, and would the impact be positive? My latest for @BBCWorld .
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Speaking of which, @BBCPanorama's investigation into vaccine disinfo is now available on @BBCiPlayer. Outstanding work by @mariannaspring @Shayan86 and @O_Rob1nson, among others.
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As promised, we've updated our story today after reviewing more evidence/claims, including audio released by the IDF + suggestions that the small craters were caused by an "air burst" munition. We're continuing to look at other key questions.
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h/t to the fabulous team who worked on this @shrutimenon10, @PaulMyersBBC, Yi Ma and Tom Spencer.
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The transponder for Putin's yacht Graceful, currently docked in Kaliningrad, appears to have been hacked. Its new callsign: FCKPTN.
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Two stories of mine in BBC News' top 10 Most Read today - sorry they're not good news.
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🚨 From Feb, I'll be starting a brief stint as a features writer for @BBCWorld. DM or email me with tips and ideas, and tell me how news stories are affecting you. 📝 joshua.cheetham@bbc.co.uk. #journorequests.
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Written by me, @paulybrown @Danict89 @seddonnews @Shayan86 @emmapenggelly @JamievRyan + Tom Spencer.
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More udder-ly serious and moo-ving journalism from yours truly today
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As details of yesterday's crash slowly emerge, here's what we know about Wagner boss Prigozhin's movements beforehand. By me, @benedictgarman + @MwaiPetrov.
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📻 I’ve been speaking with @bbcworldservice this week about superyachts and how they’ve been affected by sanctions against Russia
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Nine days on, we're continuing to look at the explosion at Gaza's Al-Ahli Arab hospital - and asking experts what they think about the evidence. Here's what we've found:.
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Working on this story about a Titanic exploration sub that's gone missing. Get in touch if you have any info on what's happening.
Titanic tourist sub goes missing in Atlantic Ocean, sparking search and rescue mission
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Night shifts aren't all bad: today, I got to learn and write about Ivorian coupé-décalé music
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@DoctorOfRadost @bellingcat Hi @DoctorOfRadost Josh here from BBC News. Can we have your permission to use this image in a story on our website? Happy to give relevant copyright. DM me if you like or email joshua.cheetham@bbc.co.uk.
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As the @IntlCrimCourt opens an investigation into possible war crimes in Ukraine, @KayleenDevlin @JackAGoodman Maria Korenyuk and I have been looking at allegations of Russia using cluster bombs against civilians
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@auonsson @SirListenalot @MT_Anderson @redanblacattack @giammaiot2 @breakingcraft_ Hi @auonsson. Would you be willing to share your data? Really interested to hear more about this. Here’s my email: joshua.cheetham@bbc.co.uk.
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Kicking off my stint with @BBCWorld today with this story. Get in touch if you live in Illinois - interested to hear what you think
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New: We’ve looked at some of the stories and images which many have blamed for stirring tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities in Leicester
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Feeling so privileged to be helping out at the @rorypecktrust awards tonight with @robtaylortv
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@JMarkMoore Thanks Mark! Yes it’s confusing but the ship is called Ever Given, and the company that chartered it is called Evergreen Marine Corp. Happy Easter to you too.
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Love to all my CP brethren around the world today and to anyone living with a disability. There will always be tough days, but you are more than your disability and you are more because of it. Let's get 'em 🙌 #IDPD2018.
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Here's our full story, written by me and @J_A_Horton @Malhotra_rk @ErwanRivault @Roop1 @Danict89 @nbarrett100
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With their paychecks on hold, and a shutdown rolling on, more than 1,500 US government employees have turned to crowdfunding to make ends meet. I spoke with Mechelle, Anna, and Angela to hear their stories.
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The map by @WindwardAI shows just how much shipping changed - significantly higher numbers of ships diverting away from the shorter Red Sea journey, taking Cape of Good Hope route instead
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🔺 NEW: We've analysed satellite imagery of Saky air base in west Crimea, and it shows evidence of a targeted attack this week
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Me: That's weird, Dogecoin's randomly jumped 30% this morning. Wonder why? 🤨.Elon Musk:.
SpaceX is going to put a literal Dogecoin on the literal moon.
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Keen to speak with people who've come across conspiracy theories through online wellness (eg yoga) influencers and forums. Where did you see it and how has it affected you? Send me a DM or email 📩 joshua.cheetham@bbc.co.uk #journorequests.
