Video footage circulating online shows hundreds of students marching through university campuses in Tehran and Mashhad on Saturday, more than 40 days after a deadly crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran. The rallies, described as the largest student demonstrations since the violence last month, took place at Sharif University of Technology, Amirkabir University of Technology and several medical sciences universities in both cities. At Sharif University in the capital, students carrying Iranian national flags chanted “death to the dictator” in reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, alongside other anti-government and pro-monarchy slogans. The BBC said it had verified footage of the march at the start of the new semester, showing largely peaceful scenes before scuffles broke out between demonstrators and supporters of a rival pro-government gathering nearby. Basij paramilitary forces affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were deployed, and protests there were met with force.Additional verified images showed a peaceful sit-in at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, while footage from Amirkabir University captured students chanting against the authorities. In Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city, students were heard shouting “Freedom, freedom” and urging their peers to “shout for your rights”. Further demonstrations were reported later in the day, with calls for more rallies on Sunday. It was not immediately clear whether arrests had been made.The latest unrest follows mass protests that erupted in late December over economic grievances, including the collapse of the rial, before spreading nationwide. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency has claimed more than 6,000 people were killed in the crackdown, including protesters and children, and said it was examining thousands more reported deaths. Iranian authorities have put the death toll at over 3,100, maintaining that many of those killed were security personnel or bystanders targeted by what they call rioters.The student rallies come amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington over Iran’s nuclear programme, with US President Donald Trump weighing potential military action even as diplomatic efforts continue.

NEW DELHI: The AI Impact Summit concluded here with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration marking the success of the push by India and other countries in the Global South to frame artificial intelligence as a shared global good rather than an exclusive technological advantage of the rich and developed.Endorsed by 86 countries and two organisations, the declaration sets out a shared global vision for what it calls “collaborative, trusted, resilient and efficient” artificial intelligence, whose potential can be realised “only when its benefits are shared by humanity” and cautioning that “the choices that we make today will shape the AI-enabled world that future generations will inherit”.Signatories span the AI powerhouses of the US and China as well as other technology leaders such as Netherlands, South Korea and the EU.Significantly, Pakistan does not figure in the list.Taiwan, the leading semiconductor manufacturer, appeared to have been left out because of sensitivities of China, which has blocked its presence on international fora.Rooted in the principle of “Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya” – welfare and happiness for all – a theme PM Modi articulated in his inaugural address on Thursday, the declaration places equity and access at the centre of AI governance, and commits participants to “foster shared understanding, while respecting national sovereignty, on how AI could be made to serve humanity”.For many developing countries, this emphasis addresses long-standing concerns about technology rules being shaped without their participation.The declaration is organised around seven action pillars, or chakras, covering democratising AI resources; economic growth and social good; secure and trusted AI; AI for science; access for social empowerment; human capital development; and resilient, efficient and innovative AI systems. Together, they aim to translate broad principles into coordinated global action.

Human capital development critical to realise AI’s potential

Several voluntary commitments were announced to support this effort. Among them is the Global AI Impact Commons, described as “a practical platform to encourage and enable the adoption, replication, and scale-up of successful AI use cases across regions”.The idea is to allow countries to share proven applications in areas such as public services, development and governance, reducing duplication and accelerating impact. Trust and safety form another core strand, with the declaration stressing that “advancing secure, trustworthy and robust AI is foundational to building trust and maximising societal and economic benefits”. To support this, it takes note of the Trusted AI Commons – a voluntary repository of tools, benchmarks and best practices aimed at helping govts and developers build reliable AI systems across different legal, cultural contexts. With concern for democratisation of AI being one of the drivers of the declaration, it, predictably, emphasises that “removing structural barriers to and increasing availability of AI research infrastructure can promote the use of AI in scientific research and development across countries”. An international network of AI-for-science institutions is expected to link researchers globally and accelerate AI-driven discovery. Human capital development is highlighted as critical to realising AI’s potential. The declaration underlines that “realising the full promise of AI requires equipping individuals with relevant skills”, backing this with voluntary guiding principles for reskilling and a workforce development playbook.

