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Minuteman Press Franchise in Cranberry Township, PA Moves to New Location

Minuteman Press International Inc

The Minuteman Press franchise in Cranberry Township has moved to a brand new facility located at 1185 Freedom Road, Cranberry Twp, PA 16066. Rich Coyner has owned the business for six years, while the shop itself has been operating for over 20 years. Rich shares, “Our original location was initially setup to accommodate offset presses and a backroom operation with little retail-facing space. We moved away from the offset press business five years ago and needed a fresh look that allows our customers to see how technology has changed the way we deliver printed services to them.” He continues, “We moved into a larger space that is wide open and enables our clients to see more of our operation and capabilities. Our digital presses are near the front of the store and clients can see how we move a job from print to completion. We also added a larger lobby area with display racks for logo apparel and a display case for our promotional products lines. Our lobby is also wide open and accessible for customers in accordance with ADA guidelines.” Growing the Business When asked how he’s grown Minuteman Press in Cranberry Township since purchasing the business six years ago, Rich highlights the following: “ Diversification / Expansion of Products – When I purchased the business, the focus was only on printing paper products. We have expanded into promotional products, logo apparel, EDDM and direct mail, wide format printing, and more. I eliminated our offset presses, purchased a Xante Envelope Press, added 2 new digital presses and upgraded all of our equipment by purchasing a new challenge cutter, Baumfolder Folding Machine and Graphic Whizard Perf & Scoring machine to ensure we could provide quality products in a timely manner. We also expanded our marketing efforts to pursue promotional products and apparel opportunities from our existing customer base. Acquisition – I acquired an independent print shop that was a few miles north of me and rolled his business into our existing operation. Networking – I am a Board Member on the largest Chamber of Commerce group in the Greater Pittsburgh area – The Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber – and I leverage these networking opportunities and relationships to market my business. Community Welcome Wagon – I’ve also partnered with the local Welcome Wagon business – North Pittsburgh Greeting Co. – who welcomes all new businesses to the area and provides them a list of local businesses and goodies to help them get their business off the ground. We offer 500 Free Business cards and 500 Envelopes as a way of welcoming them to the area and letting them know we can support their printing and marketing needs.” Rich adds, “We have a great team that enjoys meeting the needs of our customers. I know that if I continue to invest in good people, new technology and keep things moving forward, the customers will stay with us. At Minuteman Press, we continue to evolve and strive to get better at everything we do to make sure our customers are happy and satisfied with our work. If we can provide a solution, we do it! And if for some reason we can’t, we’ll point them in the right direction.” Career Change & Franchise Support Prior to buying the business, Rich shares, “I spent over 30 years in the transportation & logistics industry, 20-plus years working in Corporate America for three Fortune 500 companies and the last 12 years running a privately held third-party logistics organization. I knew how to run a company but was not sure what I wanted to do so I became involved in franchise consulting as a Certified Franchise Consultant. I came across Minuteman Press in Cranberry Twp and decided to purchase it. I knew how to run a company but knew nothing about the printing industry, so I did some research and worked with the local SBDC to better understand the industry and its future potential.” Over the past six years, Rich has continued to receive ongoing franchise support from Minuteman Press International. He explains, “Minuteman Press provides a great platform to run your business along with a diverse vendor base to meet just about any needs a customer may have. Their FLEX software is a great tool for managing day-to-day operations and my central facility work is about 35%-40% of my business because we have such great vendors in the Minuteman Press program. I can do more sales with less staff using the central facility model.” Advice for Others As for what advice he would give to other business owners, Rich says, “The best advice I can give is run your business – don’t let it run you. It’s important to not let the business run you as you need to let your employees run the day-to-day and you need to be thinking big picture. Know what you want to be today, tomorrow and the next day – the world does not stand still so if you slow down it will pass you by.” Rich adds, “Also, treat your employees well! Without your team, you cannot meet the challenges of being a successful business owner.” For more information on Minuteman Press in Cranberry Township, PA, visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/pa/cranberry-township/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

