NISSAN is recalling more than 800,000 cars worldwide, nearly 134,000 of which are in Britain, because of a possible steering wheel glitch. The Japanese car maker said the recall will affect 133,869 models of the Nissan Micra, which were produced in Sunderland, north-east England, between 2002 and 2006. The global recall also affects the Nissan Cube, a model which is not sold in Britain, the BBC reports. Nissan says a bolt in both models may not have been properly tightened and could cause the steering wheel to fail to function. The car-maker is planning to fix the issue by tightening the bolt in a repair that will take around 15 minutes for most customers. Some, however, will have the entire steering wheel replaced. The company sayS there is no risk of the steering wheel suddenly failing. "There is a very, very small risk that there are any 2002-2006 Micra models that require attention, but safety is our upmost priority which is why we are recalling all vehicles potentially affected," a UK spokesman for Nissan said. So far Nissan says no injuries or deaths have been reported as a result of the glitch. The recall comes just a month after Nissan, Toyota, Honda and Mazda recalled around three million cars over an airbag fault. This is another global recall, with cars in Japan, Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East all affected. Source: The Week UK
Nissan recalls more than 800,000 cars over possible steering wheel glitch
Nissan Resonance Concept is a Futuristic Design Proposal Hinting at the Next Murano
Created by Nissan Design America in San Diego, California under the direction of chief designer Shiro Nakamura, the Resonance concept that was unveiled today at the Detroit Motor Show hints at the design philosophy that will be adopted by the Japanese automaker in its future crossovers and especially the Murano. The concept features a “floating” roof and what its designers call a “V-Motion”, which starts from the grille, moves through the bonnet and “resonates” with the boomerang-shaped headlights that extend almost to the base of the steeply-raked A-pillars. The bodywork is full of aggressive lines that are accentuated by the “Flair Orange” golden paint and the satin-chromed 22-inch alloy wheels. “When the designers were first working on the Resonance, they were inspired by scientific advancements in technology and material innovations”, said Francois Bancon, Nissan general manager for product strategy and planning. “They were also inspired by the aspirations of those people who embrace innovation”, he added. “It was 
about serving those people a concept vehicle that is forward-looking and fuses style with an athletic ride.” We, on the other hand, venture a guess that the initial brief was about designing a possible replacement to the next-generation Murano that will be manufactured in the U.S.; but then, that’s just our two cents… In crafting the cabin Nissan wanted to explore “what the future of first-class space travel might be”. Admittedly, they were pretty restrained, since there is a proper steering wheel, normal seats and even a center console. In fact, take away the “VIP lounge” holographic infotainment experience, put in some conventional controls and it could very well make it into production. The same stands for the hybrid powertrain that comprises a 2.5-liter internal combustion engine, two high performance electric motors, a next-generation continuously variable transmission (CVT) and a compact laminated lithium-ion battery pack. Source: Carscoop
about serving those people a concept vehicle that is forward-looking and fuses style with an athletic ride.” We, on the other hand, venture a guess that the initial brief was about designing a possible replacement to the next-generation Murano that will be manufactured in the U.S.; but then, that’s just our two cents… In crafting the cabin Nissan wanted to explore “what the future of first-class space travel might be”. Admittedly, they were pretty restrained, since there is a proper steering wheel, normal seats and even a center console. In fact, take away the “VIP lounge” holographic infotainment experience, put in some conventional controls and it could very well make it into production. The same stands for the hybrid powertrain that comprises a 2.5-liter internal combustion engine, two high performance electric motors, a next-generation continuously variable transmission (CVT) and a compact laminated lithium-ion battery pack. Source: CarscoopQ3 roundup of global retail leaders
In the third of this year's regular series of updates, IGD retail have rounded up the main developments at the leading global grocery retailers - Carrefour, Tesco, Metro and Walmart - since August. Divestment has been key feature for Carrefour: (1) In the fourth quarter Carrefour announced the sale of its business in Colombia to Cencosud, and of its Malaysian operations to Japanese retailer Aeon. Carrefour is clearly prioritising resource allocation to more mature markets where it holds a strong position, and emerging markets where it can harness growth potential (2) At the first half results presentation, when a 0.9% increase in net sales was reported, CEO Georges Plassat also outlined three areas of future focus: assets, merchandise and people (3) A survey by French trade magazine Linéaires revealed that Carrefour significantly lowered prices over the first half, closing the gap with price leader Leclerc and showing that in France, the