Latest news with #KPA


Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
N. Korea's Kim demotes director of military's general political bureau
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has demoted the director of the military's general political bureau in an apparent sweeping reshuffle of senior military officials following the recent warship accident. The decision came as North Korea held an enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) on Wednesday, presided over by the North's leader, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Friday. The commission "newly appointed six commanding officers of corps-level units, the director of the Artillery Bureau and the director of the Security Bureau and newly dispatched some political commissars," the KCNA said, without disclosing other details. Jong Kyong-thaek, director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army (KPA), has been demoted to the rank of colonel general from general, Seoul's unification ministry said, citing photos carried by the North's state media. Photos related to a firing contest among military artillery units held Thursday showed Jong with the lower military rank's insignia on his uniform, though he was referred to with the current title of the KPA's director in state media reports. The director of the KPA's general political bureau is in charge of ideological education and surveillance at the armed forces. The commission's enlarged meeting, the first such gathering in August 2023, came after a new North Korean warship partly capsized during its launch on May 21, a serious accident that Kim witnessed and slammed as an intolerable "criminal act." North Korea said the meeting discussed ways to more firmly establish the "steel-like discipline system" of the country's armed forces organs and exercise "tight control and guidance" on the military. At the meeting, North Korea decided on "military measures to firmly maintain the strategic and tactical superiority" and approved a series of new projects in the defense science and industry sectors, without revealing other details. The North's meeting appears to be intended to tighten the military's discipline following the recent warship accident occurring during the launch in the northeastern port city of Chongjin. Kim ordered the restoration of the warship to be "completed unconditionally" before a plenary meeting of the WPK's meeting set for June. As part of an investigation into the warship accident, North Korea has detained some officials, including the vice director of the party's munitions industry department. (Yonhap)


Hamilton Spectator
23-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Almaden Enters Into Key Persons Retention Agreement
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Almaden Minerals Ltd. ('Almaden' or 'the Company'; TSX: AMM; OTCQB: AAUAF) announces that the Company has established a Key Persons Retention Agreement ('KPA'), which is a long-term incentive program to retain key personnel of the Company who have important historical information and knowledge to contribute towards its international arbitration proceedings (the 'Claim') under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership with the United Mexican States. The Company recognizes that the continued, active participation of the Key Persons is of material importance to the Claim and therefore requires the active support of the Key Persons throughout the Claim process. Each Key Person must satisfy specific Claim related duties and if they do so, each Key Person may be entitled to a pre-defined percentage of the proceeds received under the KPA. The KPA outlines that the Key Persons' entitlement is not related to participation as a witness in the Claim proceedings or performance as a witness should he serve as one. The KPA provides that if the Claim is successful and the Company receives damages proceeds, 4.0% of the net proceeds will be directed to the KPA for distribution to its participants (the 'Key Persons'), being Korm Trieu, CFO, and Douglas McDonald, Executive Vice President. The net proceeds consist of any gross damages award resulting from the Claim, less all the aggregate direct expenses related to it, including the costs relating to the litigation funding. In the event there are no net proceeds, no amount will be payable under the KPA. On the other hand, the KPA is subject to a maximum aggregate amount of US$12 million. This maximum aggregate amount does not reflect the Company's view on the merits of the Claim. The KPA will be submitted for approval by the Company's disinterested shareholders at the next Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders, scheduled for June 26, 2025 (the 'Meeting'). The management information circular for the Meeting (the 'Circular') will include full details of the KPA. The Company engaged Evans & Evans, Inc., a third party financial advisory firm, on an arm's length basis, who delivered a reasonableness letter to the Company confirming the terms of the KPA are fair and reasonable, from a financial standpoint, to the Company's shareholders (the 'Reasonableness Letter'). The foregoing conclusions are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Reasonableness Letter, a copy of which will be attached to the Circular. On behalf of the Board of Directors, 'J. Duane Poliquin' J. Duane Poliquin Chair Almaden Minerals Ltd. Safe Harbor Statement Certain of the