PM fires lottery board

13 Sept 11:23 Key points summarised by AI

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha issued an executive order to remove the existing Government Lottery Office (GLO) board, led by Army Commander-in-Chief General Apirat Kongsompong.
The order immediately appointed Mr. Patchara Anantasilp, director-general of the Excise Department, as the new GLO board chairman, alongside three other new members.
While no official reason was given, the replacement is widely believed to stem from the GLO's persistent failure to resolve the problem of lottery tickets being sold at inflated prices, particularly in sets.
This issue re-emerged despite General Apirat's earlier success in cracking down on overpricing during the initial period of the National Council for Peace and Order.

Bai Lu meet-and-greet cancelled days after China’s safety warning

Today 15:28 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister announced the government will seek clarification from the Chinese Embassy regarding its recent travel advisory warning Chinese nationals about safety concerns in Thailand.
The travel advisory is anticipated to negatively impact the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, despite recent increases in arrivals.
A meet-and-greet event featuring Chinese actress Bai Lu, a WeTV Global Ambassador, was abruptly cancelled just days after the Chinese Embassy issued its safety warning, though no official reason was provided.
The Chinese Embassy's advisory urged citizens to beware of job scams, fraudulent investments, suspicious travel arrangements, and the risk of illegal detention or being lured to the Thai-Myanmar border.
Chinese nationals were advised to verify job offers, use legitimate transport, avoid high-risk border areas, protect personal documents, and keep family informed of travel plans.