PRESS DIGEST - Thai newspapers May 21
BANGKOK, May 21 (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
- The World Health Organization has given Thailand the green light to use an advanced vaccine production technology to make flu vaccines for domestic and global use in the event of a pandemic (BANGKOK POST)
- The Constitution Court has accepted the opposition Puea Thai Party's petition seeking a ruling on a draft executive decree allowing the government to seek loans of 400 billion baht to spur the economy (BANGKOK POST)
- The parliamentary sub-committee in charge of studying constitutional amendments unanimously agreed to change the law to allow MPs to take political positions they are now prohibited to take (THE NATION)
- The five core leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy are unlikely to take any role in a new political party to be formed by supporters of the group, one said (THE NATION)
- Action against websites deemed offensive to the monarchy is another punishable offence now under the jurisdiction of the Department of Special Investigation (THE NATION)
- Senior officials from ASEAN and its partner countries in Asia and the Pacific agreed to hold the postponed leaders' summit back-to-back with the group's forum in October, the Foreign Ministry's director of ASEAN Affairs Vitavas Srivihok said (THE NATION)
BUSINESS
- In a mild surprise, the Bank of Thailand left its policy interest rate unchanged at 1.25 percent, believing that international markets have begun to stabilise (BANGKOK POST)
- The government admits the country's exports might contract by double digits this year after the release of April data showing a steep fall in value for the sixth consecutive month (BANGKOK POST)
- Despite a sharp drop in first-quarter sales, major retail businesses are increasingly optimistic about a second half rebound, thanks to the more stable political climate (THE NATION)
- Toyota Camry hybrid cars assembled in Thailand will cost no more than 100,000 baht more than existing petrol-powered models, subject to import duty exemption on certain parts, says Toyota Motor Thailand President Mitsuhiro Sonoda (BANGKOK POST)
- Thailand has risen one place to 26th in the latest ranking of the world's 57 most competitive economies (BANGKOK POST)
- The business sector has expressed disappointment over reports of a cabinet decision to suspend investment expansion in the controversial Map Ta Phut and Ban Chang areas, saying the policy will hurt investors severely (BANGKOK POST)
- Listed companies posted first-quarter net profits totalling 80.3 billion baht, a 48 percent decline from the same period last year, according to the Stock Exchange of Thailand (BANGKOK POST)
($1 = 34.36 baht)
** Looking for more information from local sources? Factiva.com has eight Thai sources including Bangkok Post and the Nation. (Bangkok Newsroom +66 2648 9721, e-mail: bangkok.newsroom@reuters.com)
