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Hollande takes power in France amidst lightning

After he assumed the presidency in a Paris ceremony, the new French president headed for Germany to meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

JP Morgan chief apologizes for $2 billion loss

Jamie Dimon, the CEO of the bank, told shareholders that the loss should have never happened.

Boehner draws line in sand on debt ceiling

The Speaker of the House says any raise in the debt ceiling must be accompanied by steep cuts.

New elections for Greece as talks collapse

The parties who won seats in the May 6 election could not form a coalition government, triggering new elections.

Facebook privacy concerns may dampen IPO

A new poll says that only 13 percent of Facebook users trust the service, while GM has announced they are pulling ads from the website.

Romney hits back on economy, says Obama causing a 'prairie fire of debt' (+video)

The GOP candidate was in Iowa, making his case that the President's administration has not done enough to keep the country fiscally sound.

Facebook IPO: five things to know before buying the stock

About 1 out of every 8 people on the planet have a Facebook account. Now, with the arrival of a public stock offering, all those people have a chance to be part owners of this social hub.

Can you really buy this stock? Should you?

Here's a glimpse inside the most publicized initial stock offering in years, including some of the things you should be aware of before deciding to buy shares.

Lots of people want to buy this stock when trading starts this week, for a simple reason: Facebook is one of the most visible companies in the world, where Internet technology meets everyday activities like chatting and sharing photos with friends. Now, for the first time, its shares will be traded on public exchanges – offering the chance for people on the outside to own a stake in the company's rapid growth and rich potential.

This won't be the largest initial public offering (IPO) ever, but it is expected to be the largest ever for an Internet company – raising some $12 billion for the firm and its early investors. When Google went public with similar fanfare in 2004, it raised about $1.67 billion.

At the expected offer price between $34 and $38 per share, the Facebook IPO will imply a market value for the whole company close to $100 billion. (That's because much of the stock held by founders and early investors is not being sold to the public.)

But if Facebook will instantly rank among the stock market's largest high-tech companies, that doesn't mean it's automatically a good buy. In fact, amid all the excitement and anticipation, it could be a money loser for incoming investors.

So do some hard thinking before placing a "buy" order. It may be that your Facebook account is a better deal ("It's free and always will be," the firm says).

The five issues covered here will help you think through this investment decision.

Democrats return fire after John Boehner's opening debt-ceiling salvo

Democrats charge that John Boehner's renewed call for spending cuts as a condition to raise the debt ceiling is 'dangerous,' recalling the standoff last summer that drove consumer confidence – and Congress's approval rating – sharply down.

Iran nuclear talks: negotiators cite progress ahead of Baghdad meeting

Two days of UN-IAEA talks in Vienna signal some flexibility on both sides ahead of key nuclear meeting in Baghdad next week.

Could Ron Paul really have an impact on the GOP convention?

The Ron Paul campaign issued a memo outlining its strategy to secure 'the greatest possible impact' on the GOP convention. But its influence may be more symbolic than practical.

Palestinians mark Nakba Day with slingshots, despite calls for calm

Nakba Day, translated to 'catastrophe day,' marks the day the state of Israel was created and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced.

Hollande's presidency begins with whirlwind day in Paris

French President François Hollande, inaugurated today, spoke about the need for unity and reiterated promises to invest in education.

Will Californians trust Jerry Brown enough to vote for his tax increase?

After outlining drastic cuts Monday, Gov. Jerry Brown pleaded with California voters to approve a temporary sales-tax increase. Some experts, but not all, think he can get it through.

Nebraska's GOP Senate primary: another tea party surprise?

A late surge for Sarah Palin's pick for the Nebraska primary could topple yet another GOP establishment candidate, in a race that could help determine control of the US Senate.

Bomb in Colombian capital taints first day of Colombia-US free trade agreement

The Colombia-US FTA goes into effect today, six years after the initial signing. But celebrations were dampened after a reportedly unrelated bomb blast occurred near the main financial district in Bogota.

Should the police file on the man who killed Trayvon Martin stay secret?

Prosecutors in the Trayvon Martin case have presented their case against George Zimmerman's to the defense, increasing pressure on the judge to rule on their request to keep the evidence secret.

New three-man space-station crew blasts off in Soyuz spacecraft

An American and two Russians lifted off in a Russian-made rocket from Kazakhstan Tuesday morning to begin their four-and-a-half month stint aboard the International Space Station.

"How to spot a predator." Really?

'How to spot a predator.' Really? Our free-range parenting expert sounds off on some parents' continuing 'stranger danger' fears of child predators.

