US House passes $1.2 trillion spending package to end government shutdown
The legislation heads to US President Donald Trump’s desk for signature. By AP and Reuters Published On 3 Feb 20263 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share The United States House of Representatives has approved a $1.2 trillion spending package to end a partial government shutdown. The bipartisan legislation, passed on Tuesday, restores lapsed funding for key federal programmes, including those within the Departments of Labor and Education. The bill passed with 217 voting for it and 214 voting against in the Republican-controlled House. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Twenty-one Republicans voted against the bill, while 21 Democrats ended up voting for the legislation, which is now headed to President Donald Trump’s desk, where he will sign it into law. Immigration was a major point of contention. The bill temporarily extends funding to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) but leaves room for lawmakers to negotiate changes and reforms to immigration enforcement in the wake of federal agents killing two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, last month. The spending package only funds DHS for two weeks, through February 13. Otherwise, Congress wrapped up 11 annual appropriations bills that fund government agencies and programmes through September 30. Democrats are also demanding new restraints for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. “Democrats are united in our commitment to compel substantial reform at the Department of Homeland Security. Dramatic changes such as a mask ban, judicial warrant requirement, independent investigations when agents break the law, use of force protocols, mandatory body cameras and an end to the targeting of sensitive locations like houses of worship, schools and hospitals must be part of any full-year appropriations bill,” Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement after the vote. Advertisement Speaker Mike Johnson said he expects the two sides will be able to reach an agreement by the deadline. “This is no time to play games with that funding. We hope that they will operate in good faith over the next 10 days as we negotiate this,” said Johnson. “The president, again, has reached out.” Some Republicans on the party’s right flank had sought, unsuccessfully, to modify the bill to include a provision that would tighten voting requirements. House Republicans have only a 218-214 majority, which means they can lose only one Republican vote in the face of united Democratic opposition. The last government shutdown lasted a record 43 days in October and November, furloughing hundreds of thousands of federal workers and costing the US economy an estimated $11bn. Adblock test (Why?)
Collision between Greek coastguard vessel, migrant boat kills at least 14
Greece’s coastguard says 26 other people have been rescued from Aegean Sea as search-and-rescue operations continue. Published On 3 Feb 20263 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share A boat carrying migrants and asylum seekers has collided with a Greek coastguard vessel in the Aegean Sea near the island of Chios, killing at least 14 people, the coastguard says. The incident occurred around 9pm local time on Tuesday (19:00 GMT) off the coast of Chios’s Mersinidi area, Greece’s Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA) reported. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list The coastguard said 26 people were rescued and brought to a hospital in Chios, including 24 migrants and two coastguard officers. It said it was not immediately clear how many others had been on the speedboat. Seven children and a pregnant woman were among the injured, Greek media reported. A search-and-rescue operation involving patrol boats, a helicopter and divers was under way in the area, AMNA said. Footage shared by Greece’s Ta Nea newspaper appeared to show at least one person being brought from a boat docked next to a jetty into a vehicle with blue flashing lights. An unnamed coastguard official told the Reuters news agency that the collision occurred after the migrant boat “manoeuvred toward” a coastguard vessel that had instructed it to turn back. Greece has long been a key transit point for migrants and refugees from the Middle East, Africa and Asia trying to reach Europe. In 2015 and 2016, Greece was on the front line of a migration crisis, with nearly one million people landing on its islands, including in Chios, from nearby Turkiye. But arrivals have dropped in recent years as Greece has toughened its asylum seeker and migrant policies, including by tightening border controls and sea patrols. Advertisement The country has come under scrutiny for its treatment of migrants and asylum seekers approaching by sea, including after a shipwreck in 2023 in which hundreds of migrants and refugees died after what witnesses said was the coastguard’s attempt to tow their trawler. The European Union’s border agency said last year that it was reviewing 12 cases of potential human rights violations by Greece, including some allegations that people seeking asylum were pushed back from Greece’s frontiers. Greece has denied carrying out human rights violations or pushing asylum seekers from its shores. Adblock test (Why?)
