Vaccine momentum for transparency / China asset manager executed / Thailand navy officials investigated

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Will COVID-19 be the shot in the arm that improves pharmaceutical pricing transparency? (Blog).  “What is clear is that transparency is essential to providing confidence that public funds are used effectively and in the public interest, particularly during times of crisis when huge sums of money are being spent and contracts are being allocated at speed. This could not be more important when it comes to government contracts with vaccine manufacturers.”

Natalie Rhodes/Transparency International: https://www.transparency.org/en/blog/will-covid-19-be-the-shot-in-the-arm-that-improves-pharmaceutical-pricing-transparency   

China executes former asset management chief for corruption.  “China has executed [Lai Xiaomin] the former head of one of its biggest asset management companies who was convicted of corruption, a punishment that has drawn sharp criticism from international human rights experts…Lai was found guilty of taking bribes amounting to Rmb1.8bn ($280m) over a 10-year period when he worked at Huarong Asset Management and before that at the China Banking Regulatory Commission.”

Edward White and Sun Yu/Financial Times: https://www.ft.com/content/820cf0ec-09a7-4d2e-a86d-897de725d712  

16 Thai Navy officials investigated for alleged involvement in drug trafficking.  “The Royal Thai Navy is investigating 16 of its officials for alleged involvement in a drug trafficking operation…[in] Nong Khai [province] which borders Laos…2 Navy officers took the drugs from local officials, saying they would secure the evidence and hold a press conference, which never happened, according to a complaint filed with the Anti-Corruption Police by the Crime Victims Assistance Club chairperson.”

Caitlin Ashworth/The Thaiger: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/16-thai-navy-officials-investigated-for-alleged-involvement-in-drug-trafficking

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