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REUTERS - News Corp's publishing and entertainment arms began trading separately on a preliminary basis on Wednesday, one of the last steps before Rupert Murdoch's company officially splits in two on June 28. Shares of the new News Corp , the publishing arm that includes properties such as The Wall Street Journal, opened at $15.28 on Nasdaq, trading on a "when-issued" basis under the symbol "NWSAV." The shares were up 4.5 percent at mid-morning at $15.95 and were the second-most-active issue on Nasdaq with more than 20 million shares changing hands. ...

By Roberta Rampton and Stephen Brown BERLIN (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama used a speech in Berlin on Wednesday to call on Russia to revive the push for a world without nuclear arms by agreeing to target further reductions of up to one third of deployed nuclear weapons. Speaking in Berlin where John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan gave rousing Cold War speeches, Obama urged Russia to help build on the "New START" treaty that requires both countries to cut stockpiles of deployed nuclear weapons to 1,550 each by 2018. ...

By Jim Finkle BOSTON (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp is looking to recruit computer geeks in its ongoing efforts to protect Windows PCs from attacks, offering rewards of as much as $150,000 to anybody who helps identify and fix major security holes in its software. Microsoft unveiled the rewards program, one of the most generous in the high-tech industry to date, on Wednesday as it sought ways to prevent sophisticated attackers from subverting new security technologies it has introduced in the latest versions of the Windows operating system. ...

REUTERS - Sri Lankan-born author Michelle de Kretser won Australia's top literature prize on Wednesday, awarded the Miles Franklin award for her novel "Questions of Travel" that follows two people on separate journeys. She was chosen from a shortlist of five writers, all of whom were female, to win the A$60,000 prize. Also on the shortlist were Romy Ash, Annah Faulkner, Drusilla Modjeska, and Carrie Tiffany. Richard Neville, one of five judges, said all of the novels were at a surface level about families. ...

LONDON (Reuters) - The Rolling Stones released a career-spanning digitally re-mastered back catalogue on Apple Inc's iTunes Store on Wednesday as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations. The new iTunes release chronicles the British group's entire oeuvre, from their introductory 1963 cover of Chuck Berry's "Come On" to last year's Greatest Hits collection "GRRR!", their record label Universal Music said on Wednesday. The Rolling Stones - Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts - emerged alongside the Beatles in the early 1960s. ...

By Mark Meadows LONDON (Reuters) - Hosts England sauntered into the Champions Trophy final after South Africa 'choked' in yet another semi-final when they were bowled out for 175 in fairly benign conditions at The Oval on Wednesday. South Africa were favourites heading into the tournament but limped through the group stage and have now bowed out in eight major international last-four clashes and won only one. ...

By Alison Griswold NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were little changed on Wednesday before the Federal Reserve releases a statement which could provide clues about the Fed's future stimulus efforts, a key to the market's continued rally. The Fed will release a policy statement at 2 p.m. (1800 GMT), which will sum up policymakers' views on the economic outlook and may also shed light on when the Fed might scale back its bond-buying, meant to stimulate growth and bolster the shaky job market. Chairman Ben Bernanke will hold a news conference beginning at 2:30 p.m. ...

By Abdi Sheikh MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Islamist militants carried out a deadly assault on the main U.N. compound in the Somali capital on Wednesday, dealing a blow to fragile security gains that have allowed a slow return of foreign aid workers and diplomats. The assault, claimed by Islamist group al Shabaab, began before midday when a car bomb exploded outside the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) base. Rebel gunmen forced their way into the compound and fought with security guards. ...

By Asher Levine SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Demonstrators blocked a major highway and other roads in Sao Paulo on Wednesday, crippling transportation in Brazil's largest city and financial hub, in an ongoing wave of protests against poor public services, inflation and police violence. The protests, the biggest in Brazil in over two decades, followed overnight demonstrations that led to sporadic looting and vandalism. ...

