Toyota to unveil new Yaris at Paris Motor Show |
- Toyota to unveil new Yaris at Paris Motor Show
- Sin City emerges honeymoon capital of the world for Facebook couples
- Comic book legend Jack Kirby’s heirs settle with Marvel
- Artificial pitches could make return to English football
- Spanish prosecutors drop charges against Barcelona president
- Apple back on track with second wave of global iPhone rollout after drama-filled week
| Toyota to unveil new Yaris at Paris Motor Show Posted: 26 Sep 2014 05:58 PM PDT
Car fans in Paris will catch a glimpse of the third-generation Yaris, Toyota's latest entry in the highly competitive segment that includes the Renault Clio, the Volkswagen Polo and the Ford Fiesta. The most noticeable updates are on the front, which has taken on a larger grille and the same X-shaped design seen on the Aygo. Under the hood, Toyota offers a 1.0-litre three-cylinder fuel engine for average fuel consumption of 4.1l/100km over a combined driving cycle and CO2 emissions of around 95g/km. Due to launch in Europe just after the Paris Motor Show, the new Yaris will be offered in five different trim packages. Prices start at €13,500 (RM55,988) for the three-door and €14,100 for the five-door model, and at €19,200 for the hybrid version. Also in Paris, Toyota will stage the world premiere of the C-HR, a compact crossover concept intended to serve as the basis for future models. Toyota did not mention its possible off-road capabilities but explained that the C-HR combines "a new design language with an engaging driving experience and a hybrid powertrain." There is a chance that the model will become a production version with a more subtle exterior design. A hydrogen-powered sedan Toyota will also stage the highly anticipated European premiere of the finalised FCV, the Japanese brand's first hydrogen-powered fuel cell sedan. Due to launch in Japan next spring, the model will arrive in the US and Europe later in 2015. The FCV is based on a concept car presented in 2013 at the Tokyo Motor Show. Without releasing specific figures, Toyota claims its hydrogen-powered sedan will be comparable to a conventional fuel car in terms of performance and range. Refueling takes just three minutes, and the car emits nothing but the water vapor resulting from the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. Finally, visitors to the Toyota stand will also see the i-Road, a surprising compact urban vehicle with three wheels. Easy to manoeuvre, the i-Road leans into curves like a motorcycle. With a top speed of between 45 and 60 km/h and a range of around 50km, the model was selected by the city of Grenoble, France for an all-electric urban vehicle sharing program due to launch on October 1. ― AFP-Relaxnews   |
| Sin City emerges honeymoon capital of the world for Facebook couples Posted: 26 Sep 2014 05:55 PM PDT
Yes, surprisingly and unsurprisingly, according to Facebook check-ins, Las Vegas has emerged as the top honeymoon destination for global couples. That trend dips, however, among US newlyweds. For the report, honeymoon check-in figures were based on Facebook activity among couples who posted a marriage event in 2014 and checked into a new location within two weeks of their marriage date. Check-ins within 32 km of their homes were excluded. The results of the report also found that of all countries, South Korean honeymooners travel the greatest distance to fete their nuptials, at a median trip of nearly 6,440 km away from home. Koreans are followed by Italian and Qatari couples. According to Facebook statistics, US couples, meanwhile, are more likely to take staycation honeymoons, as only 19 percent of Facebook couples checked-in to an international location. After plotting out a graph of honeymoon destinations, the chart revealed that Spanish and Peruvian couples are the most intrepid, traveling distances of more than 19,312 km — nearly the other side of the world. The destination of choice among the most adventurous Spaniards is New Zealand, while Peruvian couples are partial to Thailand. Here are the top destinations worldwide for global couples: 1. Las Vegas, USA 2. Lahaina, USA 3. Honolulu, USA 4. Playa del Carmen, Mexico 5. Cancún, Mexico 6. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic 7. Montego Bay, Jamaica 8. Antalya, Turkey 9. Castries, St. Lucia 10. Gramado, Brazil Though Las Vegas is the most popular honeymoon destinations in the US, the rest of the list is dominated by Hawaii. Here are the top US honeymoon destinations: 1. Las Vegas, Nevada 2. Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii 3. Honolulu, O'ahu, Hawaii 4. Lihu?e, Kaua'i, Hawaii 5. Key West, Florida 6. Po?ipu, Kaua'i, Hawaii 7. Kihei, Maui, Hawaii 8. Gatlinburg, Tennessee 9. New York City, New York 10. Lake Buena Vista, Florida. — Afp-Relaxnews  |
| Comic book legend Jack Kirby’s heirs settle with Marvel Posted: 26 Sep 2014 05:42 PM PDT
