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15, June 2026

American musician Oliver Tree killed in mid-air helicopter collision in Brazil ⁰

American alt-pop singer and internet personality Oliver Tree was aboard one of the two helicopters that collided mid-air in Brazil, leaving six dead, a police source said.

The alternative singer and internet personality was listed as one of six people on the manifest of one aircraft shared by the source, who said the victims could not be formally identified yet as they were badly burned in the crash.

The helicopters collided mid-air on Sunday morning in the western suburb of Rio de Janeiro called Recreio dos Bandeirantes before plummeting into the parking lot of an electric car dealership, setting ablaze around 20 cars, firefighters said.

One of the helicopters was carrying five people, and the other only the pilot. There were no survivors.

The passengers on the same helicopter as Tree included a Brazilian music producer, Argentine video director and Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim, known online as “Gaspi”.

The 32-year-old Tree – with a distinctive bowl haircut and eccentric, meme-worthy internet persona – was known for hits such as “Life Goes On”, “Miss You”, and “Alien Boy”.

He has over 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify, with his top songs listened to over 700 million times.

In recent days his Instagram account featured videos of him in Brazil, where he performed in Sao Paulo on June 6 on his tour of over 30 countries.

His next show was due in Lisbon on July 1.

Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere said earlier that there were “foreign nationals on board one of the aircraft”, without giving further details.

Source: France 24

15, June 2026

Cameroon looks to Tunisia’s textile model to develop its cotton value chain ⁰

Cameroon’s Chamber of Agriculture, Fisheries, Livestock and Forestry (CAPEF) has initiated discussions with Tunisia’s Textile Technical Centre (CETTEX) to support the development of Cameroon’s textile industry and accelerate local cotton processing.

The discussions took place during an economic mission to Tunisia led by CAPEF President Martin Paul Mindjos Momeny. During a meeting with CETTEX Director General El Mohsen Missaoui, both institutions explored cooperation opportunities in textile manufacturing, technology transfer, innovation, quality control, training and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.

According to CAPEF, the talks focused on strengthening Cameroon’s cotton value chain. Although the country produces more than 300,000 tonnes of cotton annually, much of the crop is exported in raw form due to limited domestic processing capacity.

CAPEF said the objective is to develop an integrated value chain covering cotton production, spinning, weaving, garment manufacturing and the marketing of finished textile products. The initiative is aligned with Cameroon’s industrialisation strategy and aims to help local producers take advantage of opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

During the mission, CETTEX presented Tunisia’s textile development model, which is based on investments in technology, innovation, skills development and industrial support services. The exchanges examined how aspects of that experience could support the growth of Cameroon’s textile and clothing industries.

CAPEF identified several areas for potential collaboration, including the production of professional workwear, the manufacture of printed fabrics for African markets, training programmes for artisans and processing SMEs, and triangular cooperation projects involving European and international partners.

The initiative supports efforts to increase local value addition in agriculture-based sectors under Cameroon’s National Development Strategy (NDS30). According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and SODECOTON, national cotton production has remained above 300,000 tonnes in recent years.

At the end of the meeting, CAPEF and CETTEX agreed to establish a technical working group to prepare a structured cooperation programme. The proposal will be submitted to Cameroonian and Tunisian authorities through existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

Source: Business in Cameroon

15, June 2026

Trump marks 80th birthday with White House UFC spectacle ⁰

US President Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday with an extraordinary display of political machismo on Sunday, staging a cage fight on the White House lawn hours after announcing a memorandum of understanding with Iran.

In unprecedented scenes, Trump walked out of the Oval Office alongside Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) boss Dana White and headed towards the giant arena dubbed “The Claw”.

On the way, the reality TV star-turned-president mounted the historic Truman Balcony and saluted while the national anthem played and 12 US military jets staged a noisy flyover of the White House.

Trump then took his place on the South Lawn, beside the mesh-fenced cage called the Octagon, where 14 fighters beat each other bloody in the first professional sporting event ever held at the White House, in an event dubbed “UFC Freedom 250”.

