Iraq suspends oil port operations following attacks on 2 tankers

BAGHDAD, Iraq

Iraq's security and port authorities confirmed Thursday that two oil tankers were attacked within Iraqi territorial waters, prompting a suspension of operations at the country's oil terminals.

Farhan Al-Fartousi, director general of the General Company for Ports of Iraq, confirmed the operational status to the official Iraqi News Agency, saying that oil terminal operations have been fully suspended, though commercial port activities continue.

Al-Fartousi noted the vessels were hit by an explosion, though it remains unclear whether it was a direct strike or a waterborne improvised explosive device.

He added that rescue teams were deployed to extinguish the fires on the tankers, which were located approximately 30 miles (about 48 kilometers) off the Iraqi coast.

Meanwhile, Iraq's State Organization for Marketing of Oil confirmed that one tanker was flying the Marshall Islands flag and chartered to an Iraqi company it contracted, while the other was flying the Maltese flag and loaded with condensate from Iraq's Basrah Gas Company.

Lieutenant General Saad Maan, head of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command's Security Media Cell, told Iraqi News Agency that rescue teams evacuated 38 crew members, while one fatality was reported.

The accident came amid heightened regional tensions following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting on Feb. 28, to which Iran and its regional proxies responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel and U.S. interests throughout the Middle East. 

Real Madrid punish Man City as Valverde steps up for the team

MADRID, Spain 

When Manchester City fans saw the Real Madrid line-up for Wednesday's last-16 tie, they will have been delighted Kylian Mbappe's name was missing altogether.

But what they didn't anticipate was Federico Valverde having the game of his life in the first-leg tie at the Bernabeu.

When the Uruguayan scores it is often a spectacular strike, but in general Valverde is not known for his goalscoring prowess, especially when he has been utilised at right-back rather than midfield to cover injury absences.

Indeed, before City's visit the 27-year-old had not found the net in his previous 26 Champions League games and never scored more than one in a game in the competition.

But in 42 fabulous first-half minutes, he celebrated a first career hat-trick.

It was a sensational display by Valverde, who captained Real on the night and led by example in a crucial game for the 15-time European champions.

The reactions of team-mates Jude Bellingham and Mbappe - both out injured and watching from the stands - to the goals said it all.

England midfielder Bellingham stood open mouthed when Valverde scored his brilliant third, lifting the ball over City defender Marc Guehi before lashing a volley past keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Mbappe jumped out of his seat to applaud a finish the prolific France striker would have been proud of.

"It was a similar [reaction] from me on the pitch," Real full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold said on TNT Sports.

"I've said even as a Liverpool player I have admired him. He is undoubtedly the most underrated footballer on the planet.

"When you play with him you understand how much he gives to the team. He covers every blade of grass, he gives his all. As a player, the best attribute you can have is that your team-mates can always count on you.“

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 12/03/2026

 

Countries agree to record release of emergency oil reserves as prices surge

VIENNA, Austria 

Dozens of countries have agreed to release a record amount of oil from their emergency reserves to try to tackle supply shortages and soaring prices.

All 32 of the International Energy Agency's (IEA) members — including the UK, the US, and many of the world's richest nations — will release 400 million barrels to combat what the group said were challenges "unprecedented in scale".

The US-Israel war with Iran has caused oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries 25% of global oil supplies by sea, to virtually stop and production in the region to slump.

The oil price is nearly a quarter higher than when the war began and experts say the IEA's move would only be a short-term solution.

The release is more than double the previous record amount released by the IEA's members following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.

However, it would only amount to around three or four days' worth of global supply or roughly a fortnight's worth of what would normally be shipped out of the Strait of Hormuz.

The IEA's member and associate countries represent two thirds of global energy production and 80% of consumption.

Member countries are required to keep 90 days' worth of their nation's oil use in reserve in case of global disruption.

Collectively, the members hold over 1.2 billion barrels in emergency stockpiles, with a further 600 million barrels of industry stocks held under government obligation.

Releasing a third of the stocks its governments hold is not something that it can repeat frequently.

The oil itself is not in a single place. For example, producers like Shell and BP keep stocks at terminals and refineries around the UK and can earmark stocks held elsewhere as counting towards their reserves.

When it is released, it does not mean a sudden flood of new oil starts moving.

French aid worker among three killed in DR Congo air strike

KIVU, DR Congo 

A French aid worker for the UN children's agency has been killed in an air strike in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in a city controlled by the Rwanda-backed M23 militia.

Since taking up arms again in 2021, the M23 has seized swathes of the mineral-rich Congolese east with Rwanda's backing, unleashing a fresh spiral of violence in a region long plagued by fighting.

Despite Rwanda and the DRC signing a peace deal at US President Donald Trump's urging in early December, in the latest attempt to end the conflict, clashes between the M23 and Congolese army have continued.

Humanitarian sources reported that several buildings had been targeted in overnight drone strikes, which UN peacekeeping force MONUSCO said also killed two civilians.