The settlement came as the US Supreme Court was set to discuss whether to take up the long-running case. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. It was the latest chapter in the dispute over Kirby's claim on rights to the popular, lucrative Marvel comic and movie characters co-created with then-editor and writer Stan Lee during the 1960s. The wider dispute, dating back well before the court case, was what share of the credit for creating Iron Man, the Hulk and others was due Kirby. "Marvel and the family of Jack Kirby have amicably resolved their legal disputes and are looking forward to advancing their shared goal of honouring Mr. Kirby's significant role in Marvel's history," said a joint statement from the heirs and the Walt Disney Co subsidiary. Representatives of the family and Marvel were not immediately available for comment. Kirby — who wrote some comic books as well as drew them — died in 1994 at age 76 after a career stretching back to the 1940s. In 2009, his children, Lisa, Neal, Susan and Barbara Kirby, laid claim to copyrights for work he had created from 1958 to 1963, when he was a freelance artist and drew many of his most popular characters. Disney bought Marvel that same year for US$4 billion (RM13.08 billion). Marvel in 2010 sued the heirs after failing to reach a negotiated settlement with them over the claims. Kirby also was present for the creation of the Fantastic Four, the X-Men and Thor, many of whom have featured in blockbuster films. Three Iron Man movies alone have grossed more than US$2.4 billion in box office receipts globally, according to online movie publication Box Office Mojo. In conjunction with yesterday's deal, the family moved to withdraw its petition asking the high court to review a lower court ruling that had decided Kirby's creations were made at Marvel's direction and that the company therefore held the copyrights. US District Judge Colleen McMahon in July 2011 ruled for Marvel, finding that the works constituted works for hire under the Copyright Act of 1909. In an August 2013 ruling, the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in New York ruled in favour of Marvel. The case followed other fights by other comic book writers, artists and their heirs to reclaim rights to famed comic book characters, most notably Superman. The case is Kirby v. Marvel, US Supreme Court, No. 13-1178. — Reuters  |
| Artificial pitches could make return to English football Posted: 26 Sep 2014 05:35 PM PDT
Representatives from League One and Two clubs met on Thursday and 29 out of 48 members voted for a proposed rule change that would mean FIFA 2-star-rated 3G (third generation) surfaces could host matches next year, the Football League confirmed. The change would encompass matches in both divisions and the League Cup and Johnstone's Paint Trophy competitions. Artificial pitches were banned from the professional game in England 19 years ago due to issues over the bounce of the ball and injury fears but the Football Association ruled in March that they can be used in every round of the FA Cup during the current season. Clubs from England's bottom two divisions are now expected to take a formal vote once the rule changes are drawn up in November to decide whether the surface will be reintroduced to other competitions next season. Earlier this month, Wales won 2-1 on a 3G pitch in their Euro 2016 qualifying group match in Andorra but visiting manager Chris Coleman and Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale were critical of the surface, with Bale describing it as "the worst I have ever played on." ― Reuters  |
| Spanish prosecutors drop charges against Barcelona president Posted: 26 Sep 2014 05:28 PM PDT
The magistrate investigating the case in Madrid agreed with the decision of the public prosecutor to drop charges against Bartomeu and the club's vice-president Javier Faus, who looks after the club's finances. Barcelona initially said that the signing of Neymar had cost them €57.1 million (RM236.8 million). However, one of Barcelona's own members, or 'socios', Jordi Cases, accused the club's former president Sandro Rosell of misappropriation for not declaring publicly that 40 million of the figure quoted by Barca was paid to N&N, a company controlled by Neymar's parents. Judge Pablo Ruz widened his investigation earlier this year when he decided that there was "sufficient evidence to investigate a possible crime against the public treasury". Barcelona and Rosell, who stepped down in January, were accused of irregularities in the deal, which was worth a total figure of just over €86 million. But on Friday the judge concluded that there was no reason to pursue charges against Bartomeu and Faus, former right-hand men of Rosell under the previous presidency and who signed certain incriminating documents. Ruz ruled there was not enough evidence to suggest that the two had "actively participated