Tag: Around Asia

Around Asia

Love Hotels and Religion

A religious corporation that operates “love hotels” concealed 1.4 billion yen in income over seven years through February 2008 as tax-exempt donations from amorous couples, sources said.

The Kanto-Shinetsu Regional Taxation Bureau has ordered Uchu Shinri Gakkai (Space truth academic society) to pay 300 million yen in back taxes and penalties.

Uchu Shinri Gakkai, based in Tadotsu, Kagawa Prefecture, has filed an objection to the order.

“We actually send money to needy children in the country. We’ll fight the tax authorities,” said the 46-year-old president of a company in Chikuma, Nagano Prefecture, that processes and sells mushrooms and vegetables.

The love hotels are apparently run by a 71-year-old former president of the company.

Love, Sex and Religion. What’s a Good Rightwing Republican Religious Crazy To Do?

We Fought The Law

Tens of thousands Tens of thousands were expected to join a massive rally yesterday at Seoul Plaza marking the 22nd anniversary of the June 10 pro-democracy movement despite the disapproval of police and Seoul City.

Defining it as illegal, the police vowed to deal sternly with the rally and crack down on any illicit protests. They planned to dispatch more than 12,000 police officers around Seoul Plaza, the popular assembly site in central Seoul where the 1987 movement took place.

The police and the Seoul Metropolitan Government rejected the plan for the rally, saying the Korea Freedom League, a conservative civic group, filed its request to use the plaza earlier for a separate civil campaign.

Scuffles erupted between the police and those preparing for the event when five trucks tried to enter the plaza to unload equipment and materials that will be used during the rally. During the scuffles, Rep. Lee Jung-hee of the Democratic Labor Party fainted and was taken to a nearby hospital.

And Nobody Won. They Were To Busy fighting

Emily Post Hello

As all visitors to India’s capital discover, despite Delhi’s rickshaws and the traditional black and yellow taxis offering an economical ride, there can also be plenty of drawbacks.

Cleanliness of both vehicle and driver are often uncertain, safety often comes with a question mark and at the end of their journey passengers may often conclude they’ve been well and truly ripped off.

Now, in an effort to boost the image of the “taxiwallahs” and to improve the service they offer, drivers are to receive lessons in road safety, basic English and common courtesy. What’s more, they’re going to get paid to take them.

The lessons are part of a scheme that has been drawn up by the India Tourism Development Corporation in conjunction with the government before next year’s Commonwealth Games. India’s tourism industry draws 3.3 million foreign visitors a year, but the games are expected to bring tens of thousands of new visitors and officials are determined that they leave with a positive image of the country.

Hey You You Call Those Manners