July 17, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Comcast Names Jose Espinel to Lead Texas Region

Comcast Texas

Comcast today announced Jose Espinel as the new senior vice president for its Texas Region. Espinel will lead all business functions of the region, including the robust broadband infrastructure expansion of the Xfinity 10G Network in Texas. “I couldn’t get here fast enough,” said Espinel. “Texas is the land of opportunity, and I truly admire the rich diversity of the region and our Comcast Texas team. My priority will be to continue to expand our world-class broadband network to more customers and communities while ensuring our most vulnerable southeast Texans don’t get left behind.” Espinel, a native of Venezuela, brings nearly 25 years of communications and data industry experience to Comcast’s Texas Region. He joins Comcast after a successful tenure at AT&T where he led teams in Arizona, New Mexico and Las Vegas. While in Los Angeles and San Diego, Espinel led AT&T’s consumer mobile business and the Hispanic segment strategy for the region. He also worked with DIRECTV Latin America. “Jose embodies all our cultural touchstones. He’s an inclusive, principled, people-focused, competitive and customer-driven leader,” said Comcast West Division President Rich Jennings. “Our country is experiencing the largest broadband infrastructure expansion of our lifetime, and Jose is ready to lead the charge in Texas so more families and communities can unlock a future of unlimited possibilities.” Espinel joins Comcast’s Texas Region on July 10 and will report to Jennings. “I’m excited to lead this incredibly talented and dedicated Comcast Texas team and continue to provide reliable service to, and serve, the wonderful communities in the region,” said Espinel. “I am also looking forward to spending more time with family members who are proud and long-time residents of the area.” Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on connectivity, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Comcast | Texas Region Steve Campion +1 832-920-2001 Steve_Campion@comcast.com Company Website HTTPS://www.ComcastTexas.com

July 10, 2023 07:02 AM Central Daylight Time

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Lockheed Martin Sets Industry Benchmark as Early Adopter of NCMA Contract Management Standard and Contract Management Body of Knowledge

National Contract Management Association

Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), Lockheed Martin, a leading global aerospace and defense company, is one of the first prime contractors to adopt the cutting-edge National Contract Management Association (NCMA) Contract Management Standard™ (CMS ™) and Contract Management Body of Knowledge ® ( CMBOK ®). With this adoption, Lockheed Martin reiterates its unwavering commitment to excellence in contract management, ensuring that its workforce possesses the necessary competencies that align seamlessly with both the federal government and institutions of higher education, which have also embraced the CMS. The NCMA Contract Management Standard™ equips organizations with a structured approach to contract management, facilitating improved communication, streamlined processes, and enhanced risk management. As Lockheed Martin integrates this CMS into its operations, the company further strengthens its ability to deliver unparalleled value to customers and stakeholders. By proactively adopting this groundbreaking standard, Lockheed Martin sets a new industry benchmark, showcasing its dedication to fostering enhanced communication, transparency, and efficiency within its contract management processes. "At Lockheed Martin, we continuously strive to be at the forefront of innovation and industry-leading practices. Our decision to be an early adopter of the NCMA CMS™ and the CMBOK is a testament to our commitment to delivering exceptional results for our customers," said Debra Scheider, Vice President of Corporate Contracts for Lockheed Martin. "By implementing this standard, we enhance our ability to drive collaborative and successful partnerships, while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and compliance.” Kraig Conrad, CEO of NCMA, expressed his gratitude for Lockheed Martin's adoption of the NCMA CMS™ and CMBOK®, stating, "Lockheed Martin as one of the early adopters demonstrates commitment to their workforce and customers. This moves our profession forward on a shared vision of fostering a robust connection between industry and government through a common language.” The U.S. Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) announced the new classification in a January 19 memo, stating that the CMS™ will become the foundation of a new contracting training system for all government agencies effective February 1, 2023. The new Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) (Professional) will now align with the Department of Defense framework (DAWIA), which is also based on the CMS™. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-approved third edition of the NCMA CMS™ is recognized globally as the preeminent standard in the profession. It serves as the basis for hiring and training frameworks as well as the NCMA’s ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)-accredited Certified Contract Management Associate (CCMA) certification. The CMBOK® is based on the CMS™ and serves as the basis for NCMA’s ANAB-accredited Certified Professional Contracts Manager™ (CPCM™) certification. The National Contract Management Association (NCMA), which was founded in 1959 and is the world’s leading association in the field of contract management. The organization, which has over 18,000 members, is dedicated to the professional growth and educational advancement of procurement and acquisition personnel worldwide. NCMA strives to serve and inform the profession and industry it represents and to offer opportunities for the open exchange of ideas in neutral forums. To find out more, please visit www.ncmahq.org. About Lockheed Martin Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin Corporation is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 116,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. Please follow @LMNews on Twitter for the latest announcements and news across the corporation. Contact Details National Contract Management Association Holly Dehesa +1 281-865-3296 holly.dehesa@ncmahq.org Company Website https://www.ncmahq.org/