group is well on the way to delivering EDLP. The price initiatives are beginning to kick in, and Q3 results indicated signs of improvement in French hypermarkets, especially in food sales (4) Carrefour has identified e-commerce as an area where it can accelerate in 2012. In line with this, it launched trials of virtual shopping walls at train stations in Lyon and Paris, during September and October, Tesco: improving UK performanceTesco: In China, Tesco closed four stores to concentrate on fewer regions and on key strategic areas. In South Korea, a sale and leaseback deal generated GBP300m which is likely to be invested back into the development of Tesco's business in the country. First half results revealed modest group sales growth and improving UK performance, alongside a fall in group trading profit, as the retailer invests in its plan to build a better Tesco. Performance from international operations was mixed, impacted by local economic conditions. Online has been a focus, both at home and internationally. Tesco is growing its network of dark stores in the UK, and plans to open two more over the next 18 months. In China, Tesco became the first supermarket retailer to launch a website offering recipe ideas, nutritional information and food education. Slovakia became the latest country to welcome online grocery shopping this year, following the launch of the service in the Czech Republic and Poland. Metro confident on positioning: Third quarter sales, reported last week, were up 2%, but EBIT was down 39%. European performance was mixed, with a sales fall of 2% in Germany, and divestments (Makro UK and Saturn France) impairing growth in western Europe. In Asia/Africa, sales were up 32.2% (+19% in local currency). Despite the difficulties and the uncertain economic outlook, Metro CEO Olaf Koch is confident that the group is on the right track with the strategic measures taken so far. The group continues to expect a rise in sales for the full year. In central and eastern Europe, Metro is to continue expanding the Real hypermarket business in Ukraine, while there have been rumours that it is considering the sale of operations in Russia. Metro revealed a new management structure at Real, as it attempts to realign the business and improve its profitability. Further east, more cash & carry outlets are expected to open in India by the end of the year, taking the total to 15. Metro sees potential for more than 100 Indian stores in the long term. Walmart's multichannel developments continue: At the annual analysts' meeting in October, Walmart outlined its plans for growth. These include accelerating small format store growth in the US, investing in price and e-commerce. Multichannel developments have continued apace. The launch of an advanced search engine for Walmart.com, tests of a self-scanning app and same-day delivery for online, and this week's collaboration between Mattel and Walmart Canada all reinforce the importance of e-commerce, in which CEO Mike Duke has said "we will play to win." Second quarter results, at the end of August, indicated ongoing momentum at home, with four successive quarters of positive comparable sales growth delivered in the core US stores. Although international growth slowed, these operations continue to be Walmart's main growth engine. Source: Fresh-Plaza
Harley Davidson unveils tsunami motorcycle
Today the Harley-Davidson Museum unveils a special display featuring Ikuo Yokoyama’s Harley-Davidson motorcycle that drifted for more than a year across the Pacific Ocean following the tragic tsunami that devastated parts of northern Japan last year. The 2004 Harley-Davidson FXSTB Softail Night Train, recovered off the coast of British Columbia by Peter Mark, is being displayed at Yokoyama’s request. He asked to have the motorcycle preserved in its current condition and displayed at the Harley-Davidson Museum as a memorial to those whose lives were lost or forever changed by the 2011 tsunami in Japan. “We’re truly humbled to display Mr. Yokoyama’s motorcycle,” said Bill Davidson, Vice President of the Harley-Davidson Museum. “This motorcycle has an amazing story to tell, and we are honored to be able to share it.” The remarkable story of the motorcycle’s survival and recovery made international headlines after Mark found it washed ashore on a remote beach on British Columbia’s Graham Island at low tide. He discovered the motorcycle, still bearing its Japanese license plate, in a container where the bike was being stored by Yokoyama. Working with news agencies and representatives from Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada and Harley-Davidson Japan, contact was made with Yokoyama, who lost his home and currently lives in temporary housing in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Still struggling to rebuild his life in the aftermath of the disaster, Yokoyama declined Harley-Davidson’s offer to return the bike to him, although he was grateful for the offer and touched by the outpouring of support from Harley riders around the world. The Harley-Davidson Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., with the exception of Thursday, when it is open until 8 p.m. The Harley-Davidson Museum The Harley-Davidson Museum is located at 400 West Canal Street in Milwaukee in the USA and provides a glimpse of history and culture as you’ve never seen it before – through the lens of Harley-Davidson Motor Company. The Museum, a top destination in Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin, is open year-round and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the area each year. The 20-acre campus offers abundant and free parking, and includes Motor® Bar & Restaurant and The Shop. For more information on the Museum’s galleries, exhibits, special events, tickets and more, visit the new and improved h-dmuseum.com. Source: Deccan Chronicle
