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Rolls-Royce to cut 2,600 jobs over next 18 months

Rolls-Royce has announced it is planning to cut 2,600 jobs over the next 18 months.

The company said most of the jobs would go in its aerospace division, with most of the posts being shed in 2015.

It is not clear where the cuts will be made from Rolls-Royce’s global workforce of 55,000, 24,000 of whom are in the UK.

The company’s chief executive John Rishton said: “The measures announced today will not be the last, however they will contribute towards Rolls-Royce becoming a stronger and more profitable company.”

Last month, Rolls warned that its underlying revenues for 2014 would be 3.5-to-4% lower than expected.

Rolls-Royce has announced it is planning to cut 2,600 jobs over the next 18 months
Rolls-Royce has announced it is planning to cut 2,600 jobs over the next 18 months

The company said voluntary redundancy would be offered, although it could not rule out compulsory redundancies.

The company’s UK staff are employed at four locations in the East Midlands, as well as 1,500 at five sites in the North West and 2,400 employees at six locations across Scotland.

The two largest sites are in Bristol and Derby.

Rolls-Royce said it had become more efficient, and cited the fact a large engineering team, needed for the development phase of two Trent engines, were no longer needed as both these were now in production.

That would point to job losses in Derby, where the Trent engines, used by many international airlines, are built.

Rolls-Royce is the second largest aero-engine maker in the world.

The company has customers in more than 120 countries, including more than 380 airlines and leasing firms, 160 armed forces, 4,000 marine customers including 70 navies, and 1,600 energy and nuclear customers.

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Phil Robertson campaigns for nephew Zach Dasher on Hannity show

Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson appeared on Sean Hannity show on Fox News on Monday night to talk about nephew Zach Dasher’s Senate race.

Republican candidate Zach Dasher is trying to unseat Rep. Vance McAllister, who benefited from the Robertson family endorsement during last year’s special election in Louisiana.

Zach Dasher and Phil Robertson talked about the role of God in American politics.

“Religion, morality and freedom. It’s the only way to go,” Phil Robertson said.

Louisiana Republican candidate Zach Dasher is Phil Robertson’s nephew
Louisiana Republican candidate Zach Dasher is Phil Robertson’s nephew

Zach Dasher has embraced his position as the most conservative candidate running in the 5th District. He believes Americans’ rights come from God. He said America is not living by the values set forth in the Declaration of Independence and allowing federal takeover of American life.

“The reason we’ve shredded our Constitution is because we’ve shredded the Declaration of Independence, which tells us where our rights come from. They come from the Creator,” Zach Dasher said.

Phil Robertson’s appearance on Hannity showed he’s doing all he can for Zach Dasher. He also appears in two television ads running in the district where he talks about Zach Dasher’s character.

Zach Dasher is hoping his family’s star power and strong following can help him make the run off. The race is expected to be very close.

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Midterm elections 2014: Greg Orman vs. Pat Roberts in Kansas

Kansas might elect an independent candidate, businessman Greg Orman, who is looking strong in a battle against Republican incumbent Senator Pat Roberts.

Kansas has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932, and will not again in 2014.

The Democratic Party removed its candidate from the ballot, deeming Greg Orman the best chance at unseating Pat Roberts.

Pat Roberts was first elected to the Senate in 1996, and has not faced a challenge this tough since.

Independent Greg Orman is looking strong in Kansas battle against Republican incumbent Senator Pat Roberts
Independent Greg Orman is looking strong in Kansas battle against Republican incumbent Senator Pat Roberts

He is among the more conservative members of the Senate, according to an analysis by GovTrack, which is not necessarily a liability in a state that pioneered anti-abortion politics, has one of the most conservative governors in the country, and has not voted for a Democrat since 1964.

Pat Roberts’ political opponents have portrayed him as out of touch with his constituents, playing up a report that he did not own a home in Kansas and had scant ties to the state.

Greg Orman has not said which party he would caucus with if elected, suggesting he will side with whichever has the majority.

As polls suggest Greg Orman is leading Pat Roberts, Republicans have sought to portray him as a Democrat in all but name and highlighted his business connections with Rajat Gupta, who was of convicted securities fraud.

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Midterm elections 2014: Joni Ernst vs. Bruce Braley in Iowa

In Iowa, Republican Senator Joni Ernst and Democratic Congressman Bruce Braley are vying for the Senate seat left vacant by the retirement of long-time Democratic Senator Tom Harkin.

Joni Ernst is a military veteran and has served in the Iowa senate since 2011. She opposes a national federal minimum wage, supported an anti-abortion law that would define foetuses as legal persons, and calls for the repeal of Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul.

