The Russian man Khasanov said he had asked his Turkish friend to bring 7,000 euros in fake notes to use in Thailand.
PATTAYA — Immigration police arrest Russian for using Thai national to exchange 280,000 baht worth of counterfeit Euros in Pattaya.
On July 8, Chonburi Immigration officers arrested Mr. Khasanov, a 29-year-old Russian suspect, in a hotel room in Soi Phra Tamnak 6, South Pattaya, Moo 10, Nongprue Subdistrict, Banglamung District, Chonburi Province. They seized counterfeit euro banknotes, 140 pieces of 50 euro notes, totaling 7,000 euros or nearly 280,000 Thai baht.
The arrest followed a tip from a currency exchange booth about a foreigner tricking a Thai person into exchanging 50 euros, worth 20,000 baht. The exchange was successful, and the money was with this foreigner.
Police Colonel Naphatphong Khositsuriyanon, Superintendent of Chonburi Immigration, revealed that Mr. Khasanov arrived in Thailand on May 29 and was scheduled to leave on July 9. He claimed the counterfeit notes belonged to a friend in Turkey, produced there. The producer allegedly had previously successfully exchanged fake euros in Thailand worth over 400,000 baht.
Chonburi Immigration officers charge Mr. Khasanov, a 29-year-old Russian suspect, with possessing counterfeit money and possessing for distribution items which he knows to be counterfeit.
Khasanov said he had asked his Turkish friend to bring 7,000 euros in fake notes to use in Thailand, claiming he would share the proceeds if successful. He had previously failed to exchange the money at a bank in a department store before tricking a Thai person to exchange it.
Tom, a 41-year-old Thai who was tricked, said the Russian asked him to exchange the money to pay for his hotel bill of several thousand baht. Tom was unaware the notes were counterfeit.
“When I exchanged the money, I got about 20,000 baht. I gave it to the Russian. Then the exchange booth staff questioned me. I came to prove my innocence to the police that I wasn’t involved. I want to warn others to be cautious of foreigners behaving like this,” Tom said.”
Khasanov said he had asked his Turkish friend to bring 7,000 euros in fake notes to use in Thailand.
Police have charged the suspect under Section 240 of the Criminal Code, which states: ‘Whoever counterfeits money, whether it be coins, banknotes, or any other item issued or authorized to be issued by the government, or counterfeits government bonds or interest coupons for such bonds,’ and Section 241, which states: ‘Whoever possesses for distribution anything which they know to be counterfeit.’
Additionally, officials discovered that the foreigner had overstayed his permitted duration in Thailand beyond the date allowed on his visa sticker and entry stamp. He has been handed over to investigating officers for legal proceedings.
SAT–1 is part of the Phase 2 development project of Suvarnabhumi Airport.
BANGKOK — The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is negotiating with the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and Airports of Thailand (AOT) to increase the number of slots for flights from China to Thailand.
They are proposing incentives to encourage airlines to add more flights to secondary cities. If the number of slots is increased by only 10 percent in the fourth quarter, monthly tourist arrivals could exceed 1 million and the annual target of 8 million Chinese tourists could be reached.
Mr. Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, Deputy Governor for Asia and South Pacific Market at TAT, highlighted the strong growth in Chinese tourist arrivals. 3.43 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand in the first half of 2024 (January-June), making it the top source of international tourists, out of a total of 17.5 million international visitors.
TAT is confident that the target of 8 million Chinese tourists in 2024 will be achieved. To further boost the market, TAT is currently negotiating with CAAT to increase flights from various Chinese cities in the winter season, starting in the fourth quarter, to cope with the influx in the peak season.
Tourists crowded at Suvarnabhumi Airport on February 25, 2024, but the cashier lady at a nearby coffee shop said it’s not a particularly busy Sunday afternoon. (Photos by Pravit Rojanaphruk)
The TAT also proposes measures to incentivize existing and new airlines to expand their routes to Thailand. This includes incentives such as reduced landing fees to encourage flights to secondary or less visited cities. Discussions are also planned with AOT on these details.
