Speech costs politician shot at election: Singapore opposition
Speech costs politician shot at election: Singapore opposition politician Chee Soon Juan lost his chance to contest the next general election when he was slapped with a fine on Tuesday for speaking in public without a permit. Chee, who was fined S$3,000 ($1,704) at the end of a three-day court hearing, made a speech at Singapore's lone public soapbox in February about three Muslim girls who were barred from state schools after they wore headscarves or "tudungs" to class. -- Reuters
Third Saudi Prince died in a week: Saudi Prince Fahd bin Turki bin Saud al-Kabir has been found dead in his country's searing desert, the official SPA news agency said early Tuesday, adding that the prince apparently died of thirst. The report said the 25-year-old prince had been traveling in Rimah province, south of the town of al-Ammaniya. Prince Fahd was the third member of the extensive Saudi royal family to die in a week. Prince Sultan bin Faisal bin Turki al-Saud, 41, was killed in a road accident on July 23 and Prince Ahmed bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, 43, died the day before of a heart attack. -- AFP
U.S., Russia hold arms control talks:A top visiting U.S. arms control official held talks in Moscow on Tuesday days after Russia's announcement that it intended to build a second nuclear power plant in Iran, despite U.S. criticism of an existing project. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control John Bolton met Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgiy Mamedov to discuss strategic stability and non-proliferation issues, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement. -- AFP
Jesse Jackson visits Bethlehem, urges U.S. action: U.S. civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson called on Tuesday for President George W. Bush to help end Israeli military occupation and build a Palestinian state. Jackson, on a Middle East peace mission, embraced children in Bethlehem's Manger Square and lit candles in the Church of the Nativity, revered by Christians as Jesus's birthplace and the scene of a stand-off earlier this year between Palestinian militants and Israeli soldiers. -- Reuters