MON SEVEN

DUBAI, Feb 10 - A top adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader discussed ways to reach a "balanced and just" agreement with the United States during talks in Oman on Tuesday, as Washington and Tehran prepare to resume ​negotiations aimed at averting a new conflict.

Oman facilitated talks between Iran and the U.S. last week, which a spokesperson for Iran's ‌foreign ministry said had allowed Tehran to gauge Washington's seriousness and showed enough consensus for diplomacy to continue.

The talks came after U.S. President Donald Trump positioned a naval flotilla in ‌the region, raising fears of new military action. Trump, who joined an Israeli bombing campaign last year and hit Iranian nuclear sites, had threatened last month to intervene militarily during a bloody government crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran, but ultimately held off.

"After the talks, we felt there was understanding and consensus to continue the diplomatic process," said the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei.

Baghaei said Tuesday's trip to Oman by Ali Larijani, an adviser to Supreme ⁠Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been pre-planned, and that ‌Larijani would travel next to Qatar, which has also mediated in several Middle East crises.

Oil prices eased on Tuesday as traders remained focused on Iran-U.S. tensions.

DIFFERENCE OVER WHETHER TO DISCUSS MISSILE STOCKPILE

Oman's state news agency said Larijani and ‍Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq discussed ways to reach a "balanced and just" agreement between Iran and the U.S., stressing the importance of returning to dialogue to bridge differences and promote regional and global peace and security.

Iranian state media said the meeting lasted nearly three hours.

The date and venue of the next round of U.S.-Iran talks ​have yet to be announced.

The U.S. is seeking to expand the scope of negotiations with Iran beyond the nuclear issue to curb Iran's ‌ballistic missile programme, one of the biggest in the Middle East.

Tehran says its missile arsenal has been rebuilt since last year's 12-day bombing campaign by Israel and the U.S., and that its stockpile is non-negotiable.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to use a meeting with Trump in Washington on Wednesday to push for any U.S.-Iran deal to include limitations on Tehran's missiles.

Baghaei said the U.S. "must act independently of foreign pressures, especially Israeli pressures that ignore the interests of the region and even the U.S."

In any negotiations, Iran would continue to demand the lifting of financial sanctions and ⁠insist on its nuclear rights including enrichment, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said.

Washington has ​demanded Iran relinquish its stockpile of uranium enriched to up to 60% fissile purity, a ​small step away from the 90% that is considered weapons grade.

VANCE SAYS TRUMP WILL DECIDE RED LINES

The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, Mohammad Eslami, said on Monday: "The possibility of diluting 60% enriched uranium ... depends on whether, in return, ‍all sanctions are lifted or not".

Asked whether ⁠the U.S. would allow limited uranium enrichment by Iran, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said during a visit to Armenia on Monday: "I think President Trump is going to make the ultimate determination about where we draw the red lines in the negotiations."

Iran and the ⁠U.S. held five rounds of talks last year on curbing Tehran's nuclear programme, with the process breaking down mainly due to disputes over uranium enrichment inside Iran.

Since Trump struck ‌Iran's facilities, Tehran has said it has halted enrichment activity. It has always said its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful ‌purposes.

(Reporting by Dubai newsroom; Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Aidan Lewis)

TheUtah Jazzclosed the third quarter Monday, Feb. 9 against theMiami Heatup by three. They had been dominating Miami in the paint on both ends. Their size was the big reason why.

Forward Jaren Jackson Jr.,the prized acquisition Utah made just one week prior, was at 22 points through 25 minutes. Star forward Lauri Markkanen added 17 in 24:38. Veteran center Jusuf Nurkić was a problem all night to the tune of 10 points and 16 rebounds.

Yet, with a victory in sight, Jazz coach Will Hardy took self-sabotage and shameless tanking to a new level, sitting the trio for the entire fourth quarter.

In a twist of karmic justice, Miami was so poor down the stretch that the Jazz somehow overcame a late five-point deficit to win,115-111.

This was the second consecutive game that Hardy had pulled the stunt.  Even worse: it appears this will be Utah's standard operating procedure moving forward.

After the game, a reporter asked Hardy how close he was to subbing Jackson or Markkanen back in.

"I wasn't," Hardy responded,plainly and without elaboration.

Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

This is an existential problem, one NBA commissioner Adam Silver and the Board of Governors must fix. Yes, the draft is expected to featureat least three elite-level players, but if the NBA doesn't take prompt action, anti-competitive behavior will spread to other teams also looking to manipulate outcomes.

It's out in the open now, and this will come to stain the last quarter of the season. The product will suffer. And fans, as they should, will flee. As such, the NBA is compromised.

