Search Results for: funding
- Thailand News
Thai banks deny funding Myanmar junta’s weapon purchases
Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa issued a strong rebuttal to accusations from Move Forward Party (MFP)-list MP Rangsiman Rome, categorically denying that Thai banks or the government are involved in supporting weapons procurement for the Myanmar junta. These remarks follow a report from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in late June, which claimed Thai banks…
- Thailand News
Thailand delays legal advice on digital wallet funding
The Thailand government has not yet sought legal advice from the Council of State regarding the use of funds from the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) to partially finance the digital wallet scheme, confirmed Pakorn Nilprapunt, Secretary-General of the Council. Pakorn clarified that the government does not need to consult the council if it plans to use money…
- Education
Funding shortages hinder education for refugee children
Funding shortages are severely hindering the education of refugee children, leaving many without the resources they desperately need. Last year, the “Building Tomorrow” programme reached over 13,500 people, offering education and livelihood support to Syrians under temporary protection in southeast Türkiye. The programme provided Turkish language classes to 12,000 children aged 6-13 at public education centres, aiming to break down…
- Business News
Thai government changes funding approach for digital wallet project
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s coalition government has made a crucial change to its flagship scheme, a digital wallet project aiming to distribute 10,000 baht (US$270) to 50 million Thais. The government has switched from borrowing funds, which faced severe criticism and raised concerns about possible violations of financial and fiscal discipline regulations, to using money from the annual expenditure budget.…
- Thailand News
Funding source for digital wallet scheme left out in Cabinet meeting
The government’s weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday left out discussions on a fresh funding source to back the digital wallet scheme, a possibility which might include drawing funds from the budget of the next fiscal year. This disclosure was made by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The Thai PM’s comments addressed rumours that a new financing option for the Pheu Thai Party’s…
- Thailand News
Thai government explores funding for digital wallet giveaway
The Thai government is currently exploring funding avenues for its digital wallet giveaway initiative, with final decisions on the funding source set to be determined next month. Lawaron Saengsanit, the permanent secretary for the Finance Ministry, revealed that the ministry and the Budget Bureau have been assigned by the digital wallet policy committee to assess possible funding sources for the…
- Thailand News
Thai minister ready to battle over funding for Russian helicopter
Thai Interior Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, is set to challenge the parliamentary subcommittee’s refusal to approve funding for a new Russian-made helicopter. The helicopter is intended to augment the capabilities of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), particularly in dealing with the country’s increasing wildfires and haze pollution. The subcommittee, tasked with scrutinising the fiscal budget for 2024, had…
- Business News
PDMO to sell 100 billion baht savings bonds for budget deficit funding
The Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) announced plans to sell 100 billion baht (US$2.78 billion) worth of savings bonds within the fiscal year to finance the budget deficit. The initial issue, valued at 40 billion baht (US$1.1 billion), will be offered next month, according to the director-general of the PDMO, Patchara Anuntasilpa. The first tranche of savings bonds for the…
- Phuket News
Phuket eyes 50 million baht funding for critical environmental projects
A sense of optimism is in the air as Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat expressed confidence that the province would secure funding for two critical environmental projects. These projects are part of the emergency budget deliberations at the mobile Cabinet meeting in Ranong. The governor elucidated that each province has an allocation of 50 million baht under consideration. The funds are intended…
- Thailand News
Teacher grants funding to 10 year old boy who missed school to help grandmother
A heartbreaking story has surfaced about a 10 year old boy who diligently works to support his family. Despite being the mainstay for his grandmother, he often has to miss classes to sell garlands in order to make a living. The boy, Guitar (nickname), missed so much school that he kept having to repeat his year and is currently still…
- Thailand News
Funding halt stalls Phu Kradueng cable car project over environmental concerns
The Phu Kradueng cable car project, a long-anticipated tourist attraction in Thailand’s Loei province, is currently stalled as concerns over the environmental impact have led to a halt in funding approval by the Natural Resources and Environment Minister, Patcharawat Wongsuwan. Following a mobile Cabinet gathering in Nong Bua Lamphu, Patcharawat revealed that the Cabinet refrained from greenlighting the necessary budget…
- Business News
Digital wallet and e-refund schemes in Thailand face legal and funding challenges
The proposed digital wallet and e-refund schemes considered significant growth drivers for Thailand’s GDP next year, are potentially at risk due to legal and funding obstacles. Analysts have indicated that these challenges could lead to a substantial reduction in the implementation of these costly digital schemes in Thailand, which are scheduled for rollout next year. Maybank Securities notes that legal…
- Thailand News
BRT improvements: Bangkok’s bus service to continue with 455 million baht funding boost
In a bid to enhance the current quality of public transportation in the capital, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has announced BRT improvement plans to continue the city’s bus service after the concession held by the Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC) expires on the last day of August. The BMA’s commitment to maintaining and improving the BRT service was affirmed…
- Thailand News
Emergency services funding delay leads to Thai rescue groups suspending operations
In the northeast of Thailand, numerous rescue organisations have decided to halt their complimentary emergency services, attributing this drastic measure to the absence of financial backing from the National Institute for Emergency Medicine (Niem). The organisations report that they have been unable to access emergency services funding for a continuous span of eight months. Pisit Pongsirisupakul, the vice-chairman and secretary-general…
- Business News
Thailand investments attract 45 billion baht in foreign funding
In the first five months of 2023, Thailand received foreign investments amounting to 45.4 billion baht, with Japan being the largest spender in the development of businesses in the country. The figures released by the Commerce Ministry show Japan’s investments reaching 15.9 billion baht, followed by China at 11.5 billion baht, and Singapore at 6.35 billion baht. The Business Development…
- World News
Malaysia proposes progressive contribution scheme for public healthcare funding
The Malaysian Health Ministry has released a Health White Paper proposing a progressive contribution scheme to diversify funding for public healthcare services and implement much-needed reforms over the next 15 years. The paper highlights that the current allocations for healthcare are insufficient to meet the growing demands of the system and that relying on a single source for public healthcare…
- World News
Sturgeon arrested amid SNP funding probe, faces suspension calls
Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf is under pressure to suspend former leader Nicola Sturgeon from the Scottish National Party (SNP) following her arrest on Sunday. Sturgeon was questioned by police in connection to an investigation into the SNP’s funding and finances but was released without charge. She has maintained her innocence throughout the process. The SNP has stated that it…
- World News
Sturgeon arrested amid SNP funding scandal investigation
Scotland’s ex-first minister and former SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon, has been taken into custody and is being questioned by detectives in connection with the ongoing investigation into the Scottish National Party’s finances. The 52-year-old is the latest high-profile figure to be detained as part of Police Scotland’s Operation Branchform, which is examining the whereabouts of £600,000 of funding earmarked for…
- World News
Kidney disease risks overwhelming NHS without increased funding, warns charity
A public health emergency may arise due to kidney disease without increased government funding, warns Kidney Research UK. The charity’s recent report reveals that the illness already costs the UK economy £7bn annually, a figure that could increase to £13.9bn over the next ten years if no action is taken. These costs include both the direct treatment expenses for the…
- World News
Johnson warned of losing public funding for legal aid in Covid inquiry
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has received a warning from the Cabinet Office that public funding for his legal representation in relation to the Covid inquiry could be withdrawn if he attempts to “undermine” the government. The Sunday Times published extracts of a letter from the Cabinet Office, which instructed Johnson to submit witness statements to officials for potential redactions.…
- Business News
Funding populist policies: borrowing or tax hikes?
During the general election, political parties presented various populist pledges aimed at attracting voters. Among these were the controversial 10,000-baht digital wallet handout for individuals aged 16 and over, increasing minimum daily wages, raising minimum monthly salaries for university graduates, suspending debts for farmers, cutting electricity tariffs, and increasing the monthly allowance for people aged 60 and over. The Thailand…
- Hot News
Central department stores to get facelift funding
The Central department stores, seen throughout Thailand and other countries, may be looking a lot less shabby as the retail giant has approved a 15 billion baht makeover for its stores. Central Department Store Co, under Central Retail Corporation, has approved the funding as part of its efforts to expand the retail business from 2023 to 2027. Oliver Bron, the…
- Politics News
Government says PM listening to concerns over draft law on public gatherings, NGO funding
The Thai PM is paying attention to, and welcomes, the opinions of those opposed to a draft law on NGO funding and public gatherings. So says deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam, according to a report in the Bangkok Post today. Wissanu says Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the Social Development and Human Security Ministry to compile a list of objections to the…
- World News
LATEST: Russian troops heading to Kyiv, US congress asked to approve US$6.4 billion in funding
Tracking the latest with the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia… Russian forces are continuing to advance towards Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, in what’s seen as a direct attack on the capital and seat of Ukrainian government. President Zelenskyy claimed in a recorded broadcast that Russian troops “would attempt to take” the capital city Kyiv during the night. “This night will…
- World News
African nations miss out on climate funding
Rich nations pledged more than a decade ago to pay $100 billion a year by 2020 to help developing countries cut their own emissions and reduce the already-felt impacts of climate change. At the COP26 climate summit taking place in Glasgow, African negotiators want this financing for climate mitigation and adaption to be scaled up to $1.3 trillion per year…
- World News
Afghanistan: Taliban road construction projects stall without foreign funding
One day after the last US forces left Afghanistan in August, Taliban official Inamullah Samangani said in a speech that the war was over, and the Taliban would now have to focus on rebuilding Afghanistan’s economy. It looks like road construction is where the group has decided to begin. Since then, the Taliban have announced several road construction projects. These…
- Covid-19 News
Cabinet approves Emergency Decree extension, prison funding
The Emergency Decree enacted to attempt to curb the spread of Covid-19 in Thailand has just been extended for 2 more months, until the end of July. Cabinet ministers met yesterday to determine the future of the decree and agreed to extend it from June 1 to July 31, while also approving funding for fighting Covid-19 in the Thai prison…
- Northern Thailand News
North East aviation college faces funding shortfall and allegations of corruption
Almost 200 million baht has “disappeared” from the bank account of the International Aviation College, part of the Nakhon Phanom University. They’ve now approached the Thai government for support to help tackle its liquidity problems. Without an injection of cash the aviation college may have to close down. The IAC has trained thousands of Thailand’s commercial pilots in one of the…
- Thailand News
Thai TV debate: Royalist accuses Jewish Americans of funding pro-democracy protests
A debate between a royalist and a pro-democracy supporter got heated and turned into shouting during a broadcast on a Thai news channel. In one bizarre exchange, the royalist spokesperson accused Jewish Americans of backing the pro-democracy movement. The ongoing political protests, calling on government and monarchy reformation, has led to a divide in Thailand with a split between those…
- World News
US President halts funding for WHO – VIDEO
At over 600,000 cases, the US has more Covid-19 infections than any other country. Now, the US President Donald Trump has now announced a cut in US funding for the World Health Organisation, the UN agency tasked with fighting the outbreak worldwide. In a press briefing at the White House Rose Garden yesterday, he said he had instructed his administration to…
