Battling illness, Smriti Mandhana led from the front with a match-winning 87 off 41 balls to power Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to their second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title with a successful chase of 204 against Delhi Capitals in Vadodara.

After the six-wicket win, RCB head coach Malolan Rangarajan revealed that the stylish left-hander was suffering from a 103-degree fever a day before, but showed the character when the situation demanded.

“Massive, massive flu,” Rangarajan said, with the WPL trophy beside him. “She was seriously unwell with a high fever. But to turn up, not even show it, nobody in the team (knew)…for one second also didn’t show it. That’s the person Smriti is. When I spoke to her this afternoon, she said, ‘Nahi, Malo, koi problem nahi (there’s no problem), I’ll be there.’ So that’s her with her work ethic.”

Mandhana’s match-winning innings also saw her end the WPL 2026 season as the tournament’s leading run-getter, finishing with 377 runs. “I think she saved one of her best innings for the final,” Rangarajan said.

“The way she batted was….inhuman? I don’t even know the word to use. So classy, so elegant…it didn’t feel… when you looked at her, you could see that she was in control of what she wanted to do. She was timing the ball, she was hitting, picking the pockets in which she wanted to attack.

“She trained two days prior to the game and we’ve been having a lot of chat about her batting, how she’s feeling and I reckon that her last training session (on Wednesday) was among the best she had batted.”

Offering insight into Mandhana’s preparation, Rangarajan described her as a batter driven by feel.

“She’s a nerd when it comes to her batting,” he said. “I guess that’s why she’s ended up achieving what she’s achieved in life, always looking to improve, always looking to get better at her skill.

“Whenever she’s batting, she’s like, ‘I’m going to try this, I’m going to try that.’ A little wide-base, something or the other, Smriti always tries. And I think, luckily and fortunately for us, she cracked the code two days back (against UP Warriorz) and she was very, very comfortable.

“She led the team by example, set the standards in every training session. I’d be doing a disservice even if I tried saying how good Smriti has been in these last months.”

With RCB now set to wear two stars on their jersey after their win, Rangarajan made it clear that the hunger remains intact. “We’ve won six games in the league, we’ve won the WPL; it’s a tremendous achievement. When we come back next season, there will be two stars on our jersey, and we’ll be chasing the third,” he concluded.

Four miscreants allegedly gang raped a minor girl after abducting her while she was on her way to appear in her Pre-Board exam for Class VIII in Mauganj town of Madhya Pradesh.

According to the police, the incident was reported on Thursday, and the victim was admitted in an unconscious state to a hospital.

The police have taken one person in custody in connection with the case.

As per information, the 14-year-old girl was going with her female friend to take the exam. On the way, the four accused on motorcycles allegedly accosted them and took the victim to a forested area, where they allegedly committed gang rape.

The miscreants fled the spot after the crime, and some hours later, some people informed the girl’s parents that she was lying unconscious in the jungle.

The parents immediately reached the spot and got her admitted to a hospital.

On receiving information, SP Dilip Soni and other officials reached the spot. The SP said a case of gang rape was registered and police began investigations.

The official said the victim was not in a position to record her statement, and it would be done soon.

On the basis of preliminary investigations, the police have detained one person in connection with the case. Further investigations are on.

Harshit Rana is facing a fitness scare ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, with doubts emerging over the bowling allrounder’s availability after he picked up a niggle during India’s warm-up match against South Africa in Navi Mumbai on February 4.

Rana bowled just one over in the game before leaving the field and was later seen with his thigh heavily strapped. Speaking on the eve of India’s tournament opener against the USA in Mumbai, captain Suryakumar Yadav admitted the early signs were not encouraging, though the 24-year-old has not yet been ruled out.

“He is not ruled out yet. He’s being assessed by the physios. But I think, today we’ll know what’s going to happen. But it doesn’t look good, it’s not that great,” Suryakumar said.

Rana’s potential absence would deprive India of a valuable lower-order option, especially given the team’s emphasis on batting depth in the shortest format. However, with several other combinations available, his unavailability is not expected to derail India’s plans significantly if the rest of the squad remains fit.

Axar Patel is likely to slot in at No. 8, while Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh are expected to spearhead the pace attack. “Don’t worry, we have 11 players for tomorrow,” Suryakumar said with a laugh.

