SOUTH AFRICA

Europe's debt crisis could tip the world economy into recession and a bigger firewall is urgently needed to keep the damage from spreading, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday.

With a taste for Jimmy Choo shoes and Hermes handbags, Choice Okoro's idea of shopping is a world away from her mother's.

Mali is seeking to raise the state share in mining projects to 25 percent from 20 percent in a proposed revision to the West African gold producer's mining law, a senior official at the state regulator told Reuters on Monday.

Beautiful Brittany Kerr, who is a dancer for the Charlotte Bobcats, had no idea what a frenzy her American Idol audition would cause. Kerr, a stunning NBA dancer and singing hopeful who resembles former Idol contestant Carrie Underwood, caused quite the stir after her American Idol audition aired last week on FOX. A massive traffic influx of thousands of fans searching for her photos crashed Kerr's manager's Web site.

Former England captain David Beckham agreed to a new contract with the MLS Champs.

Sundance Film Festival 2012 kicks off on Thursday at Park City Utah, where independent film makers will be given the opportunity to shine in front of vast, open-minded and artistic audiences.

The cowardly act of the Costa Concordia's captain, Francesco Schettino, who has been accused of abandoning the sinking ship, leaving more than 4,200 passengers onboard, has added another unsavory chapter to the less reputable parts of maritime history. Fortunately, the seas have examples of bravery as well. If the above cases pointed to instances of cowardice and shame, there are incidents where the heroism of the captains onboard sinking ships has become legendary.

Africa-focused gold producer Goldplat has poured the first bar of gold from its Kilimapesa mine in Kenya, marking the beginning of production in the east African country's first gold project, the company said on Tuesday.

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.

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.

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.