The strikes' origin remained unclear.

The Congolese army, stationed some several hundred kilometres from Goma, regularly launches long-range drone strikes on the M23's positions in the east.

According to security sources, the M23 likewise makes use of explosive drones at the front.

The sound of bomb blasts and buzzing drones rang out in several residential neighbourhoods of Goma, a large provincial capital near the border with Rwanda which the M23 seized in a lightning offensive in early 2025, witnesses said.

European Union crisis management commissioner Hadja Lahbib said on X that "a drone strike hit a residential building in Goma" where aid workers and EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid staff live.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on X that "a French UNICEF humanitarian worker has been killed in Goma. I extend the nation's support and sympathy to her family, loved ones and colleagues".

He urged "respect for humanitarian law and for the personnel who are on the ground and committed to saving lives".

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said the agency was "devastated and outraged by the killing of our colleague Karine Buisset in a reported drone attack".

"Civilians, including aid workers, must never be targeted," she said on X.

Humanitarian sources and rescuers at the site told the reporter Buisset was killed during an overnight strike on a house where she was staying.

The building is in Himbi, a residential neighbourhood of Goma on the shores of Lake Kivu where many expatriates, staff members and headquarters of humanitarian organisations are based.

Large residences in the area were requisitioned by M23 leaders after they seized the city.

Security sources contacted by our reporter said they believed the strikes were targeting officials or allies of the armed group and that the house where the aid worker was staying was hit by mistake.

The sources said former president Joseph Kabila, whom Kinshasa has sentenced to death in absentia for his alleged M23 support, has a residence nearby.

One humanitarian worker said he heard two explosions: the first was preceded by the sound of drones, then a second one, followed by the sound of a drone moving away from the site.

Firefighters, United Nations employees and officials from the M23 were present at the severely damaged and partially burnt-out site early Wednesday.

No debris of a drone or projectile has yet been identified, emergency teams said.

An M23 spokesman on X accused Kinshasa of carrying out the strike. Congolese authorities have yet to make a statement.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 11/03/2026

 

Tanzanian Billionaire acquires majority stake in Nation Media Group

By Rene Otinga, NAIROBI Kenya 

Nation Media Group (NMG) is set to undergo a historic ownership transition after Tanzanian businessman and former politician Rostam Azizi acquired the 54.08 percent stake of the media company. 

Effectively, Azizi becomes the majority shareholder of the media giant, taking over from a position previously held by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED). 

In what is one of East Africa’s largest media transactions in decades, the deal was executed through one of the companies owned by Azizi, which agreed to purchase 100 per cent of NPRT Holdings Africa Limited.

NPRT is the investment vehicle that held AKFED’s controlling stake in NMG, comprising 92,618,177 ordinary shares.

While the financial particulars of the deal have not been disclosed, the transaction solidified Azizi's position as the majority shareholder of the company. 

The sale marked the end of an era, as AKFED concluded its 66-year association with NMG, a “marriage” that began in 1959.

At the time, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV established East African Newspapers (Nation Series) Ltd and acquired the Swahili weekly Taifa Leo. 

Since then, Nation Media Group has grown into a powerful multi-platform media conglomerate which operates more than 30 brands across East Africa. 

Latest stats seen by Kenyans.co.ke indicate the media giant reaches more than 62 million digital users. 

Azizi previously co-founded a communications company, which launched influential Tanzanian publications later acquired by NMG. His new acquisition, therefore, represents a return to media. 

Despite shake-ups that come with owner transitions, Azizi has vowed to maintain editorial independence while investing in digital transformation and expanding NMG's reach across the region. 

Mr. Rostam Azizi 

“We are honoured and deeply committed to becoming the majority shareholder of Nation Media Group,” said Mr. Azizi. “NMG is an institution of profound importance to East Africa, and we will uphold its editorial independence while investing in its continued success as the region’s leading independent media organisation.”

Following the acquisition, the transaction is now subject to regulatory approvals which are expected to be completed within three to four months. 

Oil prices fluctuate as Trump signals Iran conflict could end soon

WASHINGTON, United States 

Oil prices dipped on Monday after President Trump signaled that the conflict in Iran could come to a close soon.

Trump, on Monday, told CBS News that the war in Iran was “very complete, pretty much.”

In the aftermath, prices of international benchmark Brent crude dipped below $90 per barrel.

On Tuesday morning, it was around $92, down from just under $100 per barrel earlier Monday afternoon.

That’s still significantly higher than before the conflict, when oil was trading at around $70 per barrel.

The national average cost for gasoline is about $3.54 per gallon, up from $3.48 on Monday.

Trump during a press conference later on Monday said the war would not end with in days, but said it would be over “very soon.”

Iran is located near the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil flows. 

The conflict has halted oil shipping in the region as Iran threatens to attack any vessels that move through the strait.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 10/03/2026