Corporate conservative tendencies persist despite the reversal of wokeness movement

In the world of politics, business, and international relations, several significant events have taken place in recent days.

Le Monde criticised the firing of McDonald's CEO, Steve Easterbrook, stating that the decision was far from the actions denounced by the #MeToo movement and was not in line with the French custom. Meanwhile, in the United States, President Donald Trump announced a lethal strike on a Venezuelan vessel in the Caribbean, targeting alleged "narcoterrorists". This marks the first time his administration has used deadly force against drug trafficking groups in Latin America.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping further outlined his vision for a global order with Beijing at its center. He won approval for a development bank attached to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation - another Beijing-aligned multilateral lender. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi signaled to US President Donald Trump that India will align with other powerful nations if Washington pressures it to stop buying Russian oil by holding hands with Russia's Vladimir Putin and sharing a car ride with him, and also meeting with China's Xi Jinping.

Syria is showing promising signs of revival nine months after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime and the end of a 14-year civil war. The country recently exported its first official crude oil shipment since 2010, and half the country's 23 million population have returned from neighboring countries.

The European Union is reportedly readying new trade deals with Latin America, part of efforts to regain the initiative after the bloc was slammed for making excessive concessions in an agreement with the US.

In the realm of technology, Google has avoided the most severe consequences for its search business after a federal court ruled it held an illegal monopoly over the online search market. Google must share some search data with its competitors and is no longer allowed to broker exclusive search deals.

The issue of sexual misconduct in the workplace remains a hot topic, with several company founders stepping down or distancing themselves due to sexual relationships with employees. Most of these affairs seemed consensual and not especially appalling when compared to original #MeToo ousters. Companies have tended to sidestep the propriety of such relationships and say the executives were "not fully transparent" when questioned.

Finland and Poland are considering restoring peat wetlands along their Russian borders as a defense against possible invasion and a carbon sink. The displays of warmth and laughter between the leaders of India, China, and Russia in Tianjin underscored how much US President Donald Trump has shaken up global diplomacy.

In health news, a cheap generic drug linked to increasing lifespans may work by protecting against DNA damage, according to a study. Rapamycin is an immunosuppressant often used in organ transplant patients.

Corporate scolds have lost much of their power, except in one area: sex. Intolerance of CEOs sleeping with their subordinates remains strong. HR consultant Challenger, Gray, & Christmas has tracked 14 corporate chiefs fired under such circumstances since 2016 through July of this year.

Political economist Max Weber credited America's puritanical bent with its capitalist success. The Trump administration's efforts to deport undocumented migrants to the US faced further legal setbacks, with a federal judge blocking White House plans to return Guatemalan children to their home country.

In other news, more than 800 people have been killed after an earthquake struck near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, according to the ruling Taliban. A landslide in western Sudan killed at least 1,000 people, intensifying hardship in a country besieged by years of civil war. Famine was declared in the country last year, with the UN warning that more than 25 million people face extreme hunger.

Two major studies disagreed over the impacts of beta blockers for heart attack patients. One study found a notable 15% reduction in deaths and major cardiovascular events among people whose heart function was back to normal after the attack, while another found no impact. Both studies found benefit for patients with impaired heart function.

Long-dated government bonds worldwide tumbled on growing fears of excessive government spending, rising inflation, and political instability. Yields on 30-year US Treasurys neared 5%, and long-maturity British, French, and German bonds all slumped.

Israel's actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of a genocide, according to the world's largest association of genocide scholars. Brazil's Supreme Court will begin hearing closing arguments in the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of orchestrating a coup to stay in power. The verdict, expected as soon as next week, could determine the future of Brazil's politics and economy.

Russia has been increasing its aerial assault on Ukraine, with drone and missile strikes nearly doubling since Putin's meeting with Trump. Putin is emboldened after strengthening economic ties with India and China. A federal judge ruled that US President Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard to California to quell protests over immigration raids in June, violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits using the military for domestic law enforcement.

In the world of cryptocurrency, the digital token backing the Trump family's new cryptocurrency venture generated a paper windfall estimated at $5 billion after its trading debut on Monday. Conservative activists have not yet mounted an attack on corporate prudishness regarding office romances.

This comprehensive overview provides a glimpse into the diverse range of events that have shaped the global landscape in recent days. As always, stay informed and stay engaged.

Corporate conservative tendencies persist despite the reversal of wokeness movement