United Airlines shares down, loses about $800 million

EFT Report, New York: As outrage over an Asian doctor's forcible removal from a flight continued to spread on social media, shares of the United Airlines (UAL) plunged nearly four per cent in the morning session on Tuesday.

The company lost about $800 million in total value in the morning session, Xinhua news agency reported.

A video released on social media showed that a bloodied passenger was dragged off a United Express flight by the aviation security officers, after he refused to give up his seat.

According to Chicago Tribune, the incident happened on a United flight at Chicago's O' Hare international airport on Sunday evening. 

United Airlines had the flight overbooked and asked for four volunteers to give up their seats to United employees, after everyone boarded the flight.

The passenger said he was a doctor and had to be in Louisville on Monday for work, according to a Twitter account by a passenger on board.

Videos taken by other passengers on the same flight drew more than a million hits on social media, with many criticizing United Airline's handling of the incident.

United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz apologized on Monday for having to "re-accommodate" the customers in an overbooked flight.

However, in a letter to its employees, Munoz said: "Our employees followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this. While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you." 

Around mid day, shares of UAL tumbled 3.9 per cent to $68.72 apiece.

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Dead Music Legend Prince Had AIDS

EFT Report: Music legend Prince, who was known for his sexually stage persona and wild sex life as much as his music, was diagnosed with HIV back in the 1990s that developed into AIDS toward the end of last year, sources claimed. The 57-year-old, a Jehovah's Witness faithful, was diagnosed with the crippling condition just six months before he passed away but had refused treatment because he believed he could be cured by prayer.

Prince

Sources also claim that the singer born Prince Rogers Nelson became addicted to opiate medication Percoet and died of influenza, an infection that would likely have proved fatal if his immune system had been decimated by AIDS. He weighed just 80lbs at the time of his death

Meanwhile the singer's estate is still in limbo after it was revealed he has no signed will. Prince’s $10million Paisley Park estate will be opened to the public as a museum, his brother-in-law has confirmed.

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Actor Charlie Sheen is HIV-positive

EFT Report, Los Angeles: Hollywood actor Charlie Sheen reportedly only discovered he is HIV-positive "long after" splitting from former porn star Bree Olson.

The 50-year-old, who was diagnosed with the virus four years ago, insists the former porn star ended their relationship via text message before doctors gave him his test results in 2011 even though she claims they were living together around the same time, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Sheen's manager Mark Burg told people.com: "Bree Olson is all over Howard Stern but the truth is she wasn't in Sheen's life when he was HIV-positive and so there was no reason to tell her anything."

A source close to the “Anger Management” star also told gossip website TMZ.com that he is aware many of his sexual partners are lining up to sue him for allegedly exposing them to the disease. But Sheen claims Olson, 29, doesn't have a case because he only found out after he returned to Los Angeles from his Violent Torpedo of Trust US tour, which ended on May 3, 2011, almost two weeks after she broke up with him.

While Olson has been given a clean bill of health from her doctors, she has branded her ex-boyfriend "a monster" for allegedly putting her life at risk.

She told “Inside Edition”: "He is a monster, and he put my life in jeopardy along with hundreds -- or potentially thousands -- of other women's lives."

Sheen, who has five children from three different relationships, told his eldest daughter Cassandra, 30, about his diagnosis before going public with the news, but decided not to discuss it with daughters Sam, 11, and Lola, 10, or six-year-old twins Bob and Max.

A source close to the star told UsMagazine.com: "He didn't tell the kids because they are so young and wouldn't understand."

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Marriott acquires Starwood to create world's largest hotel chain

EFT Report, New York: Marriott International Inc announced an agreement to buy competitor Starwood Hotels and Resorts in a $12.2 billion transaction that will create the world's largest hotel chain.

Starwood stockholders would receive 0.92 Marriott Class A share and $2 in cash for each share, Efe cited the companies as saying in a joint statement.

The combined company will be the world's largest hotelier, with 1.1 million rooms in more than 5,500 facilities across over 100 countries and an annual turnover of $2.7 billion.

