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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.

Arizona wildfire threatens hundreds of homes, California blaze wanes
PHOENIX/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - An Arizona wildfire whipped up by strong winds threatened hundreds of homes on Wednesday, even as firefighters were gaining an edge on a California blaze raging near a pristine wilderness, authorities said.

Three plead guilty in New York City payroll fraud case
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Three women pleaded guilty on Wednesday to criminal charges arising out of what prosecutors say was a corrupt New York City payroll project that cost the city more than $600 million.

Bernanke says Fed likely to reduce bond buying this year
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday the U.S. economy is expanding strongly enough for the central bank to begin slowing the pace of its bond-buying stimulus later this year.

Senate approves Froman for U.S. trade representative
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. 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.

House panel OKs bill to prohibit mandatory auditor rotation
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a rare show of bipartisanship, the U.S. House Financial Services Committee unanimously approved a bill on Wednesday that would prohibit mandatory rotation of auditors among companies to avoid fraud and financial misconduct.

Magnitude 5.7 quake hits central Chile, no damage reported
SANTIAGO (Reuters) - A magnitude 5.7 earthquake hit the central Chilean region of Valparaiso at 5:30 p.m. (1730 ET) on Wednesday, causing buildings to sway in the nearby capital of Santiago but no reports of damage.

FBI says it uses surveillance drones on U.S. soil
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States uses drones for surveillance in some limited law enforcement situations, FBI Director Robert Mueller said on Wednesday, sparking additional debate about President Barack Obama's use of domestic surveillance.

Body pulled from Lake Michigan is Chicago university student
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Authorities have identified a body pulled from Lake Michigan on Wednesday morning as a University of Chicago student who disappeared a week ago, possibly to watch a thunderstorm.

U.S. doctors target sugary drinks bought by government
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The American Medical Association joined the effort to discourage consumption of sugary drinks on Wednesday with a pledge to work to get them off U.S. government food aid programs for the poor.

Ally deal draws limited objections from ResCap creditors
(Reuters) - Ally Financial Inc's proposed $2.1 billion agreement reached last month with creditors of its bankrupt Residential Capital LLC subsidiary cleared a key court deadline with only one vigorous objection, though several warning shots were fired.