A Capitol Police officer patrols the east front of the US Capitol in Washington. — Reuters/File
Shutdown in effect as House of Representatives fails to act in time.
Senate approves spending deal ahead of midnight deadline.
Shutdown buys time to debate immigration enforcement tactics.
WASHINGTON: The US government entered what is expected to be a brief shutdown on Saturday after Congress failed to approve a deal to keep a wide swath of operations funded ahead of a midnight deadline.
After hours of delay, the Senate passed the spending package by a bipartisan vote of 71 to 29. But the House of Representatives is out of town and not expected to take up the measure until Monday, according to a Republican leadership aide who spoke on condition of anonymity.
That partial shutdown took effect at 12:01am Eastern time (0501 GMT).
The shutdown is likely to be brief. Lawmakers from both parties have been working to ensure a debate over immigration enforcement does not disrupt other government operations.
This is a marked contrast from last fall, when Republicans and Democrats dug into their positions in a dispute over healthcare, prompting a shutdown that lasted a record 43 days and cost the US economy an estimated $11 billion.
Immigration enforcement tactics
The government has endured 10 funding gaps of three days or fewer since 1977, most of which had little real-world effect, according to the Congressional Research Service.
The deal approved by the Senate would separate funding for the Department of Homeland Security from the broader funding package, allowing lawmakers to approve spending for agencies like the Pentagon and the Department of Labour while they consider new restrictions on federal immigration agents.
Senate Democrats, angered by the shooting of a second US citizen by immigration agents in Minneapolis last weekend, had threatened to hold up the funding package in an effort to force Trump to rein in DHS, which oversees federal immigration enforcement.
Democrats want to end roving patrols, require agents to wear body cameras and prohibit them from wearing face masks. They also want to require immigration agents to get a search warrant from a judge, rather than from their own officials. Republicans say they are open to some of those ideas.
DHS funding would be extended for two weeks, giving negotiators time to reach an agreement on immigration tactics.
The shooting death of nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents on Saturday spurred widespread public outrage, prompting the Trump administration to de-escalate operations in the region. Pretti’s death was the second this month of a US citizen with no criminal record involving immigration law enforcement agents.
Orion’s Belt is a familiar sight in the night sky during the colder months, often noticed easily. Three bright stars sit in a straight line, rising in the east and crossing high overhead as the evening deepens. They belong to the larger Orion constellation, positioned close to the celestial equator, which makes them visible from much of the world. From Earth, the spacing appears neat and deliberate, though the stars themselves lie vast distances apart. Their brightness and alignment have made the pattern easy to recognise across centuries of observation. Astronomers classify the belt as an asterism rather than a constellation in its own right. Even so, it remains one of the most reliable reference points for locating other prominent stars.
Orion’s Belt and its role in the Hunter shape
Orion’s Belt is just three bright stars in a straight line. They are evenly spaced and easy to notice. If you look up at the night sky between October and March, chances are you have already seen them.Those three stars belong to a bigger star pattern called Orion, which people long ago imagined as a hunter. It is so easy to spot because:
The stars are bright
They sit in a neat straight line
They are close together (at least from human point of view)
Your brain loves patterns, so this one jumps out almost immediately.
When and where to see Orion constellation
Best seen in winter evenings in the Northern Hemisphere
Look towards the south after sunset
The three stars rise in the east and set in the west
If you see three stars that look like they were drawn with a ruler, that’s probably it.
The rest of the Orion constellation
Once you find the belt, the rest of Orion becomes easy:
Two bright stars form the “shoulders” and “feet”
Below the belt is a faint cloudy patch called the Orion Nebula, which you can sometimes see even without a telescope
Think of Orion like an hourglass shape, with the belt squeezed in the middle.
Using the belt as a sky map
This is the fun part:
Follow the belt downwards and you will hit Sirius, the brightest star in the entire night sky
Follow the belt the other way and you will reach Aldebaran, a reddish star
Look above the belt for Betelgeuse, a red star
Look below the belt for Rigel, a bright blue star
So the belt works like a signpost in the sky.
Why people care about it
People across cultures noticed these same three stars and made stories about them. They show up in ancient myths, religious texts, poetry, and early astronomy. The reason is simple: they’re impossible to miss.
Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Kick, YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, Reddit, Threads, and X applications are displayed on a mobile phone in this picture illustration taken on December 9, 2025. — Reuters
NEW DELHI: An ally of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed a bill to ban social media for children, as the world’s biggest market for Meta and YouTube joins a global debate on the impact of social media on young people’s health and safety.