And with the explosive growth of online sports gambling and prediction markets, these actions only invite further cracks in the integrity and competitive balance of the sport.

The NBA's player participation policy is designed to foil tanks by mandating that teams play their stars with regularity. But the Jazz have found a workaround to the rule. Their impact players start games, they just don't finish them. And thus, they make a mockery of the policy.

"We've got to find a way to win against teams that are, I guess you can say, trying to lose," Heat center Bam Adebayo told reporters after the game.

Frankly, though Hardy will never admit this publicly, the directive to tank is almost certainly coming from his bosses.

Utah's 2026 first-round pick is top-eight protected, which means that if the lottery places its selection anywhere from Nos. 1 through 8, the pick stays with the team. If it drops to No. 9 or below, that pick is conveyed to theOklahoma City Thunder.

And while it makes total economic sense — the good fortune of drafting a franchise-altering player instantly pumps millions in value — the flagrant tanking debases the sport and insults the fan who invests time and capital.

Utah (17-37) isn't alone. TheWashington Wizards(14-38) traded for a pair of veterans,Anthony DavisandTrae Young, who have 14 combined All-Star appearances. They were curious win-now moves for a team that's currently second-to-last in the East.

Davis and Young were both hurt when they were acquired, and it's unclear when they'll make their return — if they do at all.

A recent NBA TV report indicated thatDavis was not expected to return the rest of the seasonwith left hand and groin injuries.

Young has been dealing with a sprained knee. The timeline for both is nebulous, at best.

Wizards general manager Will Dawkins recently responded to the report and said Davis would return to Dallas to finish his rehab and that he would be reevaluated over the NBA All-Star break.

Davis' original timeline for a return was four-to-six weeks; Dawkins, though, put it closer to 10.

The Wizards, similar to Utah, have also cycled through young lineups, particularly when facing some of the NBA's weaker teams.

And also like Utah, Washington's 2026 first-round pick is top-eight protected.

TheIndiana Pacers(13-40) traded for Ivica Zubac, who was away from the Clippers, his former team, for the birth of his first child. Zubac had played in the previous nine games before the trade. Yet, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Zubac's debut with Indiana would be delayed because of a sprained ankle that hadn't been listed on prior injury reports.

Indiana's 2026 first-round pick? If you guessed that it was protected, you would be correct, for Nos. 1-4 and 10-30.

The youngBrooklyn Nets(15-37) waived Cam Thomas after they couldn't find a trade partner. They, too, appear to be in tank mode.

TheMilwaukee Bucks(21-30) might convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to take his time from his calf strain to preserve their draft positioning.

Same for theDallas Mavericks(19-33) with Kyrie Irving and his torn anterior cruciate ligament.

TheSacramento Kings(12-43) are simply without direction.

The tanking feels like it will get worse. And while the temptation might be to say it's harmless jockeying, the flip side is that it impacts seeding for the teams actually competing and vying for spots in the playoffs.

In some ways, the timing of the All-Star break is convenient; it provides a respite for Silver and league executives to brainstorm ways to eradicate this from the league.

If they don't come out strong with precise and targeted measures, then why even play the games? And, if you're a fan, why even watch?

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:The NBA's tanking crisis is Adam Silver's biggest test yet

"Keion White was a victim of a shooting and sustained a bullet wound to his ankle this morning in San Francisco. He is currently undergoing surgery at a local hospital. We will provide further updates when appropriate," said a statement from the 49ers.

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The San Francisco Police Department is investigating the shooting.

"A preliminary investigation revealed a verbal altercation occurred between two groups inside a business.  The victim was injured when shots were fired by an unknown suspect," a statement from the SFPD said.

White was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2023 and traded to the 49ers in 2025.

As is always the case this time of year in Florida, rain could factor into the festivities.

According to AccuWeather, the forecast looks pretty good overall for the early-week schedule, but things could get complicated by Sunday, Feb. 15, for the Daytona 500. Of course, things can and will change before the green flag is set to drop shortly after 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Here's the latest forecast for Daytona for the rest of this week:

Daytona 500 weather forecast

Here's the latestAccuWeather forecastfor Daytona Beach, Florida:

• Wednesday, Feb. 11: Comfortable with times of clouds and sun. A high temperature of 73 degrees and a low of 58. Chance of precipitation: 0%.

• Thursday, Feb. 12: Partly sunny. A high temperature of 67 degrees and a low of 54. Chance of precipitation: 10%.

• Friday, Feb. 13: Partly sunny and comfortable. A high temperature of 70 degrees and a low of 55. Chance of precipitation: 16%.

