The South Korean government has decided to pardons former President of Samsung Lee Kun-hiy, convicted of tax evasion, cited by Air Force, citing the release of the Ministry of Justice of the country. After being pardoned, Lee Kun-hiy will be able to return to work within the International Olympic Committee. South Korea is a candidate to host the winter games in 2018. This is the second pardon for Lee. In 1996 he was convicted of bribing former president Chun To Drag and Roe Tae Woo of two years imprisonment, and in 1997 was pardoned by President Kim Yun Sam. In 2005, even as prosecutors investigate suspicions that Lee and other heads of companies have used company funds to pay presidential candidates. This accusation, however, dropped. Cases in which the president pardons a leader of a large local family business, are common, says BBC. Lee is considered by many to be one of the popular business in the country. Amnesty for his current trade lobbies and sports organizations. So far South Korea has tried twice to host the Winter Olympics, this time to compete with Munich and the French town of Annecy.
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New car sales in France grew by over 10% in 2009 over the previous year, thanks to state incentives for purchasing a new car, and promotions for manufacturers and dealers, government estimates show. By the end of the year, sales of new cars in the country will reach 2.27 million units, said Industry Minister Christian Estrozi. The result for 2009 is generally best for the sector in 1990, he added is quoted by Dow Jones. Earlier today newspaper Les Echos reported that sales in December rose by 40% yoy, as buyers sought to take advantage of the government program to encourage the purchase of a new car before Jan. 1. From early next year to help purchase a new car will be reduced to 700 euros from the current 1000 and from July will fall to 500. According to Estrozi 575 thousand cars were sold in the country this year with the program.
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