statements and information in this news release constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information in this news release relate to, among other things, the timing, result and damages arising from the Claim and net proceeds paid to the Key Persons subject to the KPA; and the approval of the KPA by the Company's disinterested shareholders. These forward-looking statements and information reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant legal, regulatory, business, operational and economic uncertainties and contingencies, and such uncertainty generally increases with longer-term forecasts and outlook. These assumptions include: stability and predictability in Mexico's response to the arbitration process under the CPTPP; stability and predictability in the application of the CPTPP and arbitral decisions thereon; the ability to continue to finance the arbitration process, and continued respect for the rule of law in Mexico. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company cautions the reader that forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to: the application of the CPTPP and arbitral decisions thereon; continued respect for the rule of law in Mexico; political risk in Mexico; crime and violence in Mexico; corruption in Mexico; uncertainty as to the outcome of arbitration or the funding available to the Company to pursue it; as well as those factors discussed the section entitled 'Risk Factors' in Almaden's Annual Information Form and Almaden's latest Form 20-F on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Company and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that our forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to on forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Contact Information: Almaden Minerals Ltd. Tel. 604.689.7644 Email: info@
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Almaden Enters Into Key Persons Retention Agreement
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Almaden Minerals Ltd. ('Almaden' or 'the Company'; TSX: AMM; OTCQB: AAUAF) announces that the Company has established a Key Persons Retention Agreement ('KPA'), which is a long-term incentive program to retain key personnel of the Company who have important historical information and knowledge to contribute towards its international arbitration proceedings (the 'Claim') under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership with the United Mexican States. The Company recognizes that the continued, active participation of the Key Persons is of material importance to the Claim and therefore requires the active support of the Key Persons throughout the Claim process. Each Key Person must satisfy specific Claim related duties and if they do so, each Key Person may be entitled to a pre-defined percentage of the proceeds received under the KPA. The KPA outlines that the Key Persons' entitlement is not related to participation as a witness in the Claim proceedings or performance as a witness should he serve as one. The KPA provides that if the Claim is successful and the Company receives damages proceeds, 4.0% of the net proceeds will be directed to the KPA for distribution to its participants (the 'Key Persons'), being Korm Trieu, CFO, and Douglas McDonald, Executive Vice President. The net proceeds consist of any gross damages award resulting from the Claim, less all the aggregate direct expenses related to it, including the costs relating to the litigation funding. In the event there are no net proceeds, no amount will be payable under the KPA. On the other hand, the KPA is subject to a maximum aggregate amount of US$12 million. This maximum aggregate amount does not reflect the Company's view on the merits of the Claim. The KPA will be submitted for approval by the Company's disinterested shareholders at the next Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders, scheduled for June 26, 2025 (the 'Meeting'). The management information circular for the Meeting (the 'Circular') will include full details of the KPA. The Company engaged Evans & Evans, Inc., a third party financial advisory firm, on an arm's length basis, who delivered a reasonableness letter to the Company confirming the terms of the KPA are fair and reasonable, from a financial standpoint, to the Company's shareholders (the 'Reasonableness Letter'). The foregoing conclusions are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Reasonableness Letter, a copy of which will be attached to the Circular. On behalf of the Board of Directors, 'J. Duane Poliquin' J. Duane PoliquinChairAlmaden Minerals Ltd. Safe Harbor Statement Certain of the statements and information in this news release constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information in this news release relate to, among other things, the timing, result and damages arising from the Claim and net proceeds paid to the Key Persons subject to the KPA; and the approval of the KPA by the Company's disinterested shareholders. These forward-looking statements and information reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant legal, regulatory, business, operational and economic uncertainties and contingencies, and such uncertainty generally increases with longer-term forecasts and outlook. These assumptions include: stability and predictability in Mexico's response to the arbitration process under the CPTPP; stability and predictability in the application of the CPTPP and arbitral decisions thereon; the ability to continue to finance the arbitration process, and continued respect for the rule of law in Mexico. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company cautions the reader that forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to: the application of the CPTPP and arbitral decisions thereon; continued respect for the rule of law in Mexico; political risk in Mexico; crime and violence in Mexico; corruption in Mexico; uncertainty as to the outcome of arbitration or the funding available to the Company to pursue it; as well as those factors discussed the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Almaden's Annual Information Form and Almaden's latest Form 20-F on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Company and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that our forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to on forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Contact Information: Almaden Minerals 604.689.7644Email: info@


Korea Herald
22-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Korean publishing sees steady growth in 2024, though translated works continue to decline
Book prices rise for fourth year South Korea's publishing industry recorded modest but steady growth in 2024, with 64,306 new titles registered with the Korean Publishers Association — a 2.3 percent increase from the 62,865 titles published in 2023. According to the KPA's annual report, literature and social sciences remained the most active categories, producing 14,118 and 12,163 titles respectively. The number of active domestic publishing companies registered in the publisher/printer search system reached a record high of 81,161, increasing 2.7 percent from 79,035 in the previous year. Original Korean-language publications continue to dominate the market while translated titles saw a decline of 4.2 percent, dropping from 10,711 in 2023 to 10,262 in 2024. Translated books accounted for 16 percent of all new titles, continuing a gradual downward trend observed over the past decade. Among translated titles, comics (2,652 titles), literature (1,889) and children's books (1,508) were the most prominent genres. Japanese-language books led the field with 4,492 titles, followed by books translated from the US (2,569), UK (733), China (479), France (418) and Germany (417). One of the most notable shifts in 2024 came from the philosophy category, which saw the largest year-on-year increase with 485 additional titles — an 18 percent jump. Other areas with significant growth included religion (319 more titles), the arts (254 more titles) and comics (201 more titles). These changes suggest a shift in reader preferences — particularly among younger audiences — toward more reflective, visually rich and culturally diverse content, according to KPA. In contrast, the technical sciences and study reference categories saw sharp declines, falling by 277 and 192 titles, respectively. The dip reflects a waning demand for traditional academic and exam-focused materials. The average price of newly released books also rose in 2024, reaching 19,526 won ($14.14), a 4.8 percent increase from the previous year's 18,633 won. Excluding the comic book category, which had a lower average price of 7,127 won, the average price across other categories climbed to 20,788 won. Book prices have been rising steadily since 2020, when the average price stood at 16,420 won, reflecting an 18.9 percent increase over four years, in line with inflation and rising production costs.


Daily Tribune
07-05-2025
- General
- Daily Tribune
KPA celebrates International Labour Day across Bahrain
The Kollam Pravasi Association (KPA) marked International Labour Day with a series of impactful events across Bahrain, reinforcing its dedication to social responsibility and solidarity with the workforce. One of the key highlights was the 17th edition of KPA's 'Snehasparsham' blood donation camp, held on May 1 at King Hamad University Hospital. Over 60 expatriates participated in the initiative, which was inaugurated by Saneesh Koorumullil, Chairman of Gurudeva Social Society, and presided over by KPA President Anoj Master. Blood Donation Convener V.M. Pramod welcomed the gathering, while General Secretary Prashanth Prabudhan, Vice President Koyivila Mohammed Kunju, Treasurer Manoj Jamal, Secretaries Anilkumar and Rajeesh Pattazhi, Founding President Nisar Kollam, and Founding General Secretary Jagat Krishnakumar shared their felicitations. Vote of thanks The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Convener Navas Karunagappally. The camp was successfully coordinated by KPA's Central and District Committees, along with members of its women's wing, Pravasi Shree. In another event, Pravasi Shree, KPA's women's wing, commemorated Labour Day at a women's labour camp in Jurdab, where they distributed meals to over 100 female workers. The initiative was inaugurated by KPA Secretary Anilkumar, with Pravasi Shree Coordinator Kishore Kumar, Ranjith R. Pillai, and unit heads Pradeep Anil, Shamil Ismail, Sumi Shameer, Shani Nisar, and Kajal Naveen sharing their greetings. Additionally, the Hamad Town Area Committee of KPA hosted celebrations at Zarwan Fiberglass Factory, emphasizing appreciation for workers' contributions. KPA President Anoj Master inaugurated the event, which was presided over by Hamad Town Area President Jyothi Pramod.