South Africa

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 14 (Reuters) - California-based exploration firm KoBold Metals, which uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify battery metal deposits, is investing $150 million to develop a copper mine in Zambia, the company announced at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C.

KoBold's investors include Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a climate and technology fund founded by Microsoft's Bill Gates and backed by Amazon's Jeff Bezos and Virgin's Richard Branson.

CAPE TOWN, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Cyril Ramaphosa's future as South African president hung in the balance on Thursday, as his office said it was about to make an announcement a day after a panel report found preliminary evidence he may have committed serious misconduct.

The inquiry centred on the alleged theft of millions of dollars of cash from the millionaire president's Phala Phala game farm in 2020, which came to light in June and has been dubbed the "Farmgate" scandal.

GABORONE, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Botswana government and the European Union (EU) launched the Multi-Annual Indicative Program (MIP) on Tuesday, covering the period of 2021 to 2027 with an initial grant of 16 million euros (about 16.44 million U.S. dollars).

Speaking during the launch in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, Botswana's Minister of Finance, Peggy Serame, stated that the priorities of MIP set out two priority areas: green transformation and economic diversification.

MASAKHANE, South Africa (AP) — Living in the shadow of one of South Africa’s largest coal-fired power stations, residents of Masakhane fear job losses if the facility is closed as the country moves to cleaner energy.

A significant polluter because it relies on coal to generate about 80% of its electricity, South Africa plans to reduce that to 59% by 2030 by phasing out some of its 15 coal-fired power stations and increasing its use of renewable energy. Its target is zero carbon emissions by 2050.

18 Nov 2022; MEMO: A suspected Israeli gang leader, arrested by South African police on Thursday in an affluent Johannesburg suburb, appeared in court on Friday for an extradition hearing, Reuters reports.

The 46-year-old, wanted for conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder, is attached to a criminal group called the Abergil Organisation and has been on Interpol's Red Notice list since 2015.

16 Nov 2022; MEMO: Turkish and South African firms met Friday in Johannesburg to explore investment opportunities, reports Anadolu Agency.

JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- A health official from South Africa's Gauteng Province on Sunday called on those who have recently travelled to and from malaria endemic areas to seek medical treatment when they have symptoms.

Nomantu Nkomo Ralehoko, a member of the executive council for health and wellness in Gauteng Province, made the remarks on Sunday while observing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Malaria Day. Nov. 6 is Malaria Day in the SADC region to create awareness about malaria prevention, symptoms, and treatment.

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — Ethiopia’s warring sides agreed Wednesday to a permanent cessation of hostilities in a 2-year conflict whose victims could be counted in the hundreds of thousands, but enormous challenges lie ahead, including getting all parties to lay down arms or withdraw.

DURBAN, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Misuzulu, who has promised to unite his nation and protect tradition, was officially recognised as the AmaZulu King by the South African government on Saturday in the first Zulu coronation since 1971.

The official recognition by President Cyril Ramaphosa puts an end to lengthy legal wrangling that mired his succession to the throne -- a battle that has played out in public and the courts.

PRETORIA, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Negotiators for the Ethiopian government and regional forces from Tigray were due to meet in the South African capital Pretoria for the first formal peace talks since war broke out two years ago.

The talks come after the Ethiopian military and their allies, who include troops from neighbouring Eritrea, captured several large towns in Tigray, a region in northern Ethiopia, over the past week.