PRESS DIGEST - Thai newspapers - December 21

BANGKOK, Dec 21 (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 security bill sailed through the National Legislative Assembly with some changes as military appointed legislators passed 31 bills in just one day (BANGKOK POST)

- Although the People Power Party is determined to win the election and lead the next coalition, it was also willing to join with the Deomocrats in government to end turmoil (THE NATION)

- The Department of Special Investigation will forward information about a bribery scandal involving a former top tourism official to the National Counter Corruption Commission (BANGKOK POST)

- More than 10 people were injured when villagers campaigning against the construction of an iron processing plant in Prachuap Khiri Khan clashed with construction workers (THE NATION)

- The Royal Household Bureau has called for the relevant authorities to act against the producers of the Somdej Nue Hua amulets for wrongly claiming the bureau supported the production of the amulets, according to a source (BANGKOK POST)

BUSINESS

- Thailand's exports hit a historic monthly high of $14.72 billion (495 billion baht) last month, up 24.4 percent year on year, the Ministry of Commerce announced (THE NATION)

- Thai shares fell 1.65% and dropped below the 800-point barrier to a three-month low on ongoing concerns about market cap leader PTT and the US sub-prime crisis (BANGKOK POST)

- PTT President Prasert Bunsumpun urged the government to impose a fair pipeline rental fee in order to alleviate investor concerns that have caused its share prices to drop sharply (THE NATION)

- The new government should increase fiscal spending by 80 billion baht for the current budget and commit to another budget deficit for fiscal 2009 to spur economic growth, Krung Thai Bank chairman Chaiyawat Wibulswasdi said (BANGKOK POST)

- Central Retail, Thailand's leading retail conglomerate, announced a milestone in its 60-year history in Thailand's retail industry with its first expansion into China (THE NATION)

- The Thai bond market is projected to grow 8% in 2008, even as new issues by private firms fall to 180 billion baht from 200 billion this year due to rising interest rates (BANGKOK POST)

** Looking for more information from local sources? Factiva.com has eight Thai sources including the Bangkok Post and Business Day.