TAT expects that in October, November and December 2024, the number of Chinese tourist arrivals could exceed 1 million per month.
“At present, major cities in China such as Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, as well as secondary and emerging cities, have high demand for more flights. If we can increase seat capacity by about 10 percent in the fourth quarter, we are confident of reaching the target of 8 million,” Chattan said.
During the summer season (31 March – 26 October 2024), there were 34,452 flights from China to Thailand from 40 cities with a total of 6,438,233 seats, which is about 80 percent of the 2019 level.
Chinese tourists traveling to Thailand are mainly from the younger generation (Gen Z), followed by families, young professionals, incentive travelers and students.
A C919 large passenger aircraft, China’s first self-developed trunk jetliner, takes off from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in east China’s Shanghai, May 28, 2023. (Xinhua)
Mr. Chattan also mentioned that TAT’s marketing efforts for the Chinese market this year are under the concept of “Travel Thailand, the More You Go, the More Fun It Is”,” which aims to promote Thailand’s positive image. Initiatives include the Amazing Festival & Exclusive Trip in Thailand (Chinese Influencer Mega FAM Trip) at the end of December 2024, joint promotions with social media platforms to share positive content about Thailand, and joint promotions with online platforms to highlight special offers and tourist attractions.
The TAT also works with travel agencies such as Yunnan DCD Traveling Service in Kunming to put together overland travel packages to boost tourism and offer new travel experiences, as well as cultural and tourism exchange projects between Thailand and China.
Looking ahead to 2025, the TAT is planning events such as the Amazing Thailand Songkran Festival 2024 and working with travel companies to offer Thai travel packages to tourists from Kunming and other Chinese regions. These packages will take tourists to various Thai provinces such as Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Pattaya, Phuket, Hat Yai and on to Malaysia and Singapore, with a trip duration of 10-26 days and prices ranging from 7,000-40,000 yuan (approx. 35,000-200,000 THB) per person.
In addition, TAT will expand projects such as TATX LABUBU (POPMART International Group Limited) with the cultural activities of Labubu Amazing Thailand Experience Explorer between July and September 2025.
BMA – Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning – Thai Smile Bus” Deal!! Link information on bus stops Hoping to attract more people to use public transportation.
Assoc. Prof. Wisanu Subsompon, Deputy Governor of Bangkok signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation for linking public transport travel data in the Bangkok area to share, exchange, and link information between government agencies and private
Focus on providing maximum benefit to the people. And promote increased use of public transportation. The executive team from the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), Ministry of Transport, and Thai Smile Bus Company Limited (TSB) attended the signing at BMA City Hall, Giant Swing.
“This cooperation involves sharing information on public transportation between Thai Smile Bus, a major bus service provider. Which has the ‘TSB Go Plus’ application and the OTP which has a ‘Navigation’ application that combines travel information with a variety of public transport. To provide information about buses in the Bangkok area more complete by citizens who have applications, no matter who they are In a future where information exchange is complete Will be able to see more complete information,” Deputy Governor Wisanu said after the signing ceremony.
The Director of OTP added that the ‘Navigation’ application that OTP has made has collected travel information on buses, electric trains, and boats. From now on, the information we have made will be forwarded for use. Smart Bus Stop digital screen which is also under the supervision of BMA.
The TSB Chairman also said that at present, Thai Smile Bus buses have 123 routes, which do not yet cover the entire Bangkok – metropolitan area. Having BMA take the lead in this collaboration will bring benefits to passengers. Because while waiting for the bus to arrive, you can see from the screen which bus will arrive within how many minutes? This will allow you to plan your trip. And is expected to attract more people to use public transportation.
BKK Food Bank, a beautiful meeting point for those who want to share with those in need, is now open in 30 districts.
“The BKK Food Bank project is a project that brings together the objectives of those who want to share with those in need. Which will make our society better We do it in a supermarket format. There is a system for accumulating points. Let those in need bring their points to exchange for products that meet their needs. Thanks to the donors as well.”
Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok Speaking on the occasion of presiding over the opening ceremony of BKK Food Bank, Din Daeng District, with Mrs. Anong Pechtat Member of BMC Din Daeng District, and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration administrators, attending the ceremony at the Din Daeng District Office.
Mr. Chadchart presided over the opening ceremony of the BKK Food Bank, Din Daeng District on July 6, with Mrs. Anong Pechtat Member of BMC Din Daeng District, Mr. Pornphrom Vikitsreth, Advisor to the Governor of Bangkok and the first Chief Sustainability Officer of the BMA Executives and officials of the Din Daeng District Office The Social Development Office, donors and vulnerable people attended the ceremony at the Din Daeng District Office.
The BKK Food Bank project delivers surplus food to vulnerable groups in a concrete way. It is a collaboration between Bangkok Scholars of Sustainability Foundation (SOS) and VV Share Foundation to solve the problem of food waste. That may cause both environmental and economic damage. To be passed on to those in need.
Vulnerable group groups of poor people or people affected by disasters and public disasters in emergencies Create a mechanism for transferring assistance between donors and recipients sustainably. It is carried out in 2 formats as follows:
Model 1: The district office is the recipient – forwards surplus food from sharers and provides assistance to vulnerable groups in the area. There is systematic reporting. In cooperation with the foundation that works with surplus food. Currently, operations have begun in 37 districts for the Din Daeng District. The project started operating on March 19, 2024 to date, receiving products from 21 convenience store branches in the area.
To deliver food to vulnerable groups both in the community and outside the community in the Din Daeng area. A total of 3,394 people have been forwarded, representing a weight of 2,054.17 kilograms of donated food. The amount of carbon reduced is 5,197.04 kgCO2e (kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent).
Model 2: Establish BKK Food Bank, District Office, as a place to receive and distribute food. Consumer goods Necessary items for living (Goods Donation) and pass them on to the recipient. (Target group) where the district office is responsible for evaluating and rating recipients. (Target group) for recipients (Target group) Use the points received to exchange for items from BKK Food Bank.
It has opened in 29 districts, Din Daeng District being the 30th district and will next open every Thursday from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Those wishing to donate consumer items to BKK Food Bank can contact every district office.
Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods) is proud to announce that Kitchen Joy’s Thai Cube boxes now feature paper packaging certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This significant move underscores CP Foods’ commitment to combating deforestation and preserving biodiversity.
Thidarat Dechayontbancha, Head of Procurement at CP Foods, highlighted the importance of this transition: “Our Kitchen Joy’s Thai Cube packaging has received FSC certification due to our collaborative efforts with business partners. This initiative is part of our broader ‘Partner to Grow” project, which focuses on sourcing materials and packaging from production chains that prioritize environmental care, social responsibility, and robust corporate governance in line with ESG principles.”
The FSC certification ensures that the paper used in Kitchen Joy’s Thai Cube boxes comes from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits. This shift not only helps in preserving biodiversity and preventing deforestation but also aligns with global sustainability trends and consumer expectations.
Currently, the FSC-certified packaging for Kitchen Joy’s Thai Cube is available throughout Europe. In addition to this, CP Foods has started using FSC-certified corrugated cardboard boxes for transporting products, further emphasizing their commitment to sustainable practices.
“Adopting FSC-certified packaging highlights our dedication to enhancing the value chain in response to growing environmental awareness among consumers. It also supports our business partners in adopting sustainable practices, thereby boosting competitiveness and fostering mutual growth. The FSC logo on our packaging assures consumers that they are choosing products that contribute to environmental preservation,” added Ms. Thidarat.
The “PARTNER TO GROW ” project, now in its second year, aims to strengthen the capabilities of CP Foods’ business partners, both large and small. By fostering collaboration, improving work efficiency, and integrating innovation and technology, the project supports long-term business growth. It ensures the delivery of high-quality, safe products that meet international standards while maintaining social responsibility and conserving natural resources.
In a heartwarming initiative, Jerhigh has partnered with veterinary students from 12 leading universities across Thailand for the fifth edition of the “Veterinarians with Heart” project. The project aims to extend love and care to abandoned dogs by providing support to 12 dog shelters and rescue foundations.
