Greece's largest trade union called Tuesday for a 24-hour strike next week to protest austerity measures, which would be the first major walkout since the appointment of an interim coalition government earlier this month.

The GSEE union, which represents mainly private sector workers, said it was aiming for a general strike on Dec. 1, but was waiting for a decision later Tuesday by the country's civil servants' union as to whether they would join. Greece's last general strike, held in October, saw services across the country shut down for two days.

The Indian rupee plunged to an all time low against the dollar Tuesday as global demand for the U.S. currency and India's darkening economic picture swamped out central bank efforts to staunch the decline.

The rupee hit 52.73 to the dollar, breaching its March 3, 2009 low, analysts said.

The collapse of talks aimed at reducing the staggering U.S. budget deficit weighed on world markets Tuesday but failed to stifle a rebound in Europe.

Stocks took a pummeling on Monday after a so-called supercommittee in Congress failed to reach a deal to cut the U.S. federal budget deficit by $1.2 trillion over 10 years. While not entirely unexpected, the failure heightened worries that political bickering — in the U.S. and Europe — will hurt efforts to cut debt during a period of declining economic growth.

AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is relishing meeting his former team Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday, but insists it will be just like any other game.

There was no return to the Nou Camp for Ibrahimovic in September as he was injured for the 2-2 opening draw between the sides.

Real Madrid can clinch top spot in Group D of the Champions League with a victory against Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday, while Lyon knows a loss against Ajax will see it miss out on the knockout stages for the first time since the 2002-03 season.

Madrid has won all four of its group matches without conceding a goal, while its Croatian opponent is winless and still looking for its first goal of the tournament. Madrid's 3-2 win over Valencia on Saturday was its 11th straight in all competitions to stay top of the Spanish league ahead of Barcelona.

Back in August, when Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Napoli were drawn into the same Champions League group, a chorus of gasps went up inside the auditorium in Monaco.

Three months later, Bayern is nearly sure of advancing, Villarreal has been eliminated and Tuesday's match between City and Napoli will likely determine the second squad that goes through to the next round.

There is no place in the U.S. more expensive to smoke than New York City, where the taxes alone will set you back $5.85 per pack. Yet, addicts who visit Island Smokes, a "roll-your-own" cigarette shop in Chinatown, can walk out with an entire 10-pack carton for under $40, thanks to a yawning tax loophole that officials in several states are now trying to close.

The store is one of a growing number around the country that have come under fire over their use of high-speed cigarette rolling machines that function as miniature factories, and can package loose tobacco and rolling papers into neatly formed cigarettes, sometimes in just a few minutes.

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has been ruled out of Wednesday's Champions League match at AC Milan with a leg injury.

The Spanish champions say Iniesta will miss the Group H contest with a bruised left thigh and will not travel to the San Siro as a precautionary measure.

By claiming he is safe from the sack despite Chelsea's worst start to a Premier League season under Roman Abramovich, Andre Villas-Boas is playing a dangerous game considering the notorious impatience of the London club's billionaire owner.

Murmurings of discontent at Stamford Bridge grew Sunday following Chelsea's 2-1 defeat to Liverpool, which left the team 12 points behind Premier League leader Manchester City.

There are still tickets on sale for the men's 100-meter finals at the London Olympics — contrary to what most people think. The opening and closing ceremonies too. Even beach volleyball (but not too many.)

As with all things in life, though, there is a catch. It will cost you.