Republican Senator Joni Ernst and Democratic Congressman Bruce Braley are vying for Iowa Senate seat left vacant by the retirement of long-time Democratic Senator Tom Harkin
Republican Senator Joni Ernst and Democratic Congressman Bruce Braley are vying for Iowa Senate seat left vacant by the retirement of long-time Democratic Senator Tom Harkin

Bruce Braley, a lawyer who has represented the north-eastern part of the state in Congress since 2007, was initially projected to win the seat.

However, Joni Ernst has leapt on a video that surfaced in which Bruce Braley appeared to denigrate Iowa’s sitting senator Chuck Grassley as a mere farmer, rather than a lawyer.

Also, Joni Ernst has made the most of a dispute Bruce Braley had with a neighbor at his vacation property over chickens she allowed to roam free across his land.

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Midterm elections 2014: Michelle Nunn vs. David Perdue in Georgia

In Georgia, non-profit executive Michelle Nunn and businessman David Perdue are running for a senate seat left empty by the retirement of Republican Saxby Chambliss.

Michelle Nunn, who until recently was the chief executive of Points of Light, a charity focused on volunteering, is the daughter of long-time Senator Sam Nunn. She is trying to become the first Democratic senator elected in Georgia since 2000 and has run on a platform of targeted spending cuts, immigration reform and a lifetime ban on members of Congress becoming lobbyists.

Non-profit executive Michelle Nunn and businessman David Perdue are running for Georgia senate seat left empty by the retirement of Republican Saxby Chambliss
Non-profit executive Michelle Nunn and businessman David Perdue are running for Georgia senate seat left empty by the retirement of Republican Saxby Chambliss

David Perdue, a business executive, has campaigned on a complete overhaul of America’s income tax system and disbanding the US education department. Like most Republicans, he has come out strongly in opposition to Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul.

The Georgia Senate race is rare in that it features two candidates who have never held public office and thus have no voting records.

The race has turned extremely negative. David Perdue has run adverts accusing Michelle Nunn’s charity of funding terrorists.

Michelle Nunn’s line of attack features a quote from David Perdue in which he said in a court case that had had spent most of his business career “outsourcing” US jobs.

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Midterm elections 2014: Cory Gardner vs. Mark Udall in Colorado

In Colorado, Republican Congressman Cory Gardner hopes to unseat Democratic Senator Mark Udall in a race that highlights the state’s geographic and cultural divisions.

Cory Gardner represents the eastern, rural part of Colorado in the US House, while Mark Udall is a first-term senator from the liberal enclave of Boulder. According to the political forecasting website 538.com, the ideological divide between the two candidates is the largest of any competitive Senate race.

Republican Congressman Cory Gardner hopes to unseat Democratic Senator Mark Udall
Republican Congressman Cory Gardner hopes to unseat Democratic Senator Mark Udall

Mark Udall, the son of long-time liberal Democratic Congressman Mo Udall, ran Outward Bound, a company that sponsors outdoor activities for children and teens and spent ten years in the House of Representatives before his election to the Senate in 2008. He has focused his race on the environment and his experience working with both senators of both parties, and has sought to portray Cory Gardner as an extremist, particularly on abortion.

Cory Gardner was first elected to Congress in 2010 after representing the area in the state legislature. He hails from a prominent family of tractor dealers.

The Colorado lawmaker has attempted to moderate his conservative platform of spending cuts and increased US energy production with a pro-conservation stance to appeal to outdoor-minded Coloradans.

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Midterm elections 2014: Mark Pryor vs. Tom Cotton in Arkansas

In Arkansas, Democrat Senator Mark Pryor is running for re-election against Republican Tom Cotton, a freshman congressman.

Mark Pryor was elected to the Senate in 2002 after stints as Arkansas’ attorney general and in the state legislature. He is a centrist Democrat who sometimes crosses the aisle to join Republicans, for instance by opposing a bill to raise the federal minimum wage. He voted for Barack Obama’s signature 2010 healthcare overhaul, which is roundly despised by the Republicans.

Democrat Senator Mark Pryor is running for re-election against Republican Tom Cotton in Arkansas
Democrat Senator Mark Pryor is running for re-election against Republican Tom Cotton in Arkansas

Tom Cotton, a Harvard-educated lawyer who served as an Army officer in Afghanistan and Iraq, is among the most conservative members of the House.

In the past decade the Republican Party has taken control of the Arkansas state legislature and won five out of the six federal offices, with Mark Pryor the last Democrat representing the state in Washington. That leaves Mark Pryor among the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents of this election cycle.

