The South Korean government will grant a special pardon to former President Park Geun-hye

Saturday December 25, 2021

The South Korean government said on December 24, 2021, it will grant a special pardon to former President Park Geun-hye,

The South Korean government will grant a special pardon to former President Park Geun-hye

The South Korean government said on December 24, 2021, it will grant a special pardon to former President Park Geun-hye, who is serving a lengthy prison term for bribery and other crimes.

The Justice Ministry said in a statement that Park’s pardon is aimed at overcoming past divisions and promoting national unity in the face of difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The ministry said the 69-year-old Park was among 3,094 people who are to be pardoned on Dec. 31.

Park was arrested and sent to prison in 2017, after being removed from office following a corruption scandal that prompted months of massive street protests. Her ouster marked a stunning fall from grace for the country’s first female president and conservative icon.

In January, South Korea’s Supreme Court upheld her 20-year prison term. She could have served a combined 22 years behind bars because she was separately convicted of meddling in her party’s nominations ahead of parliamentary elections in 2016.

Park has described herself as a victim of political revenge. She has refused to attend her trials since October 2017.

Park is a daughter of late authoritarian President Park Chung-hee. She was elected in late 2012 on a wave of support from conservatives who celebrate her father as a hero who pulled the country up from poverty despite his suppression of civil rights.

She was impeached by lawmakers in December 2016, and formally removed in March 2017, after the the Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment.

She was succeeded by Moon Jae-in, a liberal who won a special by-election following her ouster.

Maharashtra Assembly unanimously clears Shakti bill seeking death for rape

Saturday December 25, 2021

To curb crime against women and children, the Maharashtra Assembly on Dec 23 passed

Maharashtra Assembly unanimously clears Shakti bill seeking death for rape

To curb crime against women and children, the Maharashtra Assembly on Dec 23 passed the Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill that provides for stricter punishment, including death penalty. The Bill also provides of speedy trial in such cases.

The Bill, modelled on the Disha Act of Andhra Pradesh, was tabled in the Assembly by home minister Dilip Walse Patil. It was first introduced in the House during the winter session last year, but sent to a joint select committee.

As per the bill, every district will have special fast-track court for trial. As per the Bill, the probe in crime cases against women and children will have to be completed within 15 days and the trial within 30 days.

The perpetrators will be punished with imprisonment not less than ten years and may extend to the remainder of natural life or with death sentence in cases deemed ‘heinous’.
The bill also provides for punishment of one to three years in prison and a fine of Rs 1 lakh for lodging a false complaint of sexual assault.

Japan won't send government delegation to Beijing Olympics

Saturday December 25, 2021

Japan announced on December 24, 2021 that it won't send a delegation of ministers to represent the government at the

Japan won't send government delegation to Beijing Olympics

Japan announced on December 24, 2021 that it won't send a delegation of ministers to represent the government at the Beijing Games but three Olympic officials will attend, a mixed response to a U.S.-led move to boycott the games to protest China's human rights conditions.

Japan's decision not to send a government delegation follows a move by the United States and a few other democratic nations including Australia, Britain and Canada, which cited China's human rights violations.

Japan, as a U.S. ally and considering its biggest trade partner is China, is in a difficult position and has taken a softer approach than its western partners on human rights situations in China's Xinjian region and Hong Kong.

Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has made human rights a key part of his diplomacy and created a special advisory position to tackle the issue and has said he hopes to make a constructive relations with China.

China has criticized the United States and other countries for violating political neutrality required in the spirit of the Olympic Charter.

Japanese athletes will take part in the Games beginning Feb. 4 as scheduled.

At least 36 people killed in fire aboard packed ferry in Bangladesh

Saturday December 25, 2021

At least 36 people died and nearly 200 others were injured on December 24, 2021, after a packed three-storey

At least 36 people killed in fire aboard packed ferry in Bangladesh

At least 36 people died and nearly 200 others were injured on December 24, 2021, after a packed three-storey ferry carrying around 500 passengers caught fire on the Sugandha River in southern Bangladesh , in the latest maritime tragedy to hit the delta nation criss-crossed by rivers.

The accident was the latest in a number of similar incidents in Bangladesh, a small country criss-crossed by a network of some 230 rivers of different sizes and shapes.

These watercourses cover nearly 7 per cent of the total area of the country.

Kanpur: In biggest recovery ever, CBIC unearths Rs 150 cr cash in raids on perfume company

Saturday December 25, 2021

Vivek Johri, the Chairman of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) on

Kanpur: In biggest recovery ever, CBIC unearths Rs 150 cr cash in raids on perfume company

Vivek Johri, the Chairman of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) on Dec 24 said that the cash recovery of approximately Rs 150 crores from searches in Kanpur at several locations related to Trimurti Fragrance is the "biggest haul ever". The teams of CBIC are currently at various premises of businessman Piyush Jain counting cash.