“Not only are our children becoming addicted to social media, but India is also one of the world’s largest producers of data for foreign platforms,” lawmaker LSK Devarayalu told Reuters on Friday.
“Based on this data, these companies are creating advanced AI systems, effectively turning Indian users into unpaid data providers, while the strategic and economic benefits are reaped elsewhere,” he said.
Australia last month became the first country to ban social media for children under 16, blocking access in a move welcomed by many parents and child advocates but criticised by major technology companies and free-speech advocates.
France’s National Assembly this week backed legislation to ban children under 15 from social media, while Britain, Denmark and Greece are studying the issue.
Facebook operator Meta YouTube-parent Alphabet and X did not respond on Saturday to emails seeking comment on the Indian legislation. Meta has said it backs laws for parental oversight but that “governments considering bans should be careful not to push teens toward less safe, unregulated sites.”
India’s IT ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
India, the world’s second-biggest smartphone market with 750 million devices and a billion internet users, is a key growth market for social media apps and does not set a minimum age for access.
Devarayalu’s 15-page Social Media (Age Restrictions and Online Safety) Bill, which is not public but was seen by Reuters, says no one under 16 “shall be permitted to create, maintain, or hold” a social media account and those found to have one should have them disabled.
“We are asking that the entire onus of ensuring users’ age be placed on the social media platforms,” Devarayalu said.
The government’s chief economic adviser attracted attention on Thursday by saying India should draft policies on age-based access limits to tackle “digital addiction”.
Devarayalu’s legislation is a private member’s bill — not proposed to parliament by a federal minister — but such bills often trigger debates in parliament and influence lawmaking.
He is from the Telugu Desam Party, which governs the southern state of Andhra Pradesh and is vital to Modi’s coalition government.
Brianna LaPaglia recalls ‘toxic’ relationship with Zach Bryan
Brianna LaPaglia finally broke the silence on her breakup with Zach Bryan.
During an appearance on the latest episode of The Skinny Confidential podcast, the social media influencer revealed her “toxic” relationship with the Pink Skies singer also affected her friends and family.
“It’s heartbreaking to walk into a room with your family and friends and they’re on edge or they don’t know how to talk to you anymore. They don’t know like what’s going on. They’re scared. They’re walking on eggshells with you,” explained Brianna.
The 26-year-old further shared that she temporarily lost her “outgoing” nature during the course of the relationship.
“Throughout that relationship, I was kind of put in a corner, told not to speak. I was told when I was allowed to talk and things I was allowed to do and who I was supposed to be,” she said.
For those unversed, Brianna and Zach called it quits in October 2024 after a year of dating.
Last year, the influencer told People magazine that she was enjoying single life.
“I really genuinely enjoy being single,” she told the outlet. “I think there’s a lot of girls that can relate and a lot of guys that can relate that are relationship people. I was in a relationship since I was 16 until 25. Being single for the first time ever is frigging awesome.”
“I can order Taco Bell whenever, I can do whatever I want to do. I can go out, I can hang out with my friends. It’s really fun. I feel like I’m figuring out who I am,” added Brianna.
Striding out in a line dressed (almost) all in black, with slight smiles playing on their faces, the Beckhams looked a little like a high fashion mob family as they made a joint appearance in Paris on Monday. It probably wasn’t the sartorial reference they were going for – but it felt quite apt for a clan closing ranks, after a tearaway faction took a very public shot at their supremacy.
When David and Victoria’s 26-year-old son Brooklyn broke the Beckhams’ showbiz omerta last week with an explosive Instagram statement, one question immediately arose. How would Britain’s media-savvy golden couple respond to this devastating salvo, in which their eldest child accused them of, among a whole array of headline-grabbing allegations, “public promotion and endorsement above all else” and “trying endlessly to ruin [his] relationship” with wife Nicola Peltz Beckham?
Would they issue a rejoinder of their own, and risk being dragged into a social media war of words? Would they dredge out the wedding video to disprove their son’s suggestion that Victoria’s mother-of-the-groom dancing was “very inappropriate”? Or would they take a leaf out of the royal family’s “never complain, never explain” playbook and simply carry on as normal?
For the Beckhams, it was surely always going to be the latter option. They are, of course, seasoned professionals when it comes to the art of the agenda-shaping photo opp (remember when David and Victoria paraded around on the slopes of Courchevel amid allegations of an affair with Rebecca Loos?). And they will be all too aware that a smiling family snap is worth a thousand words (or, in Brooklyn’s case, 821 words).
Indeed, the past week or so seems to have been a case of business as usual for the clan – with an extra sprinkling of fashion industry stardust. The effect of it all? To make us feel silly for even questioning whether Brooklyn’s statement could ever really send this celebrity dynasty into a tailspin. Reports of Brand Beckham’s death, it seems, have been greatly exaggerated.
