Influential US lawmakers on Thursday called for levying a new income tax to pay for the war in Afghanistan, warning its costs pose a mortal threat to efforts like a sweeping health care overhaul.

U.S.-trained scientist and al-Qaida suspect says she's innocent and will boycott NY trial. A U.S.-trained scientist accused of shooting at FBI agents and helping al-Qaida vowed Thursday to boycott her January trial.

Editorial Roundup: Excerpts From Recent Editorials in Newspapers in the US and Abroad. Excerpts from recent editorials in newspapers in the United States and abroad:

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said it is too soon to set a timeline for shifting security duties from NATO-led troops to Afghan forces, as proposed by Britain.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Three policemen were killed and six wounded when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Pakistan's volatile city of Peshawar early Friday, police said.

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said it is too soon to set a timeline for shifting security duties from NATO-led troops to Afghan forces, as proposed by Britain.

Two days before shipping off to war, Marine Pfc. Jesse Sheets sat inside a trailer in the Mojave Desert, his gaze fixed on a computer that flashed a rhythmic pulse of contrasting images.

A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle blew himself up in the heart of Afghanistan's southwestern town of Farah, killing six people and wounding 36 civilians, the provincial police chief said.

Increasing numbers of radical Islamic Web sites are spreading al-Qaida's message in English. Increasing numbers of English-language Web sites are spreading al-Qaida's message to Muslims in the West. They translate writings and sermons once largely out of reach of English readers and often feature charismatic clerics like Anwar al-Awlaki, who exchanged dozens of e-mails with the Army psychiatrist accused of the Fort Hood shootings.

Four Pakistani soldiers were killed when militants stormed a security post in a troubled tribal region bordering Afghanistan, officials said Friday.

A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle blew himself up in the heart of Afghanistan's southwestern town of Farah, killing 12 people and wounding dozens more, an official said.

A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle blew himself up in the heart of Afghanistan's southwestern town of Farah, killing 12 people and wounding dozens more, an official said.

MIRANSHAH, Pakistan (Reuters) - A suspected U.S. drone aircraft fired two missiles at a northwestern Pakistani militant stronghold on Friday, killing eight people, the second such attack this week, security and Taliban officials said.

Sri Lanka's former top military officer who resigned last week promised on Friday to "fight for democracy" amid reports he will challenge the president at upcoming elections.

Philippine troops have killed one of the top commanders of the Al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, the military said Friday.

Four Pakistani soldiers were killed when militants stormed a security post in a troubled tribal region bordering Afghanistan, officials said Friday.

Protestors hurled stones and firebombs at police near the Algerian embassy in Cairo on Friday, wounding 11 officers as anger mounted over attacks on Egyptians after the countries' World Cup qualifier.

TOKYO (Reuters) - A U.S. soldier has admitted he may have run over a Japanese man found dead two weeks ago on the southern island of Okinawa, his lawyer said on Friday, in a case that may further strain ties between the two countries.

An Israeli minister said on Friday he was to travel to Turkey, in the first such visit since Israel's military offensive in Gaza at the turn of the year strained ties with Turkey.

UN war crimes court appoints British lawyer as standby counsel for Radovan Karadzic. The Yugoslav war crimes tribunal has appointed a British lawyer to represent Radovan Karadzic if the former Bosnian Serb leader continues to boycott his trial when it resumes in March, according to a document released Friday.