The deal, subject to approval from both companies' shareholders and from regulators, is expected to close by mid-2016, the statement said.

Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson will head the combined company, whose headquarters is to remain in Bethesda, Maryland. Three Starwood directors will join an expanded 14-member board.

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Steven Spielberg to get Presidential Medal of Freedom

EFT Report, Los Angeles: Filmmaker Steven Spielberg, singers Barbra Streisand, Gloria Estefan, James Taylor and composer Stephen Sondheim are among the recipients of this year’s Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country's highest civilian honour.

It will be presented to the awardees at the White House by the US President Barack Obama on November 24.

Other recipients include veteran activist Bonnie Carroll, music producer Emilio Estefan, former representative Lee Hamilton, NASA mathematician Katherine G. Johnson, baseball legend Willie Mays, Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), conductor Itzhak Perlman, and former EPA administrator William Ruckelshaus, reports variety.com.

Posthumous honours will go to Yogi Berra, Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress; Indian treaty rights activist Billy Frank Jr., and human rights leader Minoru Yasui.

The list of recipients of each year’s Medal of Freedom usually includes a handful from entertainment. 

Actress Meryl Streep and musician Stevie Wonder were among the recipients in 2014.

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Paris attacks: Prince, U2, Bono, Foo Fighters, Motorhead cancel concerts

EFT Report, Paris: Prince has become the latest act to cancel his European concert tour following the Paris attacks, his French production company confirmed today.

The tour -- entitled "Prince Spotlight: Piano and a Microphone" -- would have begun on November 24 in Vienna, Austria, and would have included dates in Britain and Sweden.

The 57-year-old American was expected to be in Paris on December 11 to play two shows at the historic Palais Garnier opera house.

"In light of the tragic events in Paris, the organisers decided to cancel the European tour," said Interconcerts, a ticket company.

A similar message was posted on the site of Vienna's concert hall.

The tour was believed to be the first since Prince's rise to stardom in which he would have performed with such stripped-down instrumentation.

A number of rock bands have also cancelled tour dates in France since the attacks, including U2, who cancelled some of their concerts.

Bono and the rest of the band members paid their respects in person at a makeshift memorial set up near the 1,500-seat Bataclan concert hall where 89 people were killed.

The California rock group Eagles of Death Metal was performing at the venue when gunmen burst in. Members of the band escaped unharmed and have returned to the United States.

Other acts who have cancelled tour dates in Paris are the American rock band Foo Fighters, who were due to perform in Paris today at the 20,000-capacity AccorHotels Arena.

Veteran English rock band Motorhead were also scheduled to perform in Paris on Sunday and have cancelled.

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Oil drops below $40 after 11 years

EFT Report, New Delhi: International crude oil prices plunged to fresh lows with the price of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) basket of twelve crudes going below the $40 a barrel level for the first time in 11 years.

The new OPEC reference basket of 12 crude oils closed at $39.21 a barrel on the previous trading day on Friday, the organisation's secretariat said. On Thursday, the price stood at $40.21. The last time it fell to $39 was in 2004.

Oil prices have been under pressure for several months due to concerns over oversupply, but the slump has deepened in the recent period.

Crude-oil production has remained robust despite the large drop in prices in the last year, as US producers continue to cut costs and members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries continue to produce at full tilt.

The Indian basket, comprising 73 percent sour-grade Dubai and Oman crude, and the balance in sweet-grade Brent, plunged to $41.39 on Friday.

Meanwhile, state-run Indian Oil Corp on Sunday announced a hike in the price of petrol by 36 paise a litre and of diesel by 87 paise at Delhi, effective Monday.

"The current level of international product prices of petrol and diesel and INR-USD exchange rate warrant an increase in prices, the impact of which is being passed on to the consumers with this price revision," Indian Oil said in a statement here.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Monday termed the reason for fuel price hike as unjustifiable when there is no change in the international price of crude oil.

While the latest fuel hike was part of the routine fortnightly price revision exercise by oil marketing companies, it should be considered that the Indian basket price in the preceding fortnight ranged between $44-46 a barrel.

