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• UPDATE 2-MTN says probe dismisses corruption allegations

  JOHANNESBURG, Feb 1- An external committee appointed by African mobile phone group MTN to investigate claims by rival Turkcell of corrupt dealings in Iran has dismissed the allegations as "a fabric of lies, distortions and inventions".

• AFRICA INVESTMENT-China's Africa resource scramble goes platinum

  LEDIG, South Africa, Feb 1- China's scramble for resources is breaking new ground on South Africa's platinum belt. Wesizwe Platinum's Bakubung mine, which aims to start production in 2018 and churn out 350,000 ounces of platinum group metals a year by 2023, is China's first direct investment in the sector and it likely won't be the last.

• INSIGHT-Revived search for a TB vaccine may be about to pay off

  CHICAGO, Feb 1- After nearly 100 years, researchers could be on the verge of finding a vaccine that would eradicate tuberculosis infections, a scourge that kills 1.4 million people a year. "In my own personal view, I will consider this to be a landmark or a watershed," said Peggy Johnston, senior program officer at the Bill& Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle.

• From booze to bulldozers, analysts scour for emerging market data

  LONDON, Feb 1- From phone bills in Lagos to bulldozers in Beijing, analysts are looking creatively at ways to measure the strength of emerging market economies where official data sometimes comes up short.

• China’s Workers Endure Unhappy New Year

  

  Nothing offends a Chinese employee more than cancelling the annual lunar new year party – a rare chance to eat, drink and win a free iPad or iPhone, courtesy of the boss. The Financial Times reports.

• Telecoms boom leaves rural Africa behind

  JOHANNESBURG/ FREETOWN, Jan 31- While mobile phone usage has exploded across Africa over the last decade, transforming daily life and commerce for millions, it's a revolution that has left behind perhaps two thirds of its people.

• US Pension Fund Eyes Selling Oil Holdings

  

  A US pension fund with nearly $2 billion in assets is considering selling its holdings in some of the world's biggest oil and gas companies because of the threat posed by climate change. The FT reports.

• PRECIOUS-Gold firmer but price restrained ahead of Fed outcome

  *Asia physical gold buying slows. London, Jan 30- Gold firmed on Wednesday, but prices were hemmed in by the upcoming U.S. Spot gold gained just 0.1 percent to $1,665.44 an ounce by 1112 GMT.

• PRECIOUS-Gold bounces after U.S. GDP data, eyes Fed outcome

  *Spot gold rises to one-week high of $1,682.90/ oz after U.S. 4 Q GDP. London, Jan 30- Gold rallied to a session high of $1,682.90 an ounce on Wednesday, reasserting its safe-haven properties after U.S. growth data missed expectations and dented appetite for riskier assets. Spot gold rose as much as 1.1 percent to a one-week high of $1,682.90 an ounce.

• Anglo American's $4 Billion Hit Clears Way for New CEO

  

  Anglo American took a $4 billion hit to its Minas Rio project on Tuesday, clearing the decks for new boss Mark Cutifani and indicating that the delayed Brazilian operation will eventually get off the ground.

• PRECIOUS-Gold rises, ending four-day slide; FOMC eyed

  NEW YORK, Jan 29- Gold rose on Tuesday, snapping a four-day losing streak, lifted by short-covering and expected continuation of loose U.S. monetary policies.

• UPDATE 3-Anglo American's $4 bln hit clears decks for new CEO

  LONDON, Jan 29- Anglo American took a $4 billion hit to its Minas Rio project on Tuesday, clearing the decks for new boss Mark Cutifani and indicating that the delayed Brazilian operation will eventually get off the ground.

• PRECIOUS-Gold rallies from 2-1/2 wk low; eyes Fed meeting

  LONDON, Jan 29- Gold firmed on Tuesday, snapping a four-day losing streak, but gains were limited as investors sought further data to gauge U.S. economic strength, also looking to a Federal Reserve statement later in the week. Spot gold rose 0.5 percent to $1,663.30 an ounce by 1127 GMT, recovering from Monday's 2-1/ 2 week low of $1,651.93.

• UPDATE 2-Anglo American takes $4 bln hit on Minas Rio

  LONDON, Jan 29- Anglo American Plc will take a $4 billion writedown on its Minas Rio iron ore operation in Brazil after delays and cost overruns forced the mining group to increase expenditure on the project.

• As Suez cities burn, canal shipping sails on, for now

  ABOARD RMS QUEEN MARY 2, Jan 29- Egypt's army stepped forward on Tuesday from its new place in the shadows of the fledgling democracy and pledged to defend the state after a week of bloody street violence in cities along the Suez Canal.

• PRECIOUS-Gold near 2-1/2-week low as Fed meeting looms

  *Spot gold may rebound to $1,669/ oz- technicals. SINGAPORE, Jan 29- Gold edged up on Tuesday but did not break too far above a 2-1/ 2- week low hit in the previous session as promising U.S. economic data fuelled optimism about a stable recovery, driving investors away from safe-haven assets such as bullion.

• PRECIOUS-Gold near 2-1/2-week low as safe-haven appeal dims

  SINGAPORE, Jan 29- Gold edged up on Tuesday but did not drift too far from a 2-1/ 2- week low hit in the previous session as promising U.S. economic data fuelled optimism about an economic recovery, driving investors away from safe-haven assets such as bullion. *Spot gold edged up 0.2 percent to $1,656.91 an ounce by 0010 GMT, after four consecutive sessions of losses.

• PRECIOUS-Platinum down 1.2 pct as Amplats delays job cuts

  *Technical pressure adds to platinum selling below $1,700. *Russia, Turkey sharply added gold reserves in December. NEW YORK, Jan 28- Platinum posted its biggest one-day drop in over a month on Monday, as news the world's largest platinum producer Anglo American Platinum agreed to postpone massive job cuts eased supply fears.

• UPDATE 1-SAfrica govt, Amplats, unions agree to postpone job cuts

  JOHANNESBURG, Jan 28- South Africa, Anglo American Platinum and labour unions have agreed to postpone a restructuring exercise that could lead to 14,000 job cuts to allow for more talks, the minerals department said.

• S.Africa govt, Amplats, unions agree to postpone job cuts

  JOHANNESBURG, Jan 28- South Africa's government, Anglo American Platinum and labour unions have agreed to postpone a restructuring exercise that could lead to 14,000 job cuts to allow for more talks, the minerals department said on Monday.