“But it’s a big blow obviously because you make a squad of 15 players with a lot of combinations in mind. So we made it with the same thought. And if he is not available for us going forward, then we will set other combinations, however can we do it. But we have enough players, enough combinations, which we can make against all the teams for this tournament. But if we miss him, we will definitely miss him,” he added.

Rana featured in three of the five T20Is during India’s recent home series win against New Zealand. India did not name any reserve players when announcing their 15-man squad, given the home conditions for the tournament.

Suryakumar indicated that if Rana is ruled out, the team would look at a replacement, preferably someone who can contribute with the bat, though that would not be a strict requirement.

“We will see which fast bowlers have done really well for the last one or two years,” Suryakumar said.

“And which bowler can bat as well. But there is no hard-and-fast rule that he has to bat. Because if you are expecting someone at No. 9 or 10 to come and hit a six, then what do you have the top eight for. But we will see whom to pick. We do have a few options but we will pick the best one,” he added.

Apart from Bumrah and Arshdeep, India’s pace-bowling resources include allrounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube. Rana, meanwhile, has shown his value with the bat in recent months, notably scoring a boundary-filled 52 off 43 balls from No. 8 in the third ODI against New Zealand while chasing 338.

In an effort to connect the youngest generation with India’s cultural roots, the Uttar Pradesh Department of Culture organised a special educational visit for Gen Alpha students at the Uttar Pradesh State Museum, Lucknow, on Friday.

Nearly 700 students and teachers from private schools, studying up to Class 1, participated in the programme, which introduced children to Indian art, culture and heritage through interactive and activity-based learning.

The visit was curated to make history and culture accessible and engaging for young learners. Students explored museum galleries and took part in a quiz conducted through specially designed activity cards, allowing them to learn through play.

The focus remained on sparking curiosity, creativity and early cultural awareness. At the end of the programme, children were given light refreshments along with pencils, sketch pens and participation certificates.

State Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said the government is working with a long-term vision to nurture Gen Alpha as the next generation of cultural ambassadors.

He said that as children grow up in a digital-first environment, it is important to anchor them in India’s cultural values early on. Introducing them to art, history and heritage at a young age, he noted, helps build pride, responsibility and a deeper connection with the country’s civilisational legacy.

Director, Uttar Pradesh Museum Directorate, Dr Srishti Dhawan, said museums must evolve as active learning spaces rather than remain limited to static displays.

She said engaging children with heritage at an early age is essential to developing curiosity, creativity and critical thinking. The State Museum, she added, will continue organising such educational visits and activity-based programmes to strengthen cultural awareness among the younger generation.

The Uttar Pradesh State Museum, Lucknow—one of the oldest and most prestigious multipurpose museums in the state—houses an extensive collection spanning archaeology, natural history, decorative arts, painting and numismatics, and continues to play a key role in cultural education and public outreach.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has extended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh by a month.

As over 3.26 crore voters would receive notices regarding their inclusion in the voter list, the ECI has extended the time for claims and objections from February to March 6.

Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa told media persons here on Friday that the final voter list for UP will be published on April 10 after the special revision campaign.

He stated that a comprehensive process of claims, objections, and mapping is underway to ensure the voter list is accurate, updated, and error-free.

The CEO informed that a total of 82,684 applications have been received under Form-7, while 37,80,414 applications have been received under Form-6.

He clarified that the number of Form-6 applications is continuously increasing as a large number of citizens whose names were not previously included in the voter list are now applying to have their names added. Eligible Indian citizens residing abroad can register their names in the voter list through Form-6A.

Providing information on the mapping process, he said that approximately 1.04 crore voters were found to have logical discrepancies. Due to these discrepancies, they have not been included in the voter list yet, and notices are being sent to all of them.

He stated that a total of 3.26 crore notices need to be sent to voters, of which 2.37 crore notices have already been generated. Of these, 86 lakh notices have been distributed to voters. Besides, hearings for 30.30 lakh voters have also been completed.

The CEO also informed that, keeping in mind the convenience of the voters, the period for filing claims and objections has been extended by one month to March 6.

