It is been another testing night on global share markets, as investors worry about an economic slowdown.

China appreciates the position of the U.S. administration, including the remarks of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice herself, that opposes Taiwan's "referendum on UN membership", Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on Wednesday.

Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith is on his way to the United States where it is understood he will discuss Australia's withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has urged European allies not to put off what she called "tough decisions" on the final status of Serbia's breakaway Kosovo province.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her counterparts from five other leading powers Tuesday agreed in Berlin on a U.N. resolution against Iran over its nuclear program. Details of the resolution have yet to be released, but diplomats say it will strengthen and expand existing sanctions. VOA's Josh Ward reports from Berlin.

President Bush says he is optimistic about reaching agreement with opposition legislators on an economic stimulus package. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports, the U.S. central bank has cut the key interest rate in an effort to boost the troubled U.S. economy and stop a global sell-off of stocks.

The European Union's top economic official has blamed the current turmoil in global stock markets on major imbalances in the U.S. economy.

President Bush and members of Congress have been discussing how to stimulate the U.S. economy, which has seen growth hurt by tightening credit in the wake of the sub-prime mortgage crisis.

The U.S. government says it deplores Sudan's decision to name a suspected Darfur militia leader to a senior government position.

Former Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee quit the race for the Republican Party's presidential nomination Tuesday after a series of disappointing finishes in the early nominating contests. Thompson's withdrawal comes as the remaining Republican contenders focus on Florida while the Democratic presidential hopefuls are preparing for Saturday's primary in South Carolina. VOA National correspondent Jim Malone has more from Washington.

The U.S. ambassador to Kenya has angrily denounced print and broadcast advertisements placed by the government of President Mwai Kibaki, which accuses the United States and other Western countries of contributing to post-election violence in the country. VOA Correspondent Alisha Ryu reports from Nairobi that tension between the government and the opposition is growing.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says world powers are making progress towards a new United Nations resolution to impose sanctions on Iran, but stresses they are still short of an agreement.

Rice spoke after arriving in Berlin Tuesday, for a meeting of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council (the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China) and Germany on Iran's nuclear program. She said participants still have some way to go.