Source: France 24

15, June 2026

Ex-Israeli PM Ehud Barak says Netanyahu must be removed ‘with sticks and stones’ ⁰

Former Israeli premier Ehud Barak has called for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be removed “with sticks and stones” if he attempts to undermine the upcoming general election through military aggression against Lebanon.

“I fear Netanyahu may try to sabotage the elections, and he can do it very easily … If he tries, we will have no choice but to remove him with sticks and stones,” Barak said during an interview on Sunday.

Netanyahu, 76, has led the current coalition administration since late December 2022.

His party, Likud, has been described as the most right-wing since Israel was illegally established as a political entity on the occupied Palestinian territories in 1948.

The current term of the Israeli parliament expires in October 2026, with elections expected to be held in September or October.

Barak warned that Netanyahu “could sabotage the elections” by attacking Lebanon, which in turn would force the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah, or Iran, to retaliate.

“Netanyahu wants an endless war because he understands that ending it would accelerate his trial,” Barak warned.

Netanyahu is currently standing trial on corruption charges and is also wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) since 2024 for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, where Israel’s genocidal assault has killed over 72,000 Palestinians and wounded 172,000 others.

Barak condemned Netanyahu for attacking Iran, saying “Israel is paying the price for Netanyahu’s arrogance and lack of foresight,” because “none of the objectives of the war against Iran have been achieved.”

He also said that the negotiations between Washington and Tehran are “very bad” for Israel and that Netanyahu is to blame for any upcoming agreement.

The arrangements under discussion between Iran and the US are “not an agreement, but a memorandum of understanding that [fails] to address either missiles or Iran’s regional allies,” Barak said.

On Monday, the secretariat of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) said that Tehran and Washington have finalized the text of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on ending the war, bringing an immediate and permanent halt to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, and terminating the US naval blockade against Iran.

The MoU, finalized late Sunday, will be signed on Friday in Switzerland.

Under its terms, the war and all military attacks, including in Lebanon, have ended immediately, and the US naval blockade of Iran has been lifted.

Further technical and political talks are expected to follow the signing to address implementation details.

Source: Presstv

13, June 2026

US denies visa to Palestine football chief for World Cup attendance ⁰

The president of the Palestinian Football Association says he was denied a visa to enter the United States for the FIFA World Cup, raising concerns over access restrictions for accredited participants attending one of the world’s largest sporting events amid ongoing tensions in West Asia.

Jibril Rajoub said on Saturday that he remains in Mexico City awaiting permission to travel to the US and join other football federation leaders attending the tournament.

Rajoub was present at Thursday’s opening match between Mexico and South Africa, but said he has been unable to enter the US despite being accredited for the World Cup.

He is among several individuals connected to the tournament who have reportedly either been denied visas or are still waiting for approval from US authorities.

“I don’t believe that it’s fair to use or to abuse and deny the right of all footballers all over the world to attend,” Rajoub said.

Although Palestine did not qualify for the World Cup, FIFA traditionally invites the heads of national football associations from around the world to attend the tournament, which the governing body promotes as a celebration of international unity through sport.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino had previously stressed the inclusive nature of the competition.

“Everyone will be welcome in Canada, Mexico, and the United States for the FIFA World Cup next year. We are working exactly for that,” he said last year.

However, reports of visa difficulties involving participants from several countries have cast a shadow over those commitments. According to media reports, a referee from Somalia and a photographer travelling with Iraq’s national team have also faced entry problems.

Last week, the US denied visas to several Iranian national football team officials and staff ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite its duties as one of the hosts of the global event.

Addressing the issue this week, Infantino acknowledged that FIFA had been working to resolve visa-related challenges, but emphasized that the organization could not override the decisions of sovereign governments.

Source: Presstv

13, June 2026

Yaoundé, Abu Dhabi explore new trade and investment framework ⁰

Cameroon and the United Arab Emirates have opened discussions on a new framework aimed at strengthening trade and investment ties.

The initiative was discussed during a meeting in Yaounde on June 10, 2026 between Minister of Trade Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana and Salem Saeed Alsham, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates accredited to Nigeria and Cameroon. The talks focused on expanding economic cooperation and identifying new areas of commercial partnership between the two countries, which have maintained diplomatic relations since 1975.

