China officials head to Sudan for kidnapping case

China sent officials to Sudan on Thursday to help find at least one missing Chinese worker from a group kidnapped from oil fields near the western region of Darfur, state media reported.

Officials from the Foreign Ministry, Commerce Ministry and the China National Petroleum Corporation will hold talks with the Sudanese government on efforts to rescue the remaining worker still missing, said the official Xinhua News Agency.

Nine workers were kidnapped Oct. 18, and there is conflicting information on what has happened with the rest. Four workers were killed, four others have been rescued and one is missing, Xinhua said.

Reports from Sudan have said …

Mount net four in comeback ; Football

MOUNTNESSING ........4 WESTHAMIANS .........3 (ProKit UK EssexOlympian League Premier Division) THE old cliche 'a game of twohalves' was invented for this game, after Mount trailed 3-0 at half-time, but turned it round for a fantastic win.

Mount were two down inside 20 minutes with both goals coming fromlong balls which weren't dealt with.

The third came on 35 minutes with the whole of Mount's back fourwaiting for the offside …

Death Sentence Upheld in Libyan Case

TRIPOLI, Libya - Libya's Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the death sentences of five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor convicted of infecting more than 400 children with the AIDS virus. But the verdict may not be the final word in the case.

Libya's Supreme Judicial Council, which is headed by the minister of justice, could approve or reject the convictions or set lighter sentences.

"The court has accepted the appeal in principal but rejects its content, therefore the court decided to uphold the verdict against them," Judge Fathi Dahan told the courtroom.

The five nurses and the Palestinian doctor were not present in the court for the appeal hearing. …

Mickelson plans to return in time for US Open

Phil Mickelson plans a brief return to the PGA Tour in time to play in the U.S. Open.

The world's No. 2 player suspended his schedule indefinitely upon announcing two weeks ago that his wife, Amy, has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Recent tests have given them hope the cancer has been caught early, with more tests over the next month.

Mickelson intends to return next week at the St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Tenn., then play the following week in the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, according to a person informed of the plans.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Mickelson had not announced his decision.

"We …

N.Y. jury convicts two in fuel tank plot

NEW YORK - Two men were convicted Monday of plotting to blow upjet fuel tanks at John F. Kennedy International Airport, a plan thatauthorities said was meant to outdo the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks andavenge perceived U.S. oppression of Muslims around the world.

Russell Defreitas, a former JFK cargo handler, and Abdul Kadir,once a member of Guyana's parliament, were convicted of multipleconspiracy charges. Kadir was acquitted of one charge, surveillanceof mass …

Chicago Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction to host their 2007 Beautillion

Twenty-two youths are involved in the Top Ladies of Distinction 2007 Beatuillion

The affair promises to be an elegant, exceptional one at the Doubletree hotel, 5000 W. 127th Street in southwest suburban Alsip.

The evening begins Sunday, with a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Admission to the elegant affair is $65.

Serving as event chair is Lady Harriett D. Eiland with co-chairs Lady Odessey Roberts and Lady Fredricka Hobson. Lady Oteal Wyatt-Gilmore is president of the Chicago Chapter.

This year's senior beaux are Jarve Dashawn Alexander, Darryl Phillip Brown Jr., Dominic Lowell-Frenchaun Hardy, Chester A. Wrice Jr. and …

EU aid official calls on member nations to meet pledges to boost aid spending

The European Union's aid chief warned EU nations on Wednesday to increase their assistance to poor countries to meet promises to halve extreme poverty around the world by 2015.

Development Commissioner Louis Michel said the EU's credibility as the world's largest aid donor was at stake with only a half dozen years remaining to meet a United Nations goal to fight poverty and boost education and health care for the world's poorest.

Michel presented plans to better coordinate the 27 national policies and various EU-wide aid programs.

"We know what we must do: increase our aid spending to meet targets and then make every euro count," Michel …