Latest news with #KPA
Korea Herald
16-07-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Seoul Intl. Book Fair claims end in no charges
Korea Publishers Association cleared in subsidy dispute with Culture Ministry An investigation into the Korean Publishers Association over the Seoul International Book Fair and alleged misuse of government subsidies has been closed with no charges, the KPA said Monday. According to the KPA, the Seoul Jongno Police Station issued a 'no charges filed' decision on July 7 in a case that accused the organization of violating the Subsidy Management Act and criminal statutes, including document forgery and obstruction of business. The case stems from a 2023 complaint filed by the Culture Ministry under then-Minister Park Bo-gyoon, who questioned whether the KPA had concealed revenues from the SIBF and failed to report profits, despite receiving annual government subsidies of up to 1 billion won ($725,000) for the event. The ministry accused the KPA of forming a 'cartel' with the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea (KPIPA), a state-affiliated body overseeing publishing subsidies. It claimed the organizers had redacted or withheld financial details — including fees from overseas participants — and referred the case to police for further investigation in August 2023. Following the complaint, the Culture Ministry slashed 3 billion won in subsidies earmarked for the book fair and international participation projects and barred the KPA from applying for new state-funded initiatives. Starting in 2024, government support for the fair was rerouted through KPIPA to assist individual exhibitors, bypassing the association. However, according to the official police notification, authorities found no evidence that the association had concealed earnings or misused subsidies. Police concluded that financial arrangements for the book fair, including how revenues and expenses were reported, had been pre-negotiated among the Culture Ministry, KPIPA and the KPA. 'There was no misuse of subsidies for purposes outside their original scope,' the KPA said in a statement, citing the outcome of the investigation. 'The findings clearly show that there was no wrongdoing in our management of either the public subsidies or the fair's revenues.' The KPA criticized the ministry's actions as overreach and expressed hope that the newly appointed culture minister under the Lee Jae Myung government would bring renewed support and stability to publishing policy.
Business Recorder
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Reserved seat quota recalculation at belated stage not supported by law: ECP
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has declared that the recalculation of quota for reserved seats at belated stage after allocation or reserved seats to the political parties is not supported by the Constitution and law. 'The rationale for calculation of quota for the reserved seats on the basis of party position on 22-02-2025 was to avoid unending controversies. For example, if a political party succeeds in getting more seats as a result of recounting or by-election or decision of the tribunal, the quota will be revised again and again and it will be an unending process which is against the spirit of Constitution and Law…', reads the written order in the reserved seats case, issued by a five-member ECP full bench on Tuesday. The bench rejected the petitions of Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians (PTIP) for the reallocation of reserved seats for women and non-Muslims in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly (KPA). The bench also directed that the name of one Malik Tariq Awan be included for the 'purpose of calculation of quota and allocation of reserved seats for women and non-Muslims to the political party (PML-N) joined by him in the Provincial Assembly of KP within prescribed period.' In connection with the reserved seats case, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) submitted 21 nominations for KPA. Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) submitted 15 nominations, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) 14 nominations, ANP 11 nominations and PTIP has submitted 10 nominations to the ECP for KPA reserved seats. The allocation of reserved seats on the part of ECP on 2 July, in pursuance of the apex court's 27 June order, suggested that PML-N received the largest chunk of 43 reserved seats, followed by 15 reserved seats having gone to PPP, and 12 seats to JUI-F, as the poll body has allotted a total of 74 of 77 reserved seats to other political parties in four Assemblies. In KPA, of the 25 allotted seats, comprising 21 women and four non-Muslim seats, JUI-F received 10 seats (eight women, two non-Muslims), PML-N got seven reserved seats (six women and a non-Muslim), PPP also got seven reserved seats (six women and a non-Muslim), and ANP received a woman seat. Apart from that, Senate elections are taking place on seven general seats, two women seats and two technocrats' seats of KP on 21st July. In addition, the election on a Senate woman seat from KP, that fell vacant following the resignation of Sania Nishtar from PTI, would be held on 31 July. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
ECP reserves verdict in reserved seats case
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reserved its verdict in the reserved seats case involving five political parties and their 71 candidates. A five-member ECP full bench heard the case on Monday. The legal counsels from the political parties concerned appeared before the bench and gave arguments in favour of the allocation of reserved seats in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly to the respective political parties, before the bench reserved the verdict, likely to be announced in the coming days. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) has submitted 21 nominations for the seats reserved for women and non-Muslims in KPA. Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) has submitted 15 nominations, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) 14 nominations, Awami National Party (ANP) 11 nominations and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians (PTIP) has submitted 10 nominations to the ECP for KPA reserved seats. The allocation of reserved seats on the part of ECP on 2nd July, in pursuance of the apex court's 27th June order, suggested that PML-N has received the largest chunk of 43 reserved seats, followed by 15 reserved seats having gone to PPP, and 12 seats to JUI-F, as the poll body has allotted a total of 74 of 77 reserved seats to other political parties in four Assemblies. In KPA, of the 25 allotted seats, comprising 21 women and four non-Muslim seats, JUI-F received 10 seats (eight women, two non-Muslims), PML-N got seven reserved seats (six women and a non-Muslim), PPP also got seven reserved seats (six women and a non-Muslim), and ANP received a woman seat. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Daily Tribune
10-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Tribune
‘Snehasparsham' blood donation camp successful
The Kollam Pravasi Association (KPA) Riffa Area Committee successfully organized its 18th 'KPA Snehasparsham' blood donation camp at King Hamad University Hospital, drawing significant participation from the expat community. Over 50 expatriates came forward to donate blood, marking the event as a testament to the association's commitment to community welfare. The camp was inaugurated by Krishna Kumar, Chairman of the Sree Narayana Cultural Society. Riffa Area President Suresh Unnithan presided over the event, while KPA President Anooj Master delivered the keynote address. Subin Sunil Kumar, Area Joint Secretary, extended a welcome, and Ananthu Shankar, Area Treasurer, offered the vote of thanks. Leaders including KPA General Secretary Prashanth Prabuddhan, Secretary Rajeesh Pattazhi, KPA Founder President Nisar Kollam, Blood Donation Convenors V.M. Pramod and Nawas Jalaluddin, Area Coordinator Maju Varghese, and Area Secretary Sajan Nair conveyed their felicitations for the successful initiative.
Daily Tribune
09-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Tribune
Kollam Pravasi Association's 'Snehasparsham' Blood Donation Camp a Success
TDT I Manama The Kollam Pravasi Association (KPA) Riffa Area Committee successfully organized its 18th 'KPA Snehasparsham' blood donation camp at King Hamad University Hospital, drawing significant participation from the expat community. Over 50 expatriates came forward to donate blood, marking the event as a testament to the association's commitment to community welfare. The camp was inaugurated by Krishna Kumar, Chairman of the Sree Narayana Cultural Society. Riffa Area President Suresh Unnithan presided over the event, while KPA President Anooj Master delivered the keynote address. Subin Sunil Kumar, Area Joint Secretary, extended a welcome, and Ananthu Shankar, Area Treasurer, offered the vote of thanks. Leaders including KPA General Secretary Prashanth Prabuddhan, Secretary Rajeesh Pattazhi, KPA Founder President Nisar Kollam, Blood Donation Convenors V.M. Pramod and Nawas Jalaluddin, Area Coordinator Maju Varghese, and Area Secretary Sajan Nair conveyed their felicitations for the successful initiative. Members from KPA Central and District Committees, along with Pravaasishree members, actively participated in the camp. The event was led by Riffa Area Vice President Jamal Koyivila and Pravaasishree Unit Head Shamila Ismail.