The latest drop in global prices could possibly be reflected in the next fortnight's price revision.

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Bieber wins Hall of fame at 2015 HALO Awards

EFT Report, London: Pop star Justin Bieber has won the inaugural Hall of Fame award at the 2015 HALO Awards in New York, for his charitable work.

The awards honours young people in the US who are responsible for "helping and leading others" and Bieber was chosen for his work with the Make-A-Wish foundation and Pencils of Promise, a charity which builds schools and increases educational opportunities in the developing world.

The 21-year-old singer used his acceptance speech to pay tribute to the victims of the Paris attacks, in which more than 120 people died, reported Female First.

"There's been some sad things happening in the world right now, and I think that we should all honour that and just take one moment of silence for that, if you guys could," he said.

It was recently revealed that Justin has made over 250 wishes come true so far through Make-A-Wish.

Nick Cannon hosted and Joe Jonas and his band DNCE performed at the ceremony, which will air on Nickelodeon on November 29.

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Obama to attend UN climate talks in Paris

EFT Report, Washington: US President Barack Obama is to attend the upcoming UN conference in Paris aimed at sealing a global climate agreement, the White House has said.

Obama will only be attending on November 30 and December 1, the first and second day of the two-week event, to discuss "this serious issue" with world leaders, Xinhua quoted White House spokesman Josh Earnest as saying on Monday.

Earnest said Obama will push for an agreement that includes climate targets from all participating nations, incentivises further reductions, and mobilises financial and technical support for low-carbon development and climate adaptation, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable countries.

When asked if Obama will bring a bargaining chip to help hammer out the deal, the spokesman said: "I certainly would not rule out, necessarily, any future commitments."

Meanwhile, Obama launched his own Facebook page on Monday with his first post calling for actions against climate change.

The Obama administration has pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent of 2005 levels by 2025, which Earnest called "a substantial commitment".

Some climate experts have dismissed the target as not ambitious enough to help curb a changing climate.

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Warne, Sachin to ring NY Stock Exchange opening bell

EFT Report, New York: Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar and legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne will ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange today, becoming the first cricketers to perform the ceremonial activity at the world's largest stock exchange.

Tendulkar and Warne are in the US as captains of an inaugural all-star line-up of 28 cricket legends from across the world for the first ever 'Cricket All Stars' series in the US.

Tendulkar and Warne will visit the stock exchange to highlight the inaugural cricket series which will take place in New York, Houston and Los Angeles. They will ring the opening bell at 9:30m New York time that will mark the start of the trading day.

The historic tour marks the first time Tendulkar and Warne will play on US soil.

The 'Cricket All-Stars' kicks off on November 7 at Citi Field in New York City with a special opening ceremony prior to the match as well as other functions and galas.

The second match will be on November 11 in Houston and the final match in the series will be on November 14 in Los Angeles, followed by a special trophy presentation to the winning team.

In the past, several Indian dignitaries, including political leaders and businessmen, have rung the opening and closing bell at the stock exchange and at NASDAQ.

Given that cricket is not a popular sport in America, it is the first time that cricketers will ring the ceremonial bell at the stock exchange.

Through extensive promotions and media appearances, Tendulkar said the idea behind the series is not only to popularise the game in America but to globalise it as there is need to have more countries play the sport competitively in tournaments like the World Cup.

"The reason for picking up a cricket bat again after retirement is to globalise cricket. That is a dream and vision Warne and I have. One day we would like the American (cricket) team also to participate in the World Cup. It would be a great moment. All cricketers have also been endorsing for having cricket in the Olympics. This is the beginning," Tendulkar told reporters yesterday

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Virtusa to buy Polaris' 53% stake for Rs 1,173 crore

EFT Report, Chennai: US-based Virtusa Corporation has decided to buy around 53 percent of shares of city based software services company Polaris Consulting and Services Ltd for Rs.1,173 crore, the Indian company said.

Virtusa will make an unconditional mandatory offer to the public shareholders of Polaris to purchase up to an additional 26 percent of its outstanding shares.

