The TBA is collaborating with the central bank and other related parties to ease the country's high level of household debt. Almost 100% of the total household debt is under the central bank's supervision after the regulator redefined the debt. National agendaMr Piti said he agrees with the central bank reworking the definition for household debt. In addition, Mr Piti said the household debt database of the central bank should be incorporated into the NCB's database. Measures should attempt to improve loan quality in the financial system, particularly new loan offerings, he said.

Attack was first to take place in area protected by World Heritage ConventionA local resident rides a scooter through the destroyed central square of Hulyaypole, Zaporizhzhia Region on Thursday, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo: AFP)NEW YORK: The United Nations (UN) condemned the civilian cost inflicted by Russia's war in Ukraine as the fighting passed the 500-day mark with no end to the conflict in sight. On June 27, 13 civilians, including four children, were killed in a missile strike on Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine. Local residents fill their bottles with non-potable water at a water distribution centre in Nikopol on Friday, amid Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia regularly bombards Ukraine with air attacks, including indiscriminate artillery and missile fire that have been especially deadly.

'Lost screws' to blame for airport leg manglingAirports of Thailand medics help an injured woman after her leg became caught in a moving walkway at Don Mueang airport on June 29. Assoc Prof Weerachai Phut-dhawong, a lecturer of the Chemistry Department at Kasetsart University's Faculty of Liberal Arts and Science, said it really was an accident. Speaking after the committee meeting on Friday, Assoc Prof Wee-rachai said the mechanical failure might have been caused by missing screws under the platform. Three screws were missing, so when she stepped on the panel, it fell while the walkway was still moving and trapped her leg. The question is how those screws went missing, he said, surmising it might be because the moving walkway was too old.

Second PM vote on July 19 if first session fails: WanIf Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat fails to secure the votes required to become Thailand's next prime minister in the first House session set for next Thursday, then a second round of voting is likely to be held on July 19, said House speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha on Thursday. However, the House speaker noted the date has yet to be set in stone. "I think the three days should be enough," said the Pheu Thai MP for Chiang Rai. He also said that he was unsure how many senators would vote for Mr Pita at this stage. He said he was optimistic that the first vote would run as smoothly as the election of the House speaker on July 4.

Newly elected representatives attend their first meeting at the parliament on Tuesday. Mr Pichet said on Thursday that the three sessions were planned for July 13, 19 and 20, and they should provide enough time for the election of the new prime minister. When asked if Pheu Thai would lead the coalition if the three sessions fail to make Mr Pita as the prime minister, Mr Pichet said that would depend on the parliament and eight coalition parties. There will be internal discussions and there should not be any problem," Mr Pichet said. He also said that he was unsure how many senators would vote for Mr Pita.

Parliamentary vote for new PM on July 13The new MPs attend their first House session on Tuesday. Mr Wan, ex-officio president of the parliament, said he set the date in consultation with Senate Speaker Pornpetch Wichitcholchai. Mr Wan said voting on July 13 for the new prime minister may be completed immediately, or not. Mr Pita is not the only candidate," Mr Wan said, referring to Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the coalition-leading Move Forward Party (MFP). Unless the members are ready to attend there will be a lack of a quorum," Mr Wan said.

Ukraine claims limited gains, weeks into counteroffensiveRussian forces are on the offensive near eastern AvdiivkaKYIV (UKRAINE) - Ukraine on Monday said its forces clawed back clutches of territory from Russia last week as part of its counteroffensive, as Russia's security service said it foiled an assassination attempt on the head of Moscow-annexed Crimea. Ukraine's forces have gained over 158 square kilometres in the south since the start of the counteroffensive, Malyar said. Russian forces are also on the offensive, and in recent days launched new assaults towards Svatove, in the eastern Lugansk region. Bakhmut was seized by Russian forces spearheaded by the Wagner mercenary group. Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine after a referendum widely regarded as a sham by Kyiv and Western countries.

Ideal House speaker is neutral, experienced law graduate: pollMost people think the House speaker must be able to work with all parties with neutrality, according to the result of an opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll. More than a quarter of respondents believed the speaker should be an experienced MP who graduated in law. The poll was conducted on June 27-29 by telephone interviews with 1,310 people aged 18 and over of various levels of education, occupations and incomes throughout the country to compile their opinions on the selection of the House speaker, head of the legislative branch, to be held on July 4. Asked about the qualities they wanted to see in the person holding the post of House speaker, with respondents allowed to choose more than one answer, the replies varied as follows:• 76.72% - must be able to work with all political parties with neutrality• 28.63% - should have served many times as an MP• 26.34% - should be a law graduate• 24.89% - must be acceptable to MPs• 16.41% - must be from a party in the government• 15.95% - must not necessaily be from the same party as the prime minister• 15.65% - must not necessaily be from the party with the most MPs• 14.05% - can be from either the government or opposition bloc• 13.36% - must be from the party with the most MPs• 10.92% - must not necessarily be a law graduate• 7.10% - must be from the same party as the prime minister• 6.56% - any MP can take the position• 2.90% - must be able to push through draft legislation proposed by his or her party• 0.46% - must be from a party in the opposition blocAsked how MPs should vote to select the House speaker, 52.44% said they should follow a decision reached internally by their own party prior to the selection process; 47.10% said MPs should be allowed to vote freely; and 0.46% had no answer or were not interested.

