The latest news on the Auto Bailout, Economic Stimulus, Hunger in America, Cabinet, Rick Warren, Evangelicals, Global Warming, Immigration, Israel-Hamas, Iran, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, India, Brazil, and Select Op-eds.

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Auto bailout. Bush Approves $17.4 Billion Auto Bailout "President Bush announced $13.4 billion in emergency loans to prevent the collapse of General Motors and Chrysler, and another $4 billion available for the hobbled automakers in February with the entire bailout conditioned on the companies undertaking sweeping reorganization plans to show that they can return to profitability."

Economic stimulus. Obama Team Assembling $850 Billion Stimulus "President-elect Barack Obama and congressional Democrats have entered discussions over an economic stimulus package that could grow to include $850 billion in new spending and tax cuts over the next two years, a gigantic sum that some Democrats say could prove difficult to push rapidly through Congress."

Hunger in America. Hunger affecting more low-income families "The economic downturn has left many low-income Americans struggling with hunger for the first time, a survey out Thursday by Feeding America shows. The hunger-relief group, formerly known as America's Second Harvest, found that 36% of low-income households say they ate less or skipped meals because they didn't have enough money for food, and 40% say they chose between food or paying for utilities in the past year."

Cabinet. Who's in Obama's cabinet? "Want to know who's in Obama's cabinet?"

Rick Warrren. Obama defends choice of Pastor Rick Warren to speak at inauguration "Calling on Americans to 'come together, even though we may have disagreements on certain social issues,' President-elect Barack Obama defended his selection of conservative evangelical Rev. Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration, a choice that had angered Obama supporters who see the minister as intolerant to gays." Obama Defends Call on Invocation "President-elect Barack Obama yesterday defended his selection of megachurch pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration, saying that he disagrees with the minister's opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage but that there should be room for 'dialogue' on such difficult social issues." Obama defends inaugural invitation to evangelist "President-elect Barack Obama defended his decision to invite evangelical pastor Rick Warren. Obama cited the 'magic' of a diverse nation."

Evangelicals. New Evangelists Buck the Christian Right "Younger generation wants poverty, global warming, unjust wars, AIDS on agenda." Conservative evangelicals' wary faith in Obama "Barack Obama isn't in the White House yet, but conservative evangelical Christians are worried that he will threaten their freedom to live according to the Bible and profess it as the literal word of God."

Global warming. Advocates for Action on Global Warming Chosen as Obama's Top Science Advisers "President-elect Barack Obama has selected two of the nation's most prominent scientific advocates for a vigorous response to climate change to serve in his administration's top ranks, according to sources, sending the strongest signal yet that he will reverse Bush administration policies on energy and global warming."

Immigration. Immigration-overhaul supporters hope their hour has come "Immigrant advocates said Thursday that long-stalled efforts to legalize millions of illegal migrants, crack down on employers who hire them and win more family visas would be revived next year and could possibly succeed in early 2010 following sizable Democratic gains powered by record turnouts of Latino voters in the November election."

Israel-Hamas. Hamas declares end to cease-fire, Israeli gov't sources fear violence is unavoidable "Hamas officially announced an end to its truce with Israel in the Gaza Strip. However, Jerusalem ordered the Israel Defense Forces to refrain from offensive operations for now, saying it wants to see how the situation develops." Violence on Gaza border shatters truce "Sporadic violence along the Gaza-Israel border today marked the official end of a six-month truce between Hamas and Israel."

Iran. Obama to create Iran outreach post "The incoming Obama administration plans to create a new position to coordinate outreach to Iran and is considering a number of senior career diplomats, State Department officials and Iran specialists say." Iran mulls financial bailout as stock market falls "Iran is considering a $300-million financial bailout plan for companies listed on its weakened stock market, a newspaper reported this week, as share prices falter for businesses hurt by sagging oil and commodity prices." Former U.S. admiral: Don't fear Iran "Israel is one of the strongest countries in the Middle East and needs to stop giving in to a 'fear factor' with regard to the prospect of a nuclear Iran, Adm. (ret.) William Fallon, the former commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), told The Jerusalem Post."

Afghanistan. President Hamid Karzai takes harsh view of U.S. war effort in Afghanistan "Afghan President Hamid Karzai, a onetime darling of the West who has fallen from favor as his country loses ground to a Taliban-led insurgency, defended his record Thursday while criticizing how the U.S. plans to deploy more soldiers here in the months ahead."

Zimbabwe. Mugabe ridicules African bravery "Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has said African leaders are not brave." Morgan Tsvangirai threatens to quit talks over Zimbabwe abductions "The Zimbabwean opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has threatened to quit power-sharing negotiations with the government unless the authorities produce dozens of opponents who have been abducted and disappeared in recent weeks in what appears to be a renewed campaign of intimidation by Robert Mugabe." Zimbabwe: Death Toll From Cholera Outbreak Tops 1,000 - U.N. "The United Nations said that the death toll from the worst cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe's history has now surpassed 1,100 and the epidemic continues to spread to new areas of the capital, Harare."

India. Amnesty International slams new India anti-terror law adopted in wake of Mumbai attacks "Amnesty International on Friday slammed India's new anti-terror legislation to beef up police powers in the wake of the Mumbai attacks, saying it violates international human rights treaties."

Brazil. President of Brazil Unveils Plan to Upgrade Military "President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil unveiled a new national defense strategy on Thursday, calling for upgrading the military forces and remaking the defense industry."

Commentary. In This Era of Hope, Obama Must Embrace a Genuine Agenda of Peace (David Cortright, Alternet) "Dramatic new opportunities for international peace have opened with the election of Barack Obama. Whether these hopes will be realized, however, depends upon the continued commitment of those of us who helped to elect him. An unprecedented grassroots mobilization of millions of people propelled Obama into office. That same movement must now remain engaged to promote a more peaceful, less militarized U.S. foreign policy." No Ideologue at Education (E. J. Dionne Jr., Washington Post) "Obama's options were said to be clear-cut: He could either pick a reformer, or he could select someone acceptable to teachers unions. But the adviser called this formulation 'a false dichotomy,' adding: 'There are a lot of school superintendents around the country who are not anti-union but who know how to drive a hard bargain.'"