ELECTIONS

The comments come amid a growing chorus of European ministers openly discussing the possibility of a Greek exit from the single currency.

The euro fell to its lowest levels since January following the news Greece would have to hold a new round of elections, making the prospect of the dissolution of the euro zone economic union significantly more compelling.

Although Greece is considered the ?cradle of Western Civilization,? the nation has had a vastly different history and trajectory from the dominant countries of Western Europe.

Last-ditch efforts to form a unity government on Tuesday failed, leading Papoulias to call these extraordinary measures.

Greece put a senior judge in charge of an emergency government on Wednesday to lead it to new elections on June 17 and bankers sought to calm public fears after the president said political chaos risked causing panic and a run on deposits.

The move comes after a final bid to form a government failed on Tuesday, raising the possibility of a Greek exit from the euro.

Asian markets fell Wednesday as political parties in Greece failed to form a coalition government increasing concerns of the country exiting the euro zone.

Carlos Fuentes, one of Latin America's most eloquent and widely read authors and a fierce critic of governments, has died after a literary career spanning more than five decades. He was 83.

Greek leaders threw in the towel Tuesday and called for another poll after their repeated failures to form a coalition government and address the country?s monumental debt crisis.

President Karolos Papoulias suggested he may propose a government led by non-politician technocrats with broad national appeal, somewhat similar to what Italy adopted with Prime Minister Mario Monti.

The euro zone just avoided recession in early 2012, but the region's debt crisis sapped the life out of the French and Italian economies and widened a split with paymaster Germany.

Greek leftists rejected a last-ditch proposal by the head of state on Monday to put technocrats in charge of the country, as financial markets slid on speculation that political turmoil would force Athens out of the euro zone.

Following a meeting in Abuja, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has threatened renewed sanctions against a Malian military junta that overthrew the country's democratically elected government in March.

The social network is expected to make the internet's largest initial public offering ever recorded at an estimated company valuation of $96 Billion. Projecting such high figures, investors unfamiliar with the IPO market and more familiar with Facebook as a company will most likely be asking themselves -- what's the worst that could happen?

The president of Greece late Monday summoned the heads of leading political parties in an apparently last-chance bid to cobble together a coalition government and avoid national elections in June.

Hollande also wants the euro zone fiscal pact re-written -- something Merkel has adamantly refused to do.

On Monday, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak visited Myanmar to meet with top officials there. His decision to visit with Thein Sein signifies Myanmar's growing diplomatic importance in the region.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez returned from Cuba Saturday after completing another round of radiotherapy treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer.

Out of 289 Republicans in congress, only one -- U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) -- shares the same views as Obama on gay marriage. She may be the bravest Republican in congress.

German government bond yields hit fresh all-time lows while Spanish borrowing costs rose sharply Monday as worries intensified over whether Greece is edging towards leaving the euro zone, sapping demand for riskier assets.

European stocks plunged Monday as fears that Greece will leave the euro zone turned into a virtual consensus about the debt-choked nation's departure. The downdraft also hammered U.S. stocks, which opened sharply lower.