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The House approves President Bush's $87 billion request for new spending in Afghanistan and Iraq. The funds, aimed mostly at supporting U.S. troops in those countries, are likely to pass in the Senate Friday night. The lopsided vote in favor of the aid request belies weeks of debate over the spending measure and the U.S. presence in Iraq. NPR's David Welna reports.

Increasingly sophisticated attacks by Iraqi insurgents cause relief agencies and private contractors to reassess their operations in the country. The International Red Cross, a target of Monday’s attacks, is considering reducing its staff. The United Nations has already reduced its presence, after being struck in an earlier bombing. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports.

The White House hopes to raise $35 billion over two days in Madrid for Iraq's reconstruction. Some observers call the goal unrealistic, and note that many countries are reluctant to make significant contributions while Iraq remains under U.S. control. Delegates from 70 countries are considering how much they'll pledge. NPR's Guy Raz reports.

A Dubai-owned company says it will drop its quest to take over operations at several U.S. ports. DP World, the firm involved, issued a statement saying it would "transfer fully" the planned operations to a "United States entity."

Rev. William Sloane Coffin has died. Coffin, a former chaplin at Yale University, was best known for his peace and civil rights activism during the Vietnam War. He was immortalized as the Rev. Sloane in the Doonesbury comic strip. Coffin, who was 81, had suffered from congestive heart failure.

Polls taken immediately after a USA Today story about the NSA's effort to analyze domestic phone call records show overall support for the program. Americans have gotten a bit more information though the confirmation hearings of CIA director nominee Michael Hayden.

New technology that helps phone companies streamline their service could also be used to track customers, industry observers say. Telecom companies use the technology to bill customers and manage demands on their networks. But experts say the firms can't routinely track the content of phone conversations.

Danica Patrick placed fourth at last year's Indianapolis 500, earning the best time in the race for a woman driver. A self-described "girl," Patrick discusses how she got her start in the sport and the challenges she faces on the racetrack.

The former deputy president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, has been acquitted of rape. A judge in Johannesburg declared that the alleged victim's version of what happened on the night of Nov. 2 last year was not credible.

An Army dog handler who worked at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq has been sentenced to 90 days hard labor and a reduction in rank for his role in the prisoner abuse scandal. On Thursday, the soldier was convicted of aggravated assault and dereliction of duty. Army Sgt. Santos A. Cardona was the 11th soldier convicted of crimes related to Abu Ghraib.