Gaborone

A South African Air Force pilot has been grounded for "borrowing" a plane to visit a friend in neighbouring Botswana and an officer has been reprimanded for spicing up her uniform with hot pink slippers, the defence ministry said Wednesday.

Ghana and Ivory Coast will be encouraged and Morocco and Togo dejected after midweek warm-up games ahead of 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers next month.

The world's leading producer of diamonds De Beers on Tuesday began rough stone sorting in Botswana, a first step in its transfer from London to Gaborone.

Former US president George W. Bush on Thursday launched a $3 million initiative to fight cervical cancer in Botswana on the last stop of an Africa tour.

African champions Zambia claimed a crucial 2014 World Cup qualifying victory Saturday and Nigeria and South Africa drew after surrendering leads.

South Africa were held 1-1 by Ethiopia and Zimbabwe lost 1-0 to Guinea Sunday in home 2014 World Cup qualifiers on a dismal day for countries from the south of the continent.

Orlando Pirates striker Benni McCarthy gave South Africa coach Pitso Mosimane food for thought this weekend with a title-clinching brace.

"Should I, shouldn't I?" That's the question that 31-year-old Kabo Moeti ponders as he waits outside a clinic in a Botswana village, where he's considering getting circumcised.

Botswana will be the second African country to launch Google Street View, officials announced Thursday, saying the technology would boost the nation as a diamond exporter and safari destination.

Ghana will again be counting on goals by star striker Asamoah Gyan to get them past debutants Botswana in an Africa Cup of Nations Group D match Tuesday.

South Africa's Oppenheimer dynasty on Friday ended a century in the diamond business which shaped the region, selling their 40 percent of De Beers to global miner Anglo American for $5.1 billion.

GABORONE (Reuters) - At least eight people were killed when a small plane carrying foreign tourists failed to take off and caught fire in the Okavango Delta region of northern Botswana, officials said on Tuesday.

GABORONE (Reuters) - At least eight people were killed when a small plane carrying foreign tourists failed to take off and caught fire in the Okavango Delta region of northern Botswana, officials said Tuesday.

Diamond-rich Botswana's economy rebounded in the second quarter with 9.6 percent growth compared to the previous three months, despite an eight-week strike by public workers, the government said Monday.

Botswana and De Beers have signed a 10-year deal that will see the world?s leading producer of diamonds moving its rough stone sorting and trading division from London to Gaborone, an official said Monday.

GABORONE (Reuters) - First Lady Michelle Obama rejected criticism that her husband's administration had not paid enough attention to Africa, saying on Friday her trip was a direct reflection of his commitment to the continent.

US First Lady Michelle Obama on Friday started the last leg of her African tour by helping spruce up an AIDS clinic in Botswana, one of the countries hardest-hit by the disease.

Michelle Obama arrived in Pretoria late Monday for what officials have billed as her first major solo overseas trip as US first lady, to South Africa and Botswana.

US First Lady Michelle Obama begins a six-day visit to southern Africa Monday where she will meet anti-apartheid leaders and highlight the spread of democracy on the continent.

US First Lady Michelle Obama will meet key figures in South Africa's anti-apartheid struggle including Archbishop Desmond Tutu during her upcoming one-week visit to the continent, the White House said Wednesday.