July 06, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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This Independence Day: Meet the U.S. Army Soldier Next Door

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/UOderlkXedk For more information, visit GoArmy.com Over the past 248 years, the U.S. Army has evolved to include Soldiers from every state in America and many foreign nations who represent the cultural backgrounds, experiences, and passions that reflect who we are as Americans. They are first-generation Americans, artists, musicians, athletes, scientists, doctors, authors, sons, daughters, fathers, and mothers. They are Soldiers who are dedicated to serving our country. As we celebrate our nation and approach July 4 th, now is a unique opportunity to learn of the unexpected stories of the accomplished men and women who have dedicated their lives to service. These Soldiers are also ushering in an era of change for the U.S. Army marked by modern policies that reflect the needs of a new generation. A striking example of this is Maj. Shahin Uddin, a Bangladesh-native, Army Public Affairs Officer, and father of 12 children. He lives out what it means to be a Soldier by exceptionally balancing his passion for service with his purpose in honoring his culture and caring for his family. Maj. Shahin Uddin conducted a media tour to discuss how the Army ranks have evolved with Soldiers who represent the multicultural backgrounds, experiences and passions that reflect who we are as Americans. Some of the topics Maj. Uddin discussed included: Maj. Uddin’s path to service Who serves in the U.S. Army today. Some of the misconceptions civilians have about Soldiers and military life How the Army is modernizing to support the needs of a new generation Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 30, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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American Businesses Want Secure Borders and a Modernized Immigration System to Help Address Worker Shortages

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/cyDh_POE9fg There might as well be a giant “Help Wanted!” sign over the United States. The economy has bounced back from the pandemic lows, but companies have been struggling to meet their workforce needs to keep up with the surge in demand for everything from household products to cars. At the same time, the crisis level situation on our southern border is not abating, as the U.S. Border Patrol has seen 133,000 more border crossings through April of this fiscal year than during the same period of time in last year’s record-shattering totals. The U.S. currently has approximately 10.1 million job openings, while there are 6 million people unemployed and looking for work. The worker shortfall has also emerged as a key factor driving persistent inflation and higher interest rates. Securing our borders and modernizing our immigration system can help us confront these challenges. Many people wonder given the seriousness of these issues and the polarization in Congress if any real progress can be achieved on border security and immigration reform? The U.S. Chamber of Commerce believes not only that it can be done, but that it must be done. The immigration challenges we face today didn’t arrive at our doorstep overnight; they’ve been around for decades and have only grown in size and severity due to many years of congressional inaction. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is leading the LIBERTY Campaign (Legal Immigration and Border Enforcement Reform This Year) with over 430 national, state, and local business associations. The campaign launched with a letter calling upon Congress to address the crisis at our border and the critical workforce shortage before the year’s end. Many experts believe that expanding legal immigration to the U.S. would help spawn economic output by driving much needed labor force growth at a time when America’s population growth is stagnating. A nationwide media tour was conducted on June 20 th featuring Neil Bradley from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, discussing why Congress cannot afford to wait any longer to secure our borders and modernize our broken immigration system. Topics that Neil Bradley from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce discussed included: How serious our border and legal immigration problems are. What the consequences will be if Congress foregoes fixing the problems on our borders and within our legal immigration system. How a modern, pro-growth immigration system will help address the chronic workforce issues plaguing many American employers today and other economic problems we’re suffering from. Why the Chamber launched the LIBERTY Campaign with over 430 other associations. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 26, 2023 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Watchdog Group Blasts Sweetheart Plea Deal with Hunter Biden

