Washington  - Struggling US carmakers General Motors and Chrysler LLC have received another 5.5 billion dollars in emergency loans from the US government, according to an investigator's report released Tuesday.

GM has received 5 billion dollars, and Chrysler got 500 million dollars, keeping the two companies afloat until a government deadline nears for both of them to restructure or be forced into bankruptcy.

Washington  - A suspected pirate in the hijacking earlier this month of a US-flagged ship off the coast of Somalia will be tried as an adult, a federal judge in New York ruled Tuesday, according to broadcaster CNN.

The alleged pirate was taken Monday night to New York by US law enforcement agents to go before a judge about his alleged role in the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama on April 8 in the Indian Ocean.

Los Angeles - Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic is the NBA's new secretary of defense in a landslide decision.

Howard was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday, after becoming the fifth player in league history to finish tops in rebounds and blocked shots.

"To be the defensive player of the year at 23 is remarkable," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "To be a great defensive player usually comes later in a career. And he still has so much room for improvement."

Washington - US President Barack Obama had invited the Egyptian, Israeli and Palestinian leaders to Washington in the weeks ahead for talks on resuming the peace process, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

Obama will hold separate meetings with Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Gibbs said. No dates have been set for the three visits, he said.

Hyderabad-based Satyam Computer Services Ltd. notified on Tuesday that it has got regulatory approval from NYSE Euronext, to delist its American depositary shares, effective May 20.

NYSE Euronext is a Euro-American corporation that operates multi-securities exchanges.

The latest development comes after Venturbay Consultants Private Ltd, a subsidiary controlled by Tech Mahindra last week emerged as the highest bidder to acquire a majority stake in the troubled software company.

San Francisco  - A medical student who allegedly targeted women advertising erotic services on Craigslist was ordered held without bail Tuesday on charges of murder and kidnapping in a case that has captivated America.