Honda recall to fix power windows and computers

Honda Motor Co. says it will recall a total of 962,000 cars worldwide to fix power windows and computer systems.

Honda will recall 936,000 units of the Fit subcompact, CR-V crossover and Fit Aria in North America, Asia, Europe and Africa, the company said Monday. The Fit is called Jazz in some overseas markets, while the Fit Aria is also known as City.

Honda says the recall was prompted by defects in driver’s-side power window switch units, which could potentially melt and catch fire.

It will also recall 26,000 CR-Z compact hybrids globally due to programming problems with the engine control unit.

 

Apple complaint forces Galaxy Tab 7.7 out of show

Visitors to Berlin’s IFA electronics fair hoping to see the new Galaxy Tab 7.7 computer were left disappointed after Samsung Electronics pulled the tablet from show amid a legal spat with Apple.

The Galaxy 7.7 was pulled over the weekend after a Duesseldorf court issued a temporary injunction against marketing the device, which Apple says copies its iPad2.

The Duesseldorf court has already banned sales of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Germany. A final ruling on the latest model is expected Friday.

Consumers visiting the IFA on Monday said they regretted the removal, calling it “sad.” Consumer electronics trader Carsten Niebuhr said he viewed the allegations of copyright violation as exaggerated.

 

Southwest announces flights out of Atlanta

Southwest Airlines is announcing daily, nonstop flights from Atlanta to Las Vegas and Phoenix in a move that will expand planned service in the biggest U.S. city not yet served by the airline.

The Dallas-based airline said Monday it is now selling round-trip flights between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the two cities for travel dates beginning March 10.

The announcement comes two weeks after Southwest announced it was breaking into the Atlanta market with 15 daily, nonstop flights to five destinations including Baltimore/Washington, Chicago Midway, Denver, Houston Hobby, and Austin, Texas. Those flights begin Feb. 12.

Atlanta is the largest city in the nation not served by Southwest. But the airline gained an opening there in May when it bought AirTran Airways, which has a hub in Atlanta.

 

China loses WTO appeal of U.S. tire import taxes

China has lost its appeal of a World Trade Organization ruling that the United States can raise import taxes on Chinese tires by as much as 35 percent.

A WTO appeals panel said Monday that U.S. officials “acted consistently” with international trade laws, the latest in a series of trade skirmishes between the United States – the world’s biggest importer – and China – the world’s biggest exporter.

China argued the three-year tariff President Barack Obama approved in 2009 on top of a regular 4 percent import duty was protectionist and would hurt China’s tire industry.

 

Murdoch selling complex to relocate to another area

Rupert Murdoch’s News International says it will sell its complex in the east London area of Wapping. The company says it will relocate to another area in east London.

In Monday’s statement, the company says that “current market conditions” led to a decision “not to proceed with remodeling the Wapping site.”

The scandal-hit British newspaper arm of Murdoch’s global empire has been shaken by allegations of illegal behavior at its now-defunct News of the World tabloid.

More than a dozen of its former journalists and executives have been arrested over claims that they systematically intercepted mobile phone messages and illegally paid police for tips.

 

Daimler AG sales rise in Europe despite economy

Sales for Daimler AG’s Mercedes brand rose 7.9 percent in the year to August as sales in Europe grew despite fears about the global economy and the eurozone’s government debt crisis.

Sales growth in China eased, however.

Daimler AG said Monday that global vehicle sales rose to 87,384 from 81,010 in August 2010.

Sales rose 14 percent in Europe. Growth in China eased to 3.2 percent compared with what the company said was a strong August a year ago.

 

Britain vital services survey sees sharp August slowdown

A survey of Britain’s vital services sector found a sharper than expected slowdown in August, adding to pessimism about the prospects for a strong rebound this year.

The Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers Index released Monday showed 51.1 percent of respondents reporting an increase in business or no change during the month, about three points lower than the market expected and the sharpest fall in more than a decade.

The index, in which any figure above 50 percent indicates growth, stood at 55.4 in July.

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