Orlando Magic’s Paolo Banchero vs Orlando Magic (Image via Getty)

The Orlando Magic face the Phoenix Suns on Saturday at Footprint Center. Orlando comes in at 29-25 and leads the Southeast Division. Phoenix is 32-24, second in the Pacific Division and seventh in the Western Conference.Both teams are missing key players. That puts more responsibility on role players and bench units. With standings still tight, this game matters for positioning.

Orlando Magic vs Phoenix Suns Injury report (February 21, 2026)

Orlando Magic (29-25)

Franz Wagner is out with a left high-ankle sprain. His absence affects scoring and perimeter defense. Jalen Suggs is listed as questionable due to back spasms. If he plays, his minutes may be limited.Colin Castleton and Alex Morales are out on G-League assignments. Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze are expected to handle most of the minutes at center.Available players include Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, Anthony Black, Wendell Carter Jr., Goga Bitadze, Jett Howard, Jamal Cain, Jase Richardson, Jonathan Isaac, and Moritz Wagner.

Phoenix Suns (32-24)

Devin Booker is out with a right hip strain. That leaves a gap in shot creation. Grayson Allen is questionable with a right ankle sprain.Haywood Highsmith is out due to knee management. That increases minutes for Jordan Goodwin, and Collin Gillespie.Available players include Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, Khaman Maluach, Mark Williams, Royce O’Neale, Ryan Dunn, Rasheer Fleming, Isaiah Livers, Oso Ighodaro, and Jamaree Bouyea.

Orlando Magic vs Phoenix Suns Head-to-head trends and matchup context

Orlando has won three of the last four meetings between the teams over the past three seasons. Phoenix still leads the overall series.With key scorers missing on both sides, this game may depend more on inside play and bench production.

Orlando Magic vs Phoenix Suns Team performance snapshot (2025-26 season)

Orlando Magic

Orlando scores at an average rate but relies on free throws and rebounding. The team allows about 114.9 points per game.

Phoenix Suns

Phoenix moves the ball well and shoots efficiently. The team allows about 112.0 points per game.

Orlando Magic vs Phoenix Suns Key matchup dynamics to watch (February 21, 2026)

Orlando has an advantage inside with Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr., and Goga Bitadze. Phoenix will rely on Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, and Royce O’Neale on the perimeter.Ball control matters. Without Booker, Phoenix may struggle late in possessions. Orlando can push the pace with Anthony Black and Desmond Bane.

Orlando Magic vs Phoenix Suns Game outlook and expected flow (February 21, 2026)

Orlando’s edge at the free-throw line and on the boards could be important in a close game. Phoenix’s shooting and passing can keep them in control offensively.Suggs’ availability will affect Orlando’s backcourt. Allen’s status will affect Phoenix’s spacing.The game is likely to be decided by execution, rebounding, and shot-making late in the fourth quarter.

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is one of the most talked-about young players in the NFL. Maye entered the league with high expectations and a major rookie contract that immediately boosted his financial profile. Celebrity Net Worth reveals that Maye’s net worth in 2026 is $12 million. The figure reflects his rookie contract, signing bonus, early endorsement deals, and previous name, image and likeness (NIL) earnings from his college days at North Carolina. As a starting quarterback for one of the league’s most historic franchises, his market value is expected to grow significantly over the next few seasons.

Drake Maye’s rookie contract details

Maye signed a four-year rookie contract worth about $36.6 million after being selected near the top of the draft. Like most top-three picks, the deal was fully guaranteed and included a signing bonus of approximately $23.47 million paid upfront. This bonus alone accounted for the majority of his early career earnings.For the 2025-2026 season, Maye earned around $9 million in total compensation. In 2026, his cap hit is projected to rise to nearly $10 million due to additional bonuses built into the deal. He is not expected to hit free agency until after the 2028 season, giving the Patriots long-term control over his rookie contract.

