Workers of the Opel car plant in Bochum, western Germany, enter the plant on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. Germany's politicians reacted with anger and Opel workers readied walkouts after General Motors Co. reversed a plan six months in the making to sell its European subsidiary, slamming the brakes on a deal that had seemed all but done. Tuesday's decision by GM's board of directors took the new German government by surprise, coming just hours after Chancellor Angela Merkel gave a well-received speech to a joint session of the U.S. Congress, further cementing trans-Atlantic ties between the two longtime allies. AP Photo logo AP Photo 1 month ago

Workers of the Opel car plant in Bochum, western Germany, enter the plant on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. Germany's politicians reacted with anger and Opel workers readied walkouts after General Motors Co. reversed a plan six months in the making to sell its European subsidiary, slamming the brakes on a deal that had seemed all but done. Tuesday's decision by GM's board of directors took the new German government by surprise, coming just hours after Chancellor Angela Merkel gave a well-received speech to a joint session of the U.S. Congress, further cementing trans-Atlantic ties between the two longtime allies.

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  1. General Sales Manager Peter Van Den Berghe, left, talks to Jeff Harvery, center, of Auiroa, Colo., about the Saturn Outlook that he is about to test drive at the Saturn of Denver dealership in the Denver suburb of Littleton, Colo., on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009. Salesman Tim Duff is pictured at right. Harvey a two time Saturn owner was not concerned that General Motors is going to quit the Saturn line.
  2. An undated file picture shows Walter Borst, finance manager of General Motors. General Motors appointed Borst as chairman of the supervisory board of Adam Opel GmbH on December 15, 2009.
  3. A Toyota Motor Corp. staff demonstrates how to recharge "Prius Plug-in Hybrid" car at its showroom in Tokyo December 14, 2009. Toyota Motor Corp will begin selling "affordable" plug-in hybrid cars in 2011, upping the ante on General Motors and Nissan Motor as they aim to take the lead in the field of rechargeable cars.
  4. Toyota Motor Corp's "Prius Plug-in Hybrid" is displayed at its showroom in Tokyo December 14, 2009. Toyota Motor Corp will begin selling "affordable" plug-in hybrid cars in 2011, upping the ante on General Motors and Nissan Motor as they aim to take the lead in the field of rechargeable cars.
  5. A Toyota Motor Corp. staff demonstrates how to recharge "Prius Plug-in Hybrid" car at its showroom in Tokyo December 14, 2009. Toyota Motor Corp will begin selling "affordable" plug-in hybrid cars in 2011, upping the ante on General Motors and Nissan Motor as they aim to take the lead in the field of rechargeable cars.
  6. Toyota Motor Corp's "Prius Plug-in Hybrid" is displayed at its showroom in Tokyo December 14, 2009. Toyota Motor Corp will begin selling "affordable" plug-in hybrid cars in 2011, upping the ante on General Motors and Nissan Motor as they aim to take the lead in the field of rechargeable cars.
  7. COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - DECEMBER 06: Travellers wait for their baggage next to an advertising sign showing a picture of grown old German Chancellor Angela Merkel and reading 'I'm sorry. We could have stopped catastrophic climate change. ..we didn't' at the Copenhagen airport on December 6, 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Politicians and environmentalists will meet for the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 which opens on December 7 and runs until December 18.
  8. COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - DECEMBER 06: Travellers wait for their baggage next to an advertising sign showing a picture of grown old German Chancellor Angela Merkel and reading 'I'm sorry. We could have stopped catastrophic climate change. ..we didn't' at the Copenhagen airport on December 6, 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Politicians and environmentalists will meet for the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 which opens on December 7 and runs until December 18.
  9. COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - DECEMBER 06: Travellers wait for their baggage next to an advertising sign showing a picture of grown old German Chancellor Angela Merkel and reading 'I'm sorry. We could have stopped catastrophic climate change. ..we didn't' at the Copenhagen airport on December 6, 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Politicians and environmentalists will meet for the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 which opens on December 7 and runs until December 18.
  10. BERLIN - DECEMBER 05: Activists dressed as (from L to R) leaders Abdoyale Wade of Senegal, Barack Obama of the USA, Angela Merkel of Germany and Hu Jintao of China pretend to debate in a giant aquarium filling with water on December 5, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. The activists were hoping to raise awareness for the need for rapid action on global warming ahead of the upcoming international conference on climate change in Copenhagen.
  11. BERLIN - DECEMBER 05: Activists dressed as (from L to R) leaders Abdoyale Wade of Senegal, Barack Obama of the USA, Angela Merkel of Germany and Hu Jintao of China pretend to debate in a giant aquarium filling with water on December 5, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. The activists were hoping to raise awareness for the need for rapid action on global warming ahead of the upcoming international conference on climate change in Copenhagen.
  12. BERLIN - DECEMBER 05: Spectators watch as activists dressed as (from L to R) leaders Abdoyale Wade of Senegal, Barack Obama of the USA, Angela Merkel of Germany and Hu Jintao of China pretend to debate in a giant aquarium filling with water on December 5, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. The activists were hoping to raise awareness for the need for rapid action on global warming ahead of the upcoming international conference on climate change in Copenhagen.
  13. US President Barack Obama signs the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 as US Defense Secretary Robert Gates (L) and members of the US Congress look on October 28, 2009 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC.
  14. Pakistani Shiite Muslims carry a burning US flag as they shout slogans during a protest against the US Kerry-Lugar Bill in Karachi on October 9, 2009. Pakistan's parliament resumed debate on a massive US aid package after rifts opened up between the military and the government over strings attached to the funding. In an unusual public statement late October 7, top military commanders including the army chief said they had 'serious concerns' about the bill, which hinges some aid on hard-up Pakistan's efforts to battle Islamist extremism. US Congress last week voted to triple aid to Pakistan to 7.5 billion dollars over the next five years, part of US President Barack Obama's plan to battle militancy through development and fostering democratic institutions.
  15. A Pakistani Shiite Muslim man torches an US flag during a protest against the US Kerry-Lugar Bill in Karachi on October 9, 2009. Pakistan's parliament resumed debate on a massive US aid package after rifts opened up between the military and the government over strings attached to the funding. In an unusual public statement late October 7, top military commanders including the army chief said they had 'serious concerns' about the bill, which hinges some aid on hard-up Pakistan's efforts to battle Islamist extremism. US Congress last week voted to triple aid to Pakistan to 7.5 billion dollars over the next five years, part of US President Barack Obama's plan to battle militancy through development and fostering democratic institutions.
  16. A Pakistani Shiite Muslim man carries a burning US flag during a protest against the US Kerry-Lugar Bill in Karachi on October 9, 2009. Pakistan's parliament resumed debate on a massive US aid package after rifts opened up between the military and the government over strings attached to the funding. In an unusual public statement late October 7, top military commanders including the army chief said they had 'serious concerns' about the bill, which hinges some aid on hard-up Pakistan's efforts to battle Islamist extremism. US Congress last week voted to triple aid to Pakistan to 7.5 billion dollars over the next five years, part of US President Barack Obama's plan to battle militancy through development and fostering democratic institutions.

