USA

The leaders of protests in Thailand plan to revive demonstrations as soon as the country’s worst COVID-19 outbreak starts to ease, adding to the government’s challenges as it comes under fire for a slow vaccine rollout. After a monthslong hiatus due to a spike in cases, protest leaders say they’re working to draw fresh support from frustrated residents for a movement that began last year with calls for Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha’s resignation and unprecedented reforms of the monarchy. Authorities have faced increasing public criticism for Thailand’s third wave of COVID-19, which has more than quadrupled total cases since early April. “When we return to the streets, there’ll be even more people joining us,” said Patsaravalee Tanakitvibulpon, one of the protest leaders, in a phone i...

SINGAPORE: Singapore updated its guidance for the use of masks on Tuesday (May 18) on the back of rising COVID-19 infections in the community. The Ministry of Health (MOH) is advising that members of the public use masks with better protection, such as those with better filtration efficiency, to mitigate the higher risk of infection. This is because the recent COVID-19 clusters “suggest a higher level of transmission, likely attributed to new virus variants”, the ministry said. Here’s what you need to know about the new mask guidelines: WHAT IS FILTRATION EFFICIENCY? The bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE) of a mask refers to the degree of barrier protection provided by the material or fabric of the mask. A mask with a higher BFE would be more effective in preventing bact...

LONDON: Already grounded by the coronavirus pandemic, airlines operating in the UK are facing post-Brexit obstacles to flying across the European Union, and their shareholders are paying the price. The trade agreement reached ahead of Britain's recent formal divorce from the EU allows flights between the two to continue as before. But for airlines with fewer than 50 per cent EU-based shareholders, flights within the European Union require a new agreement by the end of 2021. "To continue being able to access these intra-European traffic rights, airlines need to demonstrate they are majority-owned and controlled by European persons," noted Bernstein analyst Daniel Roeska. No-frills airlines, such as Ryanair and EasyJet, are notably affected, with their business model based heavily on...

Fertnig | E+ | Getty Images If you don't receive your second stimulus check in your bank account or the mail, the good news is you can claim the money when you file your tax return this spring. But beware: That doesn't necessarily mean you will automatically get the full $600 or other funds you feel are owed through the direct payments issued by the government. The reason: The recovery rebate credit by which you can claim that money will be factored into your overall tax return, including liabilities. So if you receive a credit for the $600 stimulus check, but owe $500, you will receive a payment of just $100. "If you're going to owe money, you're still going to owe money," said Janet Holtzblatt, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. Admittedly, some people might prefer ...