As a leading brand in dog snacks and food, Jerhigh, of International Pet Food Co.,Ltd., a subsidiary of Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods), is committed to the “Veterinarians with Heart” project, now in its fifth consecutive year. Teaming up with veterinarians from 12 top educational institutions nationwide, the company is on a mission to raise awareness about responsible pet ownership within society.
The project focuses on tackling the root causes of the issue of abandoned dogs, ensuring their well-being, supplying food, and creating more opportunities for stray dogs to receive care and eventually find loving homes.
Mr. Kitisak Limamphai, the Managing Director of International Pet Food, emphasized that the “Veterinarians with Heart” project has already assisted over 40,000 dogs across 32 dog foundations and shelters. The goal is to inspire young individuals to responsibly care for their pets, treating them as integral family members and providing enduring love, regardless of any changes in their appearance or behavior. This approach plays a crucial role in addressing the problem of abandoned dogs.
To involve dog lovers in the “Veterinarians with Heart” project through the “Veterinary Idol” voting campaign on www.jerhigh.com, which was active from December 6, 2023, to March 31, 2024. Each vote translates to Jerhigh dog food products (1 vote = 10 grams of Jerhigh, worth 7 baht), with Jerhigh generously supporting the project by donating dog food valued at 5,000,000 baht. These substantial contributions will be distributed among 12 animal foundations and shelters nationwide.
This year, the 12 selected animal foundations and shelters benefiting from the “Veterinarians with Heart” project include: the ARK Chiangmai Foundation in Chiang Mai, Smile Dog Home Foundation in Songkhla, Khon Kaen Homeless Dog Fund in Khon Kaen, Baan Ae 4 Legs Shelter in Maha Sarakham, Baan Nang Fa Stray Animals in Saraburi, Baan Rak Ma Salaya, Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom, Wangluang Dog House Project, Walailak University in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Kanchanaburi 4 Legs in Kanchanaburi, Koh Sunuk Buddhamonthon Park in Nakhon Pathom, P. Lek’s Dog Shelter in Chonburi, Khanom dog welfare in Nakhon Srithammarat and Foundation for Disabled Animal Shelter (Banglen branch) in Nakhon Pathom
Furthermore, the company offers the unique opportunity for Veterinary Idols to visit Jerhigh’s cutting-edge manufacturing plant, renowned for producing high-quality, human-grade food and snacks for dogs. This initiative aims to impart knowledge on pet food production to the next generation of veterinarians.
Jerhigh remains steadfast in its commitment to bridging the gap between pet owners and dogs under the motto “Feed me with love.” The company is dedicated to advancing pet food innovations through AAFCO-standard production processes, which mirror those used in human food production. By leveraging state-of-the-art technology and ensuring high-quality, traceable ingredients, Jerhigh aims to safeguard the health and longevity of pets.
Mrs. Aranya Sintravadhee, 65 years old, the cat owner, cries while thanking the rescue workers who saved her cats' lives on July 7, 2024.
BANGKOK — A tragic fire broke out at 4-story commercial building in a residential area in Soi Chang Akat Uthit 15, Don Mueang District, Bangkok, late Sunday night, killing 21 cats which were under the care of a female traditional massage therapist.
Officials took 10 minutes to control the fire. There were no human injuries or fatalities. However, 21 cats on the second floor died. Officials managed to save 5 cats that had inhaled smoke. The owner cried, both saddened by the loss of the beloved cats and grateful that officials were able to save 5 of them.
A fire breaks out at 4-story commercial building in a residential area in Soi Chang Akat Uthit 15, Don Mueang District, Bangkok, on July 7, 2024.
Mrs. Aranya Sintravadhee, 65 years old, the cat owner, stated that she loves dogs and cats very much. She has been living in the room where the fire occurred for 3-4 years. At first, she brought only a few cats to raise. Later, when neighbours learned of her love for cats, they brought her newborn kittens, abused cats, or abandoned strays.