Career earnings and endorsement deals

Maye has made more than $24 million in his career, mostly because of his signing bonus. His base earnings are low compared to those of veteran quarterbacks, but the guaranteed structure of his deal makes sure that his money will keep growing.Maye has endorsement partnerships with major brands such as Nike, Lowe’s, Abercrombie, Procter & Gamble and Betterment. These deals, along with his college NIL earnings reportedly valued at around $1.2 million.He also takes part in charitable initiatives and financial literacy campaigns (including scholarship programmes and disaster relief donations).Despite earning millions early in his career, Maye has gained attention for maintaining a relatively modest lifestyle. Reports highlight that he still drives an older pickup truck from his high school days, reflecting advice from his family about staying financially responsible. His living arrangements during the NFL season remain largely private, with no major real estate purchases publicly confirmed so far.Maye’s financial situation could change a lot as his performance improves and contract talks get closer. If he becomes a franchise quarterback, a second contract could make him one of the richest NFL players.

US President Donald Trump (File photo)

US President Donald Trump on Saturday increased the global tariff he had announced a day earlier from 10% to 15%, in a strong reaction to the US Supreme Court’s landmark ruling that dealt a stinging blow to his second tenure as president.In a post on Truth Social, the MAGA supremo blasted the Supreme Court’s ruling as “ridiculous and poorly written” and declared it “extraordinarily anti-American.” A furious Trump wrote, “Based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on tariffs issued yesterday, after MANY months of contemplation, by the United States Supreme Court, please let this statement serve to represent that I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been ‘ripping’ the US off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level.”“During the next short number of months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible tariffs, which will continue our extraordinarily successful process of Making America Great Again — GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!!!,” he added further.

The move came after the US Supreme Court declared Trump’s tariff actions illegal and questioned his authority to impose sweeping import duties without congressional approval.Immediately after the ruling, Trump expressed his “deep disappointment” in an agitated tone and said he was “ashamed” of the Supreme Court. He alleged that the judgment had been influenced by “foreign interests.”Taking a jibe at the bench that delivered the 6–3 ruling, Trump said, “They’re so happy. And they’re dancing in the streets, but they won’t be dancing for long. That I can assure you. The Democrats on the court are thrilled, but they will automatically vote no. They’re an automatic no, just like in Congress. They’re an automatic no. They’re against anything that makes America strong, healthy, and great again.”The enraged US president also declared, “I can do anything I want.” Moving ahead using tariff as weapon, Trump invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to impose a fresh 10 per cent global tariff on imports, which he revised on Saturday to 15 per cent.

Supreme Court’s ruling on Trump tariffs

In a strong rebuttal to Trump, chief justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, said the President does not have the authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 to impose tariffs. The court stated that “had Congress intended to convey the distinct and extraordinary power to impose tariffs, it would have done so expressly.”The ruling supports earlier decisions by the US Court of International Trade and a federal appeals court. Both courts had found that IEEPA, a law usually used to freeze assets or block financial transactions during national emergencies, does not automatically give the President the power to impose tariffs.Three conservative justices, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Brett Kavanaugh, disagreed with the majority opinion. In their dissent, they argued that the law’s broad language allowing the President to “regulate” economic transactions during a declared emergency should be understood to include the power to impose tariffs.

The Ukrainian General Staff said on Saturday that Kyiv carried out a drone and missile strike deep inside Russian territory overnight, hitting an industrial site in the Udmurt Republic and a gas processing plant in Samara.According to Ukrainian authorities, the Votkinsk site in Udmurtia, located about 1,400 km from Ukraine, produces intercontinental and short-range ballistic missiles, including Iskander missiles used against Ukrainian targets. The strike injured 11 people, three of whom were hospitalized, local health minister Sergei Bagin said in a Telegram post, as reported by Reuters. “One of the republic’s facilities was attacked by drones. The strike caused injuries and damage,” regional head Alexander Brechalov said on Telegram.Unofficial Russian sources, including Telegram channels Astra and SHOT, reported that the attack targeted the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant, a major state-owned defense enterprise. Residents described hearing at least three blasts and observing drones overhead. Video footage circulated online showed black smoke rising from industrial buildings and shattered windows.Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya, said operations at the main airport in Izhevsk and other nearby airports were temporarily suspended early Saturday.The strike comes days after US-brokered peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv in Geneva ended with no breakthrough. Ukraine is marking nearly four years since the Russian invasion and the latest round of negotiations was described as largely unproductive, according to news agency AP. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 120 drones and one ballistic missile overnight targeting Ukrainian cities. Ukrainian forces intercepted 106 drones, while the missile and 13 drones hit 11 locations, causing damage and injuries.Oleh Kiper, governor of Ukraine’s Odesa region, said that civilian and energy infrastructure were damaged, including a secondary school and energy company warehouses. Two people were injured in the strikes. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week that tens of thousands of Odesa residents were left without heating and running water due to ongoing attacks and he called on Moscow to be held accountable.In a separate development, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed that Ukrainian forces have used data from the messaging app Telegram for military purposes, endangering Russian troops. The FSB said it obtained “numerous reliable reports” of threats to service members, although no specific evidence was cited.Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed a law allowing mobile operators to block internet services at the FSB’s request. Roskomnadzor, the communications regulator, also plans further restrictions on Telegram, which remains widely used by soldiers, prompting criticism from military bloggers.Since the start of the war, Russia has methodically restricted access to major platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and WhatsApp. Analysts said that these measures are aimed at controlling information flow and military communications amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

