BANGKOK, May 8 (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

- As many as 60,000 people may have died in the May 3 cyclone that struck Myanmar, the United Nations said as it called on the junta to allow international workers to start relief operations (THE NATION)

- International relief agencies are still waiting for permission to enter Myanmar so they can take much-needed aid to hundreds of thousands of victims of Cyclone Nargis (BANGKOK POST)

- The government has backed down from its plan to amend an article in the constitution, which validates the actions of a military-appointed, anti-graft body in probing alleged abuse of power by ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (BANGKOK POST)

- Thailand began enforcing a ban on using mobile phones while driving on Thursday as violators will face a fine of between 400 baht and 1,000 baht ($12-$31) from May 20 (BANGKOK POST)

BUSINESS

- The Commerce Ministry will sell 300,000 5-kg-bags of 5-percent-white rice at 120 baht, undercutting the prevailing market price by a fifth to appease consumers facing rising prices of food and fuel (THE NATION)

- PTT Exploration and Production PCL <PTTE.BK> will join with its parent PTT PCL <PTT.BK> to develop a liquefied natural gas plant that will use supplies from its existing natural gas fields (BANGKOK POST)

- U.S. aircraft maker Boeing Co <BA.N> and engine producer General Electric <GE.N> are teaming up in Thailand, approaching Thai Airways International with high hopes for more orders (THE NATION)

- Foreign investors are expected to return to the Thai stock market this quarter as the economy shows a positive sign of growth, KGI Securities (Thailand) said (THE NATION)

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

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