Monthly Archives: July 2026

10, July 2026

Trump invested in companies profiting from war on Iran ⁰

Brokers representing US President Donald Trump reportedly purchased last year between $9.7 million and $24.3 million in stocks from arms manufacturers and other military contractors profiting from the illegal war of aggression against Iran.

Responsible Statecraft (RS), the online magazine of the Quincy Institute, said in an analysis on Thursday that accumulating shares in companies like Palantir, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and RTX took place in 2025 before Trump’s warmongering.

Trump’s brokers purchased between $1.6 and $3.9 million in stock of Palantir, the surveillance technology company that developed Maven Smart System, the AI system used to strike 1,000 targets in Iran on the first day of the military assault, according to the analysis of a financial disclosure released recently by the president.

Trump also acquired up to $1.4 million in stock from Lockheed Martin, which manufactures F-35 and F-22 jets deployed against Iran; up to $1 million in stock from General Dynamics, which builds heavy bombs and missiles used in terrorist attacks on the Islamic Republic; and over $800,000 in stock from RTX, which manufacturers the Tomahawk missiles used in the deadly strike on a school in Iran’s southern city of Minab, and up to $3 million in stock from GE Aerospace, which manufactures parts for aircraft used by the US and Israel to target Iran.

The report also said that many of the aforesaid companies have received large contracts to rebuild stockpiles of weapons that were depleted during the war on Iran.

Some contractors in Trump’s investment portfolio also do business directly with the Israeli regime, it added, citing Boeing which sold $8.6 billion in F-15 jets to Tel Aviv less than three months before the second unlawful American-Zionist aggression against Iran, which started on February 28.

Meanwhile, the analysis said that almost all of the stocks Trump purchased rose significantly in the first year of his administration.

All of the stock purchases were part of a larger financial disclosure which revealed that Trump generated $2 billion through private ventures last year, including approximately $1.4 billion through cryptocurrency sales, it said.

The US and the Israeli regime waged their first criminal military assault against Iran, which lasted 12 days, in June 2025. Their second invasion began in late February and came to a halt in early April after 40 days.

In both wars, Iran’s brave resistance and successful retaliatory operations forced the enemies to accept a ceasefire.

Source: Press TV

9, July 2026

Ngute admin launches family benefit audit to curb payroll fraud ⁰

Cameroon has set July 15, 2026, as the first deadline in a nationwide audit of family allowances paid to public employees, as the government steps up efforts to tighten control over payroll spending.

Through the operation, the Ministry of Finance aims to clean up the list of beneficiaries after what it describes as an unusually sharp increase in the number of children declared in the state’s payroll system. The ministry is urging eligible public employees to complete their registration well before the deadline to avoid last-minute congestion and processing delays. The first phase of the audit, known as AALFA, marks the beginning of a broader review designed to verify the legitimacy of family benefit claims.

A Budget Review Triggered by a Surge in Beneficiaries

Behind the administrative exercise lies a broader fiscal challenge. According to the Ministry of Finance, the number of children declared by public employees rose from 594,728 in June 2024 to more than 923,000 in March 2026, an increase of about 55% in less than two years.

For the government, such a rapid rise warrants a comprehensive review. The audit is intended to distinguish legitimate claims from irregular or fraudulent declarations that may be inflating public spending.

Documents Required for Registration

Public employees receiving family allowances must submit several documents, including a collective life certificate covering children under 21 years old or children with disabilities, a copy of a promotion notice or payroll statement, legible copies of the birth certificates of all declared children, and a copy of the beneficiary’s national identity card. The Ministry of Finance has also issued guidelines explaining how to complete the data collection form in order to simplify the registration process and reduce filing errors.

Higher Benefits Have Increased Fiscal Pressure

The audit comes only months after family allowances were raised to CFA4,500 per child per month in February 2024. The increase was intended to strengthen the purchasing power of public employees’ families, but it also automatically increased the government’s financial burden, making the accuracy of beneficiary records even more critical.

In that context, the audit is not meant to challenge the benefit itself but to ensure it reaches eligible recipients. Authorities intend to preserve the rights of legitimate beneficiaries while removing fraudulent claims from the payroll and recovering any funds that were improperly paid.

