Chinese car market expands, pleasing German auto makers

The car market in the world's second largest economy grew by 13.9 percent to almost 22 million units, the CAAM industry association reported in Beijing on Thursday.

In December 2013 alone, car sales in China rose by 21.5 percent compared to the same month a year earlier, after already surging by 16 percent in November.

The full-year pick-up came as an ongoing territorial dispute with Japan over a group of islands in the South Sea lost much of its initial impact, with demand for Japanese cars going up markedly again.

Full steam ahead for BMW

German carmakers also logged vastly improved numbers in China's resurgent vehicle market. Sales of BMW cars for instance were up 17.9 percent in the Asian nation, with 362,500 units sold compared to the 303,000 BMW cars leaving Chinese showrooms in the previous years.

'Our growth turned out distinctly higher than expected,' BMW China chief Karsten Engel told reporters, adding that the annual increase alone exceeded total sales in France for the same period.

The German luxury carmaker said it expected 10-percent growth for unit sales in China throughout the current year, with the Asian country to remain the company's most important market.

Mercedes logs record 2013 sales during new model offensive

In the race for the world leadership in the premium car segment, German Mercedes cars made strong progress in 2013, boosting sales to a new company record, the carmaker's parent company Daimler announced Friday.

Mercedes sold 1.46 million cars worldwide last year, posting an increase of 10.7 percent compared with 2012. In addition, about 100,000 units of its Smart city car were shipped to customers, Daimler said.

The result meant that Daimler was able to close the gap to the world's second largest luxury carmaker, Germany's Audi, which narrowly beat Mercedes with sales of 1.58 million cars in 2013.

Mercedes' growth strategy was bearing first fruit, Daimler Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche said in a statement, noting that especially its new version of the E-class and S-class sedans were selling well.

In the United States, which remained Mercedes\' largest single market in 2013, sales grew 14 percent to 312,000 cars. At home in Germany, the top-of-the-range brand sold 2.2 percent fewer vehicles than in the previous year.

But in China, which has become the world's largest car market, Mercedes made the biggest strides in its effort to catch up with global luxury car leaders Audi and BMW. Chinese sales jumped 11 percent year-on-year to 218,000 vehicles.

Despite the record result in 2013, Mercedes still lags far behind the world's top luxury brand, Bavarian marque BMW. The Munich-based auto maker already announced in November that it had beaten record 2012 sales with 1.78 million cars sold by the end of that month.

Cameron Diaz was a ‘miserable’ teen

Cameron Diaz was a 'miserable' teenager because of her bad acne.
The 41-year-old actress admits she could eat whatever she wanted when she was younger but her love of junk food took a toll on her skin and made her dread leaving her house.
She told the February issue of Seventeen magazine: 'You might think my life is always totally glam, but I used to have horrible acne - deep, boiling pimples - the kind that hurts so badly, I didn't want to leave my house. My friends said they didn't notice, but I'd say, 'It's the only thing anyone can see!' No amount of concealer and foundation could take away the texture of my skin, the embarrassment I felt, or the pain of those raging pimples. I was miserable.'
She added: 'At the same time, I was this skinny girl who could eat anything I wanted without gaining an ounce - so I did. I was the poster child for being both skinny and unhealthy - and I had the zits to prove it. I thought I'd tried everything to make my skin clear up, but I didn't realise all that fried, greasy, processed artificial crap was setting off a hormonal surge that sent my skin into crazy town!'
The 'Counsellor' star claims her skin immediately started clearing up when she began eating healthier and working out regularly.
She said: 'Once I cut out the junk, I saw such a major difference that I felt like an idiot. It not only cleared up my acne, but it also gave me this huge amount of energy. I went from focusing on how my face looked to focusing on all the awesome things my body is capable of.'

Intel shows off digital assistant

Intel has developed its own digital assistant and has shown it off at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show.

The company unveiled Jarvis – its digital assistant – on stage during its keynote for the trade show in Las Vegas.

Jarvis is a Bluetooth headset that wraps around the back of the users ears; a bit like a bulky hearing aid.

