Angola and Kenya were eliminated from the 2010 World Cup finals after failing to make the cut in the African qualifiers.

France squad penpix for Euro 2008.

Amidst media investigations alleging that peacekeepers from Indian Army were embroiled in gold and ivory smuggling and giving arms to militias in Congo, Defence Minister A K Antony said, "Anyone found guilty will not be spared". The allegations, Antony said, were being probed by United Nations investigators.

The report was misleading and false and neglected to mention a number of important factors, senior UN officials said, stressing that where charges were substantiate, action had been taken. The BBC report had alleged that Pakistani troops with the mission had engaged in illegal gold trafficking and re-arming of militia groups and the Indian troops were involved in illegally buying gold and using a UN helicopter for exchanging of ivory for ammunition.

Ready to share their natural resources, African countries on Tuesday sought greater Indian investments, particularly from the private sector, to boost economic growth in the continent.

In a major embarrassment to the Army, three of its officers, including a Lieutenant Colonel, now deputed on the United Nations Peace Mission in Congo, have been accused of raping a woman in South Africa while they were holidaying there, an allegation that has prompted the defence ministry to order a probe."We have ordered an enquiry into the incident," Defence Minister A K Antony said on the sidelines of an Indian Air Force function on Tuesday.

Hotlines between New Delhi and Addis Ababa, the headquarters of the African Union, are working overtime to make next month's India-Africa summit as big a success as a similar event organised by China last year. New Delhi's intention to give a new thrust to its relations with Africa was evident when it announced a hike of 60 per cent in its aid to the continent for the next financial year. The 2008-09 Budget presented in Parliament last week, enhanced aid to Africa.

Sri Lanka is listed as the third most dangerous country for journalists, ahead of Pakistan in fourth place. Iraq leads the list with 50 journalists killed in the war-ravaged country in 2007. Somalia is listed in second place.

Nigeria and South Africa, who jostle for political and economic supremacy on the African continent, were drawn together in their World Cup qualifying group on Sunday. Although South Africa, as hosts of the 2010 event, qualify automatically for the finals, they are participating in the preliminaries because they also serve as qualifiers for the 2010 African Nations Cup finals.

A decline in cereal production in several low-income food-deficit countries this year could lead to a tighter food supply situation with 28 countries facing serious food scracity, according to a new United Nations report.

A stampede in Zambia killed 12 football fans and injured many others after a match.

Human Rights Watch, however, says that it has solid information that Pakistani military officers were involved in smuggling of between $2 to 5 million worth of gold from Itrui district in Eastern Congo.

Maria Sharapova became a goodwill ambassador for the UN Development Fund and donated $100,000 to the Chernobyl victims.

The Daily Telegraph of London reported on Tuesday, the first day of Ban in office, that UN peacekeepers and civilian staff were raping and abusing children as young as 12 in southern Sudan.

The total tax burden on Indian companies is one of the highest in the world and in fact more than that of businesses in major economies like the US, UK, China and Japan.

Afghanistan, Palestinian territories, Myanmar and Chechnya were placed better than India in the poll conducted by Reuters AlertNet.

The striker was suspended from playing for the national team for six months after he reacted angrily to being substituted.

Naib Subedar Ram Kirpal Singh, part of the nine-guard peace-keeping force deployed in Congo, was killed when their camp came under heavy rocket attack on Monday morning.

Tunisian fans invaded the stade Charlety pitch when striker Santos scored for their team to make it 2-2.

Former colonial powers Britain and France on Friday paraded their historical links to Africa to try to win backing for their bids to host the 2012 Olympics.

The killing of the militiamen was a "proportionate" reaction to the slaying of 9 Bangladeshi peacekeepers last week, the UN said.

Edible insects such as caterpillars and grubs should be considered an alternative source of nutrition in the effort to overcome food insecurity in central African countries, a new study by the United Nations food agency has said.

Laila Ali will not fight Jacqui Frazier in Kinshasa on the 30th anniversary of the "Rumble in the Jungle".

The Cameroon captain's header gave his country a 2-1 win over Benin in their World Cup qualifying match.

India have been drawn in along with Japan, Oman and Singapore in the Asian qualifying group for the 2006 World Cup football finals.\n\n

Passengers aboard a Russian-made Ilyushin 76 were sucked out when the cargo plane's back ramp opened.