“Bill Gates ‘took responsibility for his actions’ over ties to late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a town hall meeting with employees of the Gates Foundation, a spokesperson for the philanthropic group told Reuters in a written statement on Tuesday. The spokesperson’s comments came in response to a Wall Street Journal report, which cited a recording of the comments Gates made in the town hall. Documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) have indicated that Gates and Epstein met repeatedly after Epstein’s prison term to discuss expanding the Microsoft founder’s philanthropic efforts. … Gates also acknowledged that he had two affairs with Russian women that Epstein later discovered, but that they did not involve Epstein’s victims. ‘I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit,’ Gates told the staff, according to the report.” (02/25/26)
“British luxury car maker Aston Martin will cut its workforce by up to 20%, it said on Wednesday, as it strives to recover from the impact of U.S. import tariffs and weak demand in China. Aston Martin said the job cuts from a total workforce of around 3,000 should deliver annualised savings of around 40 million pounds ($54 million). It did not specify when the job cuts would be implemented, but said most of the savings would be this year. The cuts include a 5% reduction announced last year. … Best known as the car brand driven by James Bond, the company has struggled to generate cash and manage its debt of 1.38 billion pounds, although it has received injections of capital from Canadian billionaire and Chairman Lawrence Stroll and through deals. It said U.S. tariffs had been ‘extremely disruptive’ and demand had also been ‘extremely subdued’ in China, the world’s biggest auto market.” (02/25/26)
“Candidates and political groups are pouring money into Texas’ hotly contested U.S. Senate race at a record pace, partly fueled by Democrat James Talarico’s fundraising and allies of Republican Sen. John Cornyn trying to save his long career. Heading into Tuesday’s primary elections, the cost of advertising and reserved advertising time had topped $110 million, the most ever for a Senate primary, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact. The heavy spending in Texas is a preview of the money that is expected to flood this year’s midterm elections across the U.S. with control of Congress at stake.” (02/25/26)
“A judge recently said she would begin reinstating fines, which have ballooned to the millions, against a local ride-hailing company and its CEO for failing to comply with an order to stop operating in the District. The decision comes after an appellate panel earlier this month rejected an effort to pause the judge’s contempt proceedings against Empower and chief executive Joshua Sear. … The city’s Department of For-Hire Vehicles issued a cease-and-desist order that year against the company for failing to register as a private sedan business and digital dispatch service, according to court filings. Empower applied to register with the department in December 2020 but was denied after the city deemed the applications incomplete, the filings said. Matini ordered Empower to cease operations in 2024 until the company successfully registers with the city.” (02/25/26)
“Pennsylvania Democrats are projected to win two special elections for state House, keeping their majority intact, according to Decision Desk HQ. Democrats Ana Tiburcio and Jennifer Mazzocco won their Tuesday elections to represent Pennsylvania House Districts 22 in Lehigh County and 42 in Allegheny County, respectively. The seats were vacated after former state Rep. Josh Siegel (D) was elected as Lehigh County executive and ex-state Rep. Dan Miller (D) won a spot on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Democrats were expected to keep both blue-leaning seats. But the party risked a tied 100-100 state House if they were to have come up short, which would have complicated Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D) ability to pass his legislative priorities in the Keystone State.” (02/25/26)
“Federal officers are searching the home of Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, The California Post confirmed. The searches are being conducted at Carvalho’s San Pedro home, his office at LAUSD in downtown Los Angeles and another location in Miami tied to the investigation, according to a law enforcement source. An affidavit filed concerning the search was under seal, officials said. LAUSD employees looked confused outside headquarters Wednesday morning, unsure if they were able to go into work. Federal agents were seen entering the building, but would not comment on the reason for their visit when asked by a reporter for The California Post. Carvalho is the LAUSD’s chief employee and has led one of the nation’s largest school systems since 2022. Carvalho is the LAUSD’s chief employee and has led one of the nation’s largest school systems since 2022. It’s unclear why authorities are searching Carvalho’s home and office.” (02/25/26)
“France has appointed Christophe Leribault as the new head of the Louvre, bringing in the director of the Palace of Versailles to turn around the world’s most visited museum after a humiliating jewellery heist and staff strikes. Leribault, who was chosen by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, will succeed Laurence des Cars, who resigned on Tuesday. Des Cars had faced intense criticism since burglars made off in October with jewels worth an estimated $102m, exposing glaring security gaps at the museum. The jewels are still missing.” (02/25/26)
“A military air strike by the Myanmar military in Rakhine state has killed at least 17 people and injured 14 others, local media reported, in the latest civil war carnage weeks after a military-backed governing party election win was dismissed as a ‘sham’ by international observers. Women and children were among those killed when air strikes hit Yoengu village in Ponnagyun township on Tuesday, the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) said. The village lies about 33 kilometres (21 miles) northeast of Sittwe, the Rakhine state capital. It was captured by the Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic Rakhine armed group fighting the Myanmar military, in March 2024.” (02/25/26)
“Mexican lawmakers approved President Claudia Sheinbaum’s initiative to gradually reduce the work week from 48 hours to 40 hours early Wednesday. The constitutional reform now goes to state legislatures for approval, where Sheinbaum’s governing party controls the majority. It passed the lower chamber of the Congress early Wednesday with 411 votes in favor and 58 against. The Senate had already approved it earlier this month. The change will be implemented gradually, trimming two hours per year beginning in 2027 and reaching a 40-hour work week in 2030. Lawmakers decided to maintain the requirement for one day of rest for every six days worked, rejecting a proposal to require two days of rest per week. The government has calculated that the change could affect 13.5 million workers, but some analysts say more than double that number could be covered.” (02/25/26)
“Authorities have charged a New Hampshire resident in connection with a shooting that occurred at the state’s border with Canada, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. Blu Zeke Daly, 26, who also goes by Cullan Zeke Daly, of Manchester, was charged with one count of attempted murder of a federal officer and one count of assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon, prosecutors said. Daly was shot near the border early Sunday by a U.S. Border Patrol agent who was returning fire from Daly, investigators said Monday. Daly is at a hospital receiving medical treatment under guard, prosecutors said. The Border Patrol agent, whom authorities have not named, was unharmed, authorities said earlier this week.” (02/24/26)
