The United States has warned Iran against heading into a "downward spiral" of non-cooperation with the U.N. nuclear agency, IAEA.

U.S. officials have seized $700,000 worth of certificates of deposit purchased on behalf of former Nicaraguan President Arnoldo Aleman.

In Iraq, American troops have many missions. At the American Forces Network headquarters in Baghdad's Green Zone, broadcasters and disc jockey soldiers are helping to keep America's 140,000 troops across Iraq informed and entertained over the radio. VOA's Margaret Besheer has more from Baghdad.

President Bush is scheduled Saturday to hold high-level meetings on Iraq as he prepares to announce a new strategy for reducing sectarian violence there.

The new U.S. Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, visited with troops in Baghdad and held meetings with top Iraqi officials on the second day of a trip to Iraq. His visit comes as President Bush is considering whether to send as many as 30,000 more troops to Iraq to help quell growing sectarian violence. VOA's Margaret Besheer has more on the secretary's visit from Baghdad.

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has told President Bush that he has "some concerns" about a new U.S. law approving a bilateral nuclear deal.

New U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday, armed with a mandate from U.S. President George W. Bush to help forge a new Iraq war strategy. He made the unannounced trip to the battlefront just two days after taking over at the Pentagon.

The Bush administration says it will not comment on reports it is considering a naval build-up off the coast of Iran. The reports began to surface as Iranian leaders vowed to defy any international sanctions relating to Tehran's nuclear ambitions. VOA's Paula Wolfson has more on the story.

A report by the U.S. military says a collision between one of its aircraft and a Kyrgyz passenger jet on the ground at Bishkek's airport in September was caused by poor air traffic control and missed communications between Kyrgyz controllers and the American pilots. The conclusions contradict a report by the Kyrgyz government, which blames the U.S. pilots for the incident. VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.

The United States has imposed economic and military sanctions on the Pacific island of Fiji including a travel ban on the leaders of this month's military coup.

United States Ambassador to South Korea Alexander Vershbow says it is possible to resolve financial issues holding up progress in dismantling North Korea's nuclear weapons. In an exclusive interview, Alexander Vershbow also tells VOA's Seoul correspondent Kurt Achin there will only be progress at this week's nuclear disarmament talks if Pyongyang shows what he calls "seriousness."

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has rejected the idea of holding talks with Iran and Syria about reducing violence in Iraq.