Cuba in contact with US, diplomat says, as Trump issues threat to block oil
Cuban diplomat says Havana is ready for dialogue with Washington, but certain things are off the table, including the constitution and its socialist government. Published On 3 Feb 20263 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Cuba and the United States are in communication, but the exchanges have not yet evolved into a formal “dialogue”, a Cuban diplomat has said, as US President Donald Trump stepped up pressure on Havana. Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, Cuba’s deputy foreign minister, told the Reuters news agency on Monday that the US government was aware that Cuba was “ready to have a serious, meaningful and responsible dialogue”. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list De Cossio’s statement represents the first hint from Havana that it is in contact with Washington, even if in a limited fashion, as tensions flared in recent weeks amid Trump’s threats against the Cuban government in the aftermath of the US military’s abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, Cuba’s longstanding ally. “We have had exchange of messages, we have embassies, we have had communications, but we cannot say we have had a table of dialogue,” de Cossio said. In a separate interview with The Associated Press news agency, De Cossio said, “If we can have a dialogue, maybe that can lead to negotiation.” The deputy minister also stressed that certain issues are off the table for Cuba, including the country’s constitution, economy, and its socialist system of government. On Sunday, Trump indicated that the US had begun talks with “the highest people in Cuba”. “I think we’re going to make a deal with Cuba,” Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Days earlier, Trump had referred to Cuba in an executive order as “an unusual and extraordinary threat” to US national security, and warned other countries he would impose more tariffs on them if they supplied oil to Cuba. Advertisement On Monday, Trump reverted to issuing threats to Havana, announcing at the White House that Mexico “is going to cease” sending oil to Cuba, a move that could starve the country of its energy needs. Mexico, which has yet to comment on Trump’s latest statement, is the largest supplier of oil to Cuba. Mexico had repeatedly said that it would not stop shipping oil to Cuba for humanitarian reasons, but also expressed concern that it could face reprisals from Trump over its policy. In recent weeks, the US has moved to block all oil from reaching Cuba, including from Cuba’s ally Venezuela, pushing up prices for food and transportation and prompting severe fuel shortages and hours of blackouts, even in the capital, Havana. Responding to Trump’s threat regarding oil supplies, Cuba’s De Cossio said that the move would eventually backfire. “The US… is attempting to force every country in the world not to provide fuel to Cuba. Can that be sustained in the long run?” de Cossio said to Reuters. The US has imposed decades of crushing sanctions on Cuba, but a crippling economic crisis on the island and stepped-up pressure from the Trump administration have recently brought the conflict to a head. The US has moved to block all oil from reaching Cuba, including that from ally Venezuela, pushing up prices for food and transportation and prompting severe fuel shortages and hours of blackouts [Adalberto Roque/AFP] Adblock test (Why?)
UK police to review misconduct claims after Mandelson’s leaks to Epstein
Prime Minister Keir Starmer says ex-envoy Peter Mandelson should no longer hold a seat in the upper house of parliament. Published On 3 Feb 20263 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Police in the United Kingdom have announced they are reviewing allegations of misconduct in public office following revelations that London’s former ambassador to Washington leaked confidential government information to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The announcement by the Metropolitan Police on Monday came after investigative files released by United States authorities revealed that Peter Mandelson shared government plans with Epstein while serving as a UK minister. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Mandelson, who served as business secretary under former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, told Epstein about asset sales and tax changes under consideration by London in 2009, as well as plans for the 500 billion euro ($590bn) bailout of the single currency in 2010, according to emails released by the US Department of Justice on Friday. “Following this release and subsequent media reporting, the Met has received a number of reports relating to alleged misconduct in public office. The reports will all be reviewed to determine if they meet the criminal threshold for investigation,” Metropolitan Police Commander Ella Marriott said in a statement. “As with any matter, if new and relevant information is brought to our attention we will assess it, and investigate as appropriate,” Marriott added. The Metropolitan Police did not name Mandelson, but its statement came after the leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party said he had written to the police commissioner urging him to investigate the former ambassador for alleged misconduct in public office. Advertisement Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced an inquiry into Mandelson’s ties to Epstein. Starmer, who sacked Mandelson as London’s top diplomat in Washington last year after the emergence of correspondence detailing his ties to Epstein, also said the former minister should lose his lifelong appointment to the UK’s upper house of parliament. On Sunday, Mandelson resigned from the governing Labour Party, whose return to electoral dominance he helped to engineer in the 1990s, citing his wish to avoid causing further embarrassment to his colleagues. In further fallout in the UK on Monday, the charity launched by Sarah Ferguson, the ex-wife of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, announced that it would close “for the foreseeable future” amid revelations about her friendly relationship with Epstein. “Our chair Sarah Ferguson and the board of trustees have agreed that with regret the charity will shortly close for the foreseeable future,” a spokesman said in a statement, without elaborating on the reasons for the closure. Separately on Monday, the US Justice Department said it had removed thousands of Epstein-related files from the internet after lawyers representing some of his alleged victims said their identities had been exposed due to insufficient redactions in the latest release of documents. Adblock test (Why?)
