Tencent Shares Slide After WeChat Restricts YuanBao AI Promotional Links 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
SpaceX Prioritizes Moon Mission Before Mars as Starship Development Accelerates 
SpaceX Pushes for Early Stock Index Inclusion Ahead of Potential Record-Breaking IPO 
Global PC Makers Eye Chinese Memory Chip Suppliers Amid Ongoing Supply Crunch 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Uber Ordered to Pay $8.5 Million in Bellwether Sexual Assault Lawsuit 
Amazon Stock Rebounds After Earnings as $200B Capex Plan Sparks AI Spending Debate 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Nasdaq Proposes Fast-Track Rule to Accelerate Index Inclusion for Major New Listings 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
The Estée Lauder Companies announced earlier this week that it has removed senior executive John Demsey from his job post. The decision to oust him came less than a week after he was suspended due to his social media containing a racial slur.
As reported by Reuters, the Estée Lauder executive posted an image of a parody of a book cover featuring the "Sesame Street," a children's show. The picture was said to have the N-word with some of its letters substituted with asterisks.
Although Demsey's post has since been deleted on his Instagram page with more than 74,000 followers, furious reactions from people have continued. As a result, he was suspended by Estée Lauder, and the executive also posted a public apology late last week.
"I am terribly sorry and deeply ashamed that I hurt so many people when I made the horrible mistake of carelessly reposting a racist meme without reading it beforehand. There are not enough words to express my remorse and sorrow," Demsey wrote. "The meme is the furthest thing from what I stand for and I should have never reposted it."
He added that he is hoping that in time people will not judge him for his awful mistake but for his lifetime of words and actions that demonstrate his respect for all people. In any case, as he leaves Estee Lauder, the company's spokesperson clarified that John Demsey was not fired but retired under pressure from the firm.
"John was not fired," the rep told The New York Post. "He was told he had to leave the company and agreed to retire this week."
The makeup company also released a separate note to employees explaining Demsey's departure. They said the decision to retire him was due to his recent Instagram posts that do not reflect Estee Lauder Companies' values.
Finally, the firm noted that Demsey's post has caused widespread offense that is damaging to the company's efforts to drive inclusivity "both inside and outside our walls." Estee Lauder went on to say that the post does not mirror the judgment it expects from its leaders.