in the facts under investigation". Prosecutor Jose Perals said that, in the case of the alleged tax crimes, responsibility falls to the club as a whole and Rosell, as he was president at the time. The Barcelona board have been rattled for several months by the investigation into the signing of Neymar in the spring of 2013 and the father of the Brazilian star is still due to appear as a witness on October 1 as part of the case. Bartomeu tried to calm the controversy after taking over as president by disclosing the exact figures of the transfer, which was valued at €86.2 million, and paying €13.5 million to the public purse. Rosell, who gave evidence for several hours on July 22, insisted before the judge that the transfer was carried out legally, affirming that "the contracts were perfectly drawn up". ― AFP  |
| Apple back on track with second wave of global iPhone rollout after drama-filled week Posted: 26 Sep 2014 05:24 PM PDT
Long lines formed at stores as Apple introduced the latest iPhones to a second wave of markets, including Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. About 600 people lined up outside of Amsterdam's Apple Store, with 400 customers at its Barcelona, Spain, shop, according to the Cupertino, California— based company. The new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are Apple's most important products to debut this year, leading a wave of gadgets that will go on sale, including new iPads and the Apple Watch. While Apple touted a record 10 million sales of iPhones during the opening weekend, the celebration was cut short by an iOS mobile-software update that disabled cellular service, causing Apple's engineers to pull it back. The company also had to respond to a social— media firestorm over claims that the large-screen iPhone was susceptible to bending if sat upon. "Apple customers are probably some of the most demanding customers in the world," Francis Sideco, an analyst at IHS Inc., said in a telephone interview. He said that no news was good news, because "if they weren't fixed or if there were new issues that had cropped up, we would've seen it." Apple released on September 25 its second fix, iOS 8.0.2, for its mobile operating system, which is included in the new iPhones and available as an upgrade for recent models. Apple also said that it had only received nine customer complaints about bent iPhone 6 Plus devices. Apple's stock rose 2.9 per cent to close at US$100.75 (RM 328.39 ) in New York, after declining 3.8 per cent a day earlier. Healthy demand Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook is counting on the new handsets, which generate more than half of Apple's annual US$171 billion in revenue, to fuel sales growth. He's using the iPhone 6, which has a 4.7-inch (11.9-centimetre) display, and iPhone 6 Plus with a 5.5-inch screen to push into the turf of Samsung Electronics Co, HTC Corp and other manufacturers of smartphones with jumbo-sized screens. Demand for Apple's new handsets has the company poised to sell more than 61 million iPhones in the last three months of the year, surpassing last year's record 51 million sold, according to Barclays Plc. "People who want an iPhone are going to buy one, regardless of what the news says," said Carl Howe, an analyst at 451 Research. "Given that they are backordered in every country in which they are available, they'll have no problem selling them if they don't want the phone." Global reach Sales are also set to pick up as the new iPhones become available in more countries. The list expanded to also include Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Qatar, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and Turkey. In total, the iPhones will be in 115 countries by the end of the year, Apple has said. Apple apologized for the early iOS glitches and said that less than 40,000 iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices were affected by the iOS 8.0.1 problem that caused users to lose cellular reception. Software developers, whose livelihood depends upon creating applications for devices such as the new iPhone, took the glitches in stride, saying it was a normal part of the process. "Every time Apple does anything, people complain because they're so big," said Collin Donnell, lead iOS developer at Lovely Inc., an online apartment finder. "I haven't seen anything out of the ordinary." Still others were frustrated by the glitches. "Most of those 40,000 people were probably developers, these are the guys who are waiting for this because they need to check against public releases," said Slaven Radic, CEO of Vancouver-based Tapstream Network Inc., which helps developers market their apps. "I know a number of them who got this bug. Not having your phone have cellular connectivity was a major problem for a lot of them. They didn't know what to do." — Bloomberg  |
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