Gauteng Health Department in South Africa recorded over 23,000 teenage pregnancies from April 2020 to March 2021, with 934 girls aged between 10 and 14 years. The Democratic Alliance expressed concerns about the social and health implications, including the risk to mother and child, and the perpetuation of poverty and early school dropout. The department lacks data on the fathers, with some statutory rape cases reported. MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi urged for intensified campaigns to prevent teenage pregnancy.

Tensions escalated between the Democratic Republic of Congo and India following the death of Congolese student Joël Malu in the custody of Indian police. In response, a mob in Kinshasa looted and torched Indian businesses and vehicles. The police arrested three protesters and recovered stolen goods. Malu had been detained on drug possession charges and reportedly died of cardiac arrest, which protesters in Bangalore contested, leading to clashes with police and further arrests.

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni awarded athletes with luxurious vehicles, houses, and monthly stipends for their successful performance at the Tokyo Olympics. Gold, Silver, and Bronze medalists will receive monthly salaries of $1,415, $845, and $280 respectively. Gold medalists will also receive a house for themselves and their parents. Three medalists, Joshua Cheptegei, Peruth Chemutai, and Jacob Kiplimo, were gifted brand new Mitsubishi vehicles. The athletes were celebrated upon their return to Uganda.

The article lists the top 10 strongest African currencies compared to the US dollar, with the Libyan Dinar being the strongest. Despite conflicts and economic struggles, countries like Libya and Tunisia have maintained strong currency positions. The Ghanaian Cedi is the strongest in sub-Saharan Africa, while other countries like Morocco and Botswana have strong currencies due to their economic and political structures. Zambia's currency is influenced by copper prices, Seychelles benefits from luxury tourism and strict monetary policy, and South Africa's Rand is backed by gold production. Eritrea and Egypt have implemented measures to protect and stabilize their currencies.

Evelyn Joshua, the wife of the late Nigerian pastor TB Joshua, is set to become the head of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) following the church elders' declaration. Married to TB Joshua for 31 years with three children, Evelyn has been involved in the church, providing counseling to followers. TB Joshua, who passed away on June 5, 2021, was a controversial figure with a net worth estimated at $10 million and was known for his 'miracle powers' that attracted large crowds and criticism alike. He will be buried at his church in Ikotun, Lagos state.

Ghana aims to plant over 5 million trees to preserve its forest cover and environment, marking Green Ghana Day led by President Nana Akufo. Seedlings were distributed across 16 regions for planting by individuals and organizations. Lands Minister Samuel Abdulai Jinapor highlighted the focus on economic trees and addressed the 80% depletion of forest areas since 1900. The initiative targets mostly degraded land.

Tsitsi Dangarembga, a celebrated Zimbabwean novelist, has been awarded the PEN Pinter Prize 2021. She is recognized for her 'unflinching, unswerving' gaze upon Zimbabwe and its society, resonating with a global audience. Dangarembga's notable works include her debut novel 'Nervous Conditions' and the film script 'Neria'. She will deliver a keynote address at the award ceremony hosted by the British Library and English PEN. Dangarembga has also been involved in activism, facing arrest for participating in a silent protest demanding reform in Zimbabwe.

Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo is scheduled to return to Abidjan on June 17 via a Brussels Airlines flight, after a decade-long absence following his acquittal of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court. His return is seen as a symbol of reconciliation in Côte d'Ivoire. The government, led by President Alassane Ouattara, has authorized his return and is working to ensure a peaceful and orderly welcome, amidst concerns of potential unrest from his supporters. Gbagbo's homecoming is portrayed as the beginning of a new phase for the country's future, emphasizing reconciliation, peace, and reconstruction.

An explosion at Ala-Futow village in southern Somalia killed more than 61 Al-Shabaab militants, including six foreign nationals and bomb experts. The incident occurred 285 kilometers from Mogadishu, with the Somali National Army conducting a subsequent operation to destroy Al-Shabaab equipment. The group, which emerged from the Islamic Courts Union, has lost many strongholds since 2011 but still controls rural areas and retains an urban presence.

