PRESS DIGEST - Thai newspapers on July 1

BANGKOK, July 1 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in Thai newspapers on Tuesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

TOP STORIES

- Thailand's energy minister has postponed a planned increase in the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for use in vehicles after a severe shortage in the market raised suspicions that vendors were hoarding supplies (BANGKOK POST)

- Several major airlines including Thai Airways International THAI.BK are cutting long-haul flights into Thailand next year in line with a forecast 12-per-cent drop in the number of inbound tourists, the Association of Thai Travel Agents said (THE NATION)

- The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) will appeal a Civil Court order that the anti-government group allow traffic to flow on Rama V and Phitsanulok roads and lower the volume of its loudspeakers during school hours (BANGKOK POST)

- The Constitutional Court has ruled that the establishment of the Asset Scrutiny Committee and its extension were legal and constitutional (BANGKOK POST)

BUSINESS

- Thailand's leading indices on business and industrial confidence have dropped to their lowest levels in several years due to increased concern about oil prices and political conflict (THE NATION)

- Thai Airways International is prepared to plead guilty to a charge of cargo price fixing and pay fines of up to US$300 million in the European Union to settle the case (BANGKOK POST)

- The Energy Regulatory Commission, which began work on Monday, will require operators to seek legitimate licences by the end of this year (BANGKOK POST)

- The Finance Ministry will allow 166 employees to work from home as part of its effort to reduce energy consumption amid soaring oil prices (THE NATION)

- Asian Property Development AP.BK will launch 14 new high-and-low-rise projects worth a combined 15 billion baht ($449 million) in the second half of the year (THE NATION)

- High-priced jasmine rice is expected to attract investors when it becomes the latest commodity to list on the agriculture futures market later this month <THE NATION) ** Looking for more information from local sources? Factiva.com has eight Thai sources including the Bangkok Post and The Nation. ($1=33.38 Baht)