How relevant is this ad to you? Video player was slow to load content Video content never loaded Ad froze or did not finish loading Video content did not start after ad Audio on ad was too loud Other issues

A man facing federal charges in what authorities have called the largest jewelry heist in U.S. history was deported to Ecuador late last month, bringing the case against him to a crashing halt, according to recent court filings. While it’s not unusual for someone to be deported as they face pending criminal charges, the magnitude of the crime raises questions about what unfolded. Robertson argued that the government had chosen to forgo Flores’ criminal prosecution. Federal prosecutors disagreed, indicating they were caught unawares by his removal and still hoped to bring Flores to trial — if he ever returns to the U.S. But as federal prosecutors pointed out in their motion, if convicted Flores could have still been deported after serving a lengthy sentence in prison.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a speech at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday. Markus Schreiber/APThis was a very strident broadside by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky against European leaders he says have not done enough over the past year. “We need something to replace the old world order with, but where are the leaders to do that?” he said. But it was also designed to use the embarrassment and vertigo of the Greenland crisis to urge sedentary European leaders into real action. Zelensky was complimentary about how Trump’s snatching of Venezuela’s former president Nicolas Maduro led to him facing trial in New York.

LOADING ERROR LOADINGMichelle Obama said she would be “actively” against her husband, former president Barack Obama, running for a third term even if President Donald Trump did so. “If Trump does change the law, and runs for a third term, hypothetically, do you think your husband would consider running?” Alex Cooper asked the former first lady on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast Wednesday. And maybe a lot of people would be like, ‘Good, we don’t want him anyway.’”Despite the 22nd Amendment prohibiting presidents from seeking a third term, Trump has teased the idea via Trump 2028 merchandise. Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon has insisted the president could secure a third term. This country is constantly evolving.”AdvertisementObama, who shares two Gen Z daughters with the former president, praised the newer generation.

At the University of California and California State University, campuses were more resistant. The president of Colorado State University said it would remake its race-related programs and avoid a “gamble” in challenging Trump. The Education Department had given states until April 24 to collect certifications from every school district in the nation to confirm that all DEI efforts had been eliminated. The Trump administration is investigating UCLA, UC Irvine, UC Berkeley and Stanford, alleging they use race in admissions decisions — charges the schools deny. This month, the Trump administration filed an appeal of the decision to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” President Trump stated in a Jan. 11 social-media post in which he said “NO MORE OIL OR MONEY” would be going to Cuba. While the U.S. hasn’t publicly threatened to use military force in Cuba, Trump officials privately say the brazen raid that extracted Maduro should serve as an implicit threat to Havana. Washington intends to weaken the regime by choking off that oil, which has kept Cuba’s lights on, senior U.S. officials said. Instead, he looks to make deals where possible and to take advantage of opportunities as they come up, a senior Trump official said. Many Trump allies expect no less than the end of Communist rule in Cuba.

Deadly Landslide Strikes New Zealand Campsite After Record Rain Rescue teams search for missing campers and children as landslides devastate Mount Maunganui and surrounding regions following days of torrential rain. Key Points Report landslide at Mount Maunganui’s Beachside Holiday Park on January 22, 2026, trapping several people under mud and debris. Report additional landslide fatalities and missing persons on New Zealand’s North Island amid record-breaking rainfall and flooding. The teams will be operating overnight until the search is complete.” As of Thursday night, no survivors or bodies had been recovered from the Mount Maunganui rubble. The landslide at Mount Maunganui stands as a stark reminder of the power of nature and the vulnerability of even the most cherished holiday destinations.

Every hint, nudge and outright answer you need to complete today's NYT Strands puzzle. Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're always in a good mood. NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal? Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal. NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Seventh Heaven.

Los Angeles TimesLawmakers move to hold Clintons in contemptA House committee advanced resolutions Wednesday to hold former President Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress over the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, opening the prospect of the House using one of its most powerful punishments against a former president for the first time.

LOADING ERROR LOADINGWASHINGTON ― Jack Smith has no regrets about pushing criminal charges against President Donald Trump, the former special counsel told lawmakers on Thursday. ), the committee’s top Democrat, said Republicans would only make fools of themselves by attacking Smith. “Rather than accept his defeat in the 2020 presidential election, President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results and prevent the lawful transfer of power,” Smith said. Smith said he’d subpoenaed the records, without notifying the lawmakers, in accordance with Justice Department policy. Because the public integrity section at the Justice Department has now changed its policy,” Jordan said.

LUKA DONCIC absorbs a foul from Denver’s Spencer Jones during the Lakers’ win over the Nuggets on Tuesday night at Ball Arena. -LUKA DONCIC absorbs a foul from Denver's Spencer Jones during the Lakers' win over the Nuggets on Tuesday night at Ball Arena. “It was a great team win.”Redick is hopeful that Ayton was just poked in the eye and will be back by the time the Lakers play the Clippers at Intuit Dome on Thursday. Reaves is approaching the four-week point after aggravating his calf injury on Christmas Day. For the first time since the injury, Reaves went on a trip with the team.

“Of course Gavin Newsom is going to Davos,” Miller, who is married to top White House adviser Stephen Miller, posted Monday on X. Newsom has spent his time urging the elites at Davos to stand up more strongly to Trump. And it’s Trump who’s been rubbing elbows with the wealthy and taking no shame in talking about his ties to rich people and his efforts to make them even richer. It’s like everybody is making so much money.”Trump said he often goes around giving congratulations to business leaders. Amid the economic problems, Trump and his Cabinet – which happens to be stocked with billionaires – have made a series of these kinds of remarks.

Portland Trail Blazers forward Duop Reath received three 2026 NBA All-Star votes from NBA players, one of a handful of Blazers who received at least one player vote, according to the NBA’s spreadsheet of player, fan, and media votes. Both Damian Lillard (3) and Scoot Henderson (1) received at least one vote from players despite not yet playing during the 2025-26 season. Blazers rookie center Yang Hansen didn’t receive any player or media votes but did receive the third-most fan votes (104,000) among Blazers players, behind Deni Avdija (2.2M) and Shaedon Sharpe (147,776). Here is the complete list of Trail Blazers players who received at least one NBA player vote for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game:Deni Avdija - 35 player votesToumani Camara - 10Shaedon Sharpe - 10Donovan Clingan - 9Jerami Grant - 7Damian Lillard - 3Duop Reath - 3Jrue Holiday - 3Caleb Love - 3Sidy Cissoko - 3Scoot Henderson - 1Kris Murray - 1Javonte Cook - 1The reserves for the 2026 NBA All-Star game will be announced on Sun. Feb. 1 ahead of the All-Star game two weeks later on Sun.

How relevant is this ad to you? Video player was slow to load content Video content never loaded Ad froze or did not finish loading Video content did not start after ad Audio on ad was too loud Other issues

By Gustavo Arellano / Los Angeles TimesWho the hell appointed Elon Musk to be the loudest defender of white men? And right now, the idea that white men are the most persecuted group out there is the Labubu of American conservativism. Fear of the sunset of white men has fueled lynchings, legal segregation, laws against immigration legal and not, lawsuits against affirmative action and so much more. After Musk endorsed the post claiming nonwhite men will subjugate white men, a user asked the AI chatbot: “@grok is this true”? Powerful white men.