National Legal & Policy Center

The National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC), an ethics watchdog group, blasted the lenient plea agreement between the U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware David Weiss and Hunter Biden whereby Hunter will plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax violations with no jail time and have a felony gun registration charge dismissed in a pretrial diversion program. Following the five-year long investigation, no charges were brought against Hunter under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) for engaging in political activities on behalf of Burisma and Chinese interests, despite overwhelming evidence which NLPC had presented to the Justice Department in 2020. Hunter will plead guilty that he willfully failed to pay taxes “over $100,000” in both 2017 and 2018. By pleading guilty to two misdemeanors rather than two felonies for tax evasion, the sentence for misdemeanors ranges from probation to one-year prison sentence. The prosecutor has agreed to ask for probation for the tax charges. Notably, the charging documents don’t specify how much “over $100,000” Hunter owed for each year. Last year, it was reported that Hollywood attorney Kevin Morris lent Hunter over $2 million to pay his back taxes and for living expenses, suggesting that it was much more than $100,000 owed for each year. In any event, U.S. Sentencing Guidelines call for prison sentences of approximately 15-21 months for this level of offense. Allen Weissenberg, Donald Trump’s Chief Financial Officer, received a 5-month prison sentence for failing to pay taxes on company fringe benefits, a violation less serious than Hunter’s failure to pay taxes. “It’s outrageous that after a five-year investigation of Hunter Biden, the best that the prosecutor can come up with is a couple misdemeanor charges and then agree to a slap on the wrist as punishment” said Paul Kamenar, counsel for NLPC. “Hopefully, the House Oversight Committee will pursue evidence of bribery and foreign money influence of the Biden family,” Kamenar added. “Charging Hunter on his failure to file as a foreign agent would have been a no-brainer. David Weiss is going to look pretty stupid if there’s an even bigger bribery scandal.” said Peter Flaherty, Chairman of NLPC. Founded in 1991, NLPC promotes ethics in public life and government accountability through research, investigation, education, and legal action. Please visit www.nlpc.org. ### For more information or to schedule an interview with an NLPC spokesperson, please contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or drene@nlpc.org ### For more information or to schedule an interview with an NLPC spokesperson, please contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or drene@nlpc.org Founded in 1991, NLPC promotes ethics in public life and government accountability through research, investigation, education, and legal action. Contact Details Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 drene@nlpc.org Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

June 21, 2023 03:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Minuteman Press Franchise in Huntersville, NC Has Grand Opening for Brand New Location

