By George Obulutsa and Vincent Mumo NzilaniWednesday May 20, 2026 People walk during a strike by public transport operators driven by rising fuel costs, linked to global supply pressures following the war in Iran, in Githurai area of Nairobi, Kenya May 19, 2026. REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi Purchase Licensing Rights Kenya’s public transport strike, launched over fuel price increases tied to the war in Iran, was suspended on Tuesday after the government struck an interim deal with associations representing bus and minibus owners.…

Tuesday May 19, 2026 Kenya was gripped by unrest on Monday as anti-riot police confronted protesters along Namanga Road in Kitengela during a nationwide transport strike driven by surging fuel prices At least four people were killed and 30 others wounded in Kenya on Monday as protests erupted across the country over steep fuel price increases. Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said 348 people were detained during the unrest, as crowds took to the streets in support of a nationwide public transport strike. With memories…

As nicotine pouches surge in popularity, the World Health Organization is pressing governments to tighten controls, warning that the highly addictive products are being "aggressively marketed" in ways that hold particular appeal for younger people. The small pouches, placed under the lip to deliver a nicotine buzz, have quickly emerged as a crucial growth area for major tobacco companies as cigarette smoking continues its long decline. That rise, however, has drawn mounting criticism from campaigners and researchers over the…

Wednesday April 29, 2026 Halimo stands at a dry water point in Somalia. Photo: CARE International Mogadishu (AX) — The war raging in the Middle East is now feeding another emergency far from the battlefield: Somalia’s hunger crisis is getting worse. Aid agencies and officials say the conflict is pushing up fuel and food prices, disrupting humanitarian supply lines, and deepening acute malnutrition among children. For pastoralist families, the first blow is being felt at the water point. Diesel prices are climbing, making…

Airlines are sounding the alarm over a relentless shortage of jet fuel that is leading to significant travel disruptions, with an alarming number of delays and cancellations. The situation has escalated in recent days, leaving hundreds of travelers stranded and prompting many to reconsider their upcoming journeys. Key travel hubs, particularly in Lagos and Abuja, are experiencing severe impacts, as passengers face extended wait times on well-traveled domestic routes. In a notable operational adjustment, Air Peace has…

Oil prices climbed sharply today as fears of renewed conflict in the Middle East gripped markets after Iran released footage showing commandos boarding a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, with little sign of progress toward reopening the crucial shipping lane. Traffic through the strait, which before the war handled roughly a fifth of global oil output, remains effectively shut down. Iran’s seizure of two cargo ships has also underscored the challenges Washington faces in trying to secure passage through the waterway.…

Lufthansa is trimming 20,000 short-haul flights from its schedule through October as the carrier moves to blunt the impact of soaring jet fuel costs. The airline said the reduction amounts to less than 1% of total capacity across the group. According to Lufthansa, the cuts will save roughly 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel, whose price has doubled since the outbreak of the Iran conflict. The company said the revised timetable is aimed at reducing the number of loss-making short-haul services across the Lufthansa Group…

Fuel shortages have pushed the country to a perilous brink, the government warned, saying the nation is now "dangerously exposed" as the crisis hobbles transportation, commerce, and daily routines. In a statement, government spokesperson Shadric Namalomba linked the worsening situation to the conflict in the Middle East and a severe shortage of foreign exchange. Namalomba said international fuel suppliers are demanding cash upfront, a shift that has further tightened the country’s ability to bring in fuel. He added that…

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — President Samia Suluhu Hassan has moved to sharply reduce the size of her presidential motorcade and ordered government officials to share bus transport, a public austerity step aimed at cutting fuel use as Tanzania feels the strain of a global energy crisis. At a swearing-in ceremony at State House on Wednesday, Hassan said her usual convoy of more than 30 vehicles would be trimmed to four: her lead car, a police escort and a backup security unit. "From now on, wherever I go, all officials will…

Saturday April 4, 2026 Fuel shortages and soaring prices have turned a familiar Mogadishu street scene into a snapshot of economic strain: three-wheelers sitting idle by the roadside, drivers stranded, and livelihoods slipping out of reach. On April 2, 2026, a staff member refueled a three-wheeler at a petrol station in Somalia’s capital as the ripple effects of war in the Middle East continued to push fuel costs sharply higher across the country.(Photo by Hassan Bashi/Xinhua) Abdulkadir Sharif eased his tuk-tuk to the side…