A key proposal examined during the meeting was the possible conclusion of a Comprehensive Investment Partnership Agreement. The proposed framework would establish legal and institutional mechanisms to facilitate trade, encourage investment flows and provide a structured basis for long-term economic cooperation.

According to figures presented by the Emirati diplomat and relayed by the Ministry of Trade, non-oil trade between Cameroon and the UAE reached US$1.24 billion in 2024, representing a two per cent increase compared with the previous year. Both sides described the performance as encouraging while acknowledging significant scope for further growth in trade and investment.

From Cameroon’s perspective, the discussions focused on attracting investment into value-added industries rather than relying solely on exports of unprocessed commodities. Minister Mbarga Atangana highlighted opportunities in the agro-industrial sector, particularly in the processing of cocoa, palm oil, cotton and coffee.

The minister said the various derivatives produced from these commodities offer investment opportunities for foreign partners, including Emirati investors seeking projects beyond the hydrocarbons sector. The Ministry of Trade reiterated Cameroon’s commitment to creating favourable conditions for foreign investment while expanding commercial partnerships with strategic international markets.

According to information published by the ministry, the UAE’s growing interest in the Cameroonian market reflects the Gulf state’s broader strategy of diversifying its international economic engagement and exploring opportunities beyond the oil and gas sector.

For Cameroon, the discussions are part of wider efforts to attract productive investment capable of supporting industrial development and export diversification. Authorities view foreign direct investment in processing industries as a means of increasing local value addition and strengthening the country’s export base.

Both sides welcomed the prospect of concluding a trade and investment cooperation agreement, describing it as a potential instrument for strengthening economic ties and creating a more predictable framework for future business activity.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepen bilateral economic relations and explore mechanisms that could support increased trade, investment and industrial cooperation between the two countries, according to the Ministry of Trade.

Source: Business in Cameroon

13, June 2026

Southern Cameroons Crisis: 2 gov’t soldiers killed in Ambazonia ambush ⁰

At least two Cameroonian soldiers were killed on Thursday in a separatist ambush in the country’s war-torn English-speaking Northwest region, according to security sources.

The soldiers were stationed at a military outpost in the Belo locality when they were attacked, a military official in the region confirmed.

Ambazonia fighters took the Cameroon government army soldiers by surprise and ambushed them around 2 p.m. on Thursday.

Local media have reported an increase in attacks on civilians and security forces in the region in recent weeks. Since Monday, at least four soldiers and five civilians have been killed in shootings in the region, according to local police reports.

Cameroon’s English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions have been gripped by an armed separatist conflict since 2017, with separatist groups seeking to establish an independent state.

Source: Xinhaunet

13, June 2026

Indomitable Lions: Hervé Renard set to replace David Pagou ⁰

The Cameroonian Football Federation is keen to appoint the French tactician as the new manager of the Indomitable Lions.

The governing body of Cameroonian football, led by Samuel Eto’o, is looking to make changes at the helm of the national team’s coaching staff. Officials are considering replacing David Pagou, who has been in charge since the last Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

However, the Federation is reportedly targeting Hervé Renard. According to local media, the governing body has already made contact with the 57-year-old French tactician. The aim is to convince Hervé Renard to take charge of the Indomitable Lions for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which begin next September.

Hervé Renard has experience of African football. He has managed Zambia, Ivory Coast, Angola and Morocco. He won the Africa Cup of Nations with the Chipolopolo (2012) and the Elephants (2015).

Source: Dailysports

13, June 2026

Biya regime seeks closer ties between universities and employers ⁰

Finding an internship remains a major challenge for many students in Cameroon. While universities graduate thousands of students every year, access to a first professional experience often remains one of the biggest barriers to employment.

In an effort to bridge the gap between academic training and labor market needs, the Ministry of Higher Education signed partnership agreements on June 3 in Yaoundé with the Cameroon Press and Publishing Corporation (Sopecam), Cameroon Telecommunications (Camtel), and the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA).

