NPR 2010-12-13

NATO says six coalition 1 troops and two Afghan soldiers have been killed in an insurgent 2 attack in southern Afghanistan. In Kabul, NPR's Quil Lawrence reports military authorities say a suicide bomber 3 detonated an explosive-packed van at the gates of a military installation.

Today's combat death toll 4 is the worst for NATO troops since an Afghan border guard whom the Taliban claimed was a sleeper 5 agent opened fire on international troops last month, killing 6 six. US military officials say they killed over 40 insurgents 7 across Afghanistan over the weekend, including 25 suspected Taliban fighters with an airstrike in the north of the country. 2010 has been the deadliest year for international and Afghan troops since the US-led invasion nine years ago. This year has also been the worst for civilian 8 casualties. International and Afghan monitors blame the Taliban for the majority of such deaths. But the Afghan government has repeatedly urged US forces to limit airstrikes and nighttime raids. Quil Lawrence, NPR News, Kabul.

Wisconsin's governor has declared a state of emergency in all 72 counties and called out the national guard to help local officials cope with the heavy snowstorm. The Minnesota Vikings - New York Giants game has been moved from Minneapolis to Detroit because snow collapsed 9 the inflatable roof of the Metrodome.

The Senate is holding a test vote on the tax-cut compromise tomorrow. And White House advisor 10 David Axelrod predicts the bill will pass Congress by year's end. He told ABC's "This Week" no one wants taxes to go up or jobless benefits to be cut off.

"Everybody understands what the implications for the economy would be -- every economist 11 has spoken to it -- if that package doesn't move forward. So I believe that there will be a coming together around it."

Some Democrats 12 say the compromise is overly generous to wealthy Americans.

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is scheduled to be on her way home now after a two-day visit to Haiti. NPR's Jason Beaubien reports Palin was on a tightly controlled trip to the earthquake-ravaged country.

Traveling at times by helicopter, Sarah Palin toured a cholera 13 clinic, visited temporary shelters for earthquake survivors 14 and a program to deliver Christmas presents to Haitian children. Media access was given exclusively to Fox News except for a press conference in which Palin said she was not going to take any questions. Palin said if more US politicians visited Haiti, they might organize a military airlift to the deeply impoverished 15 nation.

"Again, we are talking about people. I'm just needing basic necessities in order to survive."

Palin said conditions were worse than she expected, and she called on people to pray for Haiti. Jason Beaubien, NPR News, Port-au-Prince.

Palin may still be a potential presidential contender in 2012. But another politician's making it clear he won't be. On NBC's "Meet the Press", New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said there's "no way, no how" he'll make a White House bid.

This is NPR.

All the passengers have been rescued from the showboat that ran aground on a Missouri lake last night. The Springfield News-Leader says some members of the crew were staying on board, the Branson Belle 16, until it can be moved. That won't happen until after heavy winds have calmed down.

Britain is considering banning Florida Pastor 17 Terry Jones who caused controversy 18 when he threatened to burn the Koran on the anniversary of September 11th. In London, Larry Miller 19 reports Jones was invited by a far-right-wing UK group that has had a number of violent clashes with Muslims.

Pastor Jones is going to be a guest of the English Defence League in early February and address its rally in the highly Muslim area of Luton, north of London. The far-right group says Jones will speak out against the evils of Islam. But the pastor told Sky News he is not going to advocate burning Korans.

"If you are in a country as a citizen or as a guest, then you are obligated to respect those laws."

Home Secretary Theresa May can ban Jones. She says he's been on her radar 20.

"If it is now clear that he's definitely coming to the UK, then of course this is a case that I will be actively 21 looking at."

Britain has banned others it deemed not conducive 22 to the public good, including the former "Nation of Islam" leader Louis Farrakhan. For NPR News, I'm Larry Miller in London.

The son of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour is apologizing for climbing a war memorial and swinging from the flag during violent student protests in England. Twenty-one-year-old Charlie Gilmour says he feels nothing but shame. Police say a 21-year-old was arrested today on suspicion of violent disorder 23, theft, and attempted criminal damage on the Union Flag.