PRESS DIGEST - Thai newspapers Feb 26

BANGKOK, Feb 26 (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

- Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will return home this week to defend himself against corruption charges, a leading member of the People Power Party said (THE NATION)

- Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej gave a guarantee of a clean cabinet line-up to investors and businessmen and vowed to take action against any ministers who try to use their positions for their own gain (BANGKOK POST)

- The Election Commission says it has all the evidence it needs to make a decision today on the electoral fraud charges against House Speaker and deputy People Power Party deputy leader Youngyuth Tiyapairat (THE NATION)

- Tax reductions and public infrastructure investment represent the main planks of the government's pro-growth economic policies, Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee said (BANGKOK POST)

- Commerce Minister Mingkwan Sangsuwan suffered a scare when he collapsed during a speech and was rushed to hospital after receiving resuscitation (THE NATION)

BUSINESS

- The National Economic and Social Development Board raised its growth forecast for 2008 on expectations of a surge in exports and private investment (BANGKOK POST)

- Transport Minister Santi Prompat announced the ministry would receive funding from Chinese banks, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Krung Thai Bank KTB.BK for urban train development (THE NATION)

- The government vowed to help local businessmen take more advantage of the Asean Free Trade Agreement and the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (BANGKOK POST)

- Medium-priced city condominium developers are facing tougher competition with liquor tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi entering this lucrative housing segment (THE NATION)

- PTT Exploration and Production (PTTE.BK) signed an oil exploration and production sharing agreement with the government of Bahrain (BANGKOK POST)

- PTT PTT.BK expects this year's net profit to mirror that of last year and attributes narrower margins to tight demand and oversupply of energy and petrochemicals (THE NATION)

- The government needs to study carefully any measures to cap consumer prices, as they could create problems in the production system in the long run, said executives of Charoen Pokphand Group CPF.BK, the country's largest agro-industrial conglomerate (BANGKOK POST)

- Commerce Minister Mingkwan Sangsuwan, a veteran marketer and strategist, has vowed to redesign the national strategy to raise revenue by identifying and tackling obstacles and adding value to products and services (BANGKOK POST)

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