April Fool's Day 2018: We round up all the deliberate 'fake news' from around the world

From Brexit emojis and an EU trade yacht to chocolate mayonnaise and Victorian memes, these are this year's best joke stories

What is April Fool's Day and what are its origins?

In an era of fake news, we should probably all be reading things with a more sceptical eye.

That is especially true on 1 April, when newspapers, companies and social media comics try to trick us all with jokes and pranks.

Here are some of the best prank stories that we spotted throughout the morning.

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[1 April 2018 08:53 · Chris Baynes]

Good morning and welcome to our April Fool's Day round-up. We'll bring you the best jokes and pranks out there as we try not to fall prey to the real fake news...

[1 April 2018 09:06 · Chris Baynes]

Google has marked April Fool's Day by incorporating Where's Wally? (or Waldo, for our American readers) into its maps. 

In a game playable on desktop, iOS and Android, users can search for Wally and his signature red-and-white stripes in real locations around the world. 

[1 April 2018 09:10 · Chris Baynes]

A strong effort the European Parliament's UK office (that bastion of comedy) might have had a few Brexiteers choking on their full English breakfasts this morning:  

[1 April 2018 09:19 · Chris Baynes]

Brexit looms large over April Fool's Day in the UK this year.

The Observer brings us the news that MPs have condemned plans to create official Leave and Remain emojis as “divisive and dangerous”.

The new characters – a Brexit bulldog clad in Union Jack hat and starry-eyed, beret-wearing EU supporter – are part of plans by an Italian tech firm to cash in on the political debate, the newspaper claims.

“Nobody who campaigned in the referendum wanted to give shadowy organisations the chance to exploit British voters,” the furious "MPs" are quoted as saying. “Brexit is far too serious a matter for foolish jokes.”

[1 April 2018 09:30 · Chris Baynes]

The Sunday Telegraph reports that EU officials are drawing up secret plans for a new "bateau de commerce” to help secure post-Brexit trade deals.

The new ship - modelled on Royal Yacht Britannia and dubbed “le trade yacht” - will ferry key European Commission figures to trade negotiations as the EU tries to rebuild its own ties with non-EU countries after Britain leaves, we are told.

[1 April 2018 09:41 · Chris Baynes]

Prince Harry will be "drinking laverbread smoothies and engaging in pre-dawn ancient Celtic chanting" during his stag weekend "at a spiritual yurt retreat in the valleys of West Wales", claims the Mail on Sunday.

The newspaper reports the royal has "chosen to forgo vigorous rounds of strip billiards in favour of having his chakras realigned", in a sign that he is under the "very new-age thumb" of his fiancee Meghan Markle.

[1 April 2018 09:53 · Chris Baynes]

"Revolutionary" VAR headsets will be used by referees at the World Cup in Russia, claims a football "exclusive" in the Sun on Sunday.

The £5,000 gadgets will employ virtual reality to allow officials to see replays instantly on a 3D screen, speeding up decisions, we are told.

[1 April 2018 09:58 · Chris Baynes]

Coca-Cola is to launch three new flavours of its sugar-free Zero brand, claims the Sunday Mirror.

The avocado, sourdough and charcoal flavoured soft drinks have been conceived to appeal to the "brunch-loving, superfood-snacking millenial", the newspaper says.

[1 April 2018 10:08 · Chris Baynes]

The Independent also has an April Fool's Day story somewhere on its website... but we'll let you find that one for yourselves.

[1 April 2018 10:26 · Chris Baynes]

1 April is traditionally a day of eyebrow-raising product launches, and this year is no different. And with April Fool's Day falling on Easter Sunday, there is plenty of chocolate about.

Burger King have apparently unveiled a new chocolate Whopper. According to the advert, the burger comprises of a "flame-grilled chocolate patty", topped with candied blood oranges, raspberry syrup and vanilla frosting, in a chocolate cake bun. Which, unless you're a dentist, doesn't actually sound that bad.