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U.S., Israel conduct joint military tests

By TIMES WIRES
Published March 19, 2007

ISRAEL

Thousands of American and Israeli troops conducted an operation Sunday to test new ways of intercepting missiles able to carry nuclear, chemical and biological warheads, the Associated Press reported, citing American and Israeli military officials. Israel and the United States are concerned that Iran could be developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles able to threaten Israel. But both sides said the timing of the operation in southern Israel's Negev Desert was routine and unrelated to those fears. It was the fourth time the two countries have conducted the joint exercise, code-named "Juniper Cobra," which is held every two years. The drill began last week and is set to end Tuesday.

UNITED KINGDOM

Camilla to become a grandmother

Prince Charles' wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, is to become a grandmother later this year, the British Mail on Sunday newspaper reported Sunday. Sara Buys, who is married to Camilla's son Tom Parker Bowles, is expecting the couple's first child in September, the newspaper said. "Mummy is absolutely over the moon at the prospect of becoming a grandmother," Parker Bowles, 32, said. Tom Parker Bowles is Charles' godson. He became the Prince of Wales' stepson after Camilla and Charles married in 2005.

COLOMBIA

Chiquita officials may be extradited

Colombian officials said over the weekend that they would consider seeking the extradition of senior executives of Chiquita Brands International in Colombia after the company pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court to charges of making payments to paramilitary death squads. Chiquita, one of the world's largest banana producers, agreed last week to pay a fine of $25-million to the U.S. Justice Department to settle the case. Chiquita told the Justice Department that from 1997 to 2004, a subsidiary in Colombia had paid $1.7-million to right-wing paramilitary groups, which the U.S. government calls terrorist organizations.

THAILAND

Attack on school kills three boys

Attackers hurled explosives and opened fire on an Islamic school in southern Thailand, killing three students and sparking a riot by angry Muslim villagers, officials said Sunday. Attackers lobbed explosives and sprayed dozens of bullets into a dormitory, killing a 12-year-old and two 14-year-olds, police Col. Thammasak Wasaksiri said. Shortly after the attack, three Buddhists were shot dead in the same district, raising fears that a festering insurgency that has already taken more than 2,000 lives could erupt into open combat between the Muslim and Buddhist communities.

Elsewhere

Somalia: Insurgents struck the Somali capital's seaport and former intelligence quarters on Sunday, killing two people and injuring at least 16 who were caught in fighting that drew in Ethiopian and government troops, witnesses said.

Finland: The incumbent centrist party barely won parliamentary elections Sunday, with the main opposition Conservatives making strong gains to claim a possible spot in the next government.

[Last modified March 19, 2007, 01:27:41]