Army eyes withdrawing security troops from far South by 2027Fourth Region Army commander Lt Gen Santi SakuntanakThe security authorities have outlined a plan for the progressive reduction of military presence and lifting of the emergency in the far South in four years. Fourth Region Army commander Lt Gen Santi Sakuntanak said on Saturday a gradual withdrawal of troops is already underway in the region. Lt Gen Santi said that in the early years of unrest from 2004 to 2010, the military's main mission was to contain security woes and fight insurgent attacks by deploying extra troops mobilised from the First, Second and Third Army regions to assist the Fourth Army region stationed in the far South. Since 2011, Lt Gen Santi said a 1,700-strong combined force made up of non-military officials and police were assigned to safety protection duties in 37 districts of the far South. With more police and defence officials moving in, the soldiers were gradually being withdrawn and returned to their army regions.

Ms Kaur never saw him again. Priyadarshini Ravichandran/The New York TimesMs Kaur is far from alone in her misery. To Ms Kaur, who fled her in-laws' home after five months, it was "like living in a dark dungeon". Priyadarshini Ravichandran/The New York TimesAfter her marriage, Ms Kaur, who is not related to Sharndeep Kaur, lived with her husband for nine months in his parents' home in Kotli. Priyadarshini Ravichandran/The New York TimesMr Dhiman's parents moved to Canada on a business visa after Ms Khural's marriage in 2015.

(Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)The Move Forward Party (MFP) will step aside and let Pheu Thai Party take the lead in forming the new government if its leader Pita Limjaroenrat fails to get enough support from senators in a prime ministerial vote, according to Pheu Thai sources. Pheu Thai would support Mr Pita's bid for prime minister, but if Mr Pita fails to get sufficient support from the senators, he must step aside and allow Pheu Thai to have its turn at forming a coalition government. Mr Pita said on Friday that talks with Pheu Thai were making progress. "I don't believe Pheu Thai will lay down such conditions. Asked to comment on the report that Pheu Thai would take the premiership if the MFP lacks enough votes from the senators, Mr Srettha said such matters should be addressed by Pheu Thai leader Dr Cholnan and secretary-general Prasert Chantararuangthong.

Central Westville to open in NovemberThe shopping centre features a new prototype for the next level of semi-outdoor mall development and is the company's first low-carbon mall. Central Pattana Plc has announced it plans to open the Central Westville shopping mall on Nov 29. Located at a strategic location in western Bangkok, Central Westville will help elevate the retail industry and urban life, said Mr Nattakit. There are over 400,000 people in the catchment area of Central Westville, Mr Nattakit said. Central Westville, with a total investment of over 6.2 billion baht, is situated on 40 rai of land with a gross floor area of 93,000 square metres.

(Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)The selection of the new House speaker will take place on July 4 as the Move Forward Party (MFP) and the Pheu Thai Party remain deadlocked over who gets the position. According to its official website, the selection of a speaker and two deputies will be on the agenda of the first session. Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said the new House speaker and two deputies must be chosen within 10 days from the opening of parliament or by July 13. The MFP and Pheu Thai were originally scheduled to thrash out who would take the House speaker role on Wednesday, but the MFP postponed the meeting after Pheu Thai suggested it would not budge. MFP secretary-general Chaithawat Tulathon said party MPs are ready to attend the House meeting on July 4 to select the new speaker.

Why did they all leave their homes? Loikaw and Demoso become a fierce theatre of war between the Myanmar Army and the opposition. Similarly, Khamhom, 16, decided to leave Laihka, south of Shan State, even though she needed to complete her last year of high school. At present, the people in Shan State do not just have to endure harassment by the Myanmar Army. This has prompted many people in Shan State to decide to leave behind their homes.

Tourism firms cash in on travel boomForeign tourists visit Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, in Bangkok. Businesses involved in foreign currency exchange registered a 389% increase, followed by travel agency businesses with a 281% increase, while tour guide firms gained 225% and restaurants jumped 67.2%. For the same period, registered capital amounted to 389 billion baht, up by 50% year-on-year. The combined registered capital for the month was 28.4 billion baht, up by 97.9% from the same month last year. The department said 5,438 companies ceased operations during the period with a combined registered capital of 43.3 billion baht, down by 19%.