Pic of UFO downed by US fighter jet (Pic credit: MJ Schwab’s X account)

Unidentified flying objects, or UFOs, have captured the imagination of Americans for decades. And now UFOs and aliens are back in the news in America. While the interest in UFOs and UAP has been renewed in recent years as the US government probed numerous reports of seemingly supernatural aircraft, amid worries that enemies could be testing highly advanced technologies, what has made them hit headlines is President Trump ordering release of data on UFOs and aliens. In a post on social media platform earlier this week, President Trump said, “Based on the tremendous interest shown, I will be directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs).” Trump said that he’s directing the Pentagon and other government agencies to identify and release files related to extraterrestrials and UFOs because of “tremendous interest.”Trump’s post came just days after former President Barack Obama spoke about UFOs and aliens in a podcast. “They’re real, but I haven’t seen them and they’re not being kept in… Area 51,” Obama told host Brian Tyler Cohen, referring to the top-secret US military facility in Nevada at the heart of many UFO conspiracy theories. “There’s no underground facility. Unless, there’s this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the president of the United States.”

Commenting on Obama’s comments, Trump said, Obama gave reporters “classified information, he is not supposed to be doing that.” The President did not, however, specify what part of Obama’s remarks were classified, but claimed “he made a big mistake.” Obama, on his part, later clarified that he had not seen evidence that aliens “have made contact with us,” but said, “statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good there’s life out there.”

What is classified information on UFOs and Aliens

Trump on his part did not specify to the media whether classified documents would be released to the public, Trump added that the files should include “any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters.” For his own beliefs about aliens, Trump, 79, said “I don’t know if they are real or not.”

What US government and Pentagon have said on UFOs

UFOs have been part of discussions of Congress for years, reportedly mostly due to bipartisan concerns about transparency and national security. Congress held a series of hearings from 2022 to 2024 as part of an investigation into UAPs and national security.In 2021, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) confirmed that UAPs are real, but there’s no confirmation they stem from some extraterrestrial origin. An 18-page unclassified report submitted to Congress in June 2024 said that service members had made 485 reports of unidentified phenomena in the past year but 118 cases were found to be “prosaic objects such as various types of balloons, birds, and unmanned aerial systems.” The report was presented in an attempt to be more transparent and address potential national security questions, as Washington has taken up the charge to publicize and legitimize the study of unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAPs. As a report in Axios says that the Pentagon has largely maintained that there is no evidence of alien technology nor any hidden programs within the government related to UAPs. In 2024, an unclassified Pentagon report mainly found that several of the sightings in the 1950s and ’60s were likely caused by tests of advanced US spy planes and other technology. The report added that there was no evidence of confirmed extraterrestrial activity related to UAPs.

Good ruling, bad ruling, the Don always finds a way to have the last sayPresidents usually have to wait for long years after leaving office — or die before getting airports and other landmarks named after them. Bill Clinton had to wait 11 years, Ronald Reagan nine. For Gerald Ford it took 22 years, according to an AP report. JFK was quickest — just one month after his assassination.But the present occupant of the White House has no time for such annoying niceties. Saved twice from assassins’ bullets by God to make America great again, Donald Trump wants everything pronto, here and now.