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Midterm elections 2014: Kay Hagan vs. Thom Tillis in North Carolina

In North Carolina, Democratic Senator Kay Hagan faces Republican Thom Tillis, the speaker of the state House of Representatives, in the most expensive race of the election cycle.

Kay Hagan was elected in 2008, aided in a conservative state by voters lured to the polls to cast a ballot for Barack Obama. A moderate Democrat who has largely supported the president’s agenda, Kay Hagan is now trying to distance herself from him by proposing changes to those policies or emphasizing the differences between the two of them.

Democratic Senator Kay Hagan faces Republican Thom Tillis, the speaker of the state House of Representatives, in the most expensive race of the election cycle
Democratic Senator Kay Hagan faces Republican Thom Tillis, the speaker of the state House of Representatives, in the most expensive race of the election cycle

Thom Tillis has pitched himself as a moderate on some issues, for instance supporting prescription-free access to birth control.

However, Thom Hagan has attacked his record leading a state legislature that passed very conservative laws including abortion restrictions, limits on ballot access and voter registration, and cuts to the state education budget.

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Mexico missing students: Iguala Mayor Jose Luis Abarca and wife arrested

The fugitive mayor of the Mexican town of Iguala, where 43 students went missing in September, has been arrested, officials announce.

Jose Luis Abarca was detained by federal police officers in the capital, Mexico City, a police spokesman said.

Mexican officials have accused Jose Luis Abarca of ordering police to confront the students on the day of their disappearance on September 26.

Eyewitnesses described seeing them being bundled into police cars.

Federal police spokesman Jose Ramon Salinas confirmed the arrest of Jose Luis Abarca and his wife Maria de los Angeles Pineda on Twitter.

Mexican officials had issued an arrest warrant for Jose Luis Abarca and Maria de los Angeles Pineda after Iguala police officers said they had received an order from the mayor to intercept the students.

The officers said they had been told to stop the students from interrupting a speech given by Maria de los Angeles Pineda in Iguala on that day.

The students, from a nearby teacher training college, had travelled to Iguala to raise funds and protest.

They have not been seen since. A search has uncovered a series of mass graves in the area, but initial tests suggested they were not those of the students.

Iguala Mayor Jose Luis Abarca and his wife Maria de los Angeles Pineda were detained by federal police officers in Mexico City
Iguala Mayor Jose Luis Abarca and his wife Maria de los Angeles Pineda were detained by federal police officers in Mexico City

Since then, more bodies have been uncovered and officials have cast doubt on the accuracy of the initial tests.

More forensic tests are currently being carried out.

Jose Luis Abarca and Maria de los Angeles Pineda were arrested in a flat they had rented in Mexico City, media reports said.

They did not resist the arrest.

They have been taken for questioning. Officials hope they will be able to shed light on the whereabouts of the students.

The events of September 26 have shocked Mexicans and have led to mass protests demanding that the authorities do more to find the missing students.

The 43 were part of a larger group which had gone to Iguala to protest against what they said were discriminatory hiring practices.

The students all attended a teacher training college in Ayotzinapa with a history of left-wing activism, and their presence in Iguala raised alarm bells with the local authorities.

When the students boarded busses to return to their college, they were stopped by police – allegedly on the orders of Mayor Jose Luis Abarca.

The officers opened fire and killed three students and three people in nearby vehicles.

They stopped one busload of students trying to flee and took them to a local police station.

According to police officers detained as part of the investigation, they then handed the students over to a local drugs gang.

The gang’s leader, who has also been arrested, says he ordered the students be “made to disappear”, after having been told they belonged to a rival gang.

However, he did not specify further what happened to them.

The gang leader also accused Maria de los Angeles Pineda of being “the main operator of criminal activities in Iguala”.

The relatives of the missing students said on November 3 that “no progress” had been made in the search for the 43 and expressed their anger over the slow pace of the investigation.

The governor of the state of Guerrero, where Iguala is located, resigned last month over the disappearances.

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Ukraine rebel elections: Petro Poroshenko threatens to scrap autonomy deal

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko will chair a crisis meeting of security chiefs, after a rebel-held vote that he said jeopardized “the entire peace process”.

Petro Poroshenko proposed scrapping a law, agreed under the September 5 truce deal, which gives special status to the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk areas.

Two pro-Russian leaders were declared the winners of Sunday’s polls.

Under the terms of the truce, Ukraine was meant to hold elections in the two regions in December.

The West says the rebel-held elections are illegal but Russia is backing them.

