Pope Christmas message Pope Benedict the 16th has called for an end to the bloodshed in Syria and urged China's new leadership to respect religious freedoms.The Pope read out his annual Christmas message on Tuesday to Roman Catholics gathered in Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican. The pontiff said the conflict in Syria is costing innocent lives and appealed for dialogue between President Bashar al-Assad's government and anti-government groups to seek a political solution. He urged China's new leader Xi Jinping and his government to value the contribution of religion in a way that can help build a fraternal society. The Holy See has been expressing concern over China's suppression of religious freedom for Catholics and does not have diplomatic relations with the country.Media agencies

Japan’s new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

Posted on December 26, 2012 by sagarmedia

Japan’s new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

December 26, 2012

Japan’s new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has officially started his second Cabinet after a confirmation ceremony at the Imperial Palace. Abe was prime minister for one year until he resigned due to ill health in September 2007. After both houses of the Diet elected him as prime minister on Wednesday, Abe entered his new official residence, where he met Natsuo Yamaguchi, the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party’s coalition partner, New Komeito.apan’s new prime minister Shinzo Abe has formed his cabinet with economic recovery and rehabilitation after last year’s disaster as top priorities.New Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga announced the 18-member lineup on Wednesday, shortly after both houses of the Diet named Abe as prime minister. Abe chose former prime minister Taro Aso as vice prime minister, finance minister, financial services minister and minister in charge of overcoming deflation and addressing the high yen.
The new foreign minister is Fumio Kishida, a former Liberal Democratic Party Diet affairs chief who served as Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs minister when Abe was prime minister in 2006 and 2007.
The post of justice minister went to former finance minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, who was LDP president before Abe assumed the post in September.
Former deputy chief cabinet secretary Hakubun Shimomura is the education, culture, sports, science and technology minister, and the minister in charge of rebuilding education.
Former defense minister and former LDP deputy policy chief Yoshimasa Hayashi is the agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister.
The new economy, trade and industry minister is former LDP policy chief Toshimitsu Motegi, who also served as Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs minister. He will also serve as minister in charge of dealing with economic damage from Japan’s nuclear disaster.
The post of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism minister went to Akihiro Ota, a former head of the LDP’s coalition partner New Komeito.
Former LDP secretary general and former land and transport minister Nobuteru Ishihara is the environment minister and the nuclear emergency preparedness minister.
The new defense minister is Itsunori Onodera, a former senior vice foreign minister.
Former senior vice minister Takumi Nemoto is the minister in charge of post-disaster reconstruction. He is to tackle efforts to rebuild northeastern Japan. The region was devastated by the March 11th tsunami and earthquake disaster.
The post of minister in charge of abductions and public safety commission chief went to Keiji Furuya, who was senior vice economy, trade and industry minister under former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi.
Former LDP policy chief Akira Amari is the minister in charge of economic revival, social security and tax system reform.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga said the new cabinet is designed to break through Japan’s ongoing crisis. He said the ministers will work as one on post-disaster reconstruction and economic revival.Outgoing Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has left the prime minister’s office after about 16 months leading Japan.
Noda’s Cabinet resigned en masse on Wednesday morning before the launch of the new government to be led by the Liberal Democratic Party.
Staff members saw Noda off as he left the prime minister’s office.
Noda served for 482 days.
Media agencies nhk

Haryana CM flags off Haryana Mandi Kisan- Bharat Darshan special train

The trip will  enhance farmers’ knowledge and mutual understanding 

                                                                     New Delhi, December 20, 2012

          Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda today flagged off  the special train Haryana Mandi Kisan- Bharat Darshan for farmers at Delhi Cantt. Railway Station. This unique venture has been planned for the benefit of farmers first time in the country, under which progressive farmers of the state have been sent on an educational tour. 

          On this occasion, Haryana Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Sukhbir Kataria, Speaker Mr Kuldeep Sharma, MLA Rao Dhram Pal, Rohtak district congress president Mr Jaideep Dhankhar and Chief Administrator, Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board Mr T.V.S.N. Prasad were also present.

          In this tour, about 400 farmers have been sent for 12 days. First night halt will be at Jaipur. Later, the train will go to Ujjain, Dwarka and Aurangabad and will reach Nasik Road on 4^th January,2013. Return journey will start on 5^th January and passing through Jaipur, Rewari, Delhi Cantt. and Ambala, it will reach Chandigarh on 6^th January, 2013.

          Talking to the media persons, the Chief Minister Mr Hooda said that the tour has been conducted for the farmers for the first time in the country. Wherever the farmers will go, they will have interaction with traders and farmers and discuss with them the status of agricultural produce and market prices. The farmers will come to know, as to which place needs which produce more than others. They will make contacts with the markets over there to sell their produce and get better price.

          Mr Parsad said that for the purpose of purchasing the produce of farmers, 100 collection centers will be established in the state, particularly for their perishable produces. After purchasing the produces, these will be kept in cold stores. This will lessen the loss of farmers and increase their income.      

