The United States plans to donate one million doses of the mpox vaccine to African nations facing an epidemic of the virus, President Joe Biden said Tuesday.

An international emergency was declared by the World Health Organization last month after the surge in cases of a new strain of mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to nearby countries.

“We must now move quickly to face (the) mpox outbreak in Africa,” Biden told the UN General Assembly in New York.

“We are ready to commit $500 million to help African countries prevent and respond to mpox and to donate one million doses of mpox vaccine, now.”

Biden called on others to match the pledge and “make this a billion-dollar commitment to the people of Africa.”

Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is caused by a virus transmitted to humans by infected animals but can also be passed from human to human through close physical contact.

It causes fever, muscular aches and large boil-like skin lesions, and can be deadly.

A total of 25,093 suspected mpox cases and 723 deaths were reported across the African continent between January and September 8, according to WHO.

Football pundit Mark Goldbridge has criticized Manchester City forward Erling Haaland for showing a lack of respect toward Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

Goldbridge’s comments followed Manchester City’s dramatic 2-2 draw against a 10-man Arsenal on Sunday.Haaland was involved in a heated exchange with Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus, taunting Arteta by saying, “Stay humble, eh, stay humble,” after the intense match at the Etihad Stadium.

The Norwegian striker had already stirred tensions by throwing the ball at Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães’ head after John Stones’ 90+8th-minute equalizer.

On Tuesday, Goldbridge reacted to these incidents, expressing his disapproval.

“Haaland’s lucky I’m not Gabriel; he threw the ball at Gabriel’s head like a coward, then barged into him from the kick-off,” he wrote on X. “Then he’s telling Arteta to be humble? You don’t speak to managers like that.

I hate it when players go after opposition managers—there’s a line of respect.”In the match, Haaland gave City the lead in the 9th minute, but Riccardo Calafiori equalized in the 22nd minute.

Gabriel restored Arsenal’s lead in the 45+1st minute, but the Gunners were reduced to 10 men after Leandro Trossard was sent off in the 45+8th minute. Arsenal held their ground until Stones leveled the score in the 90+8th minute.

Controversial crossdresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, has refuted allegations of bribing Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials with N15 million.

The allegations surfaced after popular influencer Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, released a voice recording allegedly featuring Bobrisky claiming to have bribed EFCC officers to drop money laundering charges against him.

In the recording, Bobrisky allegedly stated that the N15 million bribe ensured he avoided prison despite a six-month jail sentence handed down in April 2024 for naira mutilation.

He also purportedly claimed his godfather arranged for him to serve his sentence in a lodge rather than a prison.

However, Bobrisky has strongly denied these claims, calling the recording fake. In an Instagram post, he clarified: “I did not pay any money to the EFCC. It’s all lies. I served my prison term in full.

Please disregard any false information.”

Nigerian UFC fighter Israel Adesanya has placed a $4,000 bet on Enyimba to win their rescheduled matchday three fixture against Lobi Stars.

The match is set to take place at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba on Wednesday (today).

Adesanya shared the news on social media, posting a message on X alongside a picture of himself in an Enyimba jersey, stating, “It’s a goal.

“His bet suggests confidence in the nine-time Nigeria Premier Football League champions, with an expected payout of $5,930.

As previously reported by pressmen, Adesanya recently placed a $10,000 bet on Anthony Joshua’s IBF heavyweight bout against Daniel Dubois on Saturday but lost.

Donald Trump was briefed on Tuesday about “real and specific threats” from Iran to assassinate him, according to his campaign.

They claim the Islamic Republic’s efforts to target the former president, now a Republican presidential candidate, are part of a broader attempt to destabilize the United States.

In a press release, Steven Cheung, Trump’s campaign communications director, revealed that intelligence officials have observed a surge in coordinated attacks against Trump in recent months.

Cheung also emphasized that law enforcement agencies are actively working to ensure Trump’s safety and maintain the integrity of the upcoming election.

“The Iranian regime thrives on the perceived weakness of Kamala Harris, but fears the strength and determination of President Trump.

He will not be deterred in his fight for the American people and his mission to Make America Great Again,” Cheung stated.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s main rival in Canada’s parliament on Tuesday introduced a motion of no confidence in the ruling Liberals, in the first major test of his unpopular minority government.

Following a debate in the House of Commons, a vote on the long-shot Conservative motion is scheduled on Wednesday.

Far ahead in public opinion polls, Tory leader Pierre Poilievre has been itching for a snap election since the leftist New Democratic Party (NDP) earlier this month tore up a coalition agreement with the Liberals, leaving the Trudeau administration vulnerable to being toppled.

Kicking off the debate, a combative Poilievre railed against Trudeau for what he said was a failure to address soaring costs of living, a housing crisis and crime, while doubling the national debt.

He said the promise of Canada, “after nine years of Liberal government, is broken.”

If elected prime minister, he said he would legislate “a common sense plan to axe the tax (on carbon emissions), build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime.”

During an appearance in New York on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Monday evening, Trudeau acknowledged that Canadians are facing “a really tough time.”

“People are hurting. People are having trouble paying for groceries, paying for rent, filling up the tank,” and “are looking at change,” he said.

But he vowed to “keep fighting.”

At a news conference at the United Nations on Tuesday, Trudeau criticized Poilievre for suggesting “the best way to get through these difficult times is to cut services and programs that Canadians rely on.”

“I’m thinking about how we can best help Canadians,” he said.

• Liberals holding on –

The no-confidence motion is not expected to succeed after two smaller political factions have signaled they will side with the government and vote against it.

But Poilievre has vowed to keep trying, with another opportunity to bring down the government to be presented in early October.

Trudeau swept to power in 2015, and has managed to hold on by defeating two of Poilievre’s predecessors in 2019 and 2021 ballots.

The deal with the New Democratic Party to prop up the Liberals would have kept his government in office until late 2025.

But the NDP, seeing its alignment with the Liberals hurting its own popularity, exited the deal early.

According to a recent Angus Reid poll, the Conservatives are well ahead of the Liberals, with 43 percent of voting intention against 21 percent for the ruling party. The NDP is at 19 percent.

In Canada’s Westminster parliamentary system, a ruling party must hold the confidence of the House of Commons, which means maintaining support from a majority of members.

The Liberals currently have 153 seats, versus 119 for the Conservatives, 33 for the Bloc Quebecois, and the NDP 25.

Political analysts who spoke to AFP suggest an election likely won’t happen until at least spring 2025.