Minuteman Press International Inc

Neha Katrodia is the owner of the brand new Minuteman Press design, marketing, and printing franchise located at 9606 Sherrill Estates Rd., Suite A, Huntersville, NC 28078. After opening their doors in March of 2023, Minuteman Press in Huntersville held their official grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, June 2, 2023. The event was hosted by the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce and was attended by Huntersville Commissioner Dan Boone. Neha shares, “The Huntersville community has been very welcoming and interested in learning more about our business. I'm so thankful to everyone who came to support us during the grand opening and showed interest in growing together.” She continues, “Owning my own business means taking on my father's path to becoming an entrepreneur. Most importantly, I feel a sense of personal fulfillment and I look forward to seeing this new venture grow and succeed while helping other local businesses with all of their printing and promotional needs.” Joining Neha in the business are two key staff members: Denis Vargas, graphic designer/production; as well as Neha’s husband Mehul Katrodia, marketing agent. While Denis provides clients with custom creative designs and a sharp eye for details, Mehul manages the marketing side including Google and social media accounts. Neha, meanwhile, has already jumped into several networking groups to become active in the community, including the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce as well as the Huntersville BNI group. She says, “I feel it’s important to get out there and engage with clients in person and also market our business online. Once clients come to us, we enjoy working with them to bring their visions to life and delivery high quality products and service. Our staff is ready and willing to welcome clients to Minuteman Press in Huntersville with open arms.” Prior to buying the business, Neha always had wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps and become her own boss. She explains, “I have a healthcare and medical billing background; however, I grew up in the business environment. My father has been a businessman from my early childhood years and has owned various businesses from then to now. I also helped him run some of them due to the language barrier he had at times.” Neha further shares why she chose to own a Minuteman Press franchise, stating: “The continuous local support that Minuteman Press offers is amazing; The B2B hours of operation allow me to balance my business and personal lives; Minuteman Press allows me to follow my passion for creating something so unique with every project or job.” She adds, “The training program was extremely informative and allowed me to feel confident in front of clients. Now, the local support to lean on here in my region has been so helpful with advice and guidance on unique projects. We also use the Minuteman Press FLEX software made available to us as a key marketing tool for growth.” Following the successful grand opening, Neha is excited for the future of her new business. She concludes, “At Minuteman Press, we love working with other local businesses and organizations. I look forward to supporting them with our personalized products and services as we are all in this together.” Minuteman Press in Huntersville is located at 9606 Sherrill Estates Rd., Suite A, Huntersville, NC 28078. For more information, call 704-594-8699 or visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/nc/huntersville/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

June 20, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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“VASP Licensing Regime & Industry Best Practices” exclusive event hosted by ChainUp & Alibaba Cloud - Hong Kong

ChainUp

Hong Kong – 16 th June 2023 – ChainUp a global blockchain technology service provider & Alibaba Cloud hosted an exclusive event on latest Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) Licensing Regime & industry best practices in Hong Kong. Amidst the growing significance of regulatory compliance within the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry, the event offered attendees valuable and comprehensive insights into effectively tackling the challenges and capitalizing on the opportunities encountered by VASPs operating not only in Hong Kong but also in global markets. The event took place on 16 th June 2023 at Time Square - Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Industry experts, leaders and regulatory authorities discussed key topics and shared their insights to navigate the evolving landscape of virtual asset services. Mr. Michael Gao, ChainUp – HK CEO & Head of Sales (Global) spoke about “The Technological Bridge to Regulated Virtual Assets Exchange in Hong Kong”. He highlighted on the recent Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission’s new licensing regime which came into effect from 1 st June 2023 and requirements for centralized virtual asset trading platforms (VA trading platforms) to trade non-security tokens. He said “In traditional finance, banks use KYC (Know Your Customer) to verify the identity of customers. But in blockchain network we need to understand whether a particular token has any risk. Hence KYT (Know Your Transaction) is used to monitor and analyse digital asset transactions to identify potential risks and comply with regulations. We see there's a strong demand on this and we help our customers by integrating the required compliant solutions into the exchanges built” The event covered various aspects of the VASP Licensing Regime, including: Regulatory framework overview in Hong Kong Key requirements for obtaining a VASP license Best practices for compliance, security and risk management ChainUp, a global provider of comprehensive blockchain technology solutions help customers build efficient and compliant digital asset solutions that align with the latest industry standards. With ChainUp’s extensive suite of services, empowers businesses to navigate the complexities of digital asset landscape and build robust solutions. Aligned with latest licensing regime of Hong Kong, the implementation of KYT/AML solutions becomes imperative for digital asset transactions. ChainUp's product "ChainEyes KYT" focusing on blockchain risk control and compliance services offers a comprehensive solution to address these regulatory requirements effectively. About ChainUp Group Founded in 2017, ChainUp is a leading end-to-end blockchain technology solutions provider covering infrastructure development and ecosystem support. Built on the mission to empower businesses through blockchain technology, ChainUp’s innovative and all-around compliant solutions include digital asset exchange systems, NFT trading systems, wallet solutions, liquidity solutions, and digital assets custody and management. Headquartered in Singapore and with offices around the world, the company has served more than 1,000 clients in 30 countries, reaching over 60 million end-users. For more information, please visit: www.chainup.com. Contact Details ChainUp Media Team pressrelease@chainup.com Company Website https://www.chainup.com/