Intel demonstrated some of its features during the keynote. By pairing it with an Android smartphone app, users can remotely interact and control the phone.

Examples of features include being able to ask for directions, look up restaurants and so on. If it sounds like what you can do now with Apple’s Siri and Google Now, that’s because it is pretty much the same.

However, don’t expect to get your hands on Jarvis any time soon. Intel has said that it is just a reference design for the time being.

It would be up to Intel’s manufacturing partners to take the design and turn it into an actual product.

The device is part of what Intel’s chief executive Brian Krzanich called the company’s push to “make everything smart”.

The company also showed off a number of other reference designs that fit in with that goal. They include a pair of smart earbuds that can track a wearer’s run and a bowl that can wirelessly charge gadgets placed in it.

Kanye West installs panic room in mansion

Kanye West is installing a panic room in his Los Angeles mansion.
The 'Bound 2' hitmaker is renovating the $11 million Bel Air property which he will share with reality star fiance Kim Kardashian and is keen to secure the safety of his finance and seven-month-old baby North.
According to The Sun newspaper, the room which provides safe shelter and a hiding place for the inhabitants comes equipped with monitors connected to cameras and a high-tech alarm system to notify police offers incase of an emergency

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The pair want to make their new home as comfortable as possible and have spared no expense.
Kim, 33, and Kanye, 36, reportedly spent $1.154 million on six luxury beds after the famous couple enlisted the services of The Savoir Royal State Beds - the same company which supplies beds for the five-star, luxury hotel The Savoy in London.
The famous couple are also said to have splashed out $750,000 on four gold-plated toilets, want a Swarovski-encrusted fridge freezer and will have a cinema and full-size basketball court attached to their home.

Demi Moore’s daughter set her up

Demi Moore's daughter set her up with her new boyfriend.
The 'LOL' actress, 51, was recently spotted frolicking on the beach in Tulum, Mexico with her new 27-year-old rocker beau, Sean Friday, whom she began dating in July after her eldest child, Rumer Willis, introduced them.
A source told UsMagazine.com that the couple first met in May when Rumer brought Demi to see Sean's band, Dead Sara, perform in Los Angeles because she thought they would hit it off.
The insider said: 'Rumer brought [Demi] to a show in Los Angeles. She thought he was a fun guy her mom would like.'
The friend said the couple are enjoying each other's company but 'it's not serious yet.'
Demi's inner circle has high hopes for her and Sean, according to another source, who added: 'It's a good match. Sean is a stable, easy-going guy.'
An eyewitness said the couple were all over each other as they enjoyed a New Year's holiday with family and friends, including Rumer, 25, and her on/off boyfriend Jayson Blair, 30 last week.
The source said they 'were flirting' openly on the beach and 'kissed a lot,' adding: 'Sean held her really close.'
Demi's divorce from her third ex-husband Ashton Kutcher was finalised in November, following their split in 2011.

David Beckham launches boys clothing for H+M

David Beckham has launched his own boys clothing collection for HM. 
The former soccer star is adding childrenswear to his design repertoire, with the new bodywear range featuring vests, Henley tops, long-johns and shirts

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The collection, which goes on sale on January 30, reflects the relaxed style of David's vintage sportswear-inspired adult bodywear range and his own sons, Brooklyn,14, Romeo,11, and Cruz, eight - are likely to wear the clothing. 

The father-of-four, who also has two-year-old daughter Harper with his wife Victoria, will launch his spring/summer 2014 underwear campaign for HM on February 2 via a short film broadcast during the US Super Bowl.

It shows him scaling a rooftop in London after being locked out of a photo shoot. 
Flaunting his toned physique, the 38-year-old star is seen wearing just his underwear and is forced to undertake some impressive stunts until he reaches safety. 
The project was directed by 'Only God Forgives' filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn, who found it easy working with David. 
Nicholas said: 'I loved working with David for his new campaign. He is a natural in front of the camera, and was fearless when performing his own stunts. 
'The campaign is funny, smart and spectacular, and shows the many different sides of David's personality.'