NEW DELHI: Korean consumer electronic major Samsung is gearing up for the upcoming summer with plans to corner about 22 per cent of the expected 2.25 million home air conditioners market in India.

Samsung India Electronics Pvt Ltd, the subsidiary of the Korean firm today announced its foray into the capacity segments like 0.8T and 1.6T in split ACs and 1.6T in window ACs by launching a new range comprising 10 different star rated AC models as part of its strategy.

"We expect our split AC volumes to grow from around 50 per cent contribution level witnessed last year to around 58 per cent of our total AC volumes this year," Samsung India Deputy Managing Director R Zutshi said in a statement.

The total AC market in India last year was around 1.8 million units, which is expected to cross over 2.25 million units by the end of this year.

Burglar makes off with two pairs of panties

A Fort Walton Beach burglar recently lifted unmentionables from a mobile home during a break-in. The resident of a Heritage Road mobile home told a deputy she noticed the rear door to her trailer "slightly open," according to an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office offense report. She also said someone had removed the window unit air conditioner and opened the window. Among the items missing from the home were her son’s Sony Playstation and a controller ($200), about 20 games ($15 each), about 10 DVDs ($15 each) and two pairs of girl’s panties. .

Furnace should be sized correctly for house

Dear Jim: I made energy improvements to my house, but my 25-year-old gas furnace doesn't keep it as comfortable as before. Also, I think my gas bills should be lower? Which 2008 furnace models are most efficient? — Mike J.

Britney Spears' Driver's-License Case Postponed; Plus Hayden ...

I guess it's a little obvious." DeGeneres quipped back, "It's going to be a healthy baby boy." ... When Comedy Central's animated series "Lil' Bush" returns for another season, the young version of Republican political mastermind Karl Rove will get to show off his rap skills as MC Rove. So which hip-hop luminary will lend his or her rhymes? Kevin Federline! The aspiring rapper will be a guest voice on the season-two premiere, which airs March 13 at 10:30 p.m. ET. ...

Lindsay Lohan's recent re-creation of a nude Marilyn Monroe photo shoot was given the OK by mom/manager Dina Lohan. "It was very tastefully done," Dina told People magazine. "I respect the photographer as an artist, so I look at them artistically." Dina said her actress daughter felt that the New York magazine pictorial was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

New energy bill calls for 35 MPG CAFE, increased ethanol production ...

The 'do instead' can be anything other than 'a slight polishing of the status quo' which is all this energy bill is. Sure, some pork is sent to corn farmers. And there is a small smear of lip service for 'alternative energy' research. Uh huh. But big changes are needed for a big change in results. And this energy bill contains no big changes.At its heart, this energy bill is about doing the same old things, continuing to burn hydrocarbons without any serious improvements in fuel economy or emissions control.In short, it is the very definition of insanity. .