More than 4,000 people have been killed in fighting in eastern Ukraine since April.

Ukraine accuses Russia of arming the rebels and sending Russian regular troops across the border – a claim denied by Moscow.

Addressing the nation on TV late Monday, President Petro Poroshenko said he would hold a meeting of Ukraine’s Security and Defense Council on Tuesday to propose abolishing the law granting special self-government to rebel-held areas.

Petro Poroshenko described the November 2 “pseudo-elections” in Donetsk and Luhansk as a “farce at gunpoint” which would never be recognized as legitimate.

Sunday’s polls, he said, were “a gross violation” of the Minsk agreement – a roadmap to a peaceful settlement agreed by Ukraine, Russia, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and also rebel delegations.

“We demonstrated to residents of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as to the whole world, that we are sincere in our desire for political settlement,” he said.

“The militants refused this opportunity.”

Ukraine and the West have always insisted the rebel territories must abide by the Minsk deal and hold the local elections under Ukrainian law in December.

The US said it condemned the “illegitimate, so-called <<elections>> held on Sunday” and was “concerned by a Russian foreign ministry statement that seeks to legitimize [them]”.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the polls were “a new obstacle on the path towards peace”, while Germany said Russia’s backing of the vote was “incomprehensible”.

President Petro Poroshenko will chair a crisis meeting of security chiefs after rebel-held vote jeopardized the entire peace process
President Petro Poroshenko will chair a crisis meeting of security chiefs after rebel-held vote jeopardized the entire peace process

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert, warned Russia could face further sanctions as a result of its position.

Russia earlier said it respected “the will of the people of the south-east”. It called for a “sustainable dialogue” between the authorities in Kiev and the rebels.

Results released on November 3 showed Alexander Zakharchenko, the self-declared prime minister in Donetsk, had won the poll to become the head of the region. His party also came first in the parliamentary election.

In Luhansk, the incumbent rebel prime minister, Igor Plotnitsky, was declared the winner.

They are both expected to be officially sworn in later on Tuesday.

Both sides have repeatedly violated the ceasefire agreed in September.

The separatist insurrection erupted in the east after Russia annexed Ukraine’s southern Crimea peninsula, weeks after Ukraine’s pro-Russian President, Viktor Yanukovych, was forced out of office by mass protests in Kiev.

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Miley Cyrus dating Patrick Schwarzenegger?

Miley Cyrus was spotted leaving the apartment of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son, Patrick, on Halloween day.

Patrick Schwarzenegger, 21, is a student at USC and a model.

Sources told ET that the rumors Miley Cyrus and Patrick Schwarzenegger are dating are absolutely true.

Patrick Schwarzenegger and Miley Cyrus went on several dates together in 2011
Patrick Schwarzenegger and Miley Cyrus went on several dates together in 2011

Miley Cyrus and Patrick Schwarzenegger were originally connected in 2011 when he revealed to Details Magazine – despite dating Tallulah Willis at the time – that his “eye is set on Miley”.

The two young stars went on several dates together later that year after Miley Cyrus allegedly snatched his number from mutual friend Selena Gomez.

Miley Cyrus has kept mum about her personal life since splitting from ex-fiancé, Liam Hemsworth, last year.

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Simply Red to reunite in 2015 for anniversary tour

Simply Red will reunite in 2015 for a 30th anniversary tour, five years on from their last performance.

“I like an anniversary and this is a big one,” Mick Hucknall said.

“It feels like the right time.”

Simply Red, whose hits include Holding Back the Years and Money’s Too Tight to Mention, signed off in December 2010 with a “farewell concert” at the O2 Arena in London.

Simply Red will reunite in 2015, five years on from their last performance
Simply Red will reunite in 2015, five years on from their last performance

The band will play 35 European dates in 2015 starting in Denmark on October 20.

The Big Love tour will take in 10 cities in Germany and eight other countries before going to the UK and Ireland for 14 dates.

The comeback will come to an end with two dates at London’s O2, almost five years to the day from their last appearance there.

The line-up will include the long-time Simply Red members saxophonist Ian Kirkham, guitarist Kenji Suzuki and bass player Steve Lewinson.

In a hand-written note on the band’s website, Mick Hucknall said: “Hello everyone. Am happy to celebrate with you our 30 years in music.

“We hope you’re gonna enjoy the shows as much as we will. See you there!”

Formed in 1985, Simply Red sold more than 50 million albums. The band’s name was inspired by Mick Hucknall’s love of Manchester United, his left-leaning political affiliations and the color of his hair.

