PRESS DIGEST - Thai newspapers - Aug 13

BANGKOK Aug 13 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in Thai newspapers on Thursday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

GENERAL NEWS

- Police General Vichien Potphosri has been officially appointed acting national police chief to replace Pol General Patcharawat Wongsuwan, who has been assigned to perform official duties in the south (THE NATION)

- Taxi services at Suvarnabhumi airport are coming under tighter scrutiny after a passenger accused a driver registered with the airport of trying to drug her (BANGKOK POST)

- Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will appeal against a court verdict placing her under detention for another 18 months (THE NATION)

- The government has reiterated it will do everything in its power to keep the country's rice farming land out of the hands of foreign investers (BANGKOK POST)

- ASEAN Becoming a single market will make Southease Asia the world's most interesting region for foreign businessmen, says the new president of the US-ASEAN Business Council (THE NATION)

BUSINESS

- PTT PTT.BK will adjust its plan for importing liquefied petroleum gas after the National Energy Policy Council last week extended the cap on the retail price of cooking gas by another year (THE NATION)

- Mobile number portability is unlikely to bring big gains for any operators but it will keep all of them on their toes as they strive to guard against customer defections, say industry executives (BANGKOK POST)

- Feeling the pinch of a new round of fuel prices surges, more motorists have started having their vehicles fitted with natural gas for vehicles (NGV) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) kits (BANGKOK POST) ** Looking for more information from local sources? Factiva.com has eight Thai sources including Bangkok Post and the Nation. (Bangkok Newsroom +66 2648 9721, e-mail: bangkok.newsroom@reuters.com)