Rohan Bopanna and Rajeev Ram promise exciting doubles action at Aircel Chennai Open 2013

Indo-U.S. pair all set to make the fight for the doubles title tougher

FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION

Chennai, December 26, 2012: Current World No.12 and ace doubles player Rohan Bopanna will partner US-based Rajeev Ram at the Aircel Chennai Open 2013, India’s only and South Asia’s leading ATP World Tour tennis event. The tournament is scheduled to take place at Chennai’s SDAT Tennis Stadium from December 31, 2012 to January 6, 2013.

The formidable pair promises to add to the excitement in an event that has an impressive line-up of 4 singles players from the top 20. The organisers announced earlier that the country’s top doubles specialist Mahesh Bhupathi would be teaming up with World No.5 doubles player Canada’s Daniel Nestor.

After an impressive partnership that saw Bhupathi and Bopanna winning two titles at Dubai and Paris and a runner-up finish at the just-concluded season-ending London Masters, the duo recently announced their decision to play with different partners in 2013.

Boppana and Ram had earlier appeared as a team at the Australian Open in 2008, where they proceeded to the pre-quarters defeating higher ranked teams along the way. Given their complementary styles of playing and strengths in critical areas of the sport, they are sure to make a great doubles pair in the season beginner.

Bopanna is considered one of the best doubles players in the world and attained his career-best ranking of eight in March 2012. He teamed with Bhupathi to compile an impressive 34-22 match record and 2-3 in finals, and in the past has collaborated wonderfully with players like Pakistan’s Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and American player Eric Butorac.

The 6 feet 4 inch Ram, on the other hand, captured his first ATP World Tour doubles title in Chennai in 2009, and later in Bangkok with partner Butorac. He is a talented singles and doubles player, and won the St Petersburg Open along with Nenad Zimonjic earlier this year.

Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Mr. Karti P Chidambaram, Chairman – Tournament Organising Committee, Vice President – AITA & TNTA said, “We are thrilled to welcome Rohan Bopanna and Rajeev Ram as they begin their journey at the Aircel Chennai Open 2013. Both players are immensely talented and will definitely be a tough pair to defeat. We wish them the best in their new endeavour.”

Ashu Jindal, COO, IMG Reliance said, “It gives us pleasure to announce Rohan and Rajeev’s participation in the doubles draw of the Aircel Chennai Open 2013. The field is getting more exciting with each passing day, and we are sure the tournament will provide a lot of nail-biting action and memorable moments to tennis fans around the world.”

“Rohan and Rajeev have the potential to be one of the top doubles teams in the world.  They have played together before and know each other's game well. We expect them to be a formidable threat at this year's ACO, said, Tournament Director Tom Annear.

ABOUT AIRCEL CHENNAI OPEN 2013

The USD 430,000 Aircel Chennai Open, owned by IMG and operated and organized by IMG Reliance, is India's only and South Asia's premier ATP World Tour Open 250 event. Started in 1996, by IMG, a global leader in sports management and marketing, the tournament has completed sixteen successful years of existence, branding Chennai and India on the global tennis map thus creating a legacy of sorts of promoting international tennis in India. Winner of the prestigious ATP's Player Services Award of Excellence (2006) for its outstanding organization and wonderful hospitality towards the participants and ATP's Best Marketing Award (2008), the event has acquired the status of a much sought-after tennis event for both players and fans alike in the International tennis circuit. The 18th edition of the tournament will be held from December 31, 2012 to January 6, 2013 at the SDAT Tennis stadium in Nungambakkam, Chennai. The tournament is conducted in Chennai under the aegis of the All India Tennis Association (AITA) and is organized with the active collaboration of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) and Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA).

Panasonic India winner of National Conservation Energy Awards 2012

Panasonic India becomes the proud winner of National Conservation Energy Awards 2012

 

 

26^th December 2012, New Delhi, India: Panasonic India won the National Conservation Energy Award (NECA 2012) for its non inverter 5 Star Air Conditioners at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 14th December 2012. Hon’ble President Shri Pranab Mukherjee along with Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, Hon'ble Minister of State for Power presented the award to Mr. Manish Sharma, MD- Consumer Product Division, Panasonic India. This award is organized annually by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) which is a statutory body under Ministry of Power, Government of India.

 

NECA is an award to give national recognition to the selected industrial units who have made systematic and serious attempts for efficient utilization and conservation of energy during the year.  The scheme is open to all industrial units in the sub sectors like aluminum, automobile, chemicals, consumer goods, distillery and brewery, drugs & pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, forging, foundries, glass, integrated steel, mini steel, mining, paper & pulp, petrochemicals, refractory, sugar, steel re-rolling mill, textile plants and more.

