Originally Posted by Chrysalis

In that case if the authority reported those figures I think it wouldnt qualify as fact unless backed up, also the article would have to state as reported by the authorities and the figure may be subject to change should later evidence surface. If its a web article it could eg. be updated if the 700 turned out later to be wrong.

Fact is quite simple unless you dont want it to be, it has to be something based on something that is known to be true. Since you seem to be looking for holes in this it suggests you happy with stories been made up, and manipulated. The news media job is supposed to be the let their readers know of events that they otherwise wouldnt know about, but now its more then that the news media aim to change how people think. In effect whoever controls the news controls the country.