Mick Hucknall, now 54, went solo after the split and released a collection of American soul covers in 2012.

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Midterm elections 2014: Six Senate races to watch

North Carolina – Kay Hagan vs. Thom Tillis

Arkansas – Mark Pryor vs. Tom Cotton

Colorado – Mark Udall vs. Cory Gardner

Colorado Senator Mark Udall and his challenger, Representative Cory Gardner
Colorado Senator Mark Udall and his challenger, Representative Cory Gardner (photo The Denver Post)

Georgia – Michelle Nunn vs. David Perdue

Iowa – Joni Ernst vs. Bruce Braley

Kansas – Greg Orman vs. Pat Roberts

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Midterm elections 2014: Millions of Americans prepare to vote

Millions of Americans are preparing to vote in midterm elections which will decide who controls the Senate and pave the way for the 2016 race for the White House.

Polling booths open on Tuesday, November 4, beginning 06:00 Eastern time.

The Republicans, who already control the House of Representatives, need to gain just six seats to take the Senate.

Meanwhile the Democrats are battling to stay ahead as President Barack Obama’s approval ratings fall to the lowest they have been since he was elected.

Many analysts predict a Republican victory as Barack Obama’s popularity rate fails to climb much above 40%, despite recent improvements in the economy.

“This is a referendum on the president,” Republican senator and potential 2016 presidential candidate Rand Paul told NBC’s Meet the Press at the weekend.

Democrats say their proven ability to rally their supporters ahead of elections could still give them the advantage.

“Grab everybody you know, get them out to vote, don’t stay home, don’t let somebody else choose your future for you,” Barack Obama said during a campaign rally on November 2.

Without the focus of a presidential campaign, the midterms – which are named because they fall in the middle of a presidential term – typically see a low voter turnout.

Millions of Americans are preparing to vote in midterm elections which will decide who controls the Senate and pave the way for the 2016 race for the White House
Millions of Americans are preparing to vote in midterm elections which will decide who controls the Senate and pave the way for the 2016 race for the White House

They also typically favor the party that is not in power.

This year, a little over a third of the 100-seat Senate, all 435 members of the House of Representatives, 36 out of 50 state governors, and countless state and local offices are up for election.

The most closely watched action will be the races that will determine control of the upper chamber of Congress, the Senate.

The Democrats currently hold a five-seat majority in the Senate, meaning the Republicans need only six seats to take control.

As the Republicans already have a convincing hold over the lower House of Representatives, a win in the Senate would give them the power to shut down Barack Obama’s policies in the last two years of his term.

Aside from Barack Obama’s unpopularity, there is no single issue that dominates this midterm poll.

Instead voters will be swayed by a broad variety of concerns including the economy, the environment, immigration, foreign policy, abortion and healthcare.

The most competitive Senate races are expected to take place in the states of North Carolina, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa and Kansas.

Across the board, voters have expressed their dissatisfaction with both parties’ inability to co-operate in Congress and the resulting gridlock this has caused.

If the Republicans do win control of the Senate, the day-to-day running of the chamber will become the responsibility of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, should he win his own tough campaign for re-election.

As the country then shifts its focus to the 2016 presidential election, Barack Obama is likely to find it increasingly hard to operate as his term draws to a close, analysts say.

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Uncle Poodle wants Honey Boo Boo’s custody

Uncle Poodle will file for Honey Boo Boo’s custody if things get worse with June Shannon.

Uncle Poodle and his fiancé Alan have researched the ground rules for winning temporary custody, the gossip website reports. They say they have the financial wherewithal to support 9-year-old Honey Boo Boo, and they’re getting a new, larger apartment with a spare bedroom.

Uncle Poodle will file for Honey Boo Boo’s custody if things get worse with June Shannon
Uncle Poodle will file for Honey Boo Boo’s custody if things get worse with June Shannon

The gay couple is ready to file for temporary custody if June Shannon does not completely sever her relationship with child molester Mark McDaniel.

Uncle Poodle and Alan will not ask for permanent custody because they’d like to see Sugar Bear eventually care for Honey Boo Boo when he gets back on his feet financially.

They will not ask for 14-year-old Pumpkin’s custody as she hates them.
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Diana Ross snatches attendee’s phone during Miami Make-A-Wish Ball performance

Diana Ross shocked a fan on Saturday night at the InterContinental Miami MAKE-A-WISH Ball when she stopped mid-performance and snatched the attendee’s phone because it was distracting her.

An insider at the ball told FOX411: “[She said] <<Darling, I can’t see with that flash>>.”

