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Head of revived watchdog pledges open look at U.S. surveillance
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of a newly revived federal privacy oversight board pledged on Wednesday to be "as transparent and public as possible" as the board reviews recently exposed U.S. government secret surveillance programs.

John McAfee resurfaces as ranting video star, mocks McAfee software
BOSTON (Reuters) - Eccentric former software pioneer John McAfee is back in the spotlight - lashing out at the anti-virus software that bears his name in a profanity-laced video.

Spurs' Duncan unconcerned about pressure of Game Seven
MIAMI (Reuters) - After 17 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), San Antonio Spurs evergreen power forward Tim Duncan has already seen it all.

Yankees impressed with first look at Dodgers' Puig
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Yankees got a first-hand look at Cuban rookie sensation Yasiel Puig of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday and came away mightily impressed.

Louisiana boy says killed sister with TV wrestling moves: police
(Reuters) - A 13-year-old New Orleans boy has been arrested on charges he murdered his 5-year-old sister with body slams, elbow punches and other moves he told investigators he had seen while watching professional wrestling on television, police said on Wednesday.

Actor James Gandolfini, star of 'The Sopranos,' dead in Italy
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor James Gandolfini, best known for his Emmy-winning portrayal of a conflicted New Jersey mob boss in the acclaimed HBO cable television series "The Sopranos," has died while vacationing in Rome, the network said on Wednesday.

Arizona killer who asked for speedy execution found dead in cell
PHOENIX (Reuters) - An Arizona death row inmate who wrote to the state Supreme Court asking for a speedy execution died on Wednesday after being found unresponsive in his cell, authorities said.

Sony spin-off plan off agenda but looms over shareholder meet
TOKYO (Reuters) - A proposal by Sony Corp's top investor to partially spin off the Japanese company's lucrative entertainment business will be the elephant in the room at an annual shareholders meeting on Thursday.

Bruins' playoff run offers comfort to wounded city
BOSTON (Reuters) - For all appearances it was business as usual on a sparkling Wednesday afternoon in Boston where the hometown Bruins prepared to host the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Ex-Kleiner partner wants day in court in discrimination lawsuit
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A high profile sex discrimination lawsuit in Silicon Valley should be taken private via arbitration, lawyers for venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers argued on Wednesday, but the plaintiff, former partner Ellen Pao, wants the chance to tell her story before a judge.

Stop force-feeding Guantanamo prisoners: Senator
GUANTANAMO BAY U.S. NAVAL BASE, Cuba (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein urged the Pentagon on Wednesday to stop force-feeding hunger-striking prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp and called the practice "out of step" with medical ethics and international norms.

SandRidge ousts CEO Ward, Bennett takes the helm
(Reuters) - SandRidge Energy Inc's board of directors removed the energy company's founder and chief executive, Tom Ward, on Wednesday after a months-long struggle with activist investors who accused him of strategic mistakes and self-dealing at the expense of shareholders.

Analysis: Sprint should raise Clearwire bid to avoid Dish tension
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sprint Nextel Corp should consider raising its offer price for Clearwire Corp or risk being saddled with a contentious relationship with Dish Network Corp, controlled by feisty billionaire Charlie Ergen.

Sao Paulo, Rio revoke transport fare hikes as protests continue
SAO PAULO/FORTALEZA, Brazil (Reuters) - Brazil's two biggest cities agreed on Wednesday to revoke an increase in public transportation fares that set off demonstrations that have grown into nationwide protests against poor public services, inflation and corruption.

Immigration bill negotiators see Senate breakthrough
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Prospects for U.S. Senate passage of an immigration bill with strong bipartisan support brightened on Wednesday when a group of Republican and Democratic negotiators reached a tentative deal on ways to shore up border security, senators said.

New bookkeeping rule to priprizese open insurers' 'black box' accounts
LONDON (Reuters) - An international bookkeeping regime being unveiled on Thursday will iron out national variants in insurers' "black box" balance sheets although the transition will take several years and the United States will keep its own, very different rules.

Myanmar constitution likely to dash Suu Kyi's presidential hopes
YANGON (Reuters) - Her adoring compatriots believe democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi is destined to become Myanmar's next president. But don't bet on it.

Steve Carell returns in 'Despicable Me 2' as a dad with doubts
LONDON (Reuters) - He may now be a doting dad marketing a range of jams and jellies, but Steve Carell's Gru character in the sequel to the animated supervillain children's comedy "Despicable Me" still longs for a little bit of the old criminal fun.

NY State to privatize Long Island utility, freeze rates: Governor Cuomo
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York lawmakers announced a deal on Wednesday to privatize utility operations on Long Island and revamp the Long Island Power Authority, a state-owned New York utility company that was criticized for its response during last year's Superstorm Sandy.

Senate approves Froman as U.S. trade representative
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved White House international economic affairs adviser Michael Froman to be the next U.S. trade representative, sending him into the fray of two huge trade negotiations in Asia and Europe.