Nearly 14.3 million people, including children, are 'trapped' in modern-day slavery in India, which tops a global index of people under bondage across the world with an estimated 35.8 million people enslaved, a new research said on Monday.

'It's unclear whether she is the target of the investigation, or what agents were searching for. The officials said it is an ongoing investigation and no charges have been filed,' reports CNN.com, while the Post adds that "the exact nature of the investigation involving Raphel remains unclear. She has not been charged.'

Akhil Rekulapelli, 13, winner of National Geographic Bee 2014 spoke with Aziz Haniffa about his preparation and future plans

Cesc Fabregas has returned to training as the Barcelona midfielder continues his recovery from a knee injury, the La Liga leaders said on Monday.

Germany and Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira has had successful surgery on torn knee ligaments and he may be available for the World Cup, according to Germany team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt.

A second-string Spain celebrated coach Vicente del Bosque's two-year contract extension with a 2-1 away win over Equatorial Guinea in a friendly on Saturday that was marred by an injury to Xabi Alonso.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has agreed a two-year contract extension with the world and European champions which ties him until the 2016 European championship in France, the 62-year-old said on Friday.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has called Atletico Madrid's Brazil-born forward Diego Costa into his squad for the first time for this month's friendlies away to Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.

The third Lusofonia Games, slated to be held in Goa in November, have been postponed to January due to the slow progress of infrastructure work. The Games of 'Lusophone' (Portuguese-speaking countries) will now be held from January 18 to 29, 2014.

A superb brace from debutant Raul Fabiani (16th and 76th minute) gave Pune FC a well earned 3-1 win over Mohammedan Sporting in their I-League opener in Kolkata on Saturday.

Ethiopia, Togo and Equatorial Guinea are facing disciplinary proceedings for allegedly fielding ineligible players in the World Cup qualifiers, FIFA said on Sunday.

Ethiopia ended the hopes of 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa from making next year's finals in Brazil after a dramatic round of African group stage qualifying matches on Sunday.

Holders Zambia and Nigeria go head-to-head on Friday in the first heavyweight clash of the African Nations Cup as they seek to break the stalemate in Group C.

Zambia have shot up 28 places in the FIFA rankings, breaking into the top 50 for the first time in eleven years after winning the African Nations Cup on Sunday.

Top-ranked Ivory Coast lived up to their billing by reaching the African Nations Cup final as the tournament delivered yet another surprise on Wednesday when Zambia also reached Sunday's deciding match.

Seydou Keita has emerged as the undisputed leader of an exciting young Mali side six months after returning from a 20-month hiatus from the international game.

Ivory Coast and Zambia ruthlessly crushed African Nations Cup underdogs Equatorial Guinea and Sudan 3-0 respectively on Saturday to end the dreams of opponents who had upset the odds to reach the last eight.

Equatorial Guinea produced arguably the biggest ever upset in African Nations Cup finals on Wednesday by beating Senegal 2-1 to book a quarter-final place and send one of the favourites tumbling out.

Didier Drogba's talismanic qualities helped Ivory Coast make a winning, if not impressive, start to the African Nations Cup finals as he scored the only goal against a stubborn Sudan. With Angola, who beat Burkina Faso 2-1 in Sunday's other match in Malabo.

Ivory Coast and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure was named African Footballer of the Year on Thursday.

Lionel Messi and Alexis Sanchez, club mates at Barcelona, sparkled as Argentina and Chile put behind them a weekend to forget with victories in the South American 2014 World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday.

A Didier Drogba double helped the Ivory Coast become the second side to progress from the African Nations Cup preliminaries to next year's finals after a 6-2 win in Benin on Sunday.

India has been maintaining that the world bodies like the UN, IMF and the World Bank do not reflect the contemporary realities of the world and urgently needed reforms.

Seeking to inject a fresh impetus to India's strategic ties with African countries, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday left on a six-day visit to Ethiopia and Tanzania during which he will discuss ways to effectively combat the twin threats of terrorism and piracy.

Didier Drogba scored twice to maintain the Ivory Coast's perfect start to the 2012 African Nations Cup qualifiers on Sunday while other top contenders Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia also won.

Ivory Coast have named Francois Zahoui as Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor as coach two weeks before they begin their African Nations Cup qualifying campaign.

India jumped three places to 135th in the latest FIFA rankings. In global rankings, Spain dethroned Brazil from number one spot. The Netherlands, Italy and Portugal complete the top five.

China is using its growing trade power to enhance its global influence, especially in Africa, Latin America and Asia, where it is perceived as an all-weather friend. Since opening up its economy in 1978, China's foreign trade has been growing by leaps and bounds.

Addressing the Committee for Development Policy, Sha Zukang, under-secretary-general for economic and social affairs, said the worst economic crises since the great depression have thrown many more people into poverty.

The ongoing financial crisis, poverty reduction, reforms including expansion of the Security Council, uneven progress in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and Darfur conflict are likely to dominate the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly that begins on Tuesday. More than 170 heads of state and governments, foreign ministers and senior diplomats will participate in the discussion lasting about two weeks.

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.

The endangered list includes the Western Hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) found in India, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

The State Department's annual report on human trafficking released worldwide on Tuesday, ranked India for a fourth consecutive year in the report's second-worst category, the so-called Tier 2 Watch List.

The impact of corruption continues to grow in nations around the world.

Fidel Castro of Cuba figures in the list along with Hu Jintao of China as the most corrupt dictators.

The son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher pleaded guilty to helping to finance unknowingly an alleged coup plot in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea.