Voting begins in key Indian state of Uttar Pradesh (AP)

AP - Residents in India's largest state began voting Wednesday in a monthlong local election with repercussions for the whole nation.

Rio's Olympic Preview: Erupting Manhole Covers (Time.com)

Time.com - Will the Brazilian megacity's crumbling infrastructure spoil the World Cup and the Olympics?

Obama Seeks to Cool War Fever While Keeping Up Pressure on Iran (Time.com)

Time.com - Nobody likely envies the challenge President Barack Obama faces getting his "messaging" right on Iran

Egyptians must work to end military rule: ElBaradei (Reuters)

Reuters - Egyptians must overcome economic and political differences to unite and put the country on the path to democracy and away from military rule, former presidential candidate Mohamed ElBaradei said Wednesday.

Asian shares gain, euro steadies as Greek talks in (Reuters)

Reuters - Asian shares hit their highest level in more than five months on Wednesday and the euro hovered close to an 8-week high as investors kept hopes alive for an agreement on details of a new Greek bailout package despite further delays.

Maldives installs new president amid coup allegations (Reuters)

Reuters - The Maldives, one of the world's most renowned tourist destinations, installed a new president after the man credited with bringing democracy to the Indian Ocean islands resigned, apparently under military pressure following a police mutiny.

Last known WWI veteran Florence Green dies at 110 (AP)

AP - Florence Green never saw the front line. Her war was spent serving food, not dodging bullets.

Two RCMP officers shot in Alberta; house surrounded (Reuters)

Reuters - Two Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers were shot and wounded in the western province of Alberta, the national police force said on Tuesday.

Attacks in Syria's Homs resume after Russian peace foray (Reuters)

Reuters - Armored forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad thrust deeper into the central city of Homs on Wednesday, firing rockets and mortar rounds to subdue opposition districts, activists said, a day after Russia said Assad wants peace.

New film shows Mexico's failing education system (AP)

AP - Mexican teens can't solve long-multiplication problems. Education authorities don't know how many teachers work in Mexico. Teachers often miss class, and some who do show up have long conversations on their cellphones.

Oil rises to near $99 after US crude supply drop (AP)

AP - Oil prices rose to near $99 a barrel Wednesday in Asia after an unexpected drop in U.S. crude supplies suggested demand is improving.

Qantas grounds A380 after finding cracks in wings (AP)

AP - Australia's Qantas Airways says it has temporarily grounded one of its A380 superjumbos after discovering dozens of hairline cracks in its wings.

Egypt's ruling generals play risky game with US (AP)

AP - Egypt's ruling generals are playing a risky game of brinksmanship by cracking down on American nonprofit groups that promote democracy, threatening a relationship with Washington that has brought the military billions of dollars in aid over the past three decades.

Yahoo chairman exits, review drags on (Reuters)

Reuters - Yahoo Inc Chairman Roy Bostock and three other directors will step down as the struggling company ploughs ahead with an internal overhaul, including discussions on dealing with its stakes in China's Alibaba Group and Yahoo Japan.

Sierra Leone opposition: gov't provoking violence (AP)

AP - The top opposition presidential candidate is accusing Sierra Leone's ruling party of provoking violence ahead of November polls.

Greeks seek elusive bailout deal as EU tempers fray (Reuters)

Reuters - Greek parties will try yet again on Wednesday to strike a reform deal in return for a new international rescue to avoid a chaotic default, after a string of delays which have prompted some EU leaders to warn that the euro zone can live without Athens.

Eyes on dissident states as mortgage deal nears (Reuters)

Reuters - A broad settlement with major banks over mortgage servicing abuses that would bring relief to distressed U.S. homeowners could be announced as early Thursday, two people familiar with the matter said.

AP Enterprise: Brown bank regulator an insider (AP)

AP - Gov. Jerry Brown's appointee to head the department that oversees banking, financial and consumer regulations in California led a trade association that fought against tighter lending restrictions before the subprime mortgage crisis exploded and was an executive with Washington Mutual when the now-failed bank was among the most aggressive marketers of loans to high-risk borrowers.

Cubans say U.S. embargo a failure at 50 (Reuters)

Reuters - The 50th anniversary of the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba on Tuesday was met with little fanfare on the island, where Cubans said it was a failed policy that had succeeded only in making their lives more difficult.

RI judge denies Richard Hatch $25 IRS payment bid (AP)

AP - A request by reality television star Richard Hatch to give the Internal Revenue Service a reduced payment of $25 for January in his tax evasion case has been denied by a Rhode Island judge.

Disney 1Q revenue misses estimates but profits up (AP)

AP - The Walt Disney Co. said Tuesday that its net income rose 12 percent in the final quarter of 2011, as a slimmer movie slate and upbeat theme park results helped the company top earnings forecasts even while revenue gains were less than expected.

Greek debt talks drag on but banks signal progress (AP)

AP - Greece's private creditors signaled progress late Tuesday on a debt-relief deal but crucial talks between Greek coalition leaders about forcing more austerity upon a hostile public were again postponed.

Chrysler, Clint Eastwood Say Super Bowl Ad Isn't Political (ContributorNetwork)

ContributorNetwork - Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne defended the auto company's "It's Halftime in America" commercial during the Super Bowl featuring Clint Eastwood talking up Detroit. The ad slot stirred up debate for being a political statement, but Marchionne says it wasn't that, MLive reports. Here are details about Chrysler's ad.

Iran shrugs off latest U.S. sanctions, trade suffers (Reuters)

Reuters - Iran castigated its U.S. adversary on Tuesday over new financial measures to disrupt Iranian commerce, and a default on payment for rice purchases highlighted the encroachment of sanctions on the staples of everyday life.

Spanish banks set aside billions for toxic assets (AP)

AP - Spain's three top banks said Tuesday they will set aside an additional euro6.1 billion ($8 billion) to meet a new government demand for all banks to boost their buffers against troubled real estate assets.

The Merkel-Sarkozy 'odd couple' becomes a campaign duo (The Christian Science Monitor)

The Christian Science Monitor - A German chancellor stumping for a standing French president is not something the French have seen before.

Tour de France champ Alberto Contador vows to challenge doping verdict (+video) (The Christian Science Monitor)

The Christian Science Monitor - Three-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador signaled today his intention to appeal the doping conviction handed down yesterday by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after a grueling 18-month legal battle.

SEC weighs two money market fund proposals (Reuters)

Reuters - The chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission is eyeing two potential plans to bolster the stability of money market funds, but their fate remains uncertain due to internal disagreement at the SEC over the need for more regulations.

Analysis: Banks largely reserved for U.S. mortgage pact cost (Reuters)

Reuters - As the nation's five largest mortgage lenders edge close to a $25 billion settlement over foreclosure abuses, it's becoming clear that the deal will have little or no impact on their future bottom lines.

Global watchdog official says banking reforms must proceed (Reuters)

Reuters - The underperforming global economy should not be allowed to delay financial system reforms, a senior official at the Financial Stability Board (FSB), a global watchdog set up by the Group of 20 nations, said on Tuesday, adding that the FSB will propose new rules on so-called shadow banking by year-end.

Walmart names ex-Woolworths veteran as new China CEO (Reuters)

Reuters - Wal-Mart Stores Inc has named an industry veteran, but a relative newcomer to China, to run what is a strategically crucial business for the world's biggest retailer as it faces tougher competition in the fastest growing major economy.

Merger fails, but D.Boerse CEO says allies a must (Reuters)

Reuters - D.Boerse CEO eyes new allies as NYSE deal crumbles Deutsche Boerse (DB1Gn.DE) does not believe it can survive in the long term without a new partner despite the collapse of its proposed $7.4 billion merger with NYSE Euronext , its chief executive told a German newspaper.