Thai civil society urges government to end plans to join CPTPP

14 Sept 01:53 Key points summarised by AI

Thai civil society organizations, representing 400,000 citizens, demand the government immediately cease plans to join the 11-member Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade bloc.
Opponents warn that joining CPTPP would jeopardize Thailand's food security, universal health care, and biological diversity, favoring big companies over national interests.
The civil society groups highlight that CPTPP membership requires ratifying UPOV 1991, granting exclusive plant breeding rights to large agro firms for 20 years, forcing local farmers to purchase new seeds annually and facing penalties for replanting.
Critics argue that CPTPP would lead to seed monopolies, significantly higher food prices, disrupt traditional farming, and force Thailand to accept remanufactured goods as new products, concentrating benefits on large corporations while harming ordinary citizens and small businesses.

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.