Facebook IPO: No, Facebook is not just a fad

Despite the coming Facebook IPO (or maybe because of the coming Facebook IPO), half of all Americans think the popular social network is a fad. They're wrong.

States should fold on Internet gambling

California and New Jersey, each seek more revenue, are leading the states toward Internet gambling, starting with online poker. But this all-too-easy form of gaming would come with at a high cost to society – and government.

JPMorgan and the London Whale: Should we tax securities investments?

Ever since the U.S. financial crash of 2008 and the beginnings of the pending Euro-zone financial collapse, governments have been debating whether securities transactions should be subject to a new tax. Such a levy would discourage bad behavior in the financial markets, but it could have dire unintended consequences.

Bestselling books the week of 5/17/12, according to IndieBound*

What's selling best in independent bookstores across America.

Palestinian hunger strikes: the power of peaceful protest

Hunger strikes by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention ended with a deal this week for better treatment. That showed the power of peaceful protest. If Palestinians adopt nonviolence as a strategic tool, that could bridge the Israeli-Palestinian divide.

At US border, era of fence-building, manpower 'surge' at an end

A strategy shift is under way at the US border patrol, with intelligence and risk to national security taking priority over adding more fences and additional manpower. Why the change?

Would you buy a ticket to a private, inflatable space station? (+video)

SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace are joining efforts to offer trips to a privately owned orbital habitat.

Is Virginia really the best-read state in the nation?

The state also had more cities on Amazon's list of the top 20 most well-read areas than any other.

LightSquared, bankrupt, still aims to launch wireless network

LightSquared has filed for bankruptcy protection, saying that will give it more time to win regulatory approval. Regulators have blocked LightSquared's plans, saying they could interfere with GPS signals.

JPMorgan Chase's Dimon survives pay, chairmanship votes (+video)

JPMorgan Chase shareholders voted Tuesday at the bank's annual meeting to keep CEO Jamie Dimon in his role as chairman of the board, in addition to his pay package.

Facebook IPO: Investors enamored. Users? Not so much.

Facebook IPO may be sending investors into orbit, but most users distrust Facebook and don't click on its ads, according to a AP/CNBC poll. Half of those surveyed say Facebook IPO is overvalued.

Israel's unity government: How big was the shift to the center?

A new coalition government in Israel was expected to give Prime Minister Netanyahu more flexibility on Palestinian peace talks. But moves on Jewish settlements suggest otherwise.

EU airstrike on Somali pirates echoes US drone strategy

An airstrike on Somali pirate logistics by EU helicopters puts EU members on footing similar to that of the US, which has used drones and special forces to target Islamist militant group Al Shabab.

Sectarian violence in Lebanon echoing Syria's conflict

The past three days have witnessed fierce sectarian fighting in Tripoli, Lebanon's second city, where tensions have been exacerbated by Syria's yearlong crisis.

How to find a small business-friendly bank

Using FDIC data, one online tool grades banks on their commitments to small business lending.

John Boehner fires opening shot in potential debt-ceiling showdown

In a speech Tuesday, Speaker John Boehner will lay out his expectations for how the debt ceiling will be handled in the next round. His plan harks back to the House Republicans' position last year.

'Follies' and 'La Boheme' take Los Angeles by storm

'La Boheme' makes a classic new again, while Sondheim's 'Follies' is a show only now being hailed as a masterwork.

How Romney is fighting harsh charge he's a heartless job-killer (+video)

Two new pro-Obama ads are hammering Romney's former firm, Bain Capital, for the demise of a Missouri steel company. The counter-ad from the Romney camp focuses on a firm that Bain bolstered.

Groupon stock jumps as earnings beat expectations

Groupon stock soared after first quarter earnings were better than analysts predicted. Groupon stock shot up nearly 18 percent in after hours trading.

JP Morgan loss: Did US regulators know what CEO Jamie Dimon apparently didn't? (+video)

Federal regulators embedded at JP Morgan are supposed to get the reports that CEO Jamie Dimon gets. But in the case of JP Morgan's $2 billion loss, that might not have been much help.

The financial industry's growth is stunting everything else

The financial industry was 2.5 percent of the economy when World War II ended. Now, it is 8.5 percent. How did it get so big, and what are the costs?

NBA playoffs: Thunder rolls over Lakers, 76ers nip Celtics (+video)

NBA playoffs on Monday night saw Oklahoma City crush the Lakers, while Philadelphia beat Boston in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal.