A bill has been introduced in the Rajya Sabha to supplant the CJI with a cabinet minister in the selection of the CEC and election commissioners.

The central government introduced a bill on Thursday that would replace the chief justice of India (CJI) with a cabinet minister on the committee for the appointment of chief election commissioners (CECs) and commissioners (ECs). To oppose the contentious bill, the opposition raised a ruckus.

OSAKA GOV. TO ASK CENTRAL GOVT. TO DECLARE FRESH STATE OF EMERGENCY

Highlights –

• Osaka Gov. to ask central govt. to declare a fresh state of emergency.
• Osaka Prefecture has been reporting a resurgence of coronavirus cases.
• Osaka as of Sunday recorded 1,220 new coronavirus cases.
• Osaka could...

NEW SEOUL MAYOR TO SEEK APPROVAL FOR SELF COVID-19 TEST KITS

Highlights –

• New Seoul mayor to seek approval for self COVID-19 test kits.
• The mayor also plans to extend working hours for small businesses hurt by COVID-19 restrictions.
• The mayor has asked the central government to approve rapid se...

GOVERNORS OF TOKYO, KYOTO, OKINAWA ENHANCES THEIR COVID-19 MEASURES

Highlights –

• Governors of Tokyo. Kyoto, Okinawa enhances their COVID-19 measures.
• The restaurants and bars in densely populated areas will have to close by 8 p.m.
• Large events will be capped with an attendance of a maximum of 5,000 pe...

S. KOREAN PM URGES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO PASS THE LATEST EXTRA BUDGET PROPOSAL

Highlights –

• S. Korean PM urges National Assembly to pass the latest extra budget proposal.
• The government has submitted a 15 trillion won (US$13.2 billion) supplementary budget plan.
• The latest round of budget plan is to provide reli...

S. KOREAN PM ANNOUNCES NO CASH HANDOUTS FOR VIOLATORS OF ANTIVIRUS MEASURES

Highlights –

• S. Korean PM announces no cash handouts for violators of antivirus measures.
• The PM gave off stern measures with the norm of "one-strike, you're out" punishment.
• Shops, restaurants, and other businesses nati...

STATE-OWNED FACILITIES WILL BE USED AS COVID-19 VACCINATION SITES IN JAPAN

Highlights –

• State-owned facilities will be used as COVID-19 vaccination sites in Japan.
• The central govt. is said to offer its buildings for free for workers and other facilities.
• Country’s retail giant Aeon Co. will make its s...

JAPAN GOVT. REPORTS TECHNICAL ERROR IN ITS COVID-19 CONTACT TRACING APP

Highlights –

• Japan govt. reports technical error in its COVID-19 contact tracing app.
• The app in smartphones using Apple’s iOS operating system has faced technical issues.
• The Japan Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare have st...

JAPAN GOVT. WILL REVIEW LIFTING OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY THIS WEEK

Highlights –

• Japan govt. will review lifting of the state of emergency this week.
• Tokyo reportedly has the highest number among the country's 47 prefectures.
• A state of emergency may be lifted if on seven-days an average of 500 ca...

JAPAN GOVT. TO MAKE GUIDELINES FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF COVID-19 VACCINES

Highlights –

• Japan Govt. to make guidelines for the transportation of COVID-19 vaccines.
• The govt. said that the first batch of the Pfizer vaccine could arrive by Sunday.
• Japan is said to receive vaccine doses for around 157 million p...

JAPAN PM ANNOUNCES TO SPEND $11 BILLION FOR CORNAVIRUS SUBSIDIES

Highlights –

• Japan PM announces to spend $11 billion for coronavirus subsidies.
• The central govt. will disburse the money from reserve funds for fiscal 2020.
• Around 880.2 billion yen will be given to local municipalities to aid restau...

S. KOREAN GOVT. EASES RESTRICTIONS ON RESTAURANTS, GYMS, CAFÉ

Highlights –

• S. Korean govt. eases restrictions on restaurants, gyms, café.
• The restrictions have been eased for areas located outside greater Seoul.
• The above establishments will be allowed to stay open until 10 p.m from Monda...

LOCAL GOVERNORS IN JAPAN ASK CENTRAL GOVT. TO PROVIDE COVID-19 VACCINE PLANS

Highlights –

• Local governors in Japan ask central govt. to provide COVID-19 vaccine plans.
• The central govt. has so far not provided any details of when the vaccines will be available.
• The National Governors' Association vowed to ...

SHIBUYA’S PUBLIC HOSPITAL TURNED COVID-19 CENTER CAUSE DIFFICULTIES FOR EXPECTING MOTHERS

Highlights –

• Shibuya’s public hospital turned COVID-19 center cause difficulties for expecting mothers.
• Reportedly around 200 women were scheduled to give birth in the public hospital in Shibuya Ward.
• They are now forced to find...

JAPAN REPORTS COVID-19 PATIENTS RECUPERATING AT HOME TO REACH 30,208

Highlights –

• Japan reports COVID-19 patients recovering at home to reach 30,208.
• On Wednesday the figure was 1.7 times that of the previous week.
• In the few prefectures, the number of bed occupancy situations has reached Stage 4.
...

7 ADDITIONAL PREFECTURES TO BE ADDED UNDER JAPAN’S STATE OF EMERGENCY ORDER

Highlights –

• 7 additional prefectures to be added under Japan’s state of emergency order.
• Tochigi, Gifu, Hyogo, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Osaka, and Aichi prefectures will be the newly added prefectures.
• Declaration of a state of emergenc...

SEOUL CAFÉ AND GYM OWNERS FILE LAWSUITS AGAINST GOVT. OVER COVID-19

Highlights –

• Seoul café and gym owners file lawsuits against govt. over COVID-19.
• Around 230 gym owners filed a 5 million won lawsuit in Seoul Western District Court.
• South Korea has imposed Level 2.5 social distancing restrict...

JAPAN GOVT. MINISTER SAYS TOKYO MUST SEE 70% DEDUCTION IN COMMUTERS

Highlights –

• Japan Govt. minister says Tokyo must see 70% deduction in commuters.
• Tokyo Metropolitan area has been put under a state of emergency due to rising virus cases.
• Tokyo on Thursday confirmed a daily record of 2,447 cases.

UK RETURN PASSENGER IN CHENNAI TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19; NEW STRAIN NOT COFIRMED

Highlights –

• UK return passenger in Chennai tests positive for COVID-19; new strain not confirmed.
• UK announced that a news variant of SARS-CoV-2 has been found referred to as B.1.1.7.
• Central Govt. of India and Tamil Nadu govt. ...

HOUSEHOLD ASSETS IN JAPAN IN SEPTEMBER END RECORDS $18 TRILLION

Highlights –

• Household assets in Japan in September end record $18 trillion.
• The recorded data is up by 2.7 percent from a year earlier.
• Total assets held in cash and deposits increased by 4.9% to 1,034 trillion yen.
• The as...