SOUTH AFRICA

LONDON, Jan 17 - The downgrade of much of Europe's credit ratings demonstrates in perhaps the bluntest terms so far the collapse of any lingering -- if lazy -- assumptions that developed states are somehow safer than emerging counterparts.

LONDON, Jan 17 - The downgrade of much of Europe's credit ratings demonstrates in perhaps the bluntest terms so far the collapse of any lingering -- if lazy -- assumptions that developed states are somehow safer than emerging counterparts.

Most people commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day turn to his iconic I Have a Dream speech. But King gave another famous speech the night before he died, known as the Promised Land or Mountaintop speech. In it, he alluded to his imminent assassination and the legacy he would leave behind. Listen to the audio file, watch the video, and read the full text of Dr. King's final speech here.

Oprah Winfrey feels a new freedom after leaving her wildly successful daily TV talk show behind and taking a new course seeking interviews with newsmakers on their own turf.

South Africa's Department of Mineral Resources has rejected an appeal by platinum miner Lonmin over a prospecting right on part of its mining area granted to a third party, Keysha Investments.

Gold rose for a second day on Wednesday, hitting its highest in a month, as evidence of strong demand from major consumerChina helped boost the price above a key technical level, and offset the impact of a softer euro.

Is Halle Berry headed to her third wedding?

A stampede of students desperate for college admission in South Africa has led to the killing of one woman and the injury of several others when the University of Johannesburg opened its gate on Tuesday. The students who were involved in the stamped were all hoping they could secure one of fewer than 1,000 last-minute seats available for the incoming class.

Gold hit a four-week high and broke above a key resistance on Wednesday, defying a stronger dollar, as the festering euro zone debt crisis lured investors to its safety and signs of strong demand from the world's top two consumers also supported.

Gold rose towards $1,640 an ounce on Tuesday and other precious metals rallied, with a rebound in the euro versus the dollar making dollar-priced assets more attractive to holders of other currencies, and after bullion breached a key chart level.

One woman was killed on Tuesday when prospective students waiting outside the University of Johannesburg in South Africa stampeded to get into the school's admissions office.

In a stadium packed with tens of thousands of dancing revelers, South Africa's ruling party, the African National Congress, celebrated its 100th anniversary Sunday, amid accusations that it has not delivered on its promises since taking power in 1994, namely resolving outstanding issues with poverty and unemployment.

22-year-old Australian tourist Erin Langworthy survived a 365-foot fall into crocodile-infested waters at Victoria Falls Bridge after her bungee cord snapped.

In an accident captured on video, a 22-year-old Australian student named Erin Langworthy nearly plunged to her death on Dec. 31 into a river infested with crocodiles after her bungee cord broke while bungee jumping in Zimbabwe.

Europe as a whole may avoid a recession this year and there were reasons to be more upbeat about prospects for the region, South Africa's Business Day newspaper quoted International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde as saying.

South African President Jacob Zuma led a purification ceremony at the site in Bloemfontein where the African National Congress was born 100 years ago. Many say the party needs cleansing itself.

The times and trends are always changing, and some benefit consumers while others do not. But the shopping Web site dealnews did a good job in recent days noting things that will be less expensive and more expensive in 2012. Among the items that will get cheaper in 2012, according to dealnews, is wine and homes.

The euro is likely to survive 2012 despite the debt crisis in the euro currency zone, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde said on Friday.

Two South African gold mining companies have reported workers deaths.

Barclays Capital released its 2012 price outlook for precious metals Thursday. Despite short-term hurdles, a clouded macro-economic environment against a backdrop of low interest rates and political uncertainties continue to stoke investor appetite for a more diversified and less riskier portfolio.

A new study has linked physical activity to academic performance in children, a finding that could trigger action in the right direction, given the decline in physical activities in most schools.