 

After receiving the award, Mr. Manish Sharma – Managing Director- Consumer Product Division, Panasonic India said, “We are thankful to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Government of India, to have recognized our green innovation efforts which indeed have resulted in higher energy efficiency of our products. One of the ways in which we have integrated our contributions to the environment with business growth is by creating our ‘eco ideas’ mark to help our customers quickly and clearly identify products that have been designed to minimize energy and resource use. This certainly is our step forward towards realizing our vision of becoming the No. 1 Green Innovation Company in the Electronics Industry by 2018. We have been putting the environment at the centre of our business decisions as a way to bring forth our vision of “Green Life Innovation” and “Green Business Innovation.” Winning this award is extremely reassuring that we are on the right track and would definitely strengthen the faith our customers have in our green products.”

 

Air Conditioner is a product that a consumer would associate with high electricity consumption in turn leading to high electricity bills. That is why the consumers in the low to middle income group treat an air conditioner as a high involvement purchase decision product. Having a power consumption of 1530 W Panasonic TC 1.5 ton 5 star Jade series gives you more energy savings over a non star rated air conditioner in the long run. The energy conservation depends on the input power, the running hours and the cost of per unit electricity. If we compare Panasonic 1.5 ton Jade series having a power input of 1530W with a 1.5 ton non star rated air conditioner having a power input of 2510W, with 80% compressor being functional we can easily say that the consumers will save up to 39.04 percent on their electricity bill.

 

Panasonic’s CS-TC18NKY/CU-TC18NKY, a 5 Star air conditioner is the winning product in the consumer goods category. Several unique features in the air conditioner make it highly efficient in energy conservation. The Econavi mono sensor in the air conditioner can detect wasted energy and automatically select optimum energy saving operation which leads savings up to 20 percent. The High activity detection feature automatically increases cooling power to improve comfort when needed. The Anti Bacterial Filter which combines three effects in one: anti allergen, antivirus & anti bacteria protection to provide 99 percent clean air for a healthy lifestyle. The Soft Dry Mode starts with cooling to dehumidify and provides continuous breeze at a low frequency to keep a room dry without much change to the temperature. The anti-rust coating on the condenser and the super tropical compressor make the product highly efficient and help it perform well under high load conditions.

 

Panasonic has long focused its efforts in India on developing the best products possible for its Indian customers and employees. As a testimony to that the company has recently inaugurated its first environment friendly model factory in India in the town of Jhajjar, Haryana. It is the largest manufacturing facility for Panasonic’s global operations yet the factory will create almost zero waste. The introduction of a number of eco-features in the Techno Park Jhajjar factory, make it one of the greenest facilities Panasonic operates globally.

 

 

Panasonic Corporate Vision

Panasonic has a vision to become the No. 1 Green Innovation Company in the Electronics Industry by 2018, when Panasonic will celebrate its 100th anniversary. Panasonic aspires for global excellence as a Green Innovation Company, encompassing two goals: Green Life Innovation to realize green lifestyles to enrich people’s lives and Green Business Innovation to bring forth innovation in our business styles.

 

About Panasonic Corporation

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronic products for three business fields, consumer, components & devices, and solutions. Based in Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated net sales of 7.85 trillion yen for the year ended March 31, 2012. It aims to become the No. 1 Green Innovation Company in the Electronics Industry by the 100th year of its founding in 2018.The company's shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and New York (NYSE:PC) stock exchanges. For more information on the company and the Panasonic brand, visit the company's website at http://panasonic.net/

About Panasonic India

Panasonic makes available in India its wide range of consumer electronics and home appliances like LCD & Plasma TVs, DVD players, home theatre systems, cameras, camcorders, car audio systems, air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators, microwave ovens, automatic cookers, vacuum cleaners and the like. The company has a workforce of about 12,650 in India and an estimated turnover of Rs 10,000 crores in FY 2012. For more information on the company and the Panasonic brand in India, please visit http://panasonic.co.in.

 

 

Issued by Panasonic India |For media queries please contact:

Panasonic India | Richa Sethi | +91 9560498765 | richa.sethi@in.panasonic.com

Genesis Burson-Marsteller | Malvika Sinha | +91 9873382955 | malvika.sinha@bm.com

Dear Naresh,

This weekend we showed our Government that we have had enough! I joined thousands of citizens in Delhi at India Gate - it was inspiring to see people, young and old, women and men, brave the cold, the water cannons, the lathis and the tear-gas.

The very police that is supposed to protect civilians beat unarmed protesters. Women and children were not spared.  

They think they can silence us! While some steps have been announced by the Government, including the setting up of fast track courts in Delhi, we believe this is not enough and much more needs to be done.

Help us reach out to more voices from across India to support our demands. Sign my petition and share this mail with everyone you know. 

We have already reached over 75,000 signatures. I am following up on my request for an appointment with the President and the Chief Justice of India but so far have not heard from either office.

I hope to deliver our signatures personally. Can you help reach 1,00,000 signatures before that?

Thank you for your support,

Namita Bhandare via Change.org

PS: Forward this email this mail to everyone you know and help us reach 1,00,000 signatures.

PPS: Can you spare a few minutes to make some calls and add pressure?

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