Feeling sorry for them, she ended up caring for nearly 30 cats and 1 dog, not knowing how many were male or female.
She works as a traditional massage therapist and lives alone in the room where the incident occurred. Her daily income from massages, just a few hundred baht, is used to buy cat food, spending over 10,000 baht per month. Additionally, there are expenses for vaccinating the dogs and cats. She cares for them as best she can with her limited resources.
Before the incident, someone came to take her out to massage a client. She locked the dog and cats in the room. Shortly after leaving, a neighbor called to inform her that her room was on fire. She rushed back to find the entire room ablaze.
Rescuers manage to save 5 cats that had inhaled smoke.
“I feel so sorry for the cats that died. We were very attached after caring for them for so long. 21 cats died. The Ruamkatanyu Foundation will cremate them at a temple. The injured cats that survived have been sent to an animal hospital. I don’t know where I’ll get the money for their treatment. There’s also the dog I raised that I believe survived, but I don’t know where it went,” Aranya said.
On July 8, forensic officials inspected the scene to determine the cause of the fire.
BANGKOK — The Mastercard-Crescent Rating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2024, which ranked Thailand 32nd among popular destinations for Muslim tourists and 5th among non-OIC countries, has made the Thai government confident about the halal industry.
On July 8, 2024, Government Spokesperson Chai Wacharong revealed that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin supports broad development of the halal industry, including food, tourism, fashion, and soft power, aiming to establish Thailand as a central hub for all dimensions of halal.
The PM has also ordered the relevant agencies to create plans to upgrade the halal industry development, increase tourism activities to attract Muslim tourists, and further strengthen Thailand’s prominence in this market to correspond with the country’s potential.
There is an expectation for high growth in the Muslim tourism market in 2024, with an estimated population of around 168 million international Muslim global tourists, a 5% increase over pre-COVID-19 levels.
This growth reflected the increasing importance of the Muslim tourist market. Mastercard-Crescent Rating has ranked the top Muslim tourist destinations in the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2024. With a score of 52, Thailand is ranked 5th among non-Muslim nations (Non-OIC) and 32nd out of 145 top tourist attractions for Muslims. This ranking remains unchanged from 2023.
Thailand is renowned for its natural beauty and pioneering role in the halal food and products industry. Since Thailand has significant Muslim communities, it has a cultural understanding, a multicultural environment, is friendly to Muslim tourists, and provides widespread availability of halal cuisine, making Thailand a top choice for Muslim tourists.
Meanwhile, part of the success is attributed to the Prime Minister’s policies that continuously develop the halal industry, which is in line with Thailand’s 5-year Halal Industry Development Policy (2024-2028). This initiative has led to the establishment of the Thai Halal Industry Center to elevate technology and manufacturing innovation, emphasizing value-added product creation alongside Halal standards.
It promotes domestic and international Halal trade, develops the Halal Ecosystem, establishes MOUs with target markets, and forms the National Halal Industry Committee (NHIC) to set policies for Thai Halal product development, enhancing Thailand’s soft power identity and driving the efficiency of the Halal industry towards becoming an ASEAN Halal Hub.
“The success of the Prime Minister’s policy to support the development of halal products means that Thailand remains one of the most popular destinations for Muslim tourists. Related to increasing competitiveness in order to meet the tourism trends of Muslim tourists,” Chai Wacharonke said.
People gather at the Republique plaza after the second round of the legislative election, Sunday, July 7, 2024, in Paris. Surprise polling projections in France say a leftist coalition that came together to try to keep the far right from power has won the most parliamentary seats in runoff elections after a high turnout among voters. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
PARIS (AP) — A coalition of the French left won the most seats in high-stakes legislative elections Sunday, beating back a far-right surge but failing to win a majority. The outcome left France, a pillar of the European Union and Olympic host country, facing the stunning prospect of a hung parliament and political paralysis.
The political turmoil could rattle markets and the French economy, the EU’s second-largest, and have far-ranging implications for the war in Ukraine, global diplomacy and Europe’s economic stability.
