Thailand

The red-light districts of Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket, once throbbing with dance music and a rainbow of neon lights, have gone quiet and dark. For all its typically gaudy pomp, though, Thailand's sex industry is technically illegal, which makes it hard to take its measure. … [Read more...] about COVID Lockdown Pumps Brakes on Thailand’s Billion-dollar Sex Trade

The spike in infections in India comes at a time when the two-month-old lockdown across the country is set to end on Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is expected to issue a new set of guidelines this weekend, possibly extending the lockdown in the worst-hit areas as it promotes economic activity. … [Read more...] about The Latest: Russia has highest daily spike in virus deaths

— Big Lots' first-quarter sales rose 11%, with same-store sales climbing 10.3%. The discount retailer's stores have remained open during the pandemic, with many consumers shopping for essentials. While sales are up strongly for the second quarter to date, Big Lots Inc. said Friday that it anticipates those sales moderating due to factors including: rivals reopen stores, the planned cancellation of its July Friends and Family promotion, possible inventory constraints and weakening stimulus-driven demand. … [Read more...] about Nations ease more restrictions, air travel opening up more

Southwest Airlines said this week it will boost its schedule this fall, targeting business travelers with additional frequencies and more non-stop routes out of Denver, Las Vegas, Nashville and Phoenix. On Nov. 1, The carrier will start flying from Long Beach to Phoenix three times a day and to Austin once a day, and from Ontario to Houston Hobby once a day. On Nov. 2, it will kick off Orange County-Nashville daily flights, and on Dec. 17 it will add new non-stops including Atlanta to Oklahoma City, Omaha and Louisville, all with three daily roundtrips; daily flights from Denver to Little Rock, Birmingham and Wichita; and daily Phoenix-Memphis service. … [Read more...] about Routes: Quarantines quash air travel revival plans + more news

The prosecution underscores ongoing concerns about sanctions violations by North Korea. Last month, United Nations experts recommended blacklisting 14 vessels for violating sanctions against North Korea, accusing the country in a report of increasing illegal coal exports and imports of petroleum products and continuing with cyberattacks on financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges to gain illicit revenue.  … [Read more...] about US Charges North Korean Bank Officials in Sanctions Case