US President-elect Barack Obama is urging Congress to get moving next week on an economic rescue plan extending jobless benefits and other actions. In his weekly radio address, Obama says he's pleased President George W. Bush brought world leaders together to discuss the turmoil in financial markets.

Barack Obama said "I'm glad President Bush has initiated this process because our global economic crisis requires a coordinated global response. And yet, as we act in concert with other nations, we must also act immediately here at home to address America's own economic crisis. This week, amid continued volatility in our markets, we learned that unemployment insurance claims rose to their highest levels since September 11, 2001. If Congress does not pass an immediate plan that gives the economy the boost it needs, I will make it my first order of business as President."

(CCTV November 17, 2008)