The process for all notices related to mapping will be completed by March 27. After completing all formalities, the final voter list will be published on April 10. He said that the Election Commission’s objective is to ensure that no eligible citizen of the state is deprived of their right to vote and that the voter list is completely transparent, accurate, and reliable.

The number of voters in the draft electoral roll in UP during the SIR exercise was 12,55,56,025.

India’s teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed a record-breaking 175 off just 80 balls in the Under-19 World Cup final against England at the Harare Sports Club on Friday. The breathtaking knock not only powered India into a dominant 411/9 but also rewrote several records.

Sooryavanshi brought up his century off just 55 balls, making it the second-fastest hundred in Under-19 World Cup history. He went past Pakistan’s Qasim Akram (63 balls vs Sri Lanka in 2022), with only Australia’s Will Malajczuk ahead of him, who struck a 51-ball century against Japan earlier in the tournament.

In the process, the 15-year-old from Bihar became the fastest Indian to score a century in Under-19 World Cup history, eclipsing Raj Angad Bawa’s 69-ball hundred against Uganda in 2022. He also became only the third Indian to score a century in an Under-19 World Cup final.

Batting with fearless intent on the biggest stage, Sooryavanshi showed no signs of pressure as he tore into the England bowling attack. He raced to his half-century off just 32 balls and needed only 23 more deliveries to complete his second fifty, underlining the brutality of his assault. His innings was studded with 15 fours and 15 sixes and came at a staggering strike rate of 218.75.

The 175 is now the highest individual score in an Under-19 World Cup final, surpassing Unmukt Chand’s long-standing record of 111 not out against Australia in the 2012 final. It is also the highest score by an Indian in Under-19 World Cup history, going past Raj Bawa’s 162 not out against Uganda in 2022.

Overall, the innings stands as the ninth-highest individual score in Youth ODI history, with Ambati Rayudu’s 177 not out against England in 2002 the only higher score by an Indian.

Sooryavanshi’s power-hitting set another benchmark as he finished with 15 sixes in the innings, the most ever in a Youth ODI and an Under-19 World Cup innings, surpassing his own previous record of 14 against UAE Under-19 in Dubai last December. He also broke Dewald Brevis’ record for the most sixes in a single Under-19 World Cup edition. Brevis had hit 22 sixes in 2022, while Sooryavanshi, who had already struck 15 coming into the final, matched that tally in the title clash alone to finish the tournament with a remarkable 30 sixes.

The young opener stitched together crucial partnerships to set up India’s dominance. He added 142 runs for the second wicket with captain Ayush Mhatre (53) and followed it up with an 89-run stand alongside Vedant Trivedi (32). Sooryavanshi finally departed in the 26th over, having produced what will be remembered as one of the greatest innings in the history of the Under-19 World Cup.

The final capped off a stellar tournament for Sooryavanshi, who is currently India’s leading run-scorer in the competition with 264 runs at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 147.49.

Among the other notable contributors were wicketkeeper-batter Abhigyan Kundu (40), Kanishk Chouhan (37 not out) and Vihaan Malhotra (30).

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will kick off in a spectacular fashion on Saturday evening with a vibrant opening ceremony at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, moments before co-hosts India take on the USA in the tournament opener.

Scheduled to begin at 6 pm, the ceremony will turn the Wankhede into a single, immersive performance arena, blending live music, large-scale choreography and cutting-edge visuals, before the spotlight shifts to the cricketing action.

The evening will open with a powerful musical medley by Rishab Sharma and percussion maestro Shivamani, setting the rhythm for the night. One of the show’s standout moments will follow, as the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Trophy makes a dramatic entry into the stadium, carried in by a jetpack performer in a visually striking sequence aimed at thrilling fans in attendance.

The trophy will then be received by ICC Chairman Jay Shah and former India captain Rohit Sharma, who led the defending champions to title glory in 2024. Joined by 20 children representing each of the participating nations, they will officially declare the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 open.

Music and dance will take centre stage thereafter, with chart-topping rapper Badshah delivering a high-energy live performance. He will be followed by Bollywood star Nora Fatehi, headlining a dynamic dance spectacle supported by a large ensemble of performers. The ceremony will build towards a grand finale as both artists come together for a closing act.

