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By Osamu Tsukimori and Yuka Obayashi TOKYO (Reuters) - High levels of a toxic substance called strontium-90 have been found in groundwater at the devastated Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, the utility that operates the facility said on Wednesday. Strontium-90 is a by-product of the fission of uranium and plutonium in nuclear reactors as well as nuclear weapons, according to the website of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ...

By Sruthi Ramakrishnan REUTERS - Adobe Systems Inc, known for its Photoshop and Acrobat software, reported a higher-than-expected adjusted second-quarter profit and said demand rose for Creative Cloud, the subscription-based version of its flagship software package. The company said it expects the number of paid subscribers for Creative Cloud in the current quarter to top the 221,000 subscribers who signed up in the second quarter, increasing the total to 700,000. The company added 153,000 subscribers in the first quarter. ...

By Andrew Osborn LONDON (Reuters) - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says he will not leave the sanctuary of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London even if Sweden stops pursuing sexual assault claims against him because he fears arrest on the order of the United States. In an interview with Reuters and others to mark the one-year anniversary of taking refuge in the cramped diplomatic building, Assange said he remained hopeful he might be able to leave but offered little evidence to suggest he would be finding new living quarters anytime soon. "I wouldn't say I wouldn't leave," he said. ...

MIAMI (Reuters) - The Miami Heat produced an extraordinary comeback to beat the San Antonio Spurs 103-100 in overtime early on Wednesday to force a decisive seventh game in the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals. Needing a win to keep their title defence alive, Miami clawed back from a 13-point deficit in the third quarter before Ray Allen drained a three-pointer with five seconds remaining that tied the game at 95-95 and forced overtime. ...

By Ian Chua SYDNEY (Reuters) - Japanese stocks rose on Wednesday, thanks to a positive lead from Wall Street plus a softer yen, outperforming the rest of Asia which anxiously seeks clarity on the Federal Reserve's next policy step. Major currencies were mostly subdued ahead of the end of the Fed meeting. A policy statement is due at 1800 GMT and Chairman Ben Bernanke will brief media half an hour later. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan eased 0.3 percent, led by a 1.3 percent fall in mainland Chinese stocks. Share markets in Hong Kong and South Korea were also lower. ...

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Acer Inc, the world's No.4 PC vendor, said on Wednesday that it expects notebook and tablet PC shipment to be flat in the second quarter from the first quarter, versus an prediction of 0-5 percent growth made in April. Acer Chairman J.T. Wang made the comment to reporters at the firm's annual shareholder meeting. ...

By Todd Benson SAO PAULO (Reuters) - President Dilma Rousseff on Tuesday sought to defuse a massive protest movement sweeping Brazil, acknowledging the need for better public services and more responsive governance as demonstrations continued in some cities around the country. Speaking the morning after more than 200,000 Brazilians marched in more than a half-dozen cities, Rousseff said her government remains committed to social change and is listening attentively to the many grievances expressed at the demonstrations. ...

By Florence Tan SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Brent crude futures held above $106 a barrel on Wednesday as investors looked to a Federal Reserve meeting for clues on the outlook for a U.S. stimulus programme that has underpinned commodity prices. Global investors have been on edge since Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke suggested the central bank could be looking to roll back monetary stimulus, and a statement at the end of the policy meeting on Wednesday may provide a timeline. Brent futures for August delivery had edged down 1 cent to $106.01 a barrel by 0310 GMT. U.S. ...

