PRESS DIGEST - Thai newspapers - July 16

BANGKOK, July 16 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in Thai newspapers on Friday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

TOP STORIES

- The National Anti-Corruption Commission will decide on Friday whether it will proceed with the case against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij over their alleged misuse of mobile phone short message services in December 2008, officials said (THE NATION)

- A close aide to the late army specialist Khattiya Sawasdipol has been arrested in Lop Buri in what authorities are hoping will be a major breakthrough in the investigation into the red shirt protests (BANGKOK POST)

- The panel looking into the violence surrounding the red shirt protests will initially examine forensic evidence, the military's operational plans and off-the-record witness accounts in its effort to establish the truth behind the deadly events, members of the commission say (BANGKOK POST)

BUSINESS

- Local banks moved quickly on Thursday to raise interest rates following a quarterpoint hike in the policy rate by the Bank of Thailand on Wednesday (BANGKOK POST)

- Improving prospects for tourist arrivals have prompted the Tourism Council of Thailand to revise up its projection for the year to between 15.19 million and 15.57 million foreign visitors (BANGKOK POST)

- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is seeking amendment to the telecom concession, claiming that changes are necessary to ensure fairness in the upcoming 3G auction (THE NATION)

- Advanced Info Service ADVA.BK, the country's largest mobile phone operator, has downplayed concerns over the Finance Ministry's attempt to convert existing 2G revenue-sharing concessions into licence-based agreements (BANGKOK POST)

- Pruksa Real Estate PCL PS.BK expects revenue to jump fivefold over the next eight years as it starts selling homes in countries including India and Vietnam (BANGKOK POST)

- Thailand should lay emphasis on stronger law enforcement, sufficient liquidity, and higher education to ensure a healthy economy in the next 10 years when competition and social needs are likely to grow, Bank of Thailand deputy governor Bandid Nijathaworn said (THE NATION)

- The Stock Exchange of Thailand plans another roadshow in Singapore in late August, following the success in the previous one in London which was attended by 44 fund managers from 26 European funs (THE NATION)

- Thailand's agricultural economy is expected to record growth of only 1.4 percent in the first half of this year, compared with the first half of 2009, because of drought, pest and epidemic problems (THE NATION)

- The Thailand Investor Sentiment Index dropped to 127 for the second quarter from 135 in the first quarter, as investors weighed the signs of a slowdown in the US economy and domestic geopolitical tensions, according to the ING Investors Dashboard Survey (THE NATION) ($1=32.30 Baht) (Bangkok Newsroom +66 2648 9729, e-mail: bangkok.newsroom@reuters.com)