June 19, 2023 10:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Thailand emphasized "Open Data" are Anti-Corruption Weaponry in Digital Age

Integrity Way

BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach - 14 June 2023 - Mr. Niwatchai Kasemmongkol, secretary-general of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), delivered a lecture on "Open Data: Anti-Corruption Weaponry in Digital Age" at the PPTV FORUM 2023, on May 25, 2023. Taking up the theme of Open Government: Game Changer in Fight against Corruption, the event was held at Movenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok. Kasemmongkol said that the promotion of transparency and open government data are the core of good governance or good public management. Both the United Nations and the World Bank have recognized this promotion as key to successful development efforts in many nations around the world. Such principles are also enshrined in Sections 76 and 164 of Thailand's Constitution. Section 76 stipulates that the state must promote the development of morality and transparency in accordance with the principles of good public management among all types of state organizations so as to deliver maximum benefits to people via state functions and services that uphold equality, quality, efficiency and transparency. People therefore are direct beneficiaries. Section 164, meanwhile, states that the government must ensure and arrange for good public management. Therefore, the promotion of transparency via open government data and ethical state operations have had utmost importance. Good governance or good public management has six pillars namely 1) Rule of Law; 2) Transparency & Data Disclosure that is being discussed today; 3) Morality; 4) Public Participation in State Operations; 5) Responsibility; and 6) Cost-efficient & Time-Efficient State Operations. Regarding the NACC Board's and the government's policies on the promotion of good governance and anti-corruption in the public sector, multidimensional guidelines have been laid down as follows: 1. The promotion is enshrined in the constitution; 2. The promotion is enshrined in the Anti-Corruption Act and many laws on the administration of state affairs; and 3. The promotion is a part of national strategies, master plans, and action plans of each government agency. The NACC Board and the government have issued many measures to enhance the integrity of state officials. Nowadays, state officials' corruption risk is significantly lower than in the past. Even if corrupt practices are undetected in the beginning, investigations can be launched retroactively. One of the anti-corruption measures used by the NACC and the government is the promotion of transparency. There are many tools for the promotion such as information laws and legislations that upgrade digital-government operations. Kasemmongkol said that people needed to physically go to government agencies to receive their services in the past. Officials also had the right to call in people and have face-to-face meetings involved talks. Negotiations for bribes may emerge during such meetings. So, if our bureaucratic system has reduced face-to-face meetings between people and state officials, or if we use other means of contacts, the risk of bribery talks will be lower. The new way of contacts can also save state budget as well as people's money. Several countries have already developed digital systems to facilitate state operations or digitalized state services. The development of digital-government operations starts by integrating systems for enhanced efficiency or service delivery in the way that reduces the exercising of state officials' judgements, curbs the risk of corruption, and promotes greater government-data disclosure for better transparency. The NACC, in collaboration with the government, has already pushed for several relevant laws for the development of state operations and good governance. Moreover, the NACC has launched the Integrity and Transparency Assessment (ITA) as a key tool. On laws related to the promotion of transparency and good governance in the public sector, the Act on Management of State Affairs by Electronic Means B.E. 2565 stipulates that to seek an approval, a permit, a tax refund, a certificate, a registration, a construction permit or the likes, people no longer have to queue up physically at government agencies. They can just file requests electronically. After this act came into force and related systems sprang into operations, people can just contact authorities online. They do not have to travel to government agencies. Such approach saves people's time in contacting government agencies. There is no need for face-to-face contact, which may lead to negotiations for bribes. Several other laws have also been introduced to increase bureaucracy's efficiency and to prevent bribery. For example, the Licensing Facilitation Act B.E. 2558 requires that each government agency specify clearly how long it will take to respond to each request. In the past, people had waited really long to get response because there was no clear