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Shares in IDFC and Religare Enterprises rose on Wednesday after both companies took steps to apply for banking licenses, continuing their quest to diversify their businesses. IDFC rose 3 percent as of 9:20 a.m. after its board on Tuesday approved its application plan for a license. Meanwhile, Religare rose 2.3 percent after its promoters agreed to dilute their shareholding in the company to 49 percent in order to qualify as an applicant for a banking license. The Nifty was down 0.3 percent. (Reporting by Abhishek Vishnoi; Editing by Rafael Nam)

By Miyoung Kim SEOUL (Reuters) - Asia's top companies have become more optimistic about their business outlook with the retail and shipping industries rebounding sharply in the second quarter of 2013, the latest Thomson Reuters/INSEAD Asia Business Sentiment Survey shows. The Thomson Reuters/INSEAD Asia Business Sentiment Index climbed six points to 71 in June, its highest level in five quarters and the third consecutive quarterly rise. A reading above 50 indicates a generally positive outlook. ...

By Eric Kelsey LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pitch-perfect teen country singer Danielle Bradbery won TV singing contest "The Voice" on Tuesday, scoring a contract with Universal Music Group and a $100,000 cash prize. Bradbery, who was coached by fellow country singer Blake Shelton, covered her mouth and began to cry when named the winner, hugging runner-up Michelle Chamuel. "I'm so thankful," the 16-year-old Texan said. "I'm sorry, I'm speechless. ...

MUMBAI (Reuters) - The rupee was off session lows in early trade on Wednesday, but still remained close to its record low ahead of the outcome of the Federal Reserve meeting that may signal a tapering down of the U.S. stimulus programme. The rupee was trading at 58.70/72 per dollar at 9.06 a.m. after opening at 58.82. The rupee hit a record closing low of 58.77/78 on Tuesday, and remains within touch of an all-time low of 58.98 last week. (Reporting by Subhadip Sircar; Editing by Rafael Nam)

By Rob Taylor CANBERRA (Reuters) - Afghan authorities will lay charges against officials at a prison run by the country's internal security service, Australia said on Wednesday, just weeks after Canberra blocked prisoner transfers over fears of detainee mistreatment. Afghan authorities were taking action after Australia stopped handing over insurgent suspects to an NDS-run detention facility at the coalition base in Tirin Kot, in southern Uruzgan province, Australia's Defence Minister Stephen Smith said. ...

Cairo, June 19 (IANS/WAM) Egypt is proud of its deep-rooted fraternal ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its people, an Egyptian foreign ministry spokesperson has said.

Beirut, June 19 (IANS) Visiting EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton Tuesday held talks with the Lebanese officials over the plight of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, while calling for "a political solution to the conflict in Syria".

Los Angeles, June 19 (IANS) Singer Kesha says she has worked really hard to get perfect toned legs and therefore likes flaunting them.

Los Angeles, June 19 (IANS) Socialite Kim Kardashian's sister Kourtney has reportedly asked the new mother to be more careful with her lifestyle now.

London, June 19 (IANS) Singer Robbie Williams says he is jealous of teen sensation Harry Styles' female fan following and link ups.

United Nations, June 19 (IANS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon Tuesday welcomed the understanding reached on Syria by leaders of the Group of Eight (G-8) industrial nations.

Jerusalem, June 19 (IANS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that his country would not accept anything less than the total halt of Iranian uranium enrichment.

Los Angeles, June 19 (IANS) Singer Rihanna is reportedly seeking a medical programme in order to cure her heartache, post her break up with Chris Brown.

New Delhi, June 19 (IANS) The early and heavy monsoon rains in India have raised the hopes of a record plantation and sowing of kharif crops, a farmers' body representative said Tuesday.

Abu Dhabi, June 19 (IANS/WAM) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Australia have held talks over a number of issues of mutual interest and explored ways to develop bilateral relations in all sectors.

Abuja, June 19 (IANS) At least 60 people were killed in Nigeria Tuesday when some gunmen stormed four villages of Zamfara state early morning, residents and security sources said.

Washington, June 19 (IANS) Two phone and Internet surveillance programmes run by the US National Security Agency (NSA) helped disrupt over 50 potential terrorist attacks against the US and its allies, the agency's chief said Tuesday.

Los Angeles, June 19 (IANS) Singer Katy Perry says she has not communicated with her ex-husband Russell Brand post receiving a text from him asking for divorce.