• Saturday, Feb. 14: Increasing cloudiness. A high temperature of 70 degrees and a low of 60. Chance of precipitation: 7%.

• Sunday, Feb. 15: Mostly cloudy with a thunderstorm possible in the afternoon. A high temperature of 76 degrees and a low of 57. Chance of precipitation: 30%

• Monday, Feb. 16: Plenty of sunshine. A high temperature of 71 degrees and a low of 52. Chance of precipitation: 25%.

When is the 2026 Daytona 500?

• Date: Sunday, Feb. 15

• Start time: 2:30 p.m. ET

• Location: Daytona International Speedway (Daytona Beach, Florida)

• TV: Fox

• Streaming: Fubo (free trial), Sling

• Defending champion: William Byron

Daytona 500, Speedweek schedule

There's more than just the 500 going on at Daytona. Here's a look at the Speedweek race schedule and how to watch. All times Eastern.

• Wednesday, Feb. 11: Daytona 500 qualifying | 8:15 p.m. | FS1

• Thursday, Feb. 12: America 250 Florida Duel at Daytona | 7 and 8:45 p.m. | FS1

• Friday, Feb. 13: Craftsman Truck Series qualifying | 3 p.m. | FS1

• Friday, Feb. 13: Fresh from Florida 250 (Truck Series) | 7:30 p.m. | FS1

• Saturday, Feb. 14: O'Reilly Auto Parts Series qualifying | 10 a.m. | CW

• Saturday, Feb. 14: Daytona ARCA 200 (ARCA Menards Series) | Noon | Fox

• Saturday, Feb. 14: United Rentals 300 (O'Reilly Auto Parts Series) | 5 p.m. | CW

• Sunday, Feb. 15: Daytona 500 | 2:30 p.m. | Fox

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Daytona 500 weather forecast could be problematic on Sunday

A U.S. immigration court has terminated the Trump administration's attempt to deport a Tufts University student and pro-Palestinian activist who has been critical of Israel, her lawyers said Monday.

The court terminated the government's removal proceedings on Jan. 29, finding that the government has not met its burden in proving thatRümeysa Öztürk, a Ph.D. student from Turkey studying children's relationship to social media, should be deported, the lawyers said.

The termination was noted Monday in a filing on behalf of Öztürk with the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City, where she is challenging her arrest and detention.

"Today, I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that despite the justice system's flaws, my case may give hope to those who have also been wronged by the U.S. government," Öztürk said in a statement Monday. "Though the pain that I and thousands of other women wrongfully imprisoned by ICE have faced cannot be undone, it is heartening to know that some justice can prevail after all."

Immigration officers detained Öztürk in March, and a federal judge ordered her release in May, pending proceedings on the merits of her habeas corpus petition. Terminating removal proceedings "does not moot her habeas case," her lawyers wrote.

Her legal team's filing says the immigration court in question denied a key argument the Trump administration used toupend the immigration statusof multiple students and campus activists critical of Israel amid its war with Hamas militants in Gaza.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson characterized the immigration court decision as "judicial activism" and called Öztürk a "terrorist sympathizer."

"Visas provided to foreign students to live, study, and work, in the United States are a privilege, not a right — no matter what this or any other activist judicial ruling says," the spokesperson said in a statement Monday. "And when you advocate for violence, glorify and support terrorists that relish the killing of Americans, and harass Jews, that privilege should be revoked, and you should not be in this country."

Immigration court proceedings are generally not public, and the decision ruling that Öztürk cannot be deported was filed under seal, her lawyers said in their filing. They offered to provide a copy to the appeals court under seal.

Öztürk was arrested March 25 in Somerville, Massachusetts. In supporting her release from an immigrant detention facility,Tufts said in Aprilthat Öztürk had co-authored an opinion piece in the student newspaper criticizing the university's response to the war in Gaza and demanding it divest from ties to Israel.

The Trump administration cited a rarely used provision in the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 that allows the secretary of state to deport noncitizens if it is determined their presence would result in "potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States."

In their filing Monday, Öztürk's lawyers, including counsel from the ACLU of Massachusetts, highlighted what they called the "dangers" of the government's interpretation of the act.

"Under the government's view," they wrote, "it could punitively detain any noncitizen in retaliation for her speech for many months, so long as it simultaneously institutes removal proceedings—no matter how unmeritorious—all without any federal court review of the lawfulness of detention at any time."

Defense team member Mahsa Khanbabai said in a statement Monday that the Trump administration "has manipulated immigration laws to silence people who advocate for Palestinian human rights and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza."

Khanbabai added: "I hope that other immigration judges will follow her lead and decline to rubber stamp the president's cruel deportation agenda."