Recent Photos From The Wire

  1. A protestor holds up a sign in front of police near the venue of the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 in Copenhagen December 16, 2009.
  2. Gro Harlem Brundtland, United Nations Special Envoy on Climate Change speaks to media at the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 in Copenhagen December 16, 2009.
  3. Rajendra Pachauri, head of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) speaks to media at the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 in Copenhagen December 16, 2009.
  4. Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat (C) stands with Jewish and Arab Israeli children from Jerusalem as they release doves in front of Jerusalem's Old City walls December 16, 2009, in a call for the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Shalit was seized by Hamas-led gunmen in a 2006 raid across the Gaza border.
  5. LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 16: A man dressed as a gorilla protests against the potential sale of Cadbury to Kraft foods outside the Houses of Parliament on December 16, 2009 in London, England. American food producer Kraft has made a 10 billion GBP hostile bid for Cadbury which is currently being rejected by the chocolate manufacturer.
  6. CENTURION, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 16: England cricketers celebrate the wicket of South African Hashim Amla for 19 runs to Graham Onions of England during day one of the 1st Test match between South Africa and England from Centurion Park on December 16, 2009 in Centurion, South Africa.
  7. LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 16: A man dressed as a gorilla protests against the potential sale of Cadbury to Kraft foods outside the Houses of Parliament on December 16, 2009 in London, England. American food producer Kraft has made a 10 billion GBP hostile bid for Cadbury which is currently being rejected by the chocolate manufacturer.
  8. John Kerry, Senator of the US State of Massachusetts, right, talks with UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yves de Boer, left, at a side event at the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009.
  9. TP Mazembe of Congo supporters react during their team's FIFA Club World Cup soccer match against Auckland City of New Zealand in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009.
  10. LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 16: A man carries a poster of a giant Cadbury Creme Egg following a protest organised by the Unite union outside the Houses of Parliament on December 16, 2009 in London, England. American food producer Kraft has made a 10 billion GBP hostile bid for Cadbury which is currently being rejected by the chocolate manufacturer.
  11. LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 16: A man dressed as a gorilla and singer Billy Bragg pose with a poster of a giant Cadbury Creme Egg as they protest against the potential sale of Cadbury to Kraft foods outside the Houses of Parliament on December 16, 2009 in London, England. American food producer Kraft has made a 10 billion GBP hostile bid for Cadbury which is currently being rejected by the chocolate manufacturer.
  12. LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 16: A man dressed as a gorilla protests against the potential sale of Cadbury to Kraft foods outside the Houses of Parliament on December 16, 2009 in London, England. American food producer Kraft has made a 10 billion GBP hostile bid for Cadbury which is currently being rejected by the chocolate manufacturer.
  13. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen speaks during a meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009. Rasmussen told President Dmitry Medvedev that it is in Russia's vital interest to contribute more actively to NATO's mission in Afghanistan because failure would raise the terrorist threat throughout the region.
  14. Senator John Kerry, of Massachusetts, makes a point as he delivers his speech during a side event at the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009.
  15. American actress Darryl Hannah speaks during an interview with the Associated Press at the Copenhagen Climate Summit in Copenhagen, Wednesday Dec. 16, 2009. World leaders arrived in Copenhagen this week to forge the framework of a plan to limit the causes of global warming, seeking to prevent catastrophic changes to the climate.
  16. American actress Darryl Hannah speaks during an interview with the Associated Press at the Copenhagen Climate Summit in Copenhagen, Wednesday Dec. 16, 2009. World leaders arrived in Copenhagen this week to forge the framework of a plan to limit the causes of global warming, seeking to prevent catastrophic changes to the climate.