Diana Ross at the InterContinental Miami MAKE-A-WISH Ball
Diana Ross at the InterContinental Miami MAKE-A-WISH Ball

Diana Ross, 70, then quickly turned off the phone’s camera flash setting and returned it to the stunned audience member. She then resumed performing her classic dance hits.

Nine hundred guests paid $1,000-per-plate for the exclusive dinner. The money was used to support Make-A-Wish Southern Florida and attendees included some famous faces like director Brett Ratner and Scottie Pippen.

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Amanda Bynes loses bid to win back control of her financial affairs

Amanda Bynes has lost her bid to win back control of her financial affairs from her parents.

A lawyer representing Amanda Bynes was shut down in court on October 31, because, under the terms of her parents’ conservatorship, the troubled actress lacks the capacity to enter into a binding contract with a legal representative.

For this reason, the conservatorship which Amanda Bynes’ parents won earlier in October stays in place.

Amanda Bynes’ parents were in court for the hearing. The actress, who was released from a psychiatric hospital on October 30, was not.

Amanda Bynes has lost her bid to win back control of her financial affairs from her parents
Amanda Bynes has lost her bid to win back control of her financial affairs from her parents (photo Instagram)

According to TMZ, Amanda Bynes was spotted dining out at a Hollywood restaurant miles from the courthouse just minutes before the emergency hearing was scheduled.

Amanda Bynes, 28, tweeted her intention to win back control from her parents on October 31, writing: “I am going to court today with my lawyer to prove that I am more than capable of handling my personal life and finances and I am enraged.”

Her lawyer, Artemio M. Santiago, was removed as her legal representative by the judge, who ruled court-appointed David Esquibias will continue to serve as her sole attorney.

Amanda Bynes was involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital on October 10 following concerns about her erratic behavior and mental state.

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Hyundai and Kia to pay $100 million settlement for overstating fuel economy

Hyundai and Kia have agreed to pay a record $100 million settlement for overstating the fuel economy of their cars, the US regulators announce.

The South Korean carmakers were accused of overstating the fuel efficiency of 1.2 million vehicles.

The penalty is the largest ever paid for violation of the Clean Air Act, according to regulators.

“We are pleased to put this behind us,” said Hyundai US chief David Zuchowski, in a statement.

In November 2012, the two carmakers admitted to having overstated the fuel economy of their cars by up to six miles per gallon.

Hyundai and Kia have agreed to pay a record $100 million settlement for overstating the fuel economy of their cars
Hyundai and Kia have agreed to pay a record $100 million settlement for overstating the fuel economy of their cars

This, in turn, meant that the companies underreported the cars’ greenhouse gas emissions to the US Environmental Protection Agency by around 4.75 million metric tons.

As a result, Hyundai and Kia will also be forced to forfeit emissions credits for the difference between the original and the overstated data – worth approximately $200 million.

“This unprecedented resolution with Hyundai and Kia underscores the Justice Department’s firm commitment to safeguarding American consumers, ensuring fairness in every marketplace, protecting the environment, and relentlessly pursuing companies that make misrepresentations and violate the law,” said US Attorney General Eric Holder in a statement announcing the settlement.

Shares in both Hyundai and Kia declined nearly 6% in trading after markets had closed.

The allegations concern the Hyundai Accent, Elantra, Veloster and Santa Fe vehicles and the Kia Rio and Soul models.

Brittany Maynard died: Terminally ill cancer patient ends life in Oregon

Terminally ill cancer patient Brittany Maynard, whose viral YouTube video reignited the debate on assisted-suicide, ended her life on November 1.

Brittany Maynard, 29, and her husband moved from California to Oregon, where assisted-suicide has been legal since 1997.

Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act allows terminally ill residents to obtain lethal prescriptions from doctors.

Since 1997, 1,173 people were granted lethal prescriptions and 752 patients used it to end their own lives.

Brittany Maynard, who was suffering from a terminal brain cancer, died at home after administering lethal drugs.

She died “in the arms of her loved ones,” a spokesman for the campaign group Compassion & Choices said.

Brittany Maynard suffered from a terminal brain cancer
Brittany Maynard suffered from a terminal brain cancer

Sean Crowley said Brittany Maynard was suffering from increasingly severe seizures and head and neck pains which had at times limited her ability to speak.

Following months of treatment and a worsening prognosis, Brittany Maynard made the decision to use Oregon’s laws to obtain a lethal dose of medication which she kept “until the time is right,” as she said in her video.

She received the lethal medication several months ago, and last week in a video posted to her website she said that she was considering delaying her plan.