In a statement issued here, Polaris Consulting said it has entered into a definitive share purchase agreement (SPA) with Virtusa Corporation whereby a subsidiary of Virtusa will acquire approximately 53 percent of the paid up share capital of Polaris.

The American company will buy the shares from certain promoter entities led by Polaris chairman Arun Jain and certain other shareholders, including OrbiTech Private Ltd (formerly known as Orbitech Ltd).

As per the agreement, Virtusa will purchase the shares at a price of around Rs.220.73 per share.

"I wish all Polaris associates who contributed to building Polaris into a world class company in the BFSI (banking, financial services and insurance) space, continued success in their journey under the larger canvas of Virtusa and Polaris. 

"This will also enable me to establish and pursue innovative models for social impact using Design Thinking in the areas of health and education, in addition to my focus on steering Intellect Design Arena Limited into a global digital products powerhouse," Jain was quoted as saying in the statement.

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Luke Bryan wins 'Entertainer of the Year' at 2015 CMA Awards

EFT Report, Washington: Luke Bryan seems to have won big at 2015 CMA Awards, as he took home the award of 'Entertainer of the Year.'

Hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, the award show was held at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, with Eric Church and Little Big Town leading all nominees with five nominations, E! Online reports.

Here are some of the winners:

Album of the year- Traveller, Chris Stapleton

Female Vocalist of the year- Miranda Lambert

Male Vocalist of the year- Chris Stapleton

Song of the year- 'Girl Crush' - Little Big Town

Musician of the year- Mac McAnally

New artist of the year- Chris Stapleton

Music Video of the year- Raise 'Em Up" - Keith Urban feat. Eric Church

New Artist of the year- Chris Stapleton.

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Johnny Depp to get Maltin Modern Master Award at SBIFF

EFT Report, Los Angeles: Actor Johnny Depp will receive the Maltin Modern Master Award, the highest honour of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF).

The 31st edition of the annual festival is scheduled to take place in February next year.

The prize, given to “an individual who has enriched our culture through accomplishments in the motion picture industry", is presented in tandem with a career retrospective for Depp at the Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara, reports variety.com. 

Last year, it was renamed for film critic Leonard Maltin, who moderated the event for over 25 years.

“Johnny Depp is a true embodiment of a modern master. He has had a long and storied career that has shown his commitment to taking on compelling and dynamic roles," SBIFF executive director Roger Durling said.

"But in the gripping film ‘Black Mass,’ under the skillful direction of Scott Cooper, Johnny Depp delivers his defining performance to date,” Durling added.

Past beneficiaries include Michael Keaton, Ben Affleck, Christopher Nolan, Michael Douglas, Jodie Foster, Cate Blanchett, Diane Keaton, Sean Penn and Jeff Bridges.

The 31st annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival runs February 3-13. More honourees will be announced in the coming weeks.

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Acer to commence smartphone assembly in India

EFT Report, New Delhi: Tech major Acer said it will start assembling smartphones in India next month at its facility in Puducherry.

The company, which already manufactures computers at the same unit, has invested USD 10 million to commence the assembly of smartphones.

"We hope to begin assembly of smartphones at our Puducherry unit by middle of December. The initial capacity will be 2.5 lakhs a quarter which can be ramped up in the future," Acer India Managing Director Harish K Kohli told PTI.

The company has invested about USD 10 million (Rs 65 crore) in the plant, he added.

In line with the government's 'Make in India' initiative, many handset vendors like Lava, Karbonn, Xiaomi and Gionee have set up assembly operations in the country.

Global handset makers like Samsung and domestic players like Micromax and Spice have assembly units in India.

Handset makers are looking to tap the multi-billion dollar opportunity in India, which is one of the fastest growing smartphone markets in the world.

The Indian handset industry is poised to overtake the US as the second-largest market in next few years.

According to research firm IDC, shipments in India grew 44 per cent year-on-year to 26.5 million units in April-June 2015 quarter.

Acer today also launched two new smartphones -- Liquid Z530 and Liquid Z630S -- priced at Rs 6,999 and Rs 10,999, respectively. The devices will be available exclusively through e-commerce marketplace Flipkart.