Not only does POTUS 47 want airports named after him, his family company is seeking to trademark the use of Trump name on airports and dozens of related things found there, from buses shuttling passengers to umbrellas and travel bags to flight suits.Claiming that the Trump name is the “most infringed trademark in the world,” the Trump Organization is asking for exclusive rights to use three names on airports — President Donald J. Trump International Airport, Donald J. Trump International Airport and DJT.For now it doesn’t plan on charging a fee — at least for a proposed renaming of the Palm Beach airport near his Mar-a-Lago, Florida home, but wouldn’t say whether it would do so at other airports or the merchandise sold there.The unprecedented move for a trade mark for the Trump name brought swift reactions with many criticising the idea and questioning the public mandate behind such a move.“‘Why not’…he feels he can do anything he wants…while the GOP Congress and SCOTUS have completely abdicated their constitutional duties,” wrote one frustrated EJW with a No Kings meme on X.But for once the friendly neighbourhood Supreme Court did a Trump on the Tariff King, with three conservative justices joining all three liberal justices, to rule that the president did not have the authority to impose tariffs under a 1977 emergency economic powers law.Yet insisting he can still do as he wishes, a defiant Trump decried the ruling as “terrible” and invoked a rarely used 1970s trade law that allows a president to invoke tariffs on countries with which the U.S. has a trade deficit, to impose a new across-the-board 10% tariff.“Those members of the Supreme Court who voted against our very acceptable and proper method of TARIFFS should be ashamed of themselves,” he posted on Truth Social naming two of his own appointees, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett.“Their decision was ridiculous, but now the adjustment process begins, and we will do everything possible to take in even more money than we were taking in before!”“In actuality, while I am sure they did not mean to do so, the Supreme Court’s decision today made a President’s ability to both regulate Trade, and impose TARIFFS, more powerful and crystal clear, rather than less,” he claimed in his own interpretation of the ruling.“KEEP CALM AND TARIFF ON,” posted the White House with ‘WomenForTrump’ exhorting, “Let the Tariffs begin Sir! ” with a picture of The Tariff King.Meanwhile, to show who is the boss in Washington, a large ‘Make America Safe Again’ Trump banner went up at justice department building in a striking symbol of president’s control over the supposedly independent top US law-enforcement agency.His picture is already splashed all over the White House, on multi-storey banners on the side of federal buildings, on annual passes to national parks on federal investment accounts, special visas and a discount drug program.After getting his name etched on the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the U.S. Institute of Peace, Trump now wants it on Washington Dulles International Airport and Penn Station in New York too.“While Trump has spent a lifetime promoting his personal brand, slapping his name on hotels, casinos, airplanes, even steaks, neckties and bottled water, what he is doing in his second term as president comes closer to building a cult of personality the likes of which has never been seen in American history,” suggested the New York Times.“Other presidents sought to cultivate their reputations, but none went as far as Trump has to create a mythologized, superhuman and omnipresent persona leading to idolatry,” it noted.Trump got the Commission of Fine Arts – which he has packed with allies, including his 26-year-old executive assistant – to vote unanimously to approve the design of “what will soon be the Greatest Ballroom ever built!”Even as a federal judge considers whether to halt the project – and outside architects and watchdogs groups say the nearly 90,000-square-foot building is too large, Commission Chair Rodney Mims Cook Jr. described it as “a facility that is desperately needed for over 150 years, and it’s beautiful.” Trump is sure to find a way to cross the next hurdle – approval of the National Capital Planning Commission.And in another bid to stay in spotlight, Trump directed federal agencies to begin releasing government files related to “alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs).”Calling the matter “extremely interesting and important,” Trump ostensibly issued the release order to “help” his bête noire Barack Obama after he talked about aliens in a podcast.“They’re real, but I haven’t seen them, and they’re not being kept in … Area 51. There’s no underground facility unless there’s this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the President of the United States,” said Obama.Obama “made a big mistake,” Trump told reporters even as his predecessor later clarified he was sharing a personal view not based on information he’d seen as president.“He took it out of classified information … He’s not supposed to be doing that,” said Trump, but he would ‘help’ by declassifying the files.— Maybe he will next depute his border czar there to deport the aliens to wherever they came from!(By arrangement with The American Bazaar, www.americanbazaaronline.com.)