Designed to mirror the speed and intensity of T20 cricket, the ceremony will use the field of play as a unified visual canvas, with the official tournament logo forming the centrepiece of the stage. A dazzling pyrotechnic display will bring the celebrations to a close, paving the way for the action on the field.

The fireworks will then give way to cricket, with India taking on the USA an hour later, to officially launch the tournament. Attendance at the opening ceremony will be restricted to ticket holders for the match, with fans advised to arrive early to ensure they don’t miss any part of the show.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday presented a Rs 1,13,767 crore Budget for the Union Territory for the financial year 2026–27 in the Legislative Assembly, describing it as a blueprint for sustainable growth, social harmony, and economic prosperity.

Omar said his government aims to transform the Union Territory into a modern, progressive, and economically vibrant region by promoting investment, innovation, and participatory governance.

Calling the Budget more than a statement of accounts, the Chief Minister termed it a “clear roadmap for development”.

“This Budget is not merely a ledger of figures; it is a fiscal compass charting our path towards a brighter horizon. It lays strong foundations for enduring economic growth, social harmony, and sustainable prosperity,” he said.

He said his government has made employment generation a central pillar of its governance agenda, with a clear focus on speed, transparency, and merit in public recruitment.

He said that for 2026-27, total gross receipts are estimated at Rs 1,27,767 crore, including a provision for ways and means advances and overdraft of Rs 14,000 crore. Given these receipts, total gross expenditure is estimated at Rs 1,27,767 crore. The total net Budget estimates for fiscal 2026-27 are Rs 1,13,767 crore, excluding the provision for ways and means advances and overdraft.

Fulfilling the electoral commitment of his National Conference, the Chief Minister announced several concessions to the targeted groups.

He proposed six free LPG cylinders per year to all AAY households of Jammu and Kashmir, covering the poorest of the poor.

The CM also proposed to introduce a Sponsorship Scheme covering 6,000 orphan children, who have lost both parents or their sole bread-earner, have no stable source of income, and are not receiving any such benefit from the Mission Vatsalya framework. Each child, under this, will receive a monthly sponsorship of Rs 4,000 through Direct Benefit Transfer to support education, nutrition, healthcare, and basic living needs. “This initiative reflects our government’s commitment that no child shall be left behind due to circumstances beyond their control.

He proposed to extend the existing free government transport facility to Persons with Disabilities and also an outlay of Rs 70 crore for scholarship support to over 3 lakh tribal students, covering 2.82 lakh Pre-Matric and about 17,000 Post-Matric Scheduled Tribe students, so that no tribal child is deprived of education due to financial hardship.

Omar announced the purchase of bulletproof ambulances for border districts that witness cross-border firing, starting with two ambulances for Poonch and Tandghar for the next Financial Year.

In view of the rising cancer cases, he proposed rolling out a Cancer Control Strategy for J&K in collaboration with NITI Aayog and ICMR.

The CM announced the fast-tracking of the recruitment process for 23,800 additional posts, including 2,800 gazetted, 14,000 non-gazetted, and 7,000 Class IV posts, to ensure that these vacancies are filled in a strictly time-bound manner.

He said 7,650 candidates have been appointed to government service during the year 2025 purely on the basis of merit, through a transparent and technology-driven recruitment process, restoring faith of our youth in public institutions.

The CM also announced that steps will be taken to regularise the services of the daily-rated employees.

Yash Raj Films (YRF) on Friday strongly denied social media allegations that linked recent viral reports of “missing girls” in Delhi to a promotional strategy for the movie Mardaani 3.

The controversy erupted following reports that claimed a massive surge in missing persons in the national capital during the first 15 days of 2026.

These claims were quickly picked up by netizens and political figures, some of whom suggested the “panic” was a calculated publicity stunt for the Rani Mukerji starrer, which was released on January 30, 2026, as the film is based on the similar issue.

However, on Friday, YRF moved to distance itself from the “unethical” marketing accusations and denied any kind of involment in creating hype around reports of missing girls in Delhi.

When ANI reached out to the production house, a YRF spokesperson said in response to the query, “Yash Raj Films is a 50-year-old company founded on the core principles of being highly ethical and transparent. We strongly deny the accusations floating on social media that Mardaani 3’s promotional campaign has deliberately sensationalised a sensitive issue like this, and we have immense trust in our authorities that they will share all facts and truths in due course of time.”

