PRESS DIGEST - Thai newspapers - December 20

BANGKOK, Dec 20 (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

- Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva reaffirmed his political alliance with Banharn Silpa-archa by announcing his party's intention to team up with Chart Thai to form the next government after the election (BANGKOK POST)

- Whether a seasoned or young politician, whoever becomes the next prime minister could lead the country out of its enduring crisis, but he could also possibly introduce more tensions, experts said (THE NATION)

- The political career of former Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Juthamas Siriwan is in tatters against the backdrop of a bribery scandal involving the way of TAT awarded the rights to manage international film festivals (BANGKOK POST)

- The military-appointed National Legislative Assembly shrugged off further protests calling for it to cease passing new legislation, approving controversial bills to give three state universities autonomous status (BANGKOK POST)

- Floodwaters remain high in Betong district in Yala but conditions had improved elsewhere in the far South and were expected to return to normal if no further rain fell, officials said (THE NATION)

- The Department of Special Investigation is looking into the production of a Buddha amulet which bears the image of the royal crown without permission (THE NATION)

BUSINESS

- Economic growth is expected to exceed 5% in the fourth quarter, Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras said (BANGKOK POST)

- The Commerce Minitry's Business Development Department plans to use its authority under the Foreign Business Act to make it easier for foreign investors to participate in four types of business (THE NATION)

- The local unit of Taiwanese tyre company Maxxis plans a major expansion worth 9.36 billion baht to tap global and domestic automobile market growth (BANGKOK POST)

- PTT's board will convene to discuss the process of complying with the Supreme Administrative Court's ruling on asset transfers and a meeting of shareholders is expected to be called (THE NATION)

- Property developers are not expecting 2008 to be a year of robust growth (THE NATION)

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