WORLD NEWS May 28: Underwear company compensates Thai workers with big money; Russia Tests Zircon Missile Again

Victoria’s Secret lingerie brand in London, England on March 31, 2021 – Photo: REUTERS

* On May 28, according to Reuters news agency, labor rights activists announced More than 1,000 Thai garment workers who were laid off were compensated by the largest lingerie company in the US, Victoria’s Secret, with $8.3 million in compensation.

Accordingly, Brilliant Alliance Thai closed its factory in Samut Prakan province in March 2021 after going bankrupt. However, the 1,250 laid-off workers – many of whom have worked at the factory for more than a decade – did not receive the severance pay as required by Thai law.

The factory, which also makes lingerie for major US brands such as Lane Bryant and Torrid, is owned by Sycamore Partners, but only Victoria’s Secret was involved in the settlement through a loan arrangement with the factory owner. .

In its statement, Victoria’s Secret confirmed the agreement reached, but did not mention the amount.

* Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on May 28 that the country had successfully tested the Zircon hypersonic cruise missile, with a range of about 1,000 km. The Zircon missile was launched from a ship in the Barents Sea and hit its target in the White Sea.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described Zircon as part of a new generation of invincible weapons systems. Hypersonic weapons can fly at 9 times the speed of sound.

Over the past year, Russia has conducted tests of Zircon missiles from warships and submarines. Last month, Russia also test-fired a new intercontinental missile, the Sarmat, capable of carrying 10 or more warheads.

* Former US President Donald Trump appeared at the annual event of the National Rifle Association (NRA) held in Houston, Texas on May 27. The gathering of this influential association, held just three days after the massacre at Robb Elementary School in Texas, forced many pro-gun politicians and entertainers to resign. refused to attend at the last minute.

At this year’s event, attendees are not allowed to carry guns as before, and the NRA – an association of up to 5 million members – said the conference will include “thinking about the elementary school shooting in New York City”. Uvalde (just a few hours by car from Houston)” and participants will “pray for the victims” of the Uvalde incident.

Former US President Donald Trump appeared at the annual event of the NRA held in Houston, Texas on May 27 – Photo: REUTERS

* Iran has seized two Greek oil tankers in the Gulf on May 27, not long after Tehran warned it would take punitive action against Athens transferring Iranian oil from a ship seized by Greece to the United States, according to Reuters.

The seizure was described by Athens as “like an act of piracy” when an Iranian Guards helicopter dropped troops from above the Greek ship and overpowered the crew.

* According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on May 28, North Korea’s daily number of fever-symptomatic cases has dropped below 100,000 for the first time in less than three weeks, since the country announced its first outbreak of COVID-19.

Accordingly, North Korea recorded about 88,520 cases of fever on May 27, compared with nearly 400,000 cases per day 10 days ago. Since April, North Korea has had a total of 3.36 million cases of fever.

North Korean military medics distribute drugs at a pharmacy amid the outbreak of COVID-19 in North Korea – Photo: REUTERS

* On May 28, local authorities confirmed 8 people were killed after 2 buildings collapsed in landslides caused by prolonged heavy rain in Vu Binh districtFujian province, eastern China.

Since the night of May 26, heavy rain has poured down the entire Vu Binh district, with the highest recorded rainfall of more than 220mm in 24 hours, according to the VNA.

According to Vu Binh district’s information agency, five people were found dead in a collapsed factory building, while three others died after an apartment building collapsed. Heavy rains also damaged crops, disrupted transport, caused power outages and affected the lives of 9,700 residents, including about 1,600 who had to flee their homes to safety.

Disaster recovery work is being carried out by functional forces of Vu Binh district and Fujian province.

* May 27, Ukraine says its forces may need to retreat from their last position of resistance in Lugansk to avoid capture by Russian troops. According to Reuters news agency, the withdrawal of Ukraine’s troops could bring Russian President Vladimir Putin closer to his goal of controlling the Lugansk and Donetsk regions in eastern Ukraine.

Lugansk Governor Serhiy Gaidai said that Russian troops had entered Sievierodonetsk, the largest city in the Donbass region and remained in Ukrainian hands, after trying to encircle Ukrainian forces there for several days.

* On May 27, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced extending for another 6 months the decision to exempt tariffs on some Chinese medical products. According to AFP news agency, China’s decision to exempt tariffs on 81 medical care products needed to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic will expire on May 31 if not extended.

* On May 27, Reuters news agency quoted knowledgeable sources as saying Discussions between Turkish officials and the Swedish and Finnish delegations have made little progress.

Representatives of Stockholm and Helsinki have arrived in Turkey to address Ankara’s objections to their accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

It is not clear when further discussions will take place.

A fire at a manufacturing plant in the Donbass region, eastern Ukraine – Photo: AFP

* May 27, The US imposed sanctions on two Russian banks, a North Korean company and an individual accused of supporting North Korea’s weapons program, in a move aimed at increasing pressure on Pyongyang following recent ballistic missile launches.

According to AFP news agency, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions against the Far East Bank and Sputnik Bank – Russian financial institutions accused by the US of doing business with North Korea, as well as a trading company. trade with North Korean state carrier Air Koryo. Jong Yong Nam, from North Korea’s arms research agency and working in Belarus, is also on the sanctions list.

North Korea has yet to comment on the latest US sanctions.

* The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 27 announced Bubs Australia Company (Australia) plans to ship at least 1.25 million cans of infant formula to the US to help alleviate shortages across the country.

The shortage of milk supply in the US is partly due to Abbott’s factory in Michigan, US, which recalled a number of products, including Similac formula in February 2022, according to Reuters.