All attention is on the Bush's State Of The Union Speech this evening when the president will address the nation on the State Of The Union. However, Daily Kos Media says "no need to watch it" because the reviews of the Bush's speech are already in the media.

Asian markets fell sharply Monday, on fears a recession in the United States will weaken the demand for Asian exports.

The Bush administration says the long-term outlook for the U.S. economy is bright, and steps are being taken to address short-term weakness. VOA's Michael Bowman reports from Washington, some candidates in the presidential election campaign believe a stimulus package crafted by the White House and congressional leaders is either misguided or fails to address the country's most pressing needs.

World trade ministers say they want to meet for a new round of global trade talks in April, as part of an effort to narrow disputes between developing nations and rich countries.

Residents in South Carolina are voting in the first Democratic primary in the American South this election season.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has led a congressional delegation to Colombia to study a proposed trade deal. In Miami, VOA's Brian Wagner reports the Bush administration has been pressing Congress to pass the deal.

Democratic leaders in Congress are challenging President Bush on foreign and domestic policy, in advance of his State of the Union address on Monday. VOA's Dan Robinson reports, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid combined a list of Democratic accomplishments with criticisms of the president's policies.

Voters in Alabama's two coastal counties will go to the polls ahead of those in other states picking presidential favorites on Super Tuesday.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and foreign minister colleagues from France and Britain issued a statement Thursday urging global pressure on Burma's military government to end human rights abuses and return the country to civilian rule. The appeal was issued at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland after Rice's departure for Washington. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

A senior U.S. official says a new U.N. sanctions resolution aimed at pressuring Iran to curb its sensitive nuclear activities will be "punitive," despite Russian remarks to the contrary.

A report by a Senate subcommittee says North Korea was able to channel money to its overseas posts through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The report said the U.N. agency suffered from management deficiencies, making it vulnerable to manipulation. VOA's Dan Robinson reports, agency appeared at a hearing on Capitol Hill.