“I still feel good enough and I still have enough joy and I still laugh and smile with my family and friends enough that it doesn’t seem like the right time right now,” Brittany Maynard said.

“But it will come, because I feel myself getting sicker.”

Brittany Maynard’s first video went viral and has attracted more than 9 million views on YouTube.

In it she said that she first started experiencing the headaches shortly after getting married.

Assisted suicide is controversial in the US, where it faces staunch opposition from Christian campaign groups, among others.

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Russel Rebello: Last Costa Concordia victim found in ship wreck

The remains of the last victim of the Costa Concordia’s 2012 capsize has been found in the ship wreck, Italian officials have said.

Workers for the salvage company recovered the body from a cabin and handed it to the authorities to be identified.

They believe it is Indian waiter Russel Rebello, the last of 32 victims to be recovered from the wreck.

The Costa Concordia partially sank in January 2012 after it hit a reef off the Italian island of Giglio.

The Concordia was finally raised from the sea in July and towed to Genoa to be scrapped.

The captain, Francesco Schettino, is on trial for manslaughter and abandoning ship, charges he denies.

The remains of the last victim of the Costa Concordia's 2012 capsize has been found in the ship wreck
The remains of the last victim of the Costa Concordia’s 2012 capsize has been found in the ship wreck

This is the third time local officials have said Russel Rebello’s remains might have been found.

Tests on the other two occasions determined that the remains were not his.

This time, his brother Kevin said on Facebook he believed Russel was now coming home to India.

“I promised my family that I would bring back home my brother some day. When was the biggest question,” Kevin Rebello said.

“Finally, my younger brother’s body has been found.

“Thanks to everyone who prayed and believed that one day he would be found.”

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One World Trade Center opens for business 13 years after 9/11 attacks

New York’s World Trade Center has re-opened for business more than 13 years after the original towers were destroyed in the 9/11 attacks.

Employees at publishing giant Conde Nast are starting to move into the 104-storey One World Trade Center.

The $3.8 billion skyscraper took eight years to build and is now the tallest building in the US.

It is 60% leased and the government’s General Services Administration has signed up for 275,000 square feet.

“The New York City skyline is whole again,” Patrick Foye, executive director of the Port Authority, which owns the restored site, said in a statement.

The 1,776ft tall skyscraper is at the centre of the site, which includes a memorial in the footprints of the old towers and a museum, opened this year.

New York's World Trade Center has re-opened for business more than 13 years after the original towers were destroyed in the 9/11 attacks
New York’s World Trade Center has re-opened for business more than 13 years after the original towers were destroyed in the 9/11 attacks (photo AP)

An observation deck at the top of the building will eventually be open to the public.

Patrick Foye added the building was “the most secure office building in America”.

TJ Gottesdiener of the Skidmore, Owings & Merrill company that produced the final design said the high-rise went beyond the city’s existing building code, and was built with steel-inforced concrete.

About 170 of Conde Nast’s employees will be moving into the building this week, filling five floors. About 3,000 more employees will join them in early 2015.

Space has also been leased to the advertising firm Kids Creative, the GSA, and 191,000 sq ft for the China Center, a trade and cultural space.

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Microsoft stops selling retail copies of Windows 7 and Windows 8

Microsoft officially stopped selling retail copies of both Windows 7 and Windows 8 on October 31.

The date to stop selling the software was set some time ago and should help Microsoft move people on to more recent versions of its operating system.

Separately, statistics suggest people are finally moving away from some very old versions of Windows.

The next version of Windows, called Windows 10, is due to be released in late 2015.

From October 31, consumers could no longer buy copies of the Home Basic, Home Premium and Ultimate versions of Windows 7. Now, Windows 8 is also no longer available. The change affects both copies bought in shops or loaded on PCs and laptops.

The current version of Windows, 8.1, will be the default version offered on PCs.

Microsoft officially stopped selling retail copies of both Windows 7 and Windows 8 on October 31
Microsoft officially stopped selling retail copies of both Windows 7 and Windows 8 on October 31

The change will take time to feed through into the market, as many PC makers have large stocks of older versions of Windows and will continue to sell PCs running the software.

Those keen to get a computer running Windows 7 will be able to “downgrade” from 8.1 to Windows 7 Professional but relatively few PC firms offer this option.

The original version of Windows 8 did not prove popular because it did away with some familiar elements of the desktop version of the operating system.

Windows 7 has been available since late 2009 and is still very popular among users. About 53% of Windows users are on the various editions of Version 7 of Windows. The more recently released Windows 8 has only grabbed a 6% market share and has already been surpassed by 8.1.