It was Victoria who appeared to be the main target of her son’s ire, thanks to the aforementioned dancing, along with allegations that her fashion brand had pulled out of making Nicola’s wedding dress at the “eleventh hour”. But the Beckham matriarch has managed to rise above it all with a clever (and at least partially organic) strategy bridging high and low culture.
Victoria Beckham, right, reunited with the Spice Girls at Emma Bunton’s birthday party (Instagram/@victoriabeckham)
Would Victoria have attended Emma “Baby Spice” Bunton’s 50th birthday party last weekend if Brooklyn hadn’t just lobbed a verbal grenade at the family brand? Most probably, yes. Friendship never ends, and all that. Will she have been hyper-aware of just how useful a photo of her and three of her Spice Girls pals (Mel B was off on her honeymoon) might prove as a distraction? Also yes. If ever there was a tactic precision-engineered to secure your place in the good graces of a certain millennial British demographic, it’s a Spice Girls reunion.
Indeed, the sense of nostalgia that Victoria can still conjure up was out in force on social media in the aftermath of Brooklyn’s big Prince Harry moment, as fans shared clips of old dance routines from her brief Noughties solo career (it surely wasn’t what her son had envisaged after that “inappropriate” jibe, but hey – taking the piss is a national sport on this side of the Atlantic). Her 2001 track “Not Such an Innocent Girl” even climbed to the top of the singles sale charts (trouncing the number six spot it reached 25 years earlier).
The gears in the Beckham machine may be grinding away behind the scenes, but you have to hand it to them: they make it look very easy
Monday, though, proved a reminder that, although she may have started as a slightly scrappy popstar, Victoria is now a respected fashion tastemaker. In a glamorous ceremony held during Paris Couture Week, the designer was made a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by French culture minister Rachida Dati, in recognition of her contribution to the industry. Also on the guest list were major players such as Anna Wintour and Francois-Henri Pinault, president of the luxury fashion conglomerate Kering.
Again, the date will surely have been in the calendar for months, but what impeccable timing. The Beckhams do big events like this one very well indeed. The kids (minus Brooklyn) all dressed in dark hues, mirroring their mum and dad in a display of sartorial unity. The photos posted on Instagram afterwards, showing them posing en famille in front of a lavish backdrop of chandeliers and gilded panelling, felt like a very chic power move.
The Beckham family (minus Brooklyn) attended Victoria’s ceremony (Instagram/@davidbeckham)
Romeo and Cruz’s girlfriends, Kim Turnbull and Jackie Apostel, also present at the ceremony, were rigorously on brand, too, with social media posts in praise of Victoria’s “kindness and respect” (per Jackie) and “role model” status (per Kim). No nightmare mother-in-law narratives here; it was hard not to interpret their words as a rejoinder to the Peltz Beckham branch of the family.
Yes, those images and gushing soundbites arguably tally up with Brooklyn’s jab about “performative social media posts”. But, as ever with the Beckhams, even when you have a sneaking suspicion that you might be being played, it’s very easy to fall for the smiles, the shiny surfaces and the lookalike kids. Call it celebrity-induced cognitive dissonance if you will. The gears in the Beckham machine may be grinding away behind the scenes, but you have to hand it to them: they make it look very easy.
The family’s only wild card is 20-year-old Cruz, which can probably be explained by the fact that, well, he’s only 20 years old. The aspiring musician has been liking memes about his mum’s wedding dance, and earlier this week, posted a video clip showing him, his brother Romeo (23), and their respective girlfriends in a Paris taxi. “Imagine hating and we’re just here like,” he wrote in the caption.
David and Victoria Beckham leaving the Ministry of Culture in Paris (AFP/G)
His cryptic words appeared to allude to Brooklyn’s bombshell statement (in which one of the eldest Beckham son’s claims was that his brothers were “sent to attack [him] on social media” before blocking him “out of nowhere this last summer”). Crucially, they were also vague enough for plausible deniability – but Cruz (or possibly another member of Brand Beckham) seemed to have second thoughts, as the post was quickly deleted.
It can’t entirely be a coincidence, either, that both Cruz and Romeo appear to have made strides in their fledgling careers over the past few days, too. Last Friday, Romeo walked in the Willy Chavarria catwalk show as part of Paris’ menswear fashion week, marking his latest foray into the modelling industry (he’s previously walked for the likes of Versace and Balenciaga).
