False claims about the BCG vaccine
WhatsApp messages claiming the BCG vaccine prevents coronavirus infection are inaccurate.
The Bacille Calmette-Guérin jab has been given to children around the world to fight off tuberculosis, and was widespread in secondary schools in the UK until 2005.
It’s still given in the UK when a child or adult might be at risk of coming into contact with tuberculosis.
It’s still common in many countries, such as Syria, where rumours are spreading that people shouldn’t worry about coronavirus if they’ve had the BCG jab because it gives them immunity.
A WhatsApp message in Arabic says that if you have the circular scar from the jab on your arm, you could be “75% protected” against Covid-19.
However, the World Health Organization says there is no evidence that the BCG protects people from Covid-19 infection.
The health body says two clinical trials are under way involving BCG, and when completed, their findings will be evaluated by the WHO.
Despite the lack of medical evidence, global search for the term “BCG” has spiked, according to Google.
The WHO is concerned that increased demand for the vaccine means there’ll be less of it available to inoculate children against tuberculosis.
Similar fears have also been voiced by suppliers in Japan, reporting a surge in demand for the BCG vaccine.
Iran’s dodgy detector
The head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) unveiled a hand-held device this week which he claimed could identify people infected with coronavirus – and even contaminated surfaces – up to a distance of 100m and within five seconds.
The Physics Society of Iran described the announcement as “pseudoscience”, “unbelievable” and on a par with “sci-fi tales”.
The device bears an uncanny resemblance to fake bomb detector tools sold by British fraudsters more than a decade ago, all of which claimed to use the same “electrostatic magnetic ion attraction”.
Their "smart Covid-19 detector" bears an uncanny resemblance to three fake bomb detector tools, sold by four British fraudsters more than a decade ago, which ended up in conflict zones and were used by a number of governments around the world pic.twitter.com/moE0F3gaEU
— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan86) April 15, 2020
The bogus bomb detectors were in fact empty cases with an aerial which swings according to the user’s unconscious hand movements. They ended up in conflict zones and were used by a number of governments around the world.
This latest device has an almost identical case and antenna.
Even the packaging, which can be seen in a clip of it being unveiled on Iranian state TV, looks similar.
The virus wasn’t created in a lab
A video published by the Epoch Times, that contains claims that the coronavirus was created in a laboratory, has been marked false on Facebook where it has been watched almost 70 million times.
The opening feels like a slick and dramatic Netflix documentary – there’s a flash and crack of a lightning bolt followed by ominous music.
The hour-long video includes a theory about a lab in Wuhan creating the virus and leaking it, due to poor security.
The BBC’s science editor, Paul Rincon, says “there’s currently no evidence that any research institute in Wuhan was the source of Sars-CoV-2” (which causes Covid-19).
Scientific analysis of the evidence shows the virus came from animals, and was not man-made.
A peer-reviewed study in March found no evidence the coronavirus had been engineered, stating that “it is improbable that SARS-CoV-2 emerged through laboratory manipulation.”
The video also refers to a study from Indian researchers that claimed to find four new sequences had been inserted into the new coronavirus, which were also present in HIV, to suggest the virus is man-made.
But that paper, never peer-reviewed, was withdrawn by its authors. And the genetic information that had matched is common in many other organisms.
“Those sequences are so short that they match with many different organisms, not just HIV. It doesn’t mean they’re related,” says Dr Jeremy Rossman, a virologist at the University of Kent.
Epoch Times, based in New York City, was started by Chinese-Americans affiliated with a religious group called Falun Gong.
The site spent heavily on pro-Donald Trump Facebook adverts last year, reported NBC News.
But in August Facebook banned it from taking out more ads for violating its policies.
More Bill Gates rumours
This week Bill Gates’ criticism of Donald Trump’s decision to halt funding for the WHO sparked a new wave of misinformation and speculation about Mr Gates.
It followed familiar themes, such as criticising Mr Gates’ support for vaccines.
Multiple posts resurfaced on Facebook claiming that a research institute funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation owns the patent on the coronavirus causing the current pandemic.
These claims are all totally unsubstantiated. The suggestion that Covid-19 is a human creation sponsored by Bill Gates is false.
False claims that the virus is fake are spreading onlineThe Covid pandemic is not fake
The coronavirus pandemic is “fake” and “truly a farce” is the claim of a holistic doctor interviewed by Canal Monteria, a Colombian news channel. The video went up last month but has now been viewed 18 million times and is still being shared on Facebook, which is why we’re addressing it now.
The claim is clearly false – coronavirus does exist.
The man in the video goes unchallenged and says that present theories on viruses are all wrong, and recommends a video on YouTube that denies the existence of HIV to prove his point.
He doesn’t at any point explain why people are getting ill.