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"Illness is something you carry, that you live with however you can. It’s a part of who you are, and being at war with a part of yourself is pretty damn uncomfortable."
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I'm doing live coverage for the Notre-Dame fire for @BBCWorld - get in touch if you're in Paris near the scene.
Main spire of Notre-Dame cathedral has collapsed in fire, latest images show
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Four days since the Houthis claimed to have sunk the Rubymar, @CENTCOM confirms the bulk carrier is "anchored but slowly taking on water" in Red Sea + has left an 18-mile oil slick
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We'll be working on long-term investigations with colleagues around the world, and supporting the BBC's daily output by verifying images, analysing satellite pics, and tracking ships and planes, among other things - tackling mis/disinfo, and showing you how we've done it.
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All of this matters. The lives of merchant sailors in the region are at risk. Costs may grow for all sorts of goods, from fuel to food. And the longer fighting continues, many are concerned this could spew into a wider war.
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NEW: Turkey announces an extension to the “grain corridor” agreement between Ukraine and Russia.
In accordance with the resolution reached by Türkiye, the UN, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine, the Black Sea Grain Initiative was extended for an additional 120 days beginning November 19, 2022, as a result of the quadrilateral discussions hosted by Türkiye.
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As the US grapples with coronavirus, one Native American community is being hit especially hard. My latest for @BBCWorld.
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New York's legendary former public prosecutor died on Sunday, just a few days before his 100th birthday. Here's my obit for @bbcworld
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#Walthamstow was once at the cutting edge of #British #cinema. Who knew? Read my chat with campaigner @bliss_barry
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I'm monitoring Storm Pabuk for @BBCWorld. Get in touch if you're being affected. or maybe you're enjoying your day as usual?.ฉันกำลังตรวจสอบ # ปาบึกสำหรับ @BBCWorld ได้รับการติดต่อถ้าคุณได้รับผลกระทบ . หรืออาจจะเพลิดเพลินกับวันของคุณตามปกติ?.
Storm Pabuk: Tourists flee Thailand after weather warnings
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I'm here at Waltham Forest Town Hall with @RayhillDhansey. Check out our live feed on @SkyNews #GeneralElection #Sky250
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The Intelligence and Security Committee's Russia report has just been published
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Hi @NatalieCromb. Would u be interested in joining brief discussion on @BBCOS today re aboriginal recognition in constitution? DM me ASAP.
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@Jake_Hanrahan Vice did a story about this recently - gov election officials and independent election security experts say it's not possible
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We've looked at metadata from the version by PA, which distributed the pic to other news agencies. It shows the pic was saved twice in Photoshop - earliest version saved at 21:54 GMT on Friday 8 March
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Princess Catherine has apologised for edits to a Mother's Day photo published by Kensington Palace. We're speaking to experts + analysing inconsistencies in the image. Updates here 👇
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This week @FrankRGardner and I looked at video evidence of an attack on a Russian surveillance ship, the Ivan Khurs.
Was a Russian warship attacked by Ukrainian drone boats in the Black Sea?
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Excited to say I'll be making my NPR debut today on @MorningEdition! Tune in at 12:50 (London time) and you'll hear me yammering about a contentious business conference in Saudi Arabia.
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We're looking at all sorts of developments in Ukraine today, including grain deal fears, and claims that a drone ship was used to attack the Kerch Bridge in Crimea. Get the latest updates here:
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📻 Videos of people expressing their support for Burkina Faso’s junta have been circulating online. The problem is, they're deepfakes made by a dedicated website. I spoke with @BBC_AudreyB today about these vids and how to spot a deepfake.
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@rosie_bee1 @deefinnerty We’re gonna have to flip a coin for who gets the next referral towel for @deefinnerty.
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I spoke today with student protesters who've occupied a fraternity at Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania.
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You know you’re in Waitrose when you see the panic buyers have cleared out the Kettle Chips
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Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk. the commercial space race continues. (written by yours truly).
Virgin Galactic to reach space in 'weeks not months'
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🚨 Contrary to claims by Lithuania, a Turkish official has told us that Turkey did not help rescue sailors from the Moskva - a Russian cruise ship that's been damaged in the Black Sea. 🔍 Get the latest updates on the war in Ukraine from BBC News here
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Trump's plan to seize Iraq's oil: 'It's not stealing, we're reimbursing ourselves'
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