Newscast - Africa

Rwandan authorities have banned traders from selling meat that has not been refrigerated for at least 24 hours, according to a report.
The National Agency for Quality Control, Competition and Consumer Protection says fresh meat that has not been refrigerated contains cells that may transmit diseases to consumers.
Some local traders, however, said the order would cause them losses because some customers prefer fresh meat.

The largest oil and gas field financing transaction of about $1.1bn – Oil Mining License 17, owned by billionaire business tycoon, Tony Elumelu, is currently under investigation following the uncovering of an illegal oil bunkering facility connected to it.
The investigation was necessitated after the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps uncovered an illegal local refinery at Otamiri-Etche, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The illegal refinery steals crude from OML17 fields operated by Heirs Holding Oil and Gas Limited.

The National Identity Management Commission says Nigerians applying for passports will be charged N1000 in Nigeria for the verification of their National Identification Number.
The Head, of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, says the fee is to improve the quality of service, accuracy, and speed of passport services through timely verification of NIN.
It stated that it agreed on this framework with the Nigerian Immigration Service.
The commission says Nigerians will pay N1000 for NIN verification in Nigeria, $5 in other African countries, and $15 in other countries.

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Aviation is looking at ways of collecting landing fees from helicopters operating in Nigerian airspace.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika inaugurated the latest batch of trained Helicopter Monitoring Officers at the International Wing of the Port Harcourt International Airport in the Rivers State capital.
The minister reiterated the resolve of the Federal Government to improve revenue collection of helicopter landing charges.

The Central Bank of Nigeria says old N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes remain legal tender till December 31, 2023.
The apex bank’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Isa AbdulMumin says in compliance with the established tradition of obedience to court orders Deposit Money Banks operating in Nigeria have been directed to comply with the Supreme Court ruling of March 3, 2023.
The highest court of the land had on March 3 ordered that old N200, N500 and N1000 notes remain valid till December 31, 2023.
This was after 16 states of the Federation instituted a suit to challenge the legality or otherwise of the introduction of the policy.

China's parliament approved changes to a law that would allow it to pass emergency legislation more quickly.
The amendment to the Legislation Law, which governs how legislation is enacted, gives the highest body of the national parliament, the roughly 170-member National People’s Congress Standing Committee, special powers to pass laws after just one review session.

The French Senate has approved President Emmanuel Macron’s unpopular pension reform plan as hundreds of thousands of protesters rallied in cities across the country to oppose the changes.
Senators voted late on Saturday to adopt the reforms by 195 votes to 112, bringing the package whose key measure is raising the retirement age by two years to 64 closer to becoming law.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne says she was totally committed to ensuring the text will be definitively adopted in the coming days.

The US government says People and businesses who have money deposited with failed US bank Silicon Valley Bank will be able to access all their cash from Monday.
A statement from the US Treasury, the Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation said depositors would be fully protected.
The statement says the taxpayer will not bear any losses from the move as SVB was shut down by regulators who seized its assets on Friday.
The Federal Reserve says it would offer assistance through a new Bank Term Funding Program, making it easier for banks to borrow from it in a crisis.

South Africa's anti-corruption watchdog says there is no evidence of wrongdoing by President Cyril Ramaphosa linked to the theft of $580,000 in cash from his farm.
The public protector, Kholeka Gcaleka, concludes that Mr Ramaphosa did not violate an ethics code or abuse his role as head of state.
The report says the president declared the theft within weeks of it taking place three years ago.
it however says the head of the presidential protection service, Maj Gen Wally Rhoode, acted improperly by carrying out an unofficial investigation into the crime.

The authorities in Malawi have closed schools in 10 districts over safety concerns after Cyclone Freddy wreaked devastation in neighbouring Mozambique.
Heavy rains pounding southern Malawi have washed away roads and disrupted power generation, with more rainfall expected in the next few days.
Physical classes have been suspended for Monday and Tuesday in all learning institutions in the area.
The education ministry says teachers and learners have been encouraged to use available online platforms and radio lessons,
The death toll in Mozambique is at least 28 since the storm first made landfall.