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McDonald’s to exit Russia permanently, Katy Perry says “Hollywood is not America,” Sweden joins Finland in request to join NATO, FDA says closed Abbott baby formula plant could reopen in 2 weeks, and more news.
After thirty years of operating in Russia, McDonald’s is leaving the nation permanently and plans to sell its 850 restaurants in the country to a “local buyer.” In early March, in response to the invasion of Ukraine, McDonald’s temporarily closed all of its restaurants in Russia, the Washington Post reported.
“The humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, and the precipitating unpredictable operating environment, have led McDonald’s to conclude that continued ownership of the business in Russia is no longer tenable, nor is it consistent with McDonald’s values,” the company said in a statement.
The company said it would continue to pay its 62,000 employees in Russia until any sale is completed, and a stipulation will be that they have “future employment with any potential buyer,” the BBC reported.
In a recent appearance on Chelsea Handler’s podcast “Dear Chelsea,” singer Katy Perry spoke about her recent move to the state of Kentucky, The Blaze reported.
“I’m like, living in Kentucky, and I have for almost a month now,” Perry said. “And that’s quite an amazing experience because it reminds you that Hollywood is not America.”
“You need to remember that,” Perry continued, “because I think you can understand people better.”
Ruling parties in both Sweden and Finland have voted to apply for NATO membership. Sweden’s decision came one day after Finland announced it would seek to join the alliance.
“Their membership in NATO would increase our shared security, demonstrate that NATO’s door is open and that aggression does not pay,” said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who added their membership would be a “turning point for security in Europe,” the Washington Post reported.
A number of reports have highlighted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered the closure of a Michigan baby formula plant owned by Abbott Nutrition as a leading factor in the US shortage of baby formula.
On Monday, FDA chief Robert Califf said the plant could be up and running again in about two weeks, The Hill reported.
The FDA previously shut the plant down over safety concerns after four infants suffered a rare bacterial infection from products made at the plant. Two of the infants died.
Last week, the FDA closed the case over the plant safety concerns, and pending approval, the plant could be allowed to reopen within two weeks.