Birth Certificate Verification and Fraud Detection

The review will focus primarily on verifying the authenticity of birth certificates, the validity of supporting documents, and the consistency of information across government databases. Officials also plan to identify duplicate records, false declarations, and children registered without valid documentation.

The operation builds on broader government efforts to improve control over personnel-related spending. Following physical headcounts of public employees and audits of pension beneficiaries and dependents, authorities are now targeting a less visible but potentially costly source of expenditure: family allowances.

A Long-Term Interministerial Initiative

Created by decree in July 2024, the committee overseeing the AALFA audit brings together representatives from the ministries of Finance, Public Service, Defense, Security, Territorial Administration, and civil registration services. The interministerial structure is intended to facilitate data sharing and strengthen verification procedures.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the audit will run for 24 months, beginning with a systematic review of the birth certificates of children declared by active public employees. The goal extends beyond a one-time audit to establishing a lasting mechanism for securing the family allowance database.

July 15 Marks the First Test

In the short term, the Ministry of Finance is emphasizing compliance with the July 15 deadline, describing it as a key milestone for the success of the audit. Completing this first phase on schedule should help reduce processing delays and lay the groundwork for the broader review.

Ultimately, the audit reflects a dual objective: protecting public finances at a time of mounting budgetary pressure while ensuring that government social benefits are paid only to those who are legally entitled to receive them.

Source: Business in Cameroon

9, July 2026

US strikes kill 14 in Iran, hit railroad ⁰

At least 14 people were killed and 78 others injured in US strikes on five Iranian provinces over the past two days despite a ceasefire memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Tehran and Washington, an Iranian Health Ministry official says.

“While a ceasefire was in place, the United States targeted five provinces of Iran on July 8 and 9,” Hossein Kermanpour, head of the ministry’s Public Relations and Information Center, wrote in a post on his X account on Thursday.

He added that 47 of the wounded remain hospitalized, while the other victims have been discharged after receiving medical treatment.

Early Thursday, terrorist US forces carried out a wide range of strikes against several parts of the southern coastal provinces of Iran, targeting civilian infrastructure and claiming the lives of Iranians, besides attacking a bridge in the northern province of Golestan.

The US also carried out military strikes on several coastal bases and civilian sites in Iran’s southern Hormozgan Province and the port city of Mahshahr on Wednesday, in an open violation of the MoU.

8, July 2026

HIV goals: Cameroon achieves two of three UN targets ⁰

Cameroon has achieved two of the United Nations’ “95-95-95” HIV goals, according to new data released by the Ministry of Public Health.

The UN targets for 2030 are 95 percent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed are on antiretroviral treatment, and 95 percent of those on treatment have a suppressed viral load.

Results from the National Survey on the Impact of HIV in Cameroon, conducted between September 2024 and January 2025, show that the country has passed the second and third benchmarks.

According to the results of the survey released on Tuesday, 96.4 percent of people diagnosed with HIV are receiving antiretroviral treatment, and 95 percent of those on treatment have achieved viral suppression.

The first target remains a challenge, with only 77.1 percent of adults living with HIV knowing their status.

The survey estimates national HIV prevalence at 3 percent among people aged 15 and over. This represents roughly 501,000 people living with HIV. The annual incidence rate stands at 0.13 percent, or about 21,000 new infections each year.

Health officials said the survey covered nearly 15,000 households and included interviews with about 27,000 adults nationwide.

Source: Xinhaunet

8, July 2026

World Cup: Egypt files complaint against referee after exit ⁰

“Hany Aburida, president of the Egyptian Football Federation, filed a complaint with FIFA, demanding an investigation into the French referee Francois Letexier… after the serious refereeing mistakes committed by the team of referees and double standards,” said a statement from the federation.

On Tuesday, Letexier ruled out a Mostafa Ziko goal when Egypt were leading 1-0 after VAR intervened to spot a foul on Lisandro Martinez much earlier in the move.

A few minutes later, Ziko put Egypt 2-0 up and on the brink of a place in the last eight for the first time, but there was further controversy in added time, after Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi had brought the champions level.