timeframe. Traders, entrepreneurs, and people who wanted fast results thus ended up paying bribes to shorten the period of government agency's request review. However, with the Licensing Facilitation Act in place, agencies of all ministries and departments must release a manual detailing how long it will take for them to complete each task. If they fail to comply with the timeframe, a person contacting them may file a complaint. This is just one of many laws that country have introduced to curb corruption risks. Regarding the promotion of open data, the NACC Board and the government have worked together in preparing several measures. One of them is ITA. Everyone wants to see transparency in the public sector and comprehensive data disclosure so, currently basic data that are useful to both the people's sector and the private sector; government agencies' performance data, and importantly data related to budgets and procurements are open data that all government agencies must release to the public. They must be held accountable and ready to provide explanations to the public. Such data had not been treated as the government's confidential information anymore. The principles behind such data disclosure have applied to NACC's ITA model. All government agencies therefore have to embrace these principles as they seek to comply with ITA criteria. Kasemmongkol thought that many of people must be quite familiar with ITA and that some of them may have doubts or misunderstandings about it. Therefore, he provided clarification about ITA and its objectives. He said ITA is not mainly designed as an assessment of corrupt practices. In essence, it is about assessing good governance in regard to management and tools used for the implementation of anti-corruption projects / activities. It is therefore a tool for state agencies to improve their operations or e-services, and importantly to disclose data in line with laws and strategies, paving the way for these agencies to have good governance and lower corruption or abuse-of-authority risks. Based on its indicators and assessment topics, ITA gives 95 points to the management and implementation of projects / activities and five points to the awareness of corruption issues among personnel. To make it easier to understand, he compared ITA to a basic health check. With this check, we will be able to identify abnormalities in one's body or if any body function is below standard. Upon learning about the abnormalities or the function that fails to meet proper standard, patients need to adjust their behaviors. He emphasized that ITA is not a medicine. It cannot provide recovery. But patients can recover or regain good health, if they change their behaviors ( for example by improving their operations and management). Family members must also help by creating a proper environment (for example by issuing supportive legal measures and state supervision). If patients follow such guidelines, they can become stronger. But if they do not change or ignore problems, cancer may develop. In the end, their illness may worsen to the point of a crisis and the NACC will have to use legal actions to remove those cancerous problems. Kasemmongkol said that during the past many years, changes have been happening with the digitalization of state operations. Data disclosure has increased in a tangible manner in compliance with laws. Here are some tangible examples of open-data changes and digital public services. The NACC Board and the government have used the aforementioned measures and framework to improve state operations and deter state officials' wayward behaviors. If all sides have followed these measures and framework on a continual basis, all civil servants and state officials will become familiar with such practices. Over time, their conscience and attitude will change in line with such standards. They will behave accordingly, regardless of these measures and framework. Civil servants and state officials will in the end be accustomed to serving people, ensuring public convenience, and refraining from corruption or abuse of authority. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is a constitutional independent organization and supervised by nine commissioners selected from various professions. It is authorized to undertake work on the prevention and suppression of malfeasance, particularly in government agencies, on assets investigations, as well as on the monitoring of ethics and virtues of political position holders. It has the authority to file charges in court as well as support and build up awareness of the penalties for committing corruption. The NACC is supervised by the NACC Board and has the Office of the NACC as its administrative agency. Since 1997, Thai Courts have ruled against and punished politicians, former ministers, high-ranking government officials as well as executives of the private sector in the thousands of cases submitted by the NACC. Contact Details Media Contact Parith Iampongpaiboon mailparith@gmail.com

June 14, 2023 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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