标签： North America

Casey Wasserman, Chairman of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games organizing committee, has issued a formal apology following the disclosure of flirtatious email exchanges with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. The correspondence, dating back to 2003, emerged among millions of documents recently unsealed by the U.S. Department of Justice.

In one particularly revealing message, Wasserman wrote to Maxwell: ‘I think of you all the time… So what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit?’ These communications occurred years before Maxwell’s criminal activities with financier Jeffrey Epstein became publicly known.

Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in recruiting and trafficking underage girls for sexual exploitation by Epstein, who died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Through an official statement obtained by AFP, Wasserman expressed profound regret: ‘I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell which took place over two decades ago, long before her horrific crimes came to light.’ He specifically emphasized that he ‘never had a personal or business relationship with Epstein,’ though he acknowledged participating in a single humanitarian delegation trip aboard Epstein’s aircraft in 2002 through the Clinton Foundation.

The document release has sparked renewed scrutiny of individuals connected to Epstein’s network, despite no evidence of wrongdoing by Wasserman in the published materials. The BBC has sought additional comment from the Olympic executive regarding the revelations.

Wasserman, who established a prominent sports and entertainment agency in 2002, serves as a trustee for the Clinton Foundation according to Olympic organizational records. The disclosure coincides with Maxwell’s recent agreement to provide sworn testimony before a congressional committee investigating the federal government’s handling of Epstein-related documents. The committee has also summoned former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to testify, though Bill Clinton has consistently denied awareness of Epstein’s criminal activities and faces no allegations from Epstein’s survivors.

Chicago’s historic Little Village neighborhood, traditionally known as the “Mexican Magnificent Mile,” has transformed into an economic ghost town following intensified immigration enforcement operations. The Trump administration’s Operation Midway Blitz, launched in September with the stated purpose of targeting “criminal illegal aliens,” has created an atmosphere of pervasive fear that has devastated local commerce.

Business owners along the 26th Street corridor report catastrophic revenue declines ranging from 30% to 60%, with some establishments recording zero sales over extended periods. Carlos Macias, proprietor of Carniceria y Taqueria Aguascalientes established by his father fifty years ago, describes how armed ICE agents wearing balaclavas conducted raids that traumatized both employees and customers. “Business has dropped half during the week, sometimes even more than that,” Macias states, noting the incident remains etched in his memory.

The economic impact extends beyond individual businesses. This two-mile commercial thoroughfare represents one of Chicago’s most significant economic hubs outside downtown, generating substantial tax revenues through predominantly Latino-owned enterprises. Alderman Michael Rodriguez reveals that even during peak lunch hours, restaurants remain empty, and public parking spaces sit vacant for the first time in living memory—a situation more severe than during the pandemic.

While the Department of Homeland Security justifies the operation as necessary for public safety, citing the arrest of over 800 undocumented migrants including sex offenders and gang members, the human and economic costs continue mounting. Street vendors have largely disappeared from corners they traditionally occupied, fearing family separation despite many having lived in the community for decades.

Chicago officials have responded with the Shopping in Solidarity initiative, encouraging residents to support local businesses. However, established institutions like Taqueria Los Comales have been forced to reduce employee hours dramatically. Owner Christina Gonzalez, also a Chamber of Commerce board member, explains the ripple effect: “The community depends on these small businesses for jobs and income. If they don’t have the hours to withstand that, then they aren’t getting the income that they need.”

The political dimension remains deeply divisive. While Republican congressional candidate Lupe Castillo supports the enforcement actions, even some Trump voters like shoe store owner Adolfo Peña express bitter disappointment: “This is the worst thing that has happened to us. Unfortunately, I voted for him. That hurts me the most.”

With Congress approving $170 billion in funding for ICE and Border Patrol through 2029, and plans to hire thousands of additional agents, Little Village residents brace for prolonged enforcement operations that continue to reshape their community’s social and economic fabric.

The U.S. Coast Guard has officially suspended the search operation for missing crew members from the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean, which sank approximately 25 miles off the coast of Cape Ann, Massachusetts. The decision came after exhaustive search efforts yielded only a debris field, one deceased individual, and an unoccupied life raft.

The incident began early Friday morning when the Coast Guard received an automated emergency alert from the vessel’s distress beacon, notably absent of any mayday call. Seven crew members were reported aboard the 42-foot scallop dragger at the time of the tragedy. Captain Jamie Frederick, commander of Coast Guard Sector Boston, described the suspension as an ‘incredibly difficult’ decision, stating that all reasonable efforts had been exhausted by Saturday.

The Lily Jean and its skipper were well-known figures, having been featured on the History Channel’s fishing miniseries ‘Nor’easter Men.’ The vessel’s captain was described by state Senator Bruce Tarr as ‘one of the kindest, nicest individuals’ and ‘among the best’ in the Gloucester fishing community, with deep family ties to the tradition.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey expressed being ‘heartbroken’ by the tragedy, emphasizing on social media that fishermen are ‘core to the history, economy and culture of Gloucester.’ The port, America’s oldest working fishing harbor, was previously depicted in the film ‘The Perfect Storm,’ based on the similar loss of the Andrea Gail and its crew.

The identities of the recovered individual and missing crew members have not been publicly released as the investigation continues into the cause of the sinking.

Dubai’s vibrant community spirit and entrepreneurial ethos were celebrated through a special youth initiative that garnered high praise from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The heartwarming event, organized by the Lootah family, transformed a Muhaisnah neighborhood into a bustling marketplace exclusively operated by young entrepreneurs, many appearing under 15 years of age.

The engaging community market featured children managing their own stalls with remarkable professionalism, offering diverse products ranging from handmade crafts and clothing to creatively packaged snacks and beverages. One ambitious young girl operated a fully-stocked stationery booth with artistic supplies, while another confidently served customers from her lemonade stand. Seasonal offerings included carefully prepared hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and marshmallows, alongside freshly baked cookies and confectioneries.

Beyond commercial activities, the event fostered meaningful social connections as families strolled through the vibrant space, sampling products and encouraging the young vendors. The atmosphere was further enhanced by a display of classic and vintage cars that attracted admiration from both children and adults, creating a festive family-oriented environment.

Sheikh Mohammed, sharing video footage of the event through his official channels, commended the initiative as exemplary in promoting interpersonal connections and neighborhood cohesion. He specifically called upon Dubai Municipality, the Department of Economy and Tourism, and Dubai Fargan to replicate such community-driven programs across the emirate, emphasizing their dual benefit in nurturing early entrepreneurial skills while strengthening family and community bonds. The ruler’s concluding statement, ‘We are one big family in Dubai,’ encapsulated the event’s overarching theme of unity and collective growth.