- Mayor of Los Angeles refuses to work in Biden’s administration
- French President Macron tested positive for Covid-19
- Coca-Cola will lay off more than 2,000 people
Mayor of Los Angeles Refuses to Work in Biden’s Administration
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti turned down an offer to work in the administration of newly elected President Joe Biden in order to continue in office and focus on the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Garcetti stated during a Thursday news conference that he talked to Biden earlier this week, saying that he feels he needs to stay in Los Angeles.
“As the administration reached out to me about serving, I let them know early this week that my city needs me now, and then I want to be here and that I need to be here,” Garcetti said.
“At this point, when so many lives are on the line, there is nothing more important to me, no task more urgent, than being here as your mayor during the worst emergency that our city has ever faced,” he said.
“As the administration reached out to me about serving,” he continued, “I let them know early this week that my city needs me now, and that I want to be here, and that I need to be here.”
He also announced that his 9-year-old daughter, Maya, has tested positive for Covid-19, meanwhile both he and his wife have tested negative. He said her symptoms are “mild,” and that she “is doing fine.”
Garcetti did not specify what role was offered to him in the administration. According to media reports, Biden wanted to appoint Garcetti as Minister of Transport. However, the mayor believes that he needs to focus on the fight against coronavirus and stay in office.
French President Macron Tested Positive for Covid-19
Among the world leaders, the last name to catch the coronavirus was French President Macron.
According to the statement made by the Presidency in France, Macron’s coronavirus test was positive, and it was stated that Macron will self-isolate for 7 days and will continue to work during this period.
While it was announced that the French leader showed mild symptoms, no statement was made regarding the level of his illness and where he would isolate himself.
French Health Minister Olivier Veran stated that President Emmanuel Macron did not caught the virus at the dinner held at the Elysee Palace.
Pointing out that Macron may have caught COVID-19 at the European Union Leaders Summit held in Brussels on December 10-11, Veran said that the leaders came together at a dinner in a large hall during the summit.
Macron attended the EU Leaders Summit last week and hosted Egyptian President Abdulfettah Sisi in France last week, and had lunch with the Prime Ministers of Spain and Portugal with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen.
President of the French Senate Gerard Larcher announced that Prime Minister Castex had also isolated him.
Coca-Cola Will Lay off More Than 2,000 People
As revenues at locations such as stadiums and movie theaters dried up due to lockdowns, the coronavirus pandemic has hammered Coke’s company. In the duration from July to September, its revenue dropped 9 percent to $8.7 billion.
The company announced that it is planned to lay off 2,200 people around the world, 1200 of which are in the USA.
A well-informed employee said in a statement that layoffs, which make up 2.5 percent of the company’s total workforce, are voluntary leavers and forced layoffs.
Company officials said that the replacement of the workforce would result in expenses of $ 350 million to $ 550 million, with a similar annual savings.
It is known that about 500 of these layoffs will take place at Coca-Cola’s headquarters in Atlanta. At the beginning of 2020, Coca-Cola had approximately 86,200 employees worldwide, 10,400 of which were in the USA.
“We’ve been challenging legacy ways of doing business and the pandemic helped us realize we could be bolder in our efforts,” Coke Chairman and CEO James Quincey said.
The company stated that it will use the savings to invest in rising brands, such as Minute Maid and Simply juices and fund the launch of new products like Topo Chico Hard Seltzer, Coca-Cola Energy and Aha sparkling water.