Moscow confirms Russian forces helped repel ISIL attack on Niger airport
Moscow ‘strongly condemns’ attack on airport in the capital, Niamey, where 20 rebels were killed, and four soldiers were wounded. Russian soldiers helped repel an attack claimed by the ISIL (ISIS) armed group on Niger’s main airport in the capital, Niamey, last week, according to Moscow’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “The attack was repelled through the joint efforts of the Russian Ministry of Defence’s African Corps and the Nigerien armed forces,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list Niger’s governing military earlier said that “Russian partners” had helped to fend off the rare assault on the capital, which saw 20 attackers, including a French national, killed and four army soldiers wounded. At least 11 fighters were also captured, Niger’s state television reported. “Moscow strongly condemns this latest extremist attack,” the Foreign Ministry added in the statement, according to Russia’s state TASS news agency. “A similar attack took place in September 2024 on the international airport in the capital of Mali. According to available information, external forces providing instructor and technical support are involved,” the ministry said, according to TASS. Niger’s military chief, Abdourahamane Tchiani, visited the Russian military base in Niamey to express “personal gratitude for a high-level of professionalism” by Russian forces in defending the airport, the ministry added. ISIL claimed responsibility for the “surprise and coordinated attack” on the airbase at the Diori Hamani international airport near Niamey on the night of January 28. A video published online through the ISIL-affiliated media Amaq showed several dozen attackers with assault rifles firing near an aircraft hangar and setting ablaze one plane before leaving on motorbikes. Advertisement Ulf Laessing, the head of the Sahel programme at Germany’s Konrad Adenauer Foundation, told The Associated Press news agency that the sophistication and boldness of the attack, including the possible use of drones by the attackers, suggest that the assailants may have had inside help. Previous successful attacks in the region appear to have increased the group’s confidence, leading them to target more sensitive and strategically important sites, Laessing said. Niger’s military had initially accused Benin, France and the Ivory Coast of sponsoring the attack on the airport, which also houses a military base. The military, however, did not provide evidence to substantiate its claim. Ivory Coast’s Foreign Ministry denied the allegation and summoned Niger’s ambassador to relay its protest. Benin also denied the claim, describing it as “not very credible”. France has yet to comment. Niger is a former colony of France, which maintained a military presence in the country until 2023. Russia rarely comments on its military activity in the Sahel region, where Moscow has been increasing its influence in recent years. Facing isolation since its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has tried to build new military and political partnerships across Africa. Apart from Niger, Russian troops or military instructors have been reported to be deployed in Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic and Libya. Russia’s African Corps has taken over from the Wagner mercenary force across the continent. According to Moscow, the corps helps ” fighting terrorists” and is “strengthening regional stability” in the Sahel. Niger’s authorities have been fighting the Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) and the ISIL affiliate in the Sahel (EIS) for the past decade. Adblock test (Why?)
