BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Stowed away on cargo ships and unsure where their dangerous journeys will take them, increasing numbers of African immigrants are arriving in Latin America as European countries tighten border controls.

Shontaye Edwards spends her day in a gray cubicle at a Bank of America call center in this Dallas suburb. On the other end of the phone line are homeowners ? tense, exasperated and looking for help.

LONDON (Reuters) - France, with a controversial extra-time goal from William Gallas, squeezed into the World Cup finals despite failing to beat Ireland in Paris while Slovenia upset Russia on a nailbiting night of qualifiers on Wednesday.

Uruguay qualified for the 2010 World Cup with a 1-1 draw with Costa Rica.

Uruguay finished the job, qualifying for the 2010 World Cup with a 1-1 draw against Costa Rica.

Uruguay finished the job, qualifying for the 2010 World Cup with a 1-1 draw against Costa Rica.

Striker Edgaras Jankauskas will not return to the Revolution next season unless he receives an offer comparable to his current contract, a source involved in the negotiations said yesterday. Jankauskas, whose contract was worth $240,000 last season, played for teams in eight European countries, including Porto's 2004 Champions League winners, before joining the Revolution midway through the season. Jankauskas scored twice in 10 appearances, his bicycle kick against Kansas City nominated for MLS Goal of the Year. Jankauskas, 34, was brought in by coach Steve Nicol to fill in for Taylor Twellman, who missed nearly the entire season with concussion-related injuries. ``We want him back,'' Nicol said. ``He's not under any pressure to stay or go, he's here because he wants to be. So it's up to him, and he is taking a couple days to decide. We haven't offered him anything yet.'' Nicol met with Revolution players yesterday but said no final decisions have been made about who will be returning

32 national flags are raised in South Africa to salute all World Cup qualifiers. The flags of the 32 nations that qualified for the 2010 World Cup are flying in Johannesburg.

Honduras interim president may leave temporarily to allow voters to concentrate on election. Honduras' interim president said Thursday he may step down temporarily to allow voters to concentrate on the upcoming presidential elections.

Before the recession, ads for Las Vegas resorts appealed to a desire for frivolity and conspicuous consumption with taglines such as, ÒSome fantasies just donÕt work anywhere else,Ó ÒEverything in moderation? Yeah, right,Ó and ÒParents gone wild.Ó

LONDON (Reuters) - France, Portugal and Russia all moved closer to next year's World Cup finals with first leg playoff wins on Saturday, although none of them did enough to take victory for granted in the second legs next week.

Uruguay took a step toward the 2010 World Cup Saturday as captain Diego Lugano's first-half strike proved enough for a 1-0 victory in the first leg of their qualifying playoff against Costa Rica.

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - A speech to the U.N. General Assembly by a representative of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya's government has been postponed from Saturday to Monday, a U.N. official said.

International Monetary Fund support of 15 emerging market countries in the global financial crisis helped them weather the worst of the turmoil, an internal IMF study has claimed.

International Monetary Fund support of 15 emerging market countries in the global financial crisis helped them weather the worst of the turmoil, according to an internal IMF study published Sunday.

Mexican club Toluca announced Monday it will not travel to riot-torn Honduras for a scheduled CONCACAF Champions League match on Saturday even as the United States eyes a World Cup qualifier there.

Costa Rica's Arias warns Honduran elections won't be recognized under interim government. Costa Rica's President Oscar Arias on Tuesday commended the interim president of Honduras for saying he will reverse an emergency decree suspending civil liberties in his country.

Costa Rica's Arias warns Honduran elections won't be recognized under interim government. Costa Rica's President Oscar Arias on Tuesday commended the interim president of Honduras for saying he will reverse an emergency decree suspending civil liberties in his country.

Chaos in Honduras has not created such safety risks as to force the movement of a scheduled World Cup qualifying match against the United States, FIFA officials said here Tuesday.

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduras' de facto government came under mounting pressure on Tuesday to restore civil liberties and negotiate an end to a three-month crisis triggered when President Manuel Zelaya was toppled in a coup.