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Rare "Harry Potter" first edition fetches record auction price
(Reuters) - A unique first edition of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" annotated by author J.K. Rowling has sold for a record 150,000 pounds ($227,421) at a London charity auction, Sotheby's said on Tuesday.

Japan considers resuming talks with North Korea: media
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan has started looking into resuming inter-governmental talks with North Korea after a surprise visit to Pyongyang by an aide to Japan's prime minister, the Asahi Shimbun and other newspapers said on Wednesday.

Senate panel backs arming Syria rebels
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate panel voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to send weapons to rebels fighting Syria's government, but it was not clear who would get the arms even if the bill succeeds, as Washington struggles to deal with its response to the conflict.

Senate panel passes immigration bill; Obama praises move
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate panel on Tuesday approved legislation to give millions of illegal immigrants a path to citizenship, setting up a spirited debate next month in the full Senate over the biggest changes in immigration policy in a generation.

Guatemala trial of Rios Montt has likely collapsed: lawyers
GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - The trial of former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt has likely collapsed after the country's top court struck down his conviction for genocide, defense and prosecution lawyers said on Tuesday.

Jodi Arias asks Arizona jury to spare her death penalty
PHOENIX (Reuters) - Convicted killer Jodi Arias pleaded with an Arizona jury on Tuesday to spare her the death penalty for the sake of her family and sentence her instead to life in prison for killing her ex-boyfriend.

Family of California woman killed by U.S. Border Patrol files suit
SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - The family of a San Diego woman killed in an encounter with the U.S. Border Patrol filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit on Tuesday alleging a plainclothes agent used excessive force when he opened fire on the woman as she tried to flee in a car.

Senate panel approves major immigration bill
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved legislation that would bring about the biggest changes in U.S. immigration policy in a generation, setting up a spirited debate in the full Senate next month.

House panel approves spending cuts, assumes more to come
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives made clear on Tuesday that automatic spending cuts will be a recurring nightmare for Washington as it passed a measure to sharply reduce funding for government agencies and programs next year.

Sri Lanka opposition says government threatened to sack strikers
COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's opposition parties and trade unions accused the government on Tuesday of threatening state employees with the sack if they took part in planned street protests against a sharp rise in electricity prices.

The Irish loophole behind Apple's low tax bill
LONDON (Reuters) - Apple's ability to shelter billions of dollars of income from tax has hinged on an unusual loophole in the Irish tax code that helps the country compete with other countries for investment and jobs.

Japan exports disappoint, full benefits of weak yen yet to show
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's exports rose less than expected in April from a year earlier due to weak demand from Europe and China, highlighting the challenges confronting the world's third-biggest economy as policymakers try to engineer a sustained revival.

Amag investigates anemia drug after report of death in Switzerland
(Reuters) - Amag Pharmaceuticals Inc said its marketing partner in Switzerland, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, is recalling a batch of Amag's anemia drug, Rienso, because of a death and several cases of hypersensitivity.

Anarchist jailed for not testifying over 2008 New York blast
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A self-described anarchist from Brooklyn who refused to testify before a federal grand jury thought to be investigating a 2008 bomb explosion in New York's Times Square was sent to jail on Tuesday after being found in civil contempt.

Ex-strategist can sue UBS as whistleblower: U.S. judge
NEW YORK (Reuters) - UBS AG lost a bid Tuesday to dismiss a whistle-blower lawsuit by a former commercial mortgage-backed securities strategist who said he was fired for refusing to publish misleading research reports.

Sony shares hit two-year high on report of spin-off proposal
TOKYO (Reuters) - Shares of Sony Corp rose 6.3 percent to 2,300 yen, a two-year high, on Wednesday after the Nikkei newspaper reported Sony is considering evaluating a proposal from top shareholder Third Point LLC to spin off its movie and music business.

Senate panel approves sweeping immigration bill
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved legislation that would bring about the biggest changes in U.S. immigration policy in a generation, setting up a spirited debate in the full Senate next month.

Dimon clings to JPMorgan chairman title, after fight
TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - Jamie Dimon, chairman and chief executive of JPMorgan Chase & Co took an unusual step to fight off investors seeking more oversight of his activities - he hinted he might quit.

Arkansas state treasurer resigns in face of federal charges
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (Reuters) - Arkansas' state treasurer resigned on Tuesday, a day after federal authorities charged her with extortion stemming from accusations that she gave a broker state bond business in exchange for repeated cash payments.

Lawmakers move to address U.S. military sex assault problem
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lawmakers frustrated by a spate of high-profile military sexual assault cases unveiled draft proposals in the House of Representatives on Tuesday to crack down on the crime, but they stopped short the kind of overhaul sought by some officials.