Cruz, meanwhile, has just announced his first UK tour with his band, the Breakers, along with European dates in Paris, Amsterdam and Berlin. While the Brooklyn furore must have been fraught for them to navigate, it has also surely thrown some refracted spotlight onto these solo endeavours.
Victoria’s next big moment will be her fashion brand’s AW26 show in the City of Light in just a few weeks. The “united front” strategy will doubtless still be in full force. Expect to see the Beckham clan 2.0, with associated plus ones, sitting pretty on the front row in support. Never has one famous family understood the power of image so well.
When a couple first announces they’re engaged, the immediate reaction (all being well) is mostly “congratulations”. But the next phrase to come out of the well-wisher’s mouth is often a little more logistical: “So, when’s the wedding?” Historically, you could bet on the answer to this sitting somewhere between a year or 16 months on from the proposal. But, today, ceremonies can sit multiple years away from the day the person in love gets down on one knee.
One couple living in Los Angeles, Jody Watkins and Nicholas Brucculeri, were betrothed for so long that they even threw a party celebrating one year until they’d walk down the aisle (the halfway point of their engagement) rather than simply throwing the wedding itself. “We have to relish this engaged time we have together,” the bride-to-be told the New York Times of the celebration, which is becoming known as a “negative-one” or “minus-one anniversary” party.
Two years – or even three – is, of course, nothing compared to the long engagements of celebrities that have previously hit the headlines: Jean Todt and Michelle Yeoh were engaged for almost two decades. It took Amy Adams and Darren Le Gallo seven years to get down the aisle. Meanwhile, Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry, had a son in 2020 and split last June after getting engaged in 2019, with the latter now (bizarrely) coupled up with the former Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau.
While this is not to say that all elongated engagements end in disaster, the practice extending beyond celebrities does mark a notable shift in how and why we get married today. One big change, says wedding planner and host of the Let’s Get You Wed! podcast Hannah Rose, is that people are tying the knot later. In the UK, marriage age has been steadily climbing since the Seventies, with the media age for men being 25 for men and 23 for women in 1972, according to the ONS. By 2023, this had increased to almost 35 for men and 33 for women – a whopping 10-year increase.
“When people get engaged older, they often want to have a family quickly, so they focus on babies and buying a house,” says Rose of the biological clock hanging over humanity’s head. “Even 10 years ago, it was the norm to meet someone when you were young and start having children, whereas now it’s really shifted,” she adds. Baby now, wedding later, with a proposal and a big diamond ring signifying just enough commitment that one party is hitching their wagon to the other’s. “It’s quite rare that we see people in their early twenties now,” she adds. “And actually, if we do get a couple that age, we think, ‘ooh, they’re young.’”
Cameron and Jess, a 30-year-old couple who’ve been engaged for just under two years – and have since welcomed their first child, Philip – won’t get married any time soon. “If we’re blessed enough, we want to have maybe three or four children,” Cameron explains, adding they’d like to have “little gaps” in between each child. “That obliged us to start when we did,” he says. “Jess doesn’t want to be pregnant or trying for a baby when we get married. She just wants to be able to have a drink, enjoy the day and look beautiful. She would look beautiful regardless of it she was pregnant or not,” he adds. “But she wants to be able to enjoy it.”
Money, of course, is another hurdle to manoeuvre, with the average wedding predicted to cost £32,000 by 2028. “People get engaged and then they actually start to realise just how much things cost,” says Rose. “It’s not cheap to get married. So, often people will have an engagement party if they’re not getting married for a few years because they want to celebrate with their friends and family now and then to save up properly.”
Fed up: Anne Hathaway in ‘Bride Wars’ (Fox)
This is true for Cameron and Jess. “We thought we might get married not so long after we got engaged – and then we looked at the cost for what we’d want, with a quick turnaround, and we wouldn’t have been able to have the type of wedding we want to have,” Cameron explains. “We don’t want to get married for the sake of getting married. We want to enjoy the day and have the wedding we’d like with all of our friends and family around.” This, in theory, should be a reasonable enough request.
The other sticking point is being too busy with work to deal with the admin of wedding planning. Research has shown that wedding planning disproportionately falls to women in heterosexual couples – “another form of unpaid and unappreciated women’s work, not that unlike housework,” the research published in Qualitative Sociology reads. With women now outstripping men in the college-educated workforce, you do the maths.
“Sometimes, couples come to me who’ve been engaged for a year and have the money to book the ceremony but haven’t done a thing,” says Rose. “They’re normally really strong professional people with big careers who just do not have the time to plan and haven’t even had the time to think about what they’d like. It’s time – people don’t have any.”
Young finance professionals Emma and James have been engaged since September 2024 and are yet to name a date for their nuptials. “We work 8am