Deepika wins silver in Archery World Cup final
India's top archer Deepika Kumari settled for a silver medal after losing to World No.1 Bo Bae Ki of South Korea in the World Cup Final in Tokyo on Sunday. Deepika, who slipped to the number two spot in the rankings following her shocking first round loss in the London Olympics last month, gave the South Korean a tough fight before going down 4-6. It turned out to be a low-scoring tie with Ki's 28 in third end being the highest score. Deepika shot a 27 in the second end for her best score in the match. Another South Korean, Hyeonju Choi, secured the bronze defeating America's Jennifer Nichols 6-4 in the third place play-off. Deepika had beaten Nichols in the semifinals following her win over Miki Kanie of Japan in the last eight stage. Source: Hindustan Times
Chinese General: Prepare for Combat with Japan
China’s most powerful military leader, in an unusual public statement, last week ordered military forces to prepare for combat, as Chinese warships deployed to waters near disputed islands and anti-Japan protests throughout the country turned violent. Protests against the Japanese government’s purchase of three privately held islands in the Senkakus chain led to mass street protests, the burning of Japanese flags, and attacks on Japanese businesses and cars in several cities. Some carried signs that read “Kill all Japanese,” and “Fight to the Death” over disputed islands. One sign urged China to threaten a nuclear strike against Japan. Gen. Xu Caihou, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, considered the most senior military political commissar, said Friday that military forces should be “prepared for any possible military combat,” state run Xinhua news agency reported. Heightened tensions over the Senkakus come as Defense Secretary Leon Panetta arrived in China Monday. Panetta, in comments made in Japan shortly before traveling to China, said, “We are concerned by the demonstrations, and we are concerned by the conflict that is taking place over the Senkaku islands. Source: The Coming Crisis
NASA shells out award for 'ninja star' supersonic plane design
NASA has awarded a $100,000 grant for the development of a ‘ninja star-shaped’ plane capable of supersonic travel. The groundbreaking aircraft is capable of turning at 90 degree-angles mid-flight, transforming it into a supersonic jet. The creators of the new plane have designed it to fly like a normal aircraft, but upon reaching supersonic atmosphere levels the craft rotates, and then flies at twice the speed of sound. "We are inventing the ways in which next-generation aircraft and spacecraft will change the world and inspiring Americans to take bold steps," Michael Gazarik, director of NASA's Space Technology Program told the Huffington Post. The plane’s rotation is designed to reduce air resistance during faster-than-sound flight. In order to take off, the craft uses its two longer wings to achieve subsonic speeds. The larger wingspan would cause unwanted drag in supersonic flight, so the plane spins 90 degrees in order to give itself a more aerodynamic profile. The revolutionary dual-design means that the plane poduces "virtually zero sonic boom" when it breaks the sound barrier, its creator claims. Gecheng Zha of the University of Miami, the plane’s designer, said that the mid-flight rotation would not be uncomfortable for passengers, and would reduce G-force pull on takeoff. “Imagine a flight from New York to Los Angeles that only takes two hours instead of six, and from New York to Tokyo in just five instead of fifteen,” Professor Zha said. The planned plane design is still a work in progress, and is not expected to see a working model for at least a few decades.Source: Sam Daily Times
U.S. says no change to plan to deploy Osprey in Okinawa in Aug.
TOKYO/WASHINGTON (Kyodo) -- The U.S. government has told Japan there is no change in its plan to deploy the MV-22 Osprey aircraft at a U.S. military base in Okinawa Prefecture in August, sources close to the matter said Saturday, amid concerns over safety following two recent crashes involving the military transport aircraft. The U.S. government has judged that an accident in Morocco in April and another in Florida earlier this month were not caused by problems with the aircraft, the sources said. The United States plans to deploy the Osprey aircraft at the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa in August after bringing them to the Marine Corps' Iwakuni Air Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture in late July for safety checks and trial flights. In Okinawa, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda told Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima on Saturday that the government will explain the deployment in a responsible manner, according to prefectural government officials. Noda visited Okinawa to attend a memorial service for the war dead on the 67th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa, a World War II ground battle. Source; The Coming Crisis