In calling the election on June 9, after the far right surged in French voting for the European Parliament, President Emmanuel Macron said turning to voters again would provide “clarification.”
On almost every level, that gamble appears to have backfired. According to the official results released early Monday, all three main blocs fell far short of the 289 seats needed to control the 577-seat National Assembly, the more powerful of France’s two legislative chambers.
The results showed just over 180 seats for the New Popular Front leftist coalition, which placed first, ahead of Macron’s centrist alliance, with more than 160 seats. Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally and its allies were restricted to third place, although their more than 140 seats were still way ahead of the party’s previous best showing — 89 seats in 2022.
A hung parliament is unknown territory for modern France.
Far-left La France Insoumise – LFI – (France Unbowed) founder Jean-Luc Melenchon delivers a speech at the party election night headquarters, Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
“Our country is facing an unprecedented political situation and is preparing to welcome the world in a few weeks,” said Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who plans to offer his resignation later in the day.
With the Paris Olympics looming, Attal said he was ready to stay at his post “as long as duty demands.” Macron has three years remaining on his presidential term.
Attal made clearer than ever his disapproval of Macron’s shock decision to call the election, saying “I didn’t choose this dissolution” of the outgoing National Assembly, where the president’s centrist alliance used to be single biggest group, albeit without an absolute majority. Still, it was able to govern for two years, pulling in lawmakers from other camps to fight off efforts to bring it down.
The new legislature appears shorn of such stability. When Macron flies to Washington for a summit this week of the NATO alliance, he will leave a country with no clear idea who may be its next prime minister and facing the prospect that the president may be obliged to share power with a politician deeply opposed to his policies.
Still, many rejoiced. In Paris’ Stalingrad square, supporters on the left cheered and applauded as projections showing the alliance ahead flashed up on a giant screen. Cries of joy also rang out in Republique plaza in eastern Paris, with people spontaneously hugging strangers and several minutes of nonstop applause after the projections landed.
Marielle Castry, a medical secretary, was on the Metro in Paris when projected results were first announced.
“Everybody had their smartphones and were waiting for the results and then everybody was overjoyed,” said the 55-year-old. “I had been stressed out since June 9 and the European elections. … And now, I feel good. Relieved.”
A redrawn political map
Even before votes were cast, the election redrew France’s political map. It galvanized parties on the left to put differences aside and join together in the new leftist alliance. It pledges to roll back many of Macron’s headline reforms, embark on a massively costly program of public spending and take a far tougher line against Israel because of the war with Hamas.
French President Emmanuel Macron makes a selfie for supporters after voting for the second round of the legislative elections in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday July 7 2024. (Mohammed Badra, Pool via AP)
Macron described the left’s coalition as “extreme” and warned that its economic program of many tens of billions of euros in public spending, partly financed by tax hikes for high earners and on wealth, could be ruinous for France, already criticized by EU watchdogs for its debt.
Yet, the New Popular Front’s leaders immediately pushed Macron to give the alliance the first chance to form a government and propose a prime minister.
The most prominent of the leftist coalition’s leaders, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, said it “is ready to govern.”
While the National Rally took more seats than ever, the anti-immigration party with historical links to antisemitism and racism fell far short of its hopes of securing an absolute majority that would have given France its first far-right government since World War II.
“Disappointed, disappointed,” said far-right supporter Luc Doumont, 66. “Well, happy to see our progression, because for the past few years we’ve been doing better.”
After the party finished top of the first-round vote last weekend, its rivals worked to dash its hopes of outright victory Sunday, by strategically withdrawing candidates from many districts. That left many far-right candidates in head-to-head contests against just one opponent, making it harder for them to win.
Far-right National Rally party leader Marine Le Pen answers a television network after the second round of the legislative election, Sunday, July 7, 2024 at the party election night headquarters in Paris. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Many voters decided that keeping the far right from power was more important to them than anything else, backing its opponents in the runoff, even if they weren’t from the political camp they usually support.
Still, National Rally leader Le Pen, expected to make a fourth run for the French presidency in 2027, said the elections laid the groundwork for “the victory of tomorrow.”
