Saudi Arabia sends $15.4m to Palestinians, Kuwait $7.5m: Saudi

Saudi Arabia sends $15.4m to Palestinians, Kuwait $7.5m: Saudi Arabia transferred on Tuesday US$15.4 million in advance aid to the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Finance Minister Ibrahim al- Assaf told the official SPA news agency. Assaf said the transfer was made to an Arab League fund in accordance with a decision taken at last month's Arab summit in Beirut. Kuwait for its part on Tuesday transferred $7.5 million to the Palestinian Authority, the state KUNA news agency reported. -- AFP

Executions doubled in 2001, led by China, says Amnesty: Governments across the globe shot, electrocuted and hanged more than 3,000 of their citizens last year, more than double the total executed in 2000, Amnesty International said on Tuesday. During 2001, at least 3,048 people were put to death in 31 countries, the sharp increase largely the result of a Chinese crack-down on crime which saw the world's most populous nation execute nearly 1,800 people in four months, Amnesty said. -- Reuters

25 die in Kashmir as Indian and Pakistani troops trade fire: At least 25 people died on Tuesday and overnight in separatist- linked violence in Indian Kashmir as Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged fire across their disputed border, police said. --AFP

U.S.-backed Afghan patrol attacked with grenade, three dead: An Afghan military patrol working with U.S. forces in eastern Afghanistan was attacked with grenades on Tuesday, a local official said. Three people were killed including the two attackers. The attack occurred on a road in eastern Paktia province, where the United States launched Operation Anaconda last month - the largest ground offensive of the Afghan war. -- AP

Facing sanctions threat, Yugoslavia moves on war crimes bill: Facing the threat of international sanctions, Yugoslavia's parliament is expected on Wednesday to approve a bill allowing war crimes suspects to be handed over to the UN tribunal in The Hague. The draft on cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) will be on the agenda of the parliament's session scheduled for Wednesday, Serbian Justice Minister Vladan Batic said. -- AFP