Newscast - Africa

Australia’s defense department will strip its buildings of Chinese-made security cameras to ensure they are completely secure.
It follows similar moves in the United States and Britain, which have taken measures to stop government departments from installing Chinese-made cameras at sensitive sites.
Both countries have expressed fears that Chinese companies could be forced to share intelligence collected by the cameras with Beijing’s security services.
At least 913 Chinese-made cameras have been installed across more than 250 Australian government buildings, according to official figures compiled by opposition politician James Paterson.
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles says officials would hunt down and remove all Chinese-made security cameras within its buildings.

The death toll from the massive earthquake in Turkey and Syria 7.8-magnitude quake is expected to rise sharply as rescue efforts near the 72-hour mark that disaster experts consider the most likely period to save lives.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan conceded shortcomings after criticism of his government’s response to the massive earthquake, which is one of the deadliest this century.
The White Helmets, leading efforts to rescue people buried under rubble in rebel-held areas of Syria, have appealed for international help in their race against time.

The authorities in Ethiopia have banned parallel rallies by supporters of the Orthodox Church and those backing a breakaway group that was planned to be held in the capital, Addis Ababa.
The Security and Intelligence Task Force said no permissions were issued for the rallies and warned citizens to keep off the venues.
Its highest decision-making body, the synod, had called for the rally in Addis Ababa’s main square to protest against the alleged government's support to breakaway clergy.
The breakaway group also announced it would also hold rallies on the same day.
The breakaway clergy accuses the church of maintaining a system of linguistic and cultural hegemony in which congregations in Oromia are not served in their native languages.

A high court in Malawi has rejected a bid by the government to uphold the suspension of the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Martha Chizuma.
Ms. Chizuma was interdicted on grounds that she was facing criminal charges whereby she is accused of defaming some high-ranking government officials.
The alleged defamatory remarks are contained in a secretly recorded private conversation that she had with a person not employed by her office.
The president however says he would not sack her because he considered the recording and its circulation to be corruption fighting back.

Kenya's former interior minister Fred Matiang’i has sought anticipatory bail, saying he fears he could be arrested and arraigned in court for political reasons.
His lawyer filed an application at a high court in the capital, Nairobi, seeking to bar the police from arresting or harassing the former minister. The court has not ruled on the request.
Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome says the police force had not deployed any officer to the home of the former minister however Mr Matiang’i's family said that a group of men who declined to identify themselves arrived at their home on Wednesday night and did not explain their mission.

The Nigeria Customs Service says that the Benin Republic trade policy was hostile to Nigerian traders.
The Customs Area Controller in charge of Seme command, Dera Nnadi blamed the Benin Republic trade policy for the dearth of imports through the command.
Nnadi also said the command recorded five import declarations with a total duty paid value of N13m paid in 10 days.
He says within the period under review, 122 trucks carrying 3.77 metric tons of made-in-Nigeria products were exported.
Nnadi added that the exported products had a free onboard value of N523m and the National Export Supervision Scheme fee of N2m.

The Zamfara State Governor, Bello Mattawalle, has described the comments trailing the decision of the Supreme Court to listen to and act on the demand of the governors on the Naira swap as mere political vendetta.
Matawalle, says he was fully convinced that those against the gov’s action and subsequent triumph at the court were either misguided or blinded by political chauvinism.
The governor expressed his dismay that due to myopic political rivalry, some political parties and disgruntled politicians were challenging the decision of the apex court which was rightfully taken in the interest of the ordinary Nigerian and the survival of Nigeria’s micro-economy.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has announced the reduction of transportation fares in the state by 50 percent.
He says the price reduction in all state public transportation on the road, and waterways system would take effect next week.
Sanwo-Olu noted that the BRT buses, first and last-mile buses have been directed to charge 50 percent of the current fare to reduce the hardship of the naira swap on residents.
The governor stated palliative items will be distributed to residents as of tomorrow through religious leaders, and non-governmental organizations, to assist those affected by the current situation.

The Supreme Court restrained the Federal Government from implementing the Friday deadline for the currency swap.
The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank urged the CBN to extend the time limit. The advice of the international organizations was in line with the Supreme Court ruling against the Friday deadline.
The IMF and the World Bank stated that the short timeframe for the currency was causing hardships in the country.
He urged the apex court to grant the application in the interest of justice and the welfare of Nigerians.

International offers to help Turkey and Syria with rescue efforts poured in on Monday after a massive earthquake killed around 1,800 people and wreaked devastation.
The European Union has mobilized search and rescue teams for Turkey after the stricken country requested EU assistance.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and EU crisis management commissioner Janez Lenarcic say ten urban search and rescue teams from various member states will support first responders on the ground.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi voiced solidarity with those affected in both countries, saying the UN agency was ready to help provide urgent relief to the survivors through our field teams wherever possible.
India says it would immediately send rescue and medical teams as well as relief equipment to Turkey.