Briefing about the details of the searches, Johri said, "Ahemdabad unit of DGGI received intelligence that pan masala and G company Trimurti Fragrance, manufacturers of a branded Gutkha, are transporting materials without any invoices and without paying taxes."

Johri also said that one of the parties involved has accepted the case of tax evasion and has deposited Rs 3 crore for the same.

As per the GST law, if the invoice is more than a certain limit, then it is necessary to generate invoices.

China denounces US law on Xinjiang imports, dismisses allegations of forced labour as lies

Saturday December 25, 2021

The Chinese government on Dec 24 denounced a U.S. law that restricts imports from Xinjiang as a violation of

China denounces US law on Xinjiang imports, dismisses allegations of forced labour as lies

The Chinese government on Dec 24 denounced a U.S. law that restricts imports from Xinjiang as a violation of international law and dismissed complaints of abuses against mostly Muslim minorities in the northwestern region as lies.

President Joe Biden signed the measure on Dec 23 amid mounting tension including appeals by activists for a boycott of February’s Winter Olympics in Beijing. It prohibits U.S. businesses from importing goods from Xinjiang unless they can be proven not to have been made by forced labour.

Foreign governments and researchers say more than 1 million Uyghurs and other minorities have been confined in camps in Xinjiang in China’s northwest. Chinese officials are accused of using forced abortions, forced labour and mass indoctrination.

Chinese officials reject the accusations and say the camps are meant for job training and to combat radicalism.

Bill to seek damages for arson gets nod in Madhya Pradesh Assembly

Saturday December 25, 2021

The Madhya Pradesh Assembly passed on Dec 23 a Bill which provides for recovering from the

Bill to seek damages for arson gets nod in Madhya Pradesh Assembly

The Madhya Pradesh Assembly passed on Dec 23 a Bill which provides for recovering from the protestors/rioters, the damages caused by them to public and private properties during protests, strikes, bandhs and communal riots.

The Lok Evam Niji Sampati Ka Nuksan Nivaran Evam Nusksani Ki Vasuli Bill was passed with voice vote sans any debate amid walkout by the opposition Congress members.
Once the Governor gives his assent, Madhya Pradesh will become the third BJP-ruled state after Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to have such a law.
The Bill provides for setting up a tribunal, with retired civil judge and retired secretary level bureaucrat, to determine the compensation for the damages caused to properties.
Those seeking compensation have to apply within 30 days of their loss.
If the sum isn’t deposited within 15 days of the tribunal declaring the award, then the district administration will have the power under the proposed law to confiscate/attach and auction them.

The tribunal order can be challenged only in the HC within 90 days of the declaration of the award.

Government notifies semiconductor policy to push manufacturing

Saturday December 25, 2021

The centre has notified the semiconductor policy that aims to promote the manufacturing of semiconductor chips

Government notifies semiconductor policy to push manufacturing

The centre has notified the semiconductor policy that aims to promote the manufacturing of semiconductor chips in the country. As per the notification, the government will provide up to 50% of the cost for setting up two semiconductors and two display fabs units. The Application window will start from 1 January and will be open for 45 days.

The semiconductor scheme was cleared by the Cabinet recently and is in line with the National Policy on Electronics 2019 (NPE 2019). One of the main strategies of NPE 2019 is to facilitate setting up of semiconductor wafer fabrication facilities and its eco-system for design and fabrication of chip components in the country.

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The South Korean government will grant a special pardon to former President Park Geun-hye

The South Korean government will grant a special pardon to former President Park Geun-hye

Maharashtra Assembly unanimously clears Shakti bill seeking death for rape

Maharashtra Assembly unanimously clears Shakti bill seeking death for rape

Japan won't send government delegation to Beijing Olympics

Japan won't send government delegation to Beijing Olympics

At least 36 people killed in fire aboard packed ferry in Bangladesh

At least 36 people killed in fire aboard packed ferry in Bangladesh

Kanpur: In biggest recovery ever, CBIC unearths Rs 150 cr cash in raids on perfume company

Kanpur: In biggest recovery ever, CBIC unearths Rs 150 cr cash in raids on perfume company

China denounces US law on Xinjiang imports, dismisses allegations of forced labour as lies

China denounces US law on Xinjiang imports, dismisses allegations of forced labour as lies

Bill to seek damages for arson gets nod in Madhya Pradesh Assembly

Bill to seek damages for arson gets nod in Madhya Pradesh Assembly

Government notifies semiconductor policy to push manufacturing

Government notifies semiconductor policy to push manufacturing

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