Earlier in the day, Delhi Police debunked the speculations around the surge in missing girls in Delhi, clarifying that they are being “pushed through paid promotions.”

The police asserted that strict action will be taken against those spreading the rumours, adding that “creating panic for monetary gains won’t be tolerated.”

Also Read: Mardaani 3 trailer: Rani Mukerji takes on child trafficking mafia in her most emotionally charged cop mission yet

“After following a few leads, we discovered that the hype around the surge in missing girls in Delhi is being pushed through paid promotion. Creating panic for monetary gains won’t be tolerated, and we’ll take strict action against such individuals,” the Delhi Police wrote in a post on X.

Delhi Police PRO Sanjay Tyagi on Thursday said that, compared with previous years, there has been no increase in missing-person reports in the city.

In fact, January 2026 saw fewer such cases than in the same period last year.

“There is no need to fear or panic regarding the missing persons in Delhi, especially children. Compared to the past, there has been no increase in reporting missing persons in Delhi. In January 2026, compared to the same period last year, there has been a drop in reporting missing persons. It is also worth mentioning that Delhi Police follows the policy of fair and transparent reporting of crime,” Tyagi said in a video released by Delhi Police.

He added that missing persons can be reported not only at local police stations but also online or via ERSS 112. Under standard operating procedures (SOPs), Delhi Police prioritises locating missing children and acts promptly.

Dedicated missing person squads in districts, along with the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit in the Crime Branch, ensure effective action. Tyagi emphasised that no organised gangs have been found involved in cases of missing children or kidnappings.

Ahead of the commencement of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) class 10 and 12 board exams, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday stressed that education is not only for exams but for life, and exams are meant to examine oneself.

“Marks are not the ultimate goal, complete development of life is,” PM Modi said while interacting with students during the 9th edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha.

The board exams are scheduled to commence from 17th February.

PM Modi, who had an informal interaction with ‘Exam Warriors’, at his residence in Delhi, stressed that Artificial Intelligence (AI) should be a tool to enhance strength and wisdom, not just entertainment.

He also advised parents to allow children to blossom according to their capacity, ability, and interest.

The Prime Minister highlighted the vast opportunities available to the current generation, particularly in technology, and remarked that while his era lacked such opportunities, today’s youth must use Artificial Intelligence wisely.

He explained that using AI merely to summarise biographies adds little value, but asking AI to recommend biographies based on age and interests, then reading those books, leads to genuine development. “AI should be a tool to enhance strength and wisdom, not just entertainment,” PM Modi said.

Students expressed appreciation for his guidance on AI usage, noting its relevance to their own technological pursuits.

During the interaction, a student raised a question about pursuing a future in gaming despite societal pressure to focus only on studies. The Prime Minister explained that parents often discourage initially, but once success is achieved, they take pride and celebrate it.

He encouraged the student to channel interest in gaming productively by creating games based on India’s rich stories such as Panchatantra or mythological events, and to share them on social media platforms to gain recognition.

PM Modi highlighted that gaming is a skill requiring speed and alertness, which contributes to self-development, and advised focusing on building expertise in high-quality games. He cautioned against gambling in gaming, noting that laws have been enacted to prevent such practices, and stressed that gaming should be pursued as a constructive skill.

Students expressed excitement at visiting the Prime Minister’s residence, noting his friendly manner, genuine interest in their questions, and the thoughtful answers he provided.

In response to a question on balancing study pressures, especially during pre-boards, the Prime Minister remarked that this is a common concern. He emphasised that education should not be seen as compulsion or burden but requires total involvement. Without full engagement, incomplete education cannot lead to success.

He cautioned against the obsession with marks, asking whether anyone remembers the name of a student who scored highest marks last year in boards. When the student replied no, PM Modi underscored that even if such achievements are praised briefly, they are soon forgotten, showing how little importance marks hold. He advised students not to tie their minds to marks but to focus on where their life is heading, continuously testing themselves not only in classrooms or exam halls but in life itself.

The 2026 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards served up drama, glamour, and a whole lot of winners, and it was the supernatural folk horror film ‘Bring Her Back’ that walked away with the biggest haul of the night.

