NEWS

ONE KILLED DURING OPENING OF LATE RAPPER NIPSEY HUSSLE'S MARATHON BURGER

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The grand opening of Marathon Burger in downtown Long Beach, a much-anticipated celebration honoring the legacy of the late rapper Nipsey Hussle, was marred by tragedy on Sunday, March 1, 2026, when gunfire erupted just steps away from the festivities.

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PARAMOUNT BESTS NETFLIX IN WARNER BROS TAKEOVER

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Paramount Skydance is on track to acquire Warner Bros Discovery in a deal valued at roughly $111bn (£82.4bn), after Netflix withdrew its
bid, citing financial constraints. The exit clears months of competitive maneuvering for one of Hollywood’s most iconic studios.

Warner Bros, which began exploring a sale last year, stated on Thursday that Paramount’s latest offer was “superior” to Netflix’s proposal. Netflix had previously refused to raise its bid, leaving the streaming giant out of the final negotiations.

Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters said the decision was grounded in discipline: “This transaction was always a ‘nice to have’ at the right price, not a ‘must have’ at any price.” They added that while they would have been strong stewards of Warner Bros’ brands, the deal “is no longer financially attractive.”

The acquisition would give Paramount control over Warner Bros’ film and media networks, including HBO Max, CNN, the Food Network, and a
portfolio of sports content. Paramount’s current holdings already include CBS, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon. The merger is poised to reshape both Hollywood’s studio landscape and the broader media ecosystem.

Regulatory approval remains a key hurdle. California Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized that the merger “is not a done deal,” pointing to ongoing scrutiny by the state’s Department of Justice. Federal and European regulators must also review the proposal.

Paramount, led by CEO David Ellison and backed by his father, tech billionaire Larry Ellison, sweetened its offer to $31 per share, up from $30, and agreed to cover $7bn should the deal collapse, including the $2.8bn breakup fee owed to Netflix.

The deal has sparked debate over media consolidation and political influence, given Larry Ellison’s ties to former President Donald Trump. CNN staff have been urged to await clarity on the network’s future amid uncertainty.

If finalized, the merger would unite Warner Bros’ franchises, from Superman to Barbie, with Paramount’s lineup, including Top Gun and The
Godfather, creating one of Hollywood’s largest studio portfolios. Share prices reacted sharply: Netflix rose 8.5% in relief, while Paramount jumped 6.2%, and Warner Bros shares lingered below the new bid at $28.80. Analysts view Netflix’s disciplined withdrawal as a move that allows the company to refocus on core streaming strengths, leaving Paramount poised to make a historic mark on Hollywood.

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US EMBASSY IN SAUDI ARABIA STRUCK BY TWO IRANIAN DRONES

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The United States Embassy in Riyadh, located in the diplomatic quarter of Saudi Arabia’s capital, was hit by two drones early Tuesday, Saudi officials said.

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BILL GATES BREAKS SILENCE ON PAST AFFAIRS AND EPSTEIN CONNECTION IN STAFF MEETING

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Bill Gates has acknowledged past personal mistakes while addressing renewed scrutiny over his previous association with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Speaking during a scheduled town hall with employees of the Gates Foundation on February 24, the Microsoft co founder said he had taken responsibility for his actions and answered staff questions on several issues, including the recently released Epstein files. According to reports based on a recording of the meeting, Gates admitted to having two affairs with Russian women during his marriage to Melinda French Gates.

“I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit,” Gates told staff, while maintaining that he was never involved in wrongdoing connected to Epstein. He said one of the women was a Russian bridge player he met at bridge events and the other a nuclear physicist he encountered through business activities.

The billionaire philanthropist also issued an apology to colleagues at the foundation, acknowledging the reputational impact of his past decisions. “I apologize to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made,” he said, referring to his relationship with Epstein.

Gates described his interactions with Epstein, which began in 2011, years after Epstein had pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor, as a serious error in judgment. He told employees it was a “huge mistake to spend time with Epstein,” adding that, to his knowledge, he never spent time with Epstein’s victims and never stayed overnight at any of Epstein’s properties.

A spokesperson for the Gates Foundation confirmed the town hall took place as part of Gates’ regular twice-yearly meetings with staff, noting that he “spoke candidly” and addressed questions in detail. The renewed attention follows the release of Justice Department materials that included draft emails written by Epstein. In those documents, Epstein made claims about Gates that his representatives have previously dismissed as “absolutely absurd and completely false.”

Gates also acknowledged that his ex-wife had been wary of Epstein during the period when the two men were in contact, crediting her skepticism in hindsight.