The agreements are designed to expand access to academic and professional internships for students and recent graduates in sectors considered strategic for the country’s development, including media, telecommunications, and civil aviation. According to the ministry, the partnerships aim to improve graduate employability through skills-based professional experience, support workforce integration, reduce youth unemployment and underemployment, strengthen the practical orientation of university programs, and encourage innovation in key sectors of the economy.

Beyond the signing ceremony, the initiative addresses a long-standing criticism of Cameroon’s higher education system: the disconnect between academic training and the skills employers seek.

Many companies argue that graduates often possess strong theoretical knowledge but lack the practical experience needed to enter the workforce. Under the agreements, students will have the opportunity to work within partner organizations, gain hands-on experience, develop job-ready skills, and better understand the realities of their future professions.

Targeting Fast-Changing Industries

The initiative comes as youth employment remains a major concern for policymakers. Higher education specialists generally view internships as a critical step between university and employment. They help students build professional networks, gain valuable experience, and in some cases secure their first job.

The choice of partners also reflects the government’s desire to steer students toward industries undergoing rapid transformation.

In telecommunications, digitalization is creating demand for skills related to networks, digital services, and cybersecurity. In civil aviation, modernization efforts are opening opportunities in management, safety, and technology-related fields. The media sector is also evolving rapidly as digital platforms reshape how information is produced and consumed.

Higher Education Minister Jacques Fame Ndongo said the partnerships are intended to better prepare students for their professional careers. According to him, the internship programs will provide direct exposure to strategic sectors and allow students to complement classroom learning with practical experience.

The real challenge, however, will be translating these commitments into meaningful opportunities for a large number of young people. For many graduates, access to a first professional experience remains one of the most important factors in securing a place in the job market.

Source: Sbbc

12, June 2026

Yaoundé steps up blood donation drive amid severe shortage ⁰

Ahead of World Blood Donor Day on June 14, Cameroon has renewed efforts to address a severe blood shortage that continues to challenge the country’s healthcare system.

In Yaoundé, the National Blood Transfusion Center (CNTS) has launched a special blood donation campaign with support from the U.S. Embassy in Cameroon. The initiative aims to attract new donors and encourage regular volunteers to continue donating.

The campaign aligns with this year’s global theme: “Give Blood, Give Hope: Together We Save Lives.” Behind the message lies a pressing healthcare need. Hospitals across the country require blood products every day to treat road accident victims, women facing complications during childbirth, children suffering from severe anemia, patients with severe malaria, and people undergoing surgery.

The challenge remains substantial. Cameroon needs about 400,000 units of blood each year to meet national demand. In 2025, the National Blood Transfusion Center collected 186,500 units, up from 147,034 units in 2022. As a result, national blood coverage increased from 37% to 47% over three years. Despite that progress, the country still faces an annual shortfall of more than 200,000 units.

Regional disparities add to the challenge. According to CNTS data, the Center, Littoral, and East regions achieve blood coverage rates of around 60%, while the South, North, and Far North regions remain below 30%. These gaps leave some hospitals more vulnerable to shortages, particularly in areas where blood collection campaigns are less frequent or more difficult to organize.

For blood transfusion specialists, the priority extends beyond increasing donation volumes. They seek to build a culture of voluntary, regular, and unpaid blood donation, which is considered the safest model for maintaining a stable and secure blood supply.

Such an approach also reduces dependence on replacement donations, often requested from patients’ relatives during emergencies.

Blood safety remains another key concern. According to CNTS, the share of blood units showing infectious risk factors declined from 9% in 2024 to 8.1% in 2025. The improvement reflects stronger quality-control procedures, biological screening of donations, staff training, and greater standardization across blood banks.

The campaign in Yaoundé also forms part of a broader framework of health cooperation between Cameroon and the United States. In December 2025, the two countries signed a bilateral memorandum of understanding covering HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and global health security.

With World Blood Donor Day only days away, health authorities hope to turn awareness into action. For Cameroon’s healthcare system, every unit collected helps narrow a still-significant gap between supply and demand. For patients, it can mean the difference between a medical emergency successfully treated and a life lost because blood was unavailable.

Source: Sbbc