Saudi forces kill assassin suspects
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Saudi security forces on Tuesday killed two suspected terrorists accused of fatally shooting a senior security official outside his home, officials said.
The suspects were killed in a shootout in the Red Sea city of Jiddah, media quoted the Interior Ministry as saying. Three policemen were wounded.
On Saturday, gunmen killed Lt. Col. Mubarak al-Sawwat as he was leaving his home in the holy city of Mecca. The Interior Ministry blamed the killing on the “deviant bunch” – a Saudi euphemism for the al Qaeda terror group.
China halts antiviral drug use on poultry
Beijing China’s government said Tuesday it was dispatching experts to stop the misuse of an antiviral drug on poultry and denied a report that officials encouraged farmers to use it, possibly making it ineffective for treating deadly bird flu in humans.
The report didn’t say when or how widely the drug amantadine was misused or whether farmers still use it.
An official denied a report by the Washington Post that officials encouraged farmers to give amantadine to millions of chickens in drinking water in the 1990s to suppress flu outbreaks.
Aruba search team to use dogs, sonar
Oranjestad, Aruba Volunteers from Texas said Tuesday they will bring dogs and sonar gear to Aruba to help search for teen Natalee Holloway, who has been missing for three weeks on the resort island.
A team of 17 volunteers, including three divers, from Texas EquuSearch will arrive today to look for 18-year-old from Mountain Brook, Ala.
She disappeared on May 30, the last day of a five-day vacation with 124 students celebrating their high school graduation. Her passport and packed bags were found in her room. Four men have been arrested on suspicion but no one has been charged.
China appoints new Hong Kong leader
Hong Kong China on Tuesday appointed veteran civil servant Donald Tsang as Hong Kong’s next leader, saying he will promote prosperity and stability in the Asian financial capital.
Tsang would begin his two-year term as chief executive on Tuesday, replacing Tung Chee-hwa, who quit in March citing failing health, the official Xinhua News Agency said in a brief report.
Many believe that Beijing dumped the unpopular Tung – a former shipping tycoon with little political experience – because he was unable to improve his dismal public approval ratings.