CTV Africa

Source: CNN  A new malaria mosquito is emerging in African cities, with potentially devastating consequences for those living there, according to a new study. The larvae of Anopheles stephensi -- India's main mosquito vector of malaria -- are now "abundantly present" in locations across Africa, researchers from The Netherlands' Radboud University Medical Center and Ethiopia's Armauer Hansen Research Institute said. Vectors are living organisms that can transmit infectious pathogens between humans, or from animals to people. This mosquito species only appeared in Africa a few years ago. Now, this invasive insect is "abundantly present" in water containers in cities in Ethiopia -- and highly susceptible to local strains of malaria, researchers have said. Most African mosquitoes that can transmit malaria are known to breed in rural areas. However, experts were  already concerned  this particular mosquito has found a foothold in urban areas, including cities

  The South African military has amended its dress policy to allow Muslim women to wear headscarves as part of their uniform, an army spokesperson said on Thursday. In January last year, a military court dropped charges against an officer who had been indicted for wearing a hijab under her military beret. Major Fatima Isaacs had been criminally charged in June 2018 with willful defiance and failing to obey lawful instructions after her superior asked her to remove her headscarf when in uniform. A military court at the Castle of Good Hope near Cape Town withdrew all charges in January 2020, making an exception for Isaacs to wear a tight black wrap on her head on duty as long as it did not cover her ears. But the military did not amend its dress policy, prompting Isaacs to mount a challenge in South Africa’s equality court over regulations restricting religious wear. The South African Defence Force (SANDF) eventually agreed to amend its policy this week and allow all Muslim women to cove

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board on Friday decided to allowed for an immediate disbursement of about US$28.8 million to The Gambia to help meet the country’s financing needs, support social spending and the post-pandemic recovery. In a statement send to this medium, the IMF indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to represent a significant challenge to country’s economy, adding growth is expected to rebound to 6.0% in 2021.  “Today, the Executive Board of the IMF completed the first review of The Gambia’s performance under a program supported by a 39-month Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. The ECF, with a total access of SDR 35 million, (about US$47.1 million at the time of approval, or 56.3 percent of quota), was approved by the IMF Executive Board on March 23, 2020 ,” the statement confirmed.  IMF further stated that completion of the first review enables an immediate disbursement of SDR 20 million, about US$28.8 million; to help meet the count