In the build-up to Argentina’s winner scored by Enzo Fernandez, Egypt believe they should have been awarded a penalty for a pull by Alexis Mac Allister on Hamdy Fathy.

“Aburida demanded the investigation of the entire team of referees, including the video technology referees, because of the blatant errors and insisting on not reviewing some of the footage that we believe are in favour of the Egyptian national team, and we see in it the Pharaohs’ right to a correct goal and a penalty,” said the Egyptian statement.

It added the president had also “demanded the exclusion of the referee and the entire crew from the World Cup after investigating these mistakes and proving the crime of discrimination against the Egyptian national team”.

The statement echoed remarks by Egypt coach Hossam Hassan immediately after the game.

“I do not want to put it nicely and talk about hard luck. We have been cheated unfairly today, we have suffered injustice,” Hassan told reporters.

“We haven’t seen respect or fair play. There has not been respect or fair play.”

Hassan told broadcaster BeIN Sports: “Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champions in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running.

“In football, there are sometimes external factors that go beyond the technical aspects. The world champions received support at every level.”

Source: AFP

8, July 2026

CDC banana exports hit its lowest level of 2026 ⁰

Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), the country’s only domestically owned banana exporter, recorded its weakest monthly export performance of 2026 in June.

According to the Cameroon Banana Association (Assobacam), the state-owned agribusiness exported 3,085 tons of bananas during the month, down 12% from the 3,508 tons shipped in May. June’s exports also trailed those recorded during the first four months of the year: 4,231 tons in January, 3,234 tons in February, 3,822 tons in March, and 3,233 tons in April.

Assobacam did not provide an explanation for the decline. However, it coincides with the end of Cameroon’s dry season, a period that typically brings lower agricultural yields. Beyond seasonal factors, the figures highlight CDC’s continued struggle to recover from the socio-political crisis that has affected the country’s English-speaking regions since late 2016.

The conflict severely disrupted operations, particularly in the Southwest Region, where many of the company’s banana, rubber, and oil palm plantations are located. Large areas of farmland have remained idle for years, contributing to mounting losses that continue to weigh on the company’s financial position.

In 2025 alone, CDC reported 14,349 hectares of mature plantations that remained unharvested, officially citing shortages of agricultural inputs needed for field operations as well as persistent security challenges in parts of its production areas.

Source: Business in Cameroon

8, July 2026

Iran Army expands retaliation with drone strikes on US forces in Bahrain ⁰

The Iranian Army says it has carried out drone strikes against US military assembly points at Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain, widening the Islamic Republic’s military response to American airstrikes on Iranian territory.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Public Relations Office of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran said the operation was launched in response to “hostile US attacks” on military and civilian areas in southern Iran and the violation of the 14-point ceasefire agreement.

“Following the hostile aggression of the American enemy against military and civilian areas in the south of the country and the violation of the 14-clause memorandum of understanding, the attack drones of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, from early this morning (Wednesday), targeted the assembly points of American hostile forces at ‘Sheikh Isa Base’ in Bahrain,” the statement read.

The Army warned that further violations would be met with expanded strikes, stating that “the consequences of the blatant and repeated violation and breaking of the ceasefire by criminal America” would be borne by US forces, and that “all American bases in the region will be legitimate targets for the army’s drones.”

The announcement came hours after the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said it had struck 85 US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait and shot down an American MQ-9 drone over Bushehr province.

Those strikes were described by the IRGC as an “initial response” to US aerial aggression against coastal bases and civilian stations in Hormozgan province and Mahshahr.

Source: Presstv

8, July 2026

Trump says ‘very upset with NATO’ over Iran war, Greenland ⁰

US President Donald Trump has accused NATO allies of abandoning Washington during its confrontation with Iran, claiming European governments failed to support the United States despite decades of American military and financial backing.

The remarks came ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, where alliance leaders gathered to discuss a major expansion of militarism and increased military spending.

Speaking alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday, Trump said he had been “testing” NATO members by seeking their support during the US military aggression against Iran.

“In a way, I was testing people. I was testing to see whether or not they would be there because I have long said that we help them, but I am not sure that they would be there for us,” Trump said.