LONDON (Reuters) - England beat South Africa by seven wickets in their Champions Trophy semi-final at The Oval on Wednesday. Scores: South Africa 175 all out (D. Miller 56 not out; J.Tredwell 3-19) England 179-3 from 37.3 overs (J.Trott 82 not out) (Editing by Mark Meadows)

By Leah Schnurr NEW YORK (Reuters) - Equities were flat while major currencies and commodities traded within recent ranges on Wednesday as investors awaited a statement from the U.S. Federal Reserve that they hope will shed light on its next move. The Fed is expected to leave policy ultra-loose following the central bank's meeting that ends later on Wednesday but may hint it will start scaling back its bond buying later this year if the U.S. labor market continues to improve. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's comment last month that the U.S. ...

LONDON (Reuters) - Twice grand slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova pulled out of Wimbledon on Wednesday with an abdominal strain. Officials said Czech Klara Zakopalova had been installed as 32nd seed following the Russian's withdrawal with the original seeds between 32 and 27 being moved up one place. Kuznetsova, who was seeded 26th for the grasscourt major which begins on Monday, was the only player to take a set off eventual champion Serena Williams at this month's French Open. ...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Country singer and songwriter Slim Whitman, known for his smooth falsetto and yodeling talent, died in Florida on Wednesday at the age of 90, his son-in-law said. "He died last night at the Orange Park hospital at about 12:45 this morning of heart failure," Roy Beagle told Reuters. "We had a 90th birthday party for him in January and he looked good, but he had been in failing health since then." Born Ottis Dewey Whitman Jr., he was self-taught on the guitar and had a string of hits such as "Rose Marie", "Indian Love Call" and "Secret Love". ...

London, June 19 (IANS) The following is the scoreboard of the Champions Trophy semi-final between England and South Africa at The Oval here Wednesday.

New Delhi, June 19 (IANS) Celebrations by Delhi Congress workers and members of the Youth Congress marked the 43rd birthday celebrations of party vice president Rahul Gandhi, who wanted it to be a low key affair, party sources said Wednesday.

New Delhi, June 19 (IANS) Newly-appointed Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge took charge of his portfolio Wednesday, a statement said.

New Delhi, June 19 (IANS) A man drowned in the Yamuna river while bathing near its bank, while 5,000 people were evacuated from inundated low-lying areas along the banks Wednesday as water rose to an unprecedented 207.20 metres, the highest since 1978, a Delhi government official said.

Mumbai, June 19 (IANS) "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" director-producer Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Wednesday rubbished rumours of the film being banned in Pakistan, saying on the contrary, they had got three different offers from there and also an invite to the entire cast and crew.

Washington, June 19 (IANS) US President Barack Obama, currently on an official visit to Berlin, Wednesday proposed plans for America and Russia to further cut their strategic nuclear warheads.

New Delhi, June 19 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Wednesday announced Rs. 10 crore for those affected in the devastating floods in Uttarakhand.

London, June 19 (IANS) England entered their second Champions Trophy final steam-rolling South Africa in the tournament's first semifinal match at the Kennington Oval here Wednesday.

Bhubaneswar, June 19 (IANS) A trade body Wednesday said the restriction on import of gold imposed recently by the government may bring short-term benefits but warned it would do more harm than good for the nation in the long run.

New Delhi, June 19 (IANS) A 20-year-old newly-married woman was gang-raped by four men here, police said Wednesday. Two of the accused have been arrested.

Dehradun/New Delhi, June 19 (IANS) Thousands are said to be missing in Uttarakhand after unprecedented rains and cloudburst led to landslides and flash floods killing more than 100 people and leaving 62,000 stranded, officials and survivors said.

Mumbai, June 19 (IANS) Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor was teary-eyed at the promo and music launch of her film "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag", and said she was emotional because of the effort put into the film.

Mumbai, June 19 (IANS) Former athlete Milkha Singh Wednesday launched the music of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's "Bhaag Mikha Bhaag", saying he hoped that the film inspires the youth of today to take part in the Olympics and win laurels for their country.