“The reality is that our victory is only deferred,” she added. But Le Pen’s older sister, Marie-Caroline, was among her party’s losers Sunday, defeated by a leftist candidate and just 225 votes in her district.
Jordan Bardella, Le Pen’s 28-year-old protégé who’d been hoping to become prime minister, rued that the national outcome “throws France into the arms of the extreme left.”
A statement from Macron’s office indicated that he wouldn’t be rushed into inviting a potential prime minister to form a government. It said he was watching as results came in and would wait for the new National Assembly to take shape before taking “the necessary decisions.”
Bicycles burn during tensions near Republique plaza following the second round of the legislative elections, Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
Unknown territory
Unlike other countries in Europe that are more accustomed to coalition governments, France doesn’t have a tradition of lawmakers from rival political camps coming together to form a majority. France is also more centralized than many other European countries, with many more decisions made in Paris.
The president was hoping that with France’s fate in their hands, voters might shift from the far right and left and return to mainstream parties closer to the center — where Macron found much of the support that won him the presidency in 2017 and again in 2022.
But rather than rally behind him, millions of voters seized on his surprise decision as an opportunity to vent their anger about inflation, crime, immigration and other grievances — including Macron’s style of government.
The sharp polarization of French politics – especially in this torrid and quick campaign – is sure to complicate any effort to form a government. Racism and antisemitism marred the electoral campaign, along with Russian disinformation campaigns, and more than 50 candidates reported being physically attacked — highly unusual for France.
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This story has been updated to remove exact seat tallies reported by French media to account for the fact that official results don’t give precise totals for each main bloc.
BANGKOK — As Thailand’s tourism has rebounded, aviation fuel use has soared 17.9%. This contrasts with car fuel consumption in the first five months, which was down.
Sarawut Kaewtatip, Director General of the Department of Energy Industry, announced on July 6 that the average fuel consumption from January to May 2024 was 157.13 million liters per day, a decrease of 0.4 percent compared to the same period last year.
This includes a 21.6 percent decrease in heating oil and a 16.6 percent decrease in compressed natural gas (NGV) for vehicles, which averages 2.91 million kilograms per day.
Petrol consumption fell by 1.0 percent and averaged 31.59 million liters per day. Specifically, the consumption of E85 petrol fell to 0.07 million liters per day, benzene to 0.42 million liters per day, E20 petrol to 5.48 million liters per day and 95 petrol to 17.46 million liters per day. Meanwhile, the consumption of gasohol 91 to 7.83 million liters per day.
In contrast, the consumption of kerosene for commercial aviation (Jet A1) rose by 17.9 percent and averaged 16.08 million liters per day. This increase is due to the recovery during the tourism season and the government’s decision to allow citizens from 93 countries to enter Thailand visa-free (for stays of up to 60 days). This measure is expected to boost international tourist flows.
The consumption of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), also known as cooking gas, rose by 3.8 percent and averaged 18.01 million kilograms per day. This includes an increase of 9.3 percent in the petrochemical sector to 8.03 million kilograms per day, an increase of 2.8 percent in the transport sector to 2.32 million kilograms per day, while consumption in industry fell by 3.4 percent to 1.96 million kilograms per day and consumption in households fell by 0.4 percent to 5.71 million kilograms per day.
The consumption of diesel fuel at filling stations rose by 3.2 percent and averaged 69.30 million liters per day. The consumption of standard diesel fuel rose by 3.2 percent year-on-year to 69.14 million liters per day, while the consumption of B20 diesel fuel fell by 2.8 percent year-on-year to 0.15 million liters per day.
This trend is in line with the decline in fuel imports, which averaged 1.04 million barrels per day in the first five months of this year, a decrease of 3.0 percent compared to the same period last year.
The total value of imports amounted to 99.9 billion baht per month. Crude oil imports averaged 986,155 barrels per day, a decrease of 1.7 percent, with an import value of 95 billion baht per month. Exports of refined oil averaged 155,148 barrels per day in the first five months of this year, an increase of 1.3 percent, with a total export value of 16 billion baht per month.
