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It's 10:00 Universal Time. Here is the news from the Voice of America.
I'm Carmen English from the VOA news center in Washington.

A top story the US Senate following the lead of the House representatives has approved to compromise bill that funds military operatons in Iraq and Afganistan, but it also says the goal of withdrawing US troops from Iraq by early next year. A pervision that Pre. Bush says before seemed to veto the measure as soon as he receives it. VOA's Deputy reports.
The Democratic-led Senate voted largely along party lines to approve the legislation, the measure includes about 95 billion dollars to fund military operations in Iraq and Afganistan through September 38th. It also calls for withdrawing US troops from Iraq beginning in October or earlier if Pre. Bush determines the Iraqis have not met seven benchmarks including disarming malitias and taking steps toward unity government. The bill sets its non-binding goal of completing withdrawal of combat troops by April 1st next year. Many Democrats used debate on the bill to reiterate the criticism of Pre. Bush's handling of the war. Senate Robbert Burn is visiting Virginia Democrat. "The President has failed in his mission." The Democratic-led chamber approved the measure despite Pre. Bush's vowed to veto it and personally appealed the day earlier above the top army general in Iraq David Pertrade to allow more time for a recent US troops surgen in Iraq to make progress. Deputy, VOA news, Capitol Hill.

US lawmakers are discussing the next step they will take after Pre. Bush's expected veto next week of the recently passed legislation funding the wars in Iraq and Afganistan. After the Senate vote Thursday approving the legislation minority leader M. M. told reporters that preliminary discussion has already began. He restated the Republican position that any new legislation should not contain a timetable for withdrawing US forces from Iraq.

The top US commander in Iraq says an Iraqi group affiliated with an illegal Iranian force carried out in attack last year in which 5 US soldiers were killed near the Iraqi town of Kabala. The statement by General David P. followes months of suspicion about Iranian involvement in the incident, but the General says he cannot directly connect Iranian agency to the attack. VOA's A. P. reports from the Pentagon.
General P. told the Pentagon news conference that his conclusion about the C. attack comes from the results of interrogations of the leaders of Iraqi insurgent group affiliated with Iran, call they Cazali network.
Iranian involvement has really become much clear to us / much more focus during the interregation of the members, the heads of Cazali network, and some the key members of that network that have been in detention now for a month or more.
General P. says the network received money and weapons from Iran and some of its members were trained inside Iran. He says a computure captured with some members of the organization contained a document proving its involvement in the C. attack, but he says there was no indication that Iranian agents were directly involved. A. P. VOA news at the Pentagon.

US President Gorge Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are holding talks today. The US Presidential retreat outside Washington where North Korea's nuclear program is expected to be a main topic. Mr. Abe arrived in the United States on Thursday. His first visit to the country since taking office last year. He had an informal dinner with Mr. Bush at the White House. During today's meeting with C. David, Mr. Abe also plans to raise the issue of Japanese citisians kidnapped by North Korea agence during the 1970s and 80s. Japan refused to fund the six-party disarmament deal with North Korea, because the kidnapping dispute. Japanese leader has said he plans to use the trip to build a mutual trust with the President.

Japanese share prices closed marginally lower today, and the dollar has weaken slightly against Japanese Yen. Tokyo's neki fell 29 points to finish its 17,400.

Those are the top stories this hour in Washington. I' Carmen English, VOA news. More news on the voanews.com.