Separately, market analysis reveals that the numbers of people using the venerable Windows XP operating system has suddenly seen a sharp decline. Data from Netmarketshare suggests that in October this year its share dropped from almost 24% to just over 17%.

Nightcrawler and Ouija Top North American Box Office over Halloween Weekend

Nightcrawler and Ouija topped the North American box office on Halloween weekend, with both films taking $10.9 million.

The weekend takings for crime thriller Nightcrawler, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal as an ambulance-chasing freelance cameraman, were ahead by just $8,700 according to studio estimates.

However, the two films could swap places once the final takings are confirmed.

Nightcrawler stars Jake Gyllenhaal as an ambulance-chasing freelance cameraman
Nightcrawler stars Jake Gyllenhaal as an ambulance-chasing freelance cameraman

Horror movie Ouija is based on the board game used by some to try and contact the dead.

The low-budget supernatural horror was last week’s number one and is games company Hasbro’s first venture into the film industry.

Brad Pitt’s World War Two film Fury was in third place with an estimated $9.1 million, while Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike’s thriller Gone Girl was still performing well in fourth place, four weeks after its release.

Director David Fincher’s take on Gillian Flynn’s best-selling book took $8.8 million over the weekend, while animated adventure The Book of Life was in fifth place with $8.3 million.

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Sadashiv Amrapurkar dies from lung infection at 64

Bollywood actor Sadashiv Amrapurkar has died aged 64.

Sadashiv Amrapurkar made his name playing villainous characters in Bollywood movie.

The actor was being treated for a lung infection at a hospital in Mumbai, his family said.

Sadashiv Amrapurkar had won the prestigious Filmfare award for playing the role of a ruthless eunuch in the 1991 film Sadak (Road).

Sadashiv Amrapurkar was known for his supporting and comic roles in a number of Bollywood films
Sadashiv Amrapurkar was known for his supporting and comic roles in a number of Bollywood films

His role in the off-beat film Adha Satya (Half Truth) had won him his first Filmfare award in 1984.

Sadashiv Amrapurkar was known for his supporting and comic roles in a number of Bollywood films, and had parts in several Marathi films too.

Some of his most acclaimed Bollywood performances were in Aankhen, Ishq, Coolie Number One and Gupt: The Hidden Truth.

Sadashiv Amrapurkar’s funeral will be held in Ahmednagar district in the western state of Maharashtra on Tuesday, his family said.

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Turkey: Migrant boat capsizes near Istanbul killing at least 24 people

Turkish rescuers have pulled 24 bodies from the Black Sea at the mouth of Istanbul’s Bosphorus strait and rescued seven people after a boat carrying migrants capsized, officials said.

The boat was carrying 42 Afghan migrants – including 12 children and seven women – and a Turkish captain, the Hurriyet news website reported. It was believed to have been heading for Bulgaria or Romania, but it was unclear where it set to sea.

Turkey is one of the main departure points for migrants aiming for the EU, but most travel across the Aegean to Greece.

The boats are often makeshift dinghies, usually overcrowded, with the migrants paying thousands of dollars to smugglers in Turkey.

Two months ago another group of migrants – mostly Syrians and Afghans – was rescued by the Turkish coastguard off the northern coast reportedly heading for the EU.

“The wind is making our task very difficult. The boat is a very small one. But they were carrying 40 people in it. We are seeing bodies of children floating in the sea,” rescuer Ali Saruhan told Hurriyet Daily News.

Turkish rescuers have pulled 24 bodies from the Black Sea at the mouth of Istanbul’s Bosphorus strait
Turkish rescuers have pulled 24 bodies from the Black Sea at the mouth of Istanbul’s Bosphorus strait (photo Hurriyet Daily News)

Seven coastguard vessels and a helicopter were conducting the search in the Black Sea, some 3 miles north of the Bosphorus, the coastguard said in a statement.

A fisherman who helped retrieve the bodies told Hurriyet that all were without life jackets. He said that babies were among the dead.

The official Anatolia news agency said that rescuers were alerted to the sinking by fishermen and arrived at the scene of the accident to find the vessel semi-submerged.

Correspondents say that it is not clear what caused the boat to sink, although overcrowding, bad weather conditions, the poor condition of the vessel or even a collision with another boat were all possibilities.

Since the start of the civil war in Syria, thousands of migrants have been trying to reach the EU by making the treacherous sea journey from the western and southern Turkish coast.

Tens of thousands of migrants have also attempted to cross the Greek and Bulgarian borders by land, Hurriyet says.

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