At 31, Lagos-born Espago is redefining what it means to be a late bloomer in the Nigerian music
space. After spending years as a chef, designer, and farmer, Espago turned to music just a year
ago on a journey sparked by deep loss, life experience, and self-discovery.
What makes him different? It’s not just his sound, it’s his story. Espago brings a calm but
confident energy that mirrors his Lagos upbringing: a blend of vibrant Fuji rhythms and soulful
Afrobeat traditions like King Sunny Ade, shaped by global legends like Michael Jackson and
Celine Dion. His voice? Professionally trained. His brand? Stylish, grounded, and intentional.
Espago didn’t wait for the industry to find him; he found his own way in, teaching himself,
searching out producers, and building his identity from scratch. With no major label backing and
no big-name features, he has still built a brand marked by boldness, emotion, and Lagos street
authenticity.
He’s not just making music; he’s building a lifestyle brand. His creative roots are in food,
fashion, and music fused into something richer than just a “sound.” It’s a full experience. While
he hasn’t performed live yet, he’s putting in the work behind the scenes, mentoring new artists,
recording regularly to sharpen his voice and brand for bigger stages ahead.
In a scene dominated by speed, Espago’s journey is about intentional growth, honest
expression, and emotional connection.
As the new class of Afro‑HipHop begins to take shape, Espago stands out not just for what he’s
making, but for who he is becoming.
Rising artist Derriq isn’t just making music for entertainment; he’s building a legacy rooted in culture, resilience, and pride. The Lagos-based Afro-soul and Afrobeats singer has his eyes set on something bigger than streaming numbers: putting his hometown of Benin City on the global creative map is his dream.
A native of Edo State, Derriq’s musical journey began as a child organizing school parties just for the chance to perform. Since then, he’s gone from studio assistant to full-fledged artist, releasing impactful tracks like “Position,” “Vibration,” and “Confidence.” His sound, described as smooth, calm, and party-ready, reflects the duality of his personality: laid-back yet determined, quiet but powerful.
Derriq is more than just a promising name on Nigeria’s growing music roster; he’s a symbol of the next generation of artists who blend regional identity with global appeal using his distinctive voice, a strong sense of direction, and his signature slang “Yehboo! Yezaiii!” making waves among fans, Derriq is proving that cultural authenticity still cuts through the noise.
His next single, “Omo n’ Ogie,” is a tribute to his heritage and a signal that he’s just getting started. Keep your eyes on Derriq, he’s not just singing for the moment, he’s singing for a movement.
Follow @DerriqMusic on all social platforms
For interviews and press: derriqmusic@gmail.com
Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:
1. President Bola Tinubu will address the nation in a broadcast today, Sunday, August 4, 2024. Mr Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, announced this in a statement, on Saturday, saying the broadcast would hold at 7am.
2. The Commissioner of Police in Borno State, Yusuf Lawal, on Saturday confirmed the killing of four persons along Baga Road in Maiduguri, Borno State during the nationwide #EndBadGoverment protest. He said Boko Haram elements infiltrated the protesters and killed four persons on Thursday with explosives at a filling station.
3. Many persons have been feared killed while others sustained injuries as hoodlums clashed with security operatives in Kano. It was gathered that Rijiyar Lemo, Kurna to Bachirawa areas in Fagge Local Government, Kofar Nassarawa in Kano municipal and Unguwa Uku area of Tarauni Local Government are the worst hit areas.
4. The leadership of the organised labour, on Saturday, warned the Nigeria Police Force and other security forces to stop what it described as a “massacre” of protesters carrying out nationwide demonstrations against hunger in the land.
5. Leading Human Rights group, Amnesty International Nigeria, has said over 50 protesters were arrested in Abuja on the third day of the demonstration against hardship in the land.
6. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has urged the police and other security agencies to stop shooting and killing protesters demanding good governance in Nigeria. Atiku in a statement on Saturday, questioned the professionalism of the security agencies in the handling of the ongoing demonstrations.
7. Some of the organisers and supporters of the ongoing protest have set up pages to raise over N4bn through GoFundMe, a popular online crowdfunding platform. A check on Saturday showed that a total of N4.1bn had been benchmarked to be donated through accounts created by three GoFundMe users.
8. Tragedy struck again in Imo State on Saturday evening when some gunmen reportedly shot dead the President-General of Umucheke Okwe autonomous community in Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State, Hyginus Ohazurike. Six village heads from the autonomous community were also allegedly killed by the gunmen.
9. The Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh has said his men were not responsible for the death of a teenager in the Kubwa area of the FCT. In a viral video, a man claimed that police, while dispersing protesters, shot dead a teenager in the Kubwa area.
10. The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu has said President Bola Tinubu is keeping an eye on the ongoing #EndBadGovernance demonstrations across the country.
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