The chilling thriller ‘Bring Her Back’ didn’t just scare audiences. It conquered the AACTAs. With ten wins from sixteen nominations, the film took home trophies for Best Film, Best Direction, and Best Lead Actress for Sally Hawkins.

Not far behind, the miniseries ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’ raked in nine awards, including Best Lead Actor for Jacob Elordi. Drama series ‘The Newsreader’ continued its streak of wins with four awards, while Netflix’s ‘Apple Cider Vinegar’ was crowned Best Miniseries.

It wasn’t just the stars of 2025-26 who got recognition. Legendary filmmaker Bruce Beresford received the prestigious Longford Lyell Award. Visionaries Kristina Ceyton and Samantha Jennings picked up the Byron Kennedy Award, while Kate Armon and Craig Smith were recognised with the Reg Grundy Award. The Brian Walsh Award went to Clare Hughes, honoring her exceptional contributions to Australian film and television.

Also Read: Padma Awards 2026: Dharmendra, Rohit Sharma, Bhagat Singh Koshyari among 131 awardees | Check full list

Here is the full list of winners:

In film

Best Casting in Film: ‘Bring Her Back’

Best Cinematography in Film: ‘Bring Her Back’

Best Costume Design in Film: ‘Bring Her Back’

Best Direction in Film: ‘Bring Her Back’

Best Editing in Film: ‘Bring Her Back’

Best Film: ‘Bring Her Back’

Best Indie Film: ‘Lesbian Space Princess’

Best Lead Actor in Film: Richard Roxburgh (‘The Correspondent’)

Best Lead Actress in Film: Sally Hawkins (‘Bring Her Back’)

Best Original Score in Film: ‘Bring Her Back’

Best Production Design in Film: ‘The Correspondent’

Best Screenplay in Film: ‘The Correspondent’

Best Sound in Film: ‘Bring Her Back’

Best Supporting Actor in Film: Julian McMahon (‘The Surfer’)

Best Supporting Actress in Film: Deborah Mailman (‘Kangaroo’)

In Television

Best Acting in a Comedy: Miranda Tapsell (‘Top End Bub’)

Best Casting in Television: ‘Apple Cider Vinegar’

Best Children’s Program: ‘Play School: All Together’

Best Cinematography in Television: ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’

Best Comedy Entertainment Program: ‘Hard Quiz’

Best Comedy Performer: Tom Gleeson (‘Hard Quiz’)

Best Costume Design in Television: ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’

Best Direction in Drama or Comedy: ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’

Best Direction in Nonfiction Television: ‘The People vs Robodebt’

Best Documentary or Factual Program: ‘The People vs Robodebt’

Best Drama Series: ‘The Newsreader’

Best Editing in Television: ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’

Best Entertainment Program: ‘Portrait Artist of the Year’

Best Factual Entertainment Program: ‘Alone Australia’

Best Lead Actor in a Drama: Jacob Elordi (‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’)

Best Lead Actress in a Drama: Anna Torv (‘The Newsreader’)

Best Lifestyle Program: ‘Grand Designs Australia’

Best Miniseries: ‘Apple Cider Vinegar’

Best Narrative Comedy Series: ‘Bump’

Best Original Score in Television: ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’

Best Production Design in Television: ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’

Best Reality Program: ‘The Great Australian Bake Off’

Best Screenplay in Television: ‘The Newsreader’

Best Sound in Television: ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’

Best Stand-Up Special: Celia Pacquola (‘I’m As Surprised As You Are’)

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama: Daniel Henshall (‘The Newsreader’)

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama: Heather Mitchell (‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’)

In Documentary

Best Cinematography in a Documentary: ‘The Kimberley’

Best Documentary: ‘Journey Home, David Gulpilil’

Best Editing in a Documentary: ‘Unbreakable – The Jelena Dokic Story’

Best Original Score in a Documentary: ‘Journey Home, David Gulpilil’

Best Sound in a Documentary: ‘Yurlu | Country’

Short film

Best Short Film: ‘I’m The Most Racist Person I Know’

Online

Best Online Drama or Comedy: ‘A Series of Unfortunate Dates’

Others

Best Hair and Makeup: ‘Bring Her Back’

Best Original Song: ‘Here I Go’ from ‘Lesbian Space Princess’