Powered by 1.3GHz quad-core processor, the 5-inch Liquid Z530 has 2GB RAM, 16GB memory (expandable up to 32GB), 8MP front and rear cameras and 2,490 mAh battery.

The Liquid Z630S features 1.3GHz octa-core processor, 5.5-inch display, 3GB RAM, 32GB memory, 8MP front and rear cameras and 4,000 mAh battery.

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Katy Perry becomes highest-earning female singer of 2015

EFT Report, Los Angeles: Singer Katy Perry has been named the highest-earning female musician of 2015, according to Forbes magazine.

The singer comes at the top of the Forbes list on Wednesday, after raking in $135 million this year, reports aceshowbiz.com.

During the "Prismatic" world tour, which she launched in support of her 2013 album "Prism", Perry played around 126 shows and grossed more than $2 million per city. 

Her income additionally came from her deals with CoverGirl, Coty and Claire's.

"I am proud of my position as a boss, as a person that runs my own company. I'm an entrepreneur... I don't want to shy away from it. I actually want to kind of grab it by its balls," the singer told Forbes earlier this year. 

Trailing behind Perry on the list is singer Taylor Swift, who nabbed the runner-up slot with $80 million, earned mostly from the "1989" tour that followed her 2014 album of the same title. 

Fleetwood Mac is placed third with $59.5 million. The band, which is eligible for the list for having Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie in the line-up, made over $1 million per city during their "On With the Show" tour. 

At number four is Lady Gaga, who earned $59 million from 66 shows she played during Forbes' scoring period, her deals with Versace and MAC as well as her own "Fame" fragrance. Beyonce Knowles closes out the top five with $54.5. million.

Here's the complete top 10 List of Forbes' Highest-Paidfemale musicians list:

1.Katy Perry - $135 million

2.Taylor Swift - $80 million

3.Fleetwood Mac - $59.5 million

4.Lady GaGa - $59 million

5.Beyonce Knowles - $54.5 million

6.Britney Spears - $31 million

7.Jennifer Lopez - $28.5 million

8.Miranda Lambert - $28.5 million

9.Mariah Carey - $27 million

10.Rihanna - $26 million

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TV star Kendall Jenner posted her nude photo on social media

EFT Report, Los Angeles: Model and reality TV star Kendall Jenner flashed her breast in a black-and-white image that she shared with her fans on social media.

She labelled it as her "favorite", reports aceshowbiz.com.

Jenner pulled down her tank top to display her blurred-out nipple, which has a super-imposed 'X' on it. 

"My favorite photo of myself for all 40 mill of you. genuine happiness ...taken by lil Ky @490tx," she captioned the image. 

Lil Ky happens to be Moises Arias, who starred on Disney's "Hannah Montana".

Kendall has often flaunted her enviable body as a ramp model. She gained attention at Marc Jacobs' fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2014 with her sheer top that revealed all. 

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Game Of Thrones' Hodor to attend Delhi Comic Con 2015

EFT Report, New Delhi: “Game of Thrones” star Kristian Nairn, known for his portrayal as the giant Hodor in the popular fantasy drama TV series, will visit India in December to attend the Delhi Comic Con (DCC) 2015. He says he can’t wait to meet the show's fans in India.

Nairn, who has etched a special place amid the blood and gore of the HBO series as a simple-minded gentle giant with only one-word dialogue "Hodor”, will be attending, taking special sessions, signing posters and speaking to fans at the fifth edition of DCC.

It will be held December 4-6 at NSIC Grounds, Okhla, here. 

“I'm really excited and looking forward to attend Indian Comic Con in Delhi. I can’t wait to meet all the fans of 'Game of Thrones', will see you all soon in December," Nairn, a Northern Irish actor and DJ, said in a statement.

Nairn is not the only highlight of the DCC 2015. 

International personalities and comic book guests like Rob Denbleyker, author of "Cyanide" and "Happiness"; Canadian comic book artist and writer Ty Templeton, and Dinesh Shamdasani, CEO, Valiant Entertainment, will be attending and taking special sessions as well.

