PRESS DIGEST - Thai newspapers - June 25
BANGKOK, June 25 (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.
TOP STORIES
- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva met his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao on Wednesday; Abhisit had said he would focus on promoting trade and tourism (THE NATION)
- Financial officials expect an overwhelming response from retirees and young people to the government's saving bond issue after it said it could boost the offer from 30 billion baht to 50 billion baht (BANGKOK POST)
- Thailand is set to ratify the U.N. Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), which could help return ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to stand trial here in the near future (THE NATION)
- A security blitz involving 1,500 officers has been launched three days before a planned major anti-government rally by the pro-Thaksin United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (BANGKOK POST)
- Cabinet ministers and MPs suspected of violating rules on shareholdings are entitled to remain in office until a judicial review is completed, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says (THE NATION)
- An independent think-tank is needed to advise the government on foreign policy, which lack consistency, security experts say (BANGKOK POST)
BUSINESS
- BEC World BEC.BK stock fell 2.96 percent on Wednesday to 19.70 baht at the close, reflecting fears that TV channel 3 may have to pay much higher fees to MCOT MCOT.BK to extend its broadcasting concession (THE NATION)
- RS PCL RS.BK, the country's second largest entertainment group, expects to return to profit in the second quarter after two years of losses (BANGKOK POST)
- Efforts to develop alternative energy in Thailand will make little progress if domestic fuel prices do not increase, says Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij (BANGKOK POST)
- The Mass Rapid Transit Authority is finding it difficult to negotiate with bid winners of the Purple Line mass-transit system to lower their prices, to keep the cost below 36.055 billion baht (THE NATION)
- Local farmers should benefit from the surge in global sugar prices, which have reached a three-year high due to lower production by major exporting countries (BANGKOK POST)
- The Bank of Thailand affirms that TMB Bank TMB.BK remains financially strong, well supported by big shareholders, and is problem-free, even though it has been downgraded by Moody's (THE NATION)
** Looking for more information from local sources? Factiva.com has eight Thai sources including the Bangkok Post and The Nation.
