The latest news on Automakers, New protected wilderness, Inspiration, Defense budget overruns, G20 summit, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Sudan-Darfur, Iran, Israeli government, Israel-Gaza, Haiti

Automakers. President Gives U.S. Carmakers a Short Lifeline "President Obama delivered an ultimatum to General Motors and Chrysler on Monday, telling them to adopt radical changes in short order or face bankruptcy - a move that came after a series of somber discussions in which he concluded that a controlled bankruptcy might be the best way to reorganize the two ailing auto giants." The road to bankruptcy, and why GM may take it "Faced with an auto industry that is bleeding cash and seemingly unable to fix itself, President Barack Obama began laying the groundwork Monday for a possible government-sponsored Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by General Motors Corp., Chrysler LLC or both." Fear, frayed nerves in a GM town "From the sprawling General Motors transmission plant in Ypsilanti Township, Dave Tatman said that when he heard the bad news about his company and the departure Monday of its chief executive, Rick Wagoner, it came 'like a hammer blow to the stomach.'"

New protected wilderness. New law sets aside more than 2 million acres over 9 states as protected wilderness "President Barack Obama signed legislation Monday setting aside more than 2 million acres in nine states as protected wilderness. Obama called the new law among the most important in decades 'to protect, preserve and pass down our nation's most treasured landscapes to future generations.'"

Inspiration. Representative reveals recent cancer fight "Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz hated relying too much on her staff, but she needed them to keep up appearances during her undercover battle against cancer."

Defense budget overruns. Arms Programs Way Over Budget, GAO Report Finds "Development costs for the Pentagon's major weapons systems soared last year, helping drive overruns that are 'staggering,' the Government Accountability Office said in a report released yesterday."

G20 summit. Developing Nations Set to Get More Say "At this week's summit of world leaders, the big winner will be the developing world, with the United States, Europe and Japan offering China, India, Brazil and other emerging nations unprecedented new influence in global financial decisions." France threatens G20 walkout "France will walk away from the G20 summit if its demands for stricter financial rules are not met, the finance minister says." G20 leaders must put poorer nations first, urges archbishop of Canterbury "The archbishop of Canterbury, the Right Rev Rowan Williams, renewed his call today for the world's richest nations, gathered in London for the G20 summit, to put their poorest neighbours at the top of the agenda."

Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe prison compared to death camps "The images, shared with The Washington Times, are of gaunt prisoners with protruding ribs reminiscent of just-freed Holocaust survivors or Muslim prisoners held by Serbian troops during the Bosnian war."

Pakistan. Insurgent Threat Shifts From Border to Heartland in Pakistan "The brazen occupation of a Pakistani police academy Monday by heavily armed gunmen near the eastern mega-city of Lahore was the latest indication that Islamist terrorism, once confined to Pakistan's northwest tribal belt, now threatens political stability nationwide." Rampage in Pakistan Shows Reach of Militants "The strike was aimed at killing and terrorizing future law enforcers and demonstrated once again the militants' ability to reach deep into the Pakistani heartland."

Sudan-Darfur. Often Split, Arab Leaders Unite for Sudan's Chief "Arab leaders may be divided over which Palestinian faction to support and what to do about Iran's rising influence, but they have found one cause to rally around: protecting the president of Sudan from charges that he orchestrated the rape, killing and widespread pillaging in Darfur." Arab leaders snub al-Bashir warrant "Arab Leaders meeting in Doha, the Qatari capital, have rejected an international arrest warrant for Omar al-Bashir, the Sudanese president accused of war crimes in Darfur."

Iran. Iran offers to help US rebuild Afghanistan "Iran made a significant conciliatory gesture towards the Obama administration today, offering to help US-led efforts to stabilise and rebuild Afghanistan." Iran has interest in a stable Afghanistan, Clinton says "On the eve of a possible groundbreaking meeting between the United States and Iran, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton predicted Monday that Tehran would be propelled by self-interest to work with other world powers on stabilizing Afghanistan." U.S. to retain pressure on Iran Guard "As the U.S. prepares to sit down with Iran in a conference Tuesday on Afghanistan, U.S. military, intelligence and financial specialists are continuing to target the finances and operatives of Iran's Revolutionary Guards in part to gain leverage for diplomacy."

Israeli government. Netanyahu poised to take office "Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of Israel's right-wing Likud party, is due to be sworn in as prime minister for the second time, after a gap of 10 years." Israel's Netanyahu says he can work with Obama "In the weeks since he was chosen to form Israel's next government, Benjamin Netanyahu has labored to dispel the perception that he's on a collision course with the country's most powerful ally."

Israel-Gaza. Israeli Military Closes Probe Into Allegations of Troop Misconduct in Gaza "The Israeli military's top lawyer on Monday closed an investigation into alleged misconduct by soldiers who took part in Israel's recent three-week assault on the Gaza Strip, concluding that accusations made by graduates of a military preparatory school were 'based on hearsay.'" Israel Ends Inquiry Into Abuse in Gaza "The Israeli military said Monday that its advocate general had decided to close an investigation into allegations of abuses by soldiers during the recent campaign in Gaza." IDF ends Gaza probe, says misconduct claims are 'rumors' "Military Advocate General Brig. Gen. Avichai Mendelblit on Monday instructed the Military Police investigation unit to close the inquiry into soldiers' accounts of alleged misconduct and serious violations of the army's rules of engagement during Operation Cast Lead."

Haiti. Haiti's Woes Are Top Test for Aid Effort "Mr. Ban is trying to turn Haiti into something of an Exhibit A on the need to keep foreign aid flowing despite tighter budgets. Haiti's upheavals last year proved particularly intense, with the nation staggering beneath the double whammy of food riots that toppled the government and a series of hurricanes that killed hundreds and battered the economy."