Laura Fernandez declares victory in Costa Rica’s presidential election
Right-wing candidate’s closest challenger concedes defeat as partial results showed her on verge of winning the presidency. By News Agencies Published On 2 Feb 20262 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Right-wing candidate Laura Fernandez has declared victory in Costa Rica’s presidential election after preliminary results gave her a commanding lead and her closest challenger conceded defeat. The move early on Monday came after Supreme Electoral Tribunal said that votes tallied from 81 percent of polling stations showed the candidate of the Sovereign People’s Party winning 48.9 percent of the vote. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list In her victory speech, Fernandez promised “deep and irreversible change” and announced that Costa Rica was entering a new political era. The Central American nation’s second republic, which began after the 1948 civil war, “is a thing of the past,” she said. “It’s up to us to build the third republic,” Fernandez told flag-waving supporters. The 39-year-old politician also pledged to lead a nation that is “respectful and firm on the rule of law”. “Any law that is ineffective, that has become obsolete, that has become a hindrance to development, will be modified or repealed,” she added. Fernandez’s closest challenger was economist Alvaro Ramos of the National Liberation Party, who obtained 33 percent. At third was Claudia Dobles, a progressive architect and former first lady, who was just shy of 5 percent of the vote. Ramos conceded on Sunday night and pledged to lead a “constructive opposition,” but one that would not let those in power get away with anything. “In democracy dissent is allowed, criticizing is allowed,” he said. Fernandez needed at least 40 percent to win the election outright and avoid a run-off on April 5. The politician is the handpicked successor of incumbent President Rodrigo Chaves, and campaigned on continuing his tough security policies. Advertisement She has pledged to complete a maximum-security mega-prison that Chaves started to build in August, saying that it would “isolate leaders of organised crime”, cutting them off from the outside world. She has also advocated for mandatory prison labour and stricter criminal sentencing. Al Jazeera’s Julia Galiano, reporting from capital San Jose, said that the main issue during the campaign was security, with homicides reaching an all-time high in 2023. “Without a doubt, the increasing insecurity was the main issue for everyone that we spoke to here. Costa Rica has long been considered as the Switzerland of Central America. It’s a nation known for its long history of a stable democracy,” she said. Fernandez’s tough line on security has prompted worry among the opposition, Galiano said. “They fear the changes that her government will do will ultimately erode the democratic nature of this country. But in her victory speech, she did say that above all, she would remain democratic and that her government would never turn authoritarian,” our correspondent added. Costa Ricans also voted for the 57-seat National Assembly on Sunday. Fernandez’s party is projected to win a majority of 30 seats in the 57-seat Congress, up from its current eight seats, but short of a “supermajority” that would give it greater powers. Some 3.7 million Costa Ricans were eligible to vote in Sunday’s elections. Adblock test (Why?)
LIVE: Wounded Palestinians prepare to leave Gaza as Israel opens Rafah
[unable to retrieve full-text content] Rafah crossing will reportedly operate for six hours a day and allow only 150 patients to exit into Egypt for care.