Trump accused several European governments of refusing to stand with Washington, naming Italy, Germany and France.

“Italy turned us down and Germany turned us down and France turned us down,” he said. “Why are we spending hundreds of billions of dollars, and they are not there for us, we are always there for them.”

He also questioned NATO’s ability to survive without US financial backing, reviving his longstanding demands that European allies spend more on military and contribute more directly to the alliance.

Washington has reportedly begun weighing punitive measures against allies based on their level of support during the war on Iran. Pentagon officials have floated the possibility of suspending Spain from the alliance after Madrid allegedly refused to allow the use of its military bases, ports and airspace for strikes on Iran.

Source: Presstv

7, July 2026

Man United inform Tchouameni camp he must accept different salary structure ⁰

Manchester United consider Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni the ideal replacement for Casemiro, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The France international has been identified internally at Old Trafford as a dream midfield target due to his quality, mentality and ability to operate at the highest level.

However, Romano reports that a potential move remains complicated due to two major issues.

The first is Tchouameni’s salary. United have informed those close to the player that a move to Old Trafford would only be possible if he accepted a different wage structure.

The second obstacle is Real Madrid’s stance. United are yet to receive permission from the Spanish giants to begin negotiations over a possible transfer.

While Tchouameni is highly admired by Manchester United, the club must first receive a signal from Real Madrid that they are willing to sell the midfielder.

The 26-year-old is seen as the perfect long-term successor to Casemiro, but his future will depend on both Madrid’s decision and whether an agreement over personal terms can be reached.

Source: Tribuna.com

7, July 2026

Cameroon misses out again on U.S. Global University rankings ⁰

Cameroon remains absent from one of the world’s leading university rankings, underscoring the country’s continued struggle to gain international recognition for its research output.

In the 2026-2027 Best Global Universities Rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, no Cameroonian university appears among the more than 2,250 institutions ranked across more than 100 countries.

Compiled in partnership with Clarivate, the rankings place strong emphasis on research performance rather than teaching quality or institutional reputation alone. Universities are assessed using indicators such as global and regional research reputation, publication output, citation impact, international collaboration and the production of highly cited research.

South African and Egyptian universities lead Africa

African universities remain largely led by institutions from South Africa and Egypt. The University of Cape Town retained its position as Africa’s highest-ranked university, placing 122nd globally. It was followed by Cairo University (221st) and the University of the Witwatersrand (240th).

Egypt continued to strengthen its presence with institutions such as Mansoura University, ranked 267th worldwide, and Al-Azhar University, ranked 279th. Nigeria also maintained a visible presence, with the University of Ibadan ranked 264th globally.

Against that backdrop, Cameroon remains absent from the rankings, highlighting the gap between its universities and the research standards used in major international league tables.

The rankings primarily measure scientific research rather than student enrollment or teaching capacity. While Cameroon’s universities educate tens of thousands of students each year and play a central role in the country’s higher education system, they remain relatively underrepresented in major international research databases.

The indicators used by U.S. News favor institutions that publish extensively in indexed journals, produce highly cited research, collaborate internationally and contribute influential scientific work.

As a result, the rankings reflect a university’s role in global research rather than the scale of its academic programs.

Long-standing structural constraints

Cameroon’s limited research visibility reflects broader structural challenges. Research funding remains constrained, many laboratories lack adequate equipment and resources, and the volume of internationally indexed scientific publications remains relatively low.

Universities also face challenges in attracting international researchers and building sustained partnerships with leading global research institutions. Other factors, including university governance, doctoral supervision and the overall research environment, continue to affect the country’s ability to compete internationally.

More than a question of prestige

Appearing in major international university rankings has become increasingly important beyond institutional reputation. Strong rankings can help universities attract international students, secure research partnerships, improve access to funding and strengthen their position within global research networks.

For Cameroon, gaining a place in these rankings will require more than expanding access to higher education.

It will depend on sustained investment in research, stronger international collaboration, improved university governance and policies that support high-quality scientific output.

The latest U.S. News rankings reinforce a broader trend in global higher education: universities are increasingly judged not by the number of students they educate, but by their ability to generate new knowledge and contribute to international research.

Source: Sbbc