The Microsoft founder and Melinda French Gates divorced in 2021 after 27 years of marriage. Despite the controversy, Gates emphasized to staff that the situation runs counter to the values of the Gates Foundation and noted that the organization’s work is highly sensitive to public trust.

The Gates Foundation remains one of the world’s largest philanthropic organizations focused on global health and development initiatives.

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IRAN BOMBS BAHRAIN ‘WITH US NAVY'S FLEET HEADQUARTER TARGETED’

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Missiles have reportedly struck sites in Bahrain, home to the United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet, in a dramatic escalation following joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran.

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RAPPPER NICKI MINAJ ACCUSES GOVENOR NEWSOM OF TREATING BLACK PEOPLE LIKE CHILDREN

Photo Credit:AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

Nicki Minaj has launched a fresh attack on California Governor Gavin Newsom following a recent speaking engagement in Georgia, accusing him of being condescending toward Black voters.

In a series of posts on X, the rapper criticised Newsom’s remarks during an event where he was promoting his memoir, Young Man in a Hurry. Reacting to a clip from the appearance, Minaj wrote, “His way of bonding with black ppl is to tell them how stupid he is & that he can't read.”

She continued her criticism, adding, “He's not just TELLING them that they're probably stupid & probably can't read, he's LITERALLY SLOW-ING-DOWN-HIS-SPEECH to make them understand the words that are coming out of his mouth!!!!”

During the event, Newsom discussed his experience living with dyslexia and referenced his low SAT score while speaking about overcoming learning challenges. “I'm like you. I'm no better than you,” he said when asked how he dealt with the disability.

Some social media posts had suggested that the audience at the event was entirely or predominantly Black. However, a video showing people lining up to attend appeared to indicate a racially diverse crowd. The clip shared by Minaj featured Newsom and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who is Black, but did not show the audience.

Minaj’s comments come amid what some observers have described as a shift in her political tone online. She has previously criticised Newsom over his support for transgender children.

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US AND ISRAEL ATTACK IRAN - KHAMENEI KILLED SAYS TRUMP

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The United States and Israel launched the most ambitious attack on Iran in decades on Saturday, and U.S. President Donald Trump said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in the operation.

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MICHELLE OBAMA SAYS SHE GOT 10 PIERCINGS IN ONE SITTING

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Michelle Obama has unveiled a striking new look, sharing that she recently got 10 ear piercings in a single sitting. The former First Lady revealed the decision during a February episode of her _IMO_ podcast, which she co-hosts with her brother, Craig Robinson.

The conversation began with Robinson teasing his sister about her new jewellery. “What I’ve learned is that you tried to get your ears pierced and thought I didn’t notice. And I see you got all these new piercings in your ear,” he said. Obama laughed, admitting she had long considered adding more piercings but never followed through. “I have always thought about getting some extra piercings in my ear and just never got around to it,” she explained.

Initially, Obama intended to get only a few piercings. However, once in the chair, she found herself asking the piercer to add more. “I was going in for a few,” she recalled, before saying, “‘Oh, put one there and put one [there]. Oh yeah, let’s try one there.’” By the end of the session, she had 10 new piercings. Robinson responded with a joking “Ouch,” but Obama reassured him, “It wasn’t bad at all.”

Her husband, former President Barack Obama, took longer to notice the change. Michelle joked that it took him several days, saying, “Barack, it took him a couple of days. He was like, ‘You haven’t had your hair up, you’ve had your hair down.’ And I was like, ‘I don’t know. I sleep with you every night, dude.’”

Beyond the playful family banter, Obama connected her new piercings to a broader sense of personal freedom. She noted that younger people around her inspired the decision, describing the trend as a “cluster, a constellation, with twinkles.” The adornments reflect her evolving approach to self-expression since leaving the White House.

In recent months, Obama has spoken openly about embracing styles she once avoided during her time as First Lady. In her coffee-table book The Look_, released in November, she wrote about reclaiming her story through fashion and beauty. “During our years in the White House, people were constantly commenting on my looks and dissecting my clothing choices. That’s part of why I decided to write this book now: it’s time for me to reclaim my story, what fashion and beauty mean to me, in my own words.”

She has also spoken about her decision to wear braids, a hairstyle she chose not to adopt during her husband’s presidency. At the time, she felt the country might not have been ready for it and worried it could become a distraction. Since leaving the White House, however, she has embraced braids as a practical and liberating style that fits her active lifestyle, allowing her to focus less on hair maintenance while enjoying activities like swimming and tennis. For her, the hairstyle represents a sense of freedom and self-expression that she now

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