The edition will feature over 250 exhibitors, including artists, writers and creators from across India and abroad. 

Jatin Varma, founder of Comic Con India, said fans should gear up for a ride full of surprises. 

“I'm extremely excited to unveil the fifth edition of Delhi Comic Con, especially coming after a gap of 22 months... This year, we have tons of surprises lined up and we hope to make it the best weekend of the year for all our visitors,” Varma said. 

For the sheer love for comics, around 12 new titles will get launched at the convention. There will be international exhibitors like Marvel Comics by Hachette India, DC, Dark Horse and Vertigo Comics by Random House India. 

Earlier this year, “Game of Thrones” star Daniel Portman attended Bangalore Comic Con 2015, while last year, actor Mark Gatiss -- known for TV series “Sherlock” - brought the world of the popular detective to India via Mumbai Film and Comic Con 2014.

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Lily Aldridge to flaunt US$2mn fantasy bra on ramp

EFT Report, New York: Victoria's Secret model Lily Aldridge is set to wear a $2 million fantasy bra at this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show held on December 8 here. She hopes it will be a special experience.

The 29-year-old model will do the catwalk at the annual event in the extravagant set studded with 6,500 precious gemstones by the jeweller Swiss Mouawad.

"I'm not scared, I'm super excited and I'm anxious to just get on the runway and wear it and be in that moment. Some of the girls who have worn it in the past are just like, 'Enjoy every moment of it'. It's such a special experience and I'm really excited," Aldridge told people.com.

She found out she had been chosen to wear the bra and matching knicker set four months ago but wasn't allowed to tell anyone apart from her husband Caleb Followill, who was thrilled.

"He was so proud, he was so excited. He sent me flowers," she said.

This will be the first time Aldridge has worn the extravagant set, which was previously worn by model Alessandra Ambrosio.

Singer Rihanna, Selena Gomez and The Weekend are set to perform at this year's annual show.

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JP Morgan to pay US$100 mn to consumers

EFT Report, Los Angeles: JP Morgan Chase & Co., the largest bank in the US, will pay $100 million to settle a lawsuit over using illegal methods to collect debts from more than 125,000 credit card holders in southern California and elsewhere.

The largest US bank by assets will pay an estimated $10 million to consumers in California as part of a previously announced $50 million national agreement, and will pay another $50 million in penalties to the state to settle the 2013 lawsuit, which was filed in a court in Los Angeles, Xinhua reported.

"We are pleased to resolve these legacy issues with the California Attorney General and we are working to complete our remediation of affected card customers," Suzanne Alexander, a bank spokeswoman, said.

The settlement specifically addresses debt collection wrongdoing that includes collecting incorrect amounts, selling bad credit card debt, and running a debt collection mill that involved illegally "robo-signing" thousands of court documents and improperly obtaining default judgments against military service members, state Attorney General Kamala Harris said.

The settlement includes reimbursing military members in cases where the company improperly obtained default judgments.

The judgment, which is subject to court approval, includes terms that fundamentally change Chase's credit card debt-collection practices to prevent similar misconduct in the future, Harris said.

Between 2009 and 2013, Chase filed more than 125,000 credit card collection lawsuits against California consumers relying on illegally robo-signed sworn documents and provided an additional 30,000 robo-signed sworn statements in support of lawsuits filed against California consumers by third-party debt-collectors, according to court documents.

Chase also made systematic calculation errors regarding the amounts owed, and sold "zombie debts" to third-party debt-collectors that included accounts that were inaccurate, settled, discharged in bankruptcy, not owed, or otherwise not collectable, Harris said.

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Sun Pharma acquires US 'InSite Vision'

EFT Report, Chennai: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd on Tuesday said it has successfully completed the acquisition of US-based ophthalmic drug maker InSite Vision Inc.

In a statement, Sun Pharma said the acquisition was completed by means of a short-form merger under Delaware law.

Post the short-form merger, Insite has become an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Sun Pharma, the statement added.

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