Pakistani forces kill 145 fighters in Balochistan after deadly attacks
Pakistani security forces have killed at least 145 fighters in the restive Balochistan province in a manhunt launched after a series of coordinated gun and bomb attacks that left nearly 50 people dead. The announcement on Sunday came a day after the attacks, which began early on Saturday at multiple locations across southwestern Balochistan and left 31 civilians, including five women, and 17 security personnel dead. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list The assault, claimed by the banned separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), prompted authorities to impose months-long security restrictions on the province, banning public gatherings, demonstrations and limiting traffic movement. The measures also ban the use of face coverings that conceal the identification of individuals in public places, the Dawn newspaper reported. Sarfraz Bugti, the provincial chief minister, told reporters in Quetta that troops and police officers responded swiftly to the attacks, killing 145 members of “Fitna al-Hindustan,” a phrase the government uses for the BLA. The number of fighters killed over the past two days was the highest in decades, he said. “The bodies of these 145 killed terrorists are in our custody, and some of them are Afghan nationals,” Bugti said. He claimed that the “Indian-backed terrorists” wanted to take hostages, but failed to make it to the city centre. Pakistan’s military said 92 fighters were killed on Saturday, while 41 were killed on Friday. “We had intelligence reports that this kind of operation was being planned, and as a result of those, we started pre-operations a day before,” Bugti said. Advertisement Bugti also accused Afghanistan of backing the assailants, and said senior leaders of the BLA were operating from Afghan territory. Both New Delhi and Kabul deny the allegations. ‘Baseless allegations’ In a statement on Sunday, India denied the assertion, accusing Islamabad of deflecting attention from its own internal problems. “We categorically reject the baseless allegations made by Pakistan,” the spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, said, adding that Islamabad should instead address the “longstanding demands of its people in the region”. Balochistan, which is also Pakistan’s poorest province, has faced decades-long violence and separatist attacks by ethnic Baloch seeking greater autonomy and a larger share of the area’s natural resources. The BLA regularly targets Pakistani security forces and has attacked civilians, including Chinese nationals, who are among thousands working on various projects in the province. Officials said the latest assaults on Saturday were launched almost simultaneously across the Quetta, Gwadar, Mastung and Noshki districts, with armed men opening fire at security installations, including a Frontier Corps headquarters, attempting suicide bombings and briefly blocking roads in urban areas. Outside a damaged shop, private security guard Jamil Ahmed Mashwani said the attackers struck shortly after midday. “They hit me on my face and head,” he said. Burned vehicles stand inside a torched police station on the outskirts of Quetta following the series of attacks carried out by Baloch separatists [Banaras Khan/AFP] ‘Audacious operation’ Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from the Baloch capital, Quetta, reported that the BLA targeted at least 12 locations during what he described as an “audacious” operation. “The attackers were able to strike at the heart of the provincial capital, penetrating the centre of the city while also blocking major highways,” he said. In Quetta, the aftermath was visible in burnt-out vehicles at a police station, bullet-riddled doors and streets sealed off with yellow tape, as security forces tightened patrols and restricted movement following the attacks. Businesses were also forced to shutter, with residents telling Al Jazeera they fear more attacks. According to Pakistan’s junior interior minister, Talal Chaudhry, the attackers dressed as civilians entered hospitals, schools, banks and markets on Saturday before opening fire, “In each case, the attackers came in dressed as civilians and indiscriminately targeted ordinary people working in shops,” he said, claiming that the fighters also used civilians as human shields. Advertisement Pakistani Minister of Defence Khawaja Asif said that two of the attacks involved female fighters. He noted that the attacks were now increasingly targeting civilians, labourers and low-income communities. The United States condemned the attacks, with its charge d’affaires, Natalie Baker, calling them acts of terrorist violence and saying Washington stood in solidarity with Pakistan. The BLA is designated by the US as a foreign terrorist organisation. Pakistan has also faced periodic attacks by armed groups elsewhere in the country, including factions linked to the Pakistan Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP. Adblock test (Why?)