A petition with over 20,000 signatures has been initiated by Change Tanzania to disqualify Tanzanian singer Diamond Platnumz from the BET Awards due to his alleged support for the autocratic regime of the late president John Pombe Magufuli and his close ties with Paul Makonda, a former governor accused of human rights violations. The NGO criticizes Diamond for not speaking out against the atrocities committed during Magufuli's rule and for remaining silent when fellow artists were targeted.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has postponed the 2022 African Cup of Nations Draw, originally scheduled for 25 June 2021, due to logistical challenges associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. A new date will be announced later. The postponement was requested by the Cameroon Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and agreed upon by CAF. The tournament is set to take place in Cameroon, with 31 countries already qualified and one spot remaining to be decided between Benin and Sierra Leone.

Senegal has secured the patent right to manufacture Covid-19 vaccines starting next year, following a deal with Belgian biotech group Univercells. This move places Senegal alongside Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa as African nations producing the vaccines. Univercells will transfer its production line to Senegal in mid-2022, with the aim of hiring locals and distributing the vaccines within the West African region.

Since March 2020, 32 parliamentarians in the Democratic Republic of Congo have died from Covid-19, with the National Assembly's first vice president, Jean-Marc Kabund, confirming the deaths. The country is experiencing a rise in infection rates, with 107 new cases recently reported, predominantly in the capital, Kinshasa, which is the epicenter of the epidemic. Despite the ongoing vaccination campaign, skepticism and hostility towards the vaccine persist among the Congolese, fueled by social media rumors. Consequently, the DRC has redistributed 1.3 million of its 1.7 million AstraZeneca doses received through the UN Covax system to neighboring countries, retaining 384,000 doses and receiving an additional 50,000 from India.

Refugees in East Africa, particularly from South Sudan and DR Congo, are benefiting from satellite connectivity installed by UNHCR and Avanti Communications. This initiative, which also includes the provision of laptops and tablets, aims to improve refugees' standards of living by enabling access to job advertisements and grant opportunities online. The project promotes self-reliance among refugees and eases pressure on host countries like Uganda, which hosts over 1.4 million refugees. The partnership was first announced at the UN Global Refugee Forum in December 2019, and the completion of installations at six sites fulfills Avanti's pledge to support UNHCR.

By 2050, Africa's population is expected to exceed 2.5 billion, with the middle class growing to 1.1 billion, signaling potential economic growth and a real estate boom. Africanews interviewed Bronwyn Knight, CEO of Grit Real Estate Income Group, a top real estate firm listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and the Stock Exchange of Mauritius. Knight discussed the company's diverse real estate offerings across eight African countries and how they aim to support Africa's growth. Despite the pandemic's impact, Knight sees resilient asset classes and significant growth opportunities in emerging markets. Grit Real Estate Income Group also educates pension funds on alternative investments in real estate as a lead sponsor of the Pension Funds & Alternative Investments Africa conference.

Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu has pardoned 5,001 prisoners as part of the country's Union Day celebrations. A total of 1,516 prisoners were released after having a quarter of their sentences reduced, while 3,485 inmates had their sentences reduced but will continue to serve time. The pardoning is an annual event commemorating the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar on April 26, 1964. The President urged the released prisoners to contribute to nation-building and adhere to national laws.

Martha Koome is set to become Kenya's first female Chief Justice after being selected as the top candidate by Kenya's Judicial Service Commission. Her nomination follows a rigorous process and is pending approval by President Uhuru Kenyatta and vetting by parliament. Koome, known for her defense of women and children's rights, holds a Master of Laws and has been a High Court judge since 2003. The vacancy arose after former Chief Justice David Maraga's tenure ended, a period notable for the nullification of Kenya's 2017 presidential election.

Kiliavo Fresh, an avocado firm in Kenya's largest game park, lost its bid to renew its license after the Kenya National Environmental Tribunal suspended it due to concerns of interference with wildlife. The farm, which covers 180 acres near Amboseli National Park, was said to obstruct migration routes for elephants. Despite claims by the owners that their farm does not affect key corridors, environmentalists argue that large-scale agriculture is unsustainable in the arid region, especially with the water-intensive nature of avocado farming posing a threat to the ecosystem.

Ghanaian actress Rosemond Brown, also known as Akuapem Poloo, was granted bail by an Accra court pending an appeal after being convicted for posting nude photos with her son on social media. She was sentenced to 90 days in jail for publishing obscene materials, domestic violence, and undermining another person's privacy and integrity. The judge stated the verdict should deter similar behavior on social media. The photo, shared in 2020, sparked mixed reactions, including from American singer Cardi B.