India tests new missile, drawing world criticism

NEW DELHI, India -- India tested a new nuclear-capable missile Friday and announced it will not pull troops back from Pakistan's border anytime soon, raising tensions with its rival neighbor and drawing international criticism.

Officials said the missile, a shorter-range version of the intermediate-range Agni-I, was successfully fired over the Bay of Bengal from Wheeler's Island off the coast of Orissa state in eastern India. The missile's range is 420 miles.

The test drew immediate criticism from Pakistan -- deadlocked in a dispute with India over violence in divided Kashmir -- and from the United States, Britain and Germany. All said it sent the wrong signals amid the tension with India's nuclear-armed neighbor.

Indian officials said the test was routine and had no political meaning.

Letter provokes Kmart, SEC to probe accounting

DETROIT -- Kmart Corp., which filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this week, said Friday it has begun an investigation after receiving an anonymous letter claiming to be from employees that expressed concern about unspecified accounting matters.

The nation's third biggest discount retailer said it had contacted the Securities and Exchange Commission about the letter and its own investigation and is cooperating with the regulatory agency.

The disclosure comes amid heightened sensitivity in the wake of the collapse of the energy trader Enron Corp. amid questionable accounting practices.

Kmart said the letter was addressed to the SEC, Kmart's auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and the company's board of directors.

Man accused of anthrax hoax goes to prison

URBANA, Ill. -- A man suspected of mailing fake anthrax letters to abortion clinics nationwide after escaping from jail was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison on firearms, stolen-car and escape charges.

Clayton Lee Waagner -- who once claimed he was on a mission from God to kill abortion providers -- was sentenced to 27 years in prison for federal charges of interstate transport of a stolen vehicle and illegal possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to another 37 months for escaping from the DeWitt County Jail last February. The sentences will be served consecutively.

Waagner said he felt no remorse for his actions, and vowed to continue his anti-abortion campaign by writing letters from prison.

Israeli warplanes attack Palestinian targets

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Israeli F-16 war planes on Friday attacked Palestinian security installations in Gaza City, Palestinian witnesses said.

Ambulances were seen rushing toward a Palestinian security compound near Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's seaside headquarters.

The strike came hours after a Palestinian suicide bomber detonated nail-packed explosives in a crowded Tel Aviv pedestrian mall on Friday, killing himself and wounding 24 people. There was no claim of responsibility for the bombing.

--From wire reports