“Mexico has sent a second humanitarian aid package for Cuba as the island faces a tightened U.S. embargo and threats of tariffs against countries providing it with oil. Two Mexican navy vessels carrying 1,193 tons of supplies departed the Gulf of Mexico port of Veracruz on Tuesday, the Mexican Foreign Ministry announced. The shipment is expected to arrive on Saturday. The Papaloapan is carrying 1,078 tons of beans and powdered milk, while the Huasteco is transporting 92 tons of beans and 23 tons of other food items. According to the Foreign Ministry, the final 23 tons of humanitarian aid were provided by various social organizations with the support of the Mexico City government. It is the second humanitarian aid package this year to the island.” (02/25/26)
“Paramount on Tuesday sweetened its offer to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, as the David Zaslav-led media conglomerate pursues a sale of its entertainment studios and spinoff of its linear television assets. The offer from Paramount, which comes in at $31 per share, is the latest salvo in a hostile bid that seeks to undercut a deal Warner Bros. Discovery struck late last year with Netflix for the streamer to acquire its sprawling movie and TV business …. Warner Bros. Discovery, in a statement on Tuesday, said Paramount’s new offer could reasonably be expected to lead to a ‘Company Superior Proposal,’ a key term that signals company leadership could soon recommend its board support a sale to Paramount.” (02/25/26)
“NASA on Wednesday is set to roll its enormous Space Launch System rocket back to the hangar for repairs, a move that will delay the launch of four astronauts on a long-awaited flight around the moon by at least a month. The 322-foot-tall rocket has been sitting out at the launch pad at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center since mid-January, but engineers recently found a blockage in the flow of helium to part of the booster’s upper stage that requires further investigation. The rollback means NASA will no longer be able to attempt to launch the Artemis II mission in March. Agency officials said they could potentially try in April, but the timeline will depend on the outcome of the repairs.” (02/25/26)
“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)