Mbappe’s late penalty gives edgy Real Madrid 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano
Real Madrid earn a hard-fought football victory over their local rivals to move to within one point of league leaders Barcelona. By News Agencies Published On 1 Feb 20261 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Kylian Mbappe stayed calm to roll home a 100th-minute penalty and grab Real Madrid a 2-1 win over nine-man Rayo Vallecano in a spicy La Liga football derby on Sunday. Los Blancos cut Barcelona’s lead back to one point at the top of the table a day after the Spanish champions beat Elche. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Vinicius Junior scored early on for Madrid after Jude Bellingham limped off with an apparent hamstring injury. Jorge de Frutos pulled Rayo level early in the second half as Madrid fans showed their anger at their team. But after Rayo’s Pathe Ciss was issued a red card, Mbappe netted from the spot at the death. Pep Chavarria was also sent off for 17th-placed Rayo, who took a shaky Madrid to the wire before falling short. After the hosts’ midweek defeat at Benfica, which forced them into the Champions League playoff round, the Santiago Bernabeu crowd was in an unforgiving mood. Mbappe and Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa had begged fans to support the team, but, just as they did two weeks ago against Levante, they whistled at their own players. Former Barcelona winger Ilias Akhomach fired narrowly wide early on, and the atmosphere would have been further soured had his effort crept inside Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’ post. Los Blancos suffered an early setback as England international Bellingham pulled up holding the back of his thigh, going off in agony. Vinicius fired the hosts ahead in the 15th minute, showing tidy footwork just inside the area before firing high over Augusto Batalla and into the net. Vinicius Junior scores the opening football goal for Real Madrid [Thomas Coex/AFP] Arda Guler came close to getting a second, with Batalla saving his effort and Vinicius turning the rebound wide. Advertisement Los Blancos were in charge, but though they took the lead, their fans were not appeased, and whistled the team in at the break. Four minutes into the second half, Rayo pulled level. Alvaro Garcia nodded a cross down for de Frutos, a former Madrid youth player, to reach and drill home. The visitors should have taken the lead after an hour, when Andrei Ratiu ran through on goal with only Courtois to beat. But the Belgian stopper made a superb save to deny him. Mbappe came centimetres away from putting Madrid in front when Batalla rushed out of his goal, with the French forward knocking the ball around him but then hitting the bar from distance. Kylian Mbappe rounds Augusto Batalla only to miss an open goal from distance [Manu Fernandez/AP Photo] Rayo made life harder for themselves when midfielder Ciss was sent off for an ugly foul on Madrid’s Dani Ceballos. Eduardo Camavinga headed against the post as Arbeloa’s side turned the screw, before nine minutes of stoppage time were added on. With the clock ticking down, Madrid were awarded a penalty when Nobel Mendy clumsily fouled Brahim Diaz, and La Liga’s top scorer Mbappe dispatched the ball to snatch three points for his side. Rayo finished the match with nine men after Chavarria was shown a second yellow card for shoving Rodrygo Goes. Adblock test (Why?)
LA Olympics chief Wasserman issues Maxwell apology, but denies Epstein ties
Files published by the US Department of Justice included flirtatious emails between Casey Wasserman and Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell. By News Agencies Published On 1 Feb 20261 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Los Angeles 2028 Olympics chief Casey Wasserman has apologised for communicating with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell more than 20 years ago, after the publication of a series of personal emails between the two. New files related to late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Maxwell’s former boyfriend, published by the United States Department of Justice on Friday, included flirtatious email exchanges between Wasserman, who was married at the time, and Maxwell dating from 2003. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being found guilty in 2021 by a jury in New York on charges including sex trafficking of a minor. Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial. “I never had a personal or business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein,” Wasserman said in a statement on Sunday. “I am terribly sorry for having any association with either of them.” Maxwell was arrested in 2020 after being accused by federal prosecutors of recruiting and grooming girls for sexual encounters with Epstein between 1994 and 2004. “I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell,” said Wasserman, adding that it took place before her and Epstein’s crimes “came to light”. The International Olympic Committee, which works very closely with Wasserman in preparation for the Summer Olympic Games, refused to comment on the matter. “I believe Mr Wasserman has put out his statement and we have nothing further to add,” IOC President Kirsty Coventry said in a press conference before the start of next week’s Milano-Cortina Olympics. Advertisement Asked whether the Wasserman emails were a distraction shortly before the Milano Games, Coventry said there had been past Olympics that were dogged by stories prior to their start, such as the Zika virus before the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics. “Anything that is distracting from these Games is sad,” Coventry said. “But we have learned over the many years … there has always been something that has taken the lead, leading up to the Games. What is keeping my faith alive is when the opening ceremony happens … suddenly the world remembers the magic and spirit the Games have,” she said. Wasserman is a sports and entertainment executive who has been leading the LA28 Olympic project from the bidding phase and currently serves as chairman of the organising committee, which is due to deliver a progress report to the IOC session on Tuesday. The 2028 Summer Olympics were awarded to the city in 2017. Adblock test (Why?)