Best Soundtrack: ‘Mix Tape’

Best Visual Effects or Animation: ‘Tron: Ares’

Individual

2026 AACTA Longford Lyell Award Recipient: Bruce Beresford

2026 AACTA Byron Kennedy Award Recipients: Kristina Ceyton, Samantha Jennings

2026 AACTA Reg Grundy Award Recipient: Kate Armon, Craig Smith

2026 AACTA Trailblazer Award Recipient: Sarah Snook

2026 AACTA Brian Walsh Award Recipient: Clare Hughes

Audience Choice Awards

Favourite TV Show: ‘Stranger Things ‘(Season 5)

Favourite Film: ‘Wicked: For Good’

Favourite Australian Actress: Margot Robbie

Favourite Australian Actor: Jacob Elordi

Favourite Media Personality: Robert Irwin

Favourite Australian Podcast: Shameless

Favourite Australian Music Video: The Kid LAROI – A Cold Play

Favourite Online Channel: Norris Nuts @norrisnuts

Favourite Digital Creator: Bridey Drake @brideydrake

Rabanne Breakthrough Artist: Mekonnen Knife

In a setback to actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay, the Madras High Court on Friday dismissed his plea challenging a penalty of Rs 1.5 crore imposed by the Income Tax Department for undisclosed income relating to the financial year 2015–16.

Justice Senthilkumar Ramamurthy found no infirmity in the penalty notice and declined to interfere, holding that Vijay had disclosed the additional income and paid taxes only after a search and seizure operation conducted by Income Tax officials in September 2015. The Court also ruled that the notice had been issued within the statutory limitation period prescribed under the Income Tax Act.

However, the Court granted liberty to the actor to challenge the penalty order before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal on grounds other than limitation. The writ petition was dismissed solely on the issue of limitation.

The case pertains to alleged tax evasion connected with the Tamil film Puli (2015), which marked the return of veteran actress Sridevi to Tamil cinema and was her last film before her death.

Counsel for the Income Tax Department submitted that search and seizure operations conducted at Vijay’s premises on September 30, 2015 yielded incriminating documents. The Department found that the actor had received Rs 4.93 crore in cash and Rs 16 crore by cheque from the producers of Puli. While tax was deducted at source for the cheque payments, no TDS was deposited for the cash component.

When confronted with the evidence, Vijay reportedly admitted to receiving Rs 5 crore in cash and agreed to pay tax on it. Subsequently, to resolve the matter, he disclosed additional income of Rs 15 crore for the financial year 2015–16, which included the cash transaction, and paid the applicable taxes.

In his income tax return filed in July 2016, Vijay declared a total income of Rs 35.42 crore, including the additional amount. He also claimed depreciation on assets worth Rs 17.81 lakh and sought exemption for fan club expenses amounting to Rs 64.71 lakh. Disallowing these claims, the Department assessed his taxable income at Rs 38.25 crore in its order dated December 30, 2017 and imposed the penalty.

Amid allegations of irregularities in the Intensive Revision of the voter list (SIR) raised by Uttar Pradesh government minister Ravindra Jaiswal himself, the Congress party on Friday accused the process of being marred by serious and widespread irregularities.

A delegation of the Varanasi Metropolitan Congress Committee submitted a detailed memorandum to the ADM (Supply), alleging biased practices and serious lapses during the second phase of the ongoing intensive voter list revision in the City North Assembly constituency (388).

Metropolitan Congress President Raghavendra Chaubey said that the concerns expressed by state minister Ravindra Jaiswal regarding the final voter list published after the intensive revision conducted at 451 booths in City North constituency expose the wide gap between the BJP’s claims and its actual governance.

“When the BJP government is in power both at the state and the Centre, and the entire administrative machinery is under its control, then the responsibility for any irregularity in the voter list lies squarely with the BJP government and its ministers,” Chaubey said.

He alleged that serious irregularities are continuously surfacing under the guise of SIR. “In several places, names of eligible voters are being deleted; in others, genuine voters are being excluded, while in many areas there is a complete lack of transparency in the revision process,” he added.

Accusing the BJP government of creating confusion to cover up its failures, Chaubey strongly condemned the use of terms such as “vote jihad” by Minister Ravindra Jaiswal, calling it “extremely unfortunate and condemnable.”

“Kashi is not merely a city; it is a living symbol of the Ganga-Jamuni culture. It is the land of Sant Kabir and Nazir, the city of Mother Ganga, and the holy abode of Lord Vishwanath,” he said.

The Congress leader further claimed that, according to reliable sources, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are allegedly deleting voter names under pressure from the ruling party during the second phase of SIR, in violation of established rules.

He expressed serious concern over reports that voter names—particularly in Muslim-majority areas—are being removed on a large scale in the name of revision.

“Names of voters from Muslim localities, as well as from other communities, are being struck off en masse using pre-printed Form-7s, which is completely against democratic norms,” Chaubey alleged.

The Congress party demanded a fair and impartial investigation into the matter and strict action against those found responsible.

The Union government has released over Rs 1,133 crore as 15th Finance Commission grants during FY 2025-26 to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)/Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) in Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Telangana.

In Madhya Pradesh, an amount of Rs 652.55 crore has been released as the second installment of Untied Grants for FY 2024-25. The funds will benefit all 52 eligible District Panchayats, 312 eligible Block Panchayats and 23,001 eligible Gram Panchayats in the state. Additionally, Rs 77 lakhs representing the withheld portion of the first instalment of Untied Grants for FY 2024–25, has also been released to three additionally eligible Block Panchayats and 6 Gram Panchayats.

For Punjab, the Union government has released Rs 222 crore as the first installment of Untied Grants for FY 2025-26. These funds will support all 13,262 eligible Gram Panchayats, 150 eligible Block Panchayats and 22 eligible District Panchayats across the State.

For Telangana, Rs 256.0295 crore has been released as the first installment of Untied Grants for FY 2024-25, benefiting 12,702 eligible Gram Panchayats. Further, Rs 233.18 lakhs, being the withheld portion of the second instalment of Untied Grants for FY 2023–24, has also been released to 11 additionally eligible Gram Panchayats and 40 Block Panchayats.

The Rajasthan state budget for fiscal year 2026-27 will be presented in the state assembly on Wednesday. Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari, who holds the Finance portfolio, will deliver her third successive budget speech in the House at 11:00 am.

The size of the budget last year (2025-26) was Rs 5.37 lakh crore. Keeping this in mind, analysts and economists are speculating on the growth of 7 to 10 per cent in the budget funds compared to last year. They are expecting the finance minister to conclude the process of finalising the budget size at around Rs 5.70 to Rs 6 lakh crore, with a major boost to the infrastructure development.

The budget session of the state assembly began here on January 28 with an inaugural address by Governor Haribhau Bagade on the opening day.

In the six sittings so far, besides the routine business of the Question Hour and the Zero Hour, the House also debated and adopted the Vote of Thanks to the Governor for delivering his inaugural speech. After Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma’s reply to the five-day debate on vote of thanks, Speaker Vasudev Devnani had adjourned the house until 11:00 am on February 11, 2026.

Although intermittent verbal clashes, witty pot-shots, forced adjournments, and on a couple of occasions during the debate and discharge of other routine business marred the proceedings, the house by and large discharged business smoothly, compared to the experience during the previous sessions.

The SC/ST and OBC Rights (Equality) Front and other student organizations held a march and protest at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth on Friday in support of the new University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations.

During the protest, students were allowed entry to the campus only after their identity cards were checked by the university administration. Security forces have been deployed on the campus as a precautionary measure.

Hundreds of students, carrying posters and banners, raised slogans in support of the new UGC regulations. The police were also monitoring the situation with the help of drones.

The protesters stated that the new regulations ensured equal rights for all, but the Supreme Court had stayed their implementation.

The protest had been announced beforehand on social media platforms. Semester examinations are also underway at the university. As a result, the campus has been turned into a virtual fortress. Under the instructions of the Chief Proctor, entry of any outside student or individual has been prohibited.

Student Rohit Kumar said that SC/ST and OBC students often face caste-based discrimination and other problems. Student Nirmala Kumari said that no one should object to the new UGC regulations. The new rules will put an end to exploitation in the university.

The university administration stated that the march was peaceful. A sufficient number of security personnel have been deployed to prevent any untoward incidents. Any suspicious person is being questioned.