Foreign diplomats invited to see coconuts being picked by monkeys

13 Sept 12:13 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Commerce Ministry will invite foreign diplomats to observe coconut harvesting by macaques, aiming to disprove PETA's allegations of animal cruelty and demonstrate it as a traditional, non-torturous practice.
Thai officials are instructing commercial attachés and trade promotion offices abroad to clarify the issue with international supermarkets and retailers.
PETA claims monkeys are captured as babies, trained under harsh conditions, and forced to pick a large number of coconuts daily.
Several British retailers, including Waitrose, Co-op, Boots, Ocado, and Morrisons, have committed to or already stopped selling coconut products linked to monkey labor following the allegations.

New home loan scheme aims to boost property sector with Bt125 billion

Today 11:38 Key points summarised by AI

The Cabinet approved a new Bt50-billion 'A House for Each PLUS' home loan scheme from the Government Housing Bank, offering up to Bt3 million with 40-year repayment terms for low- and middle-income earners.
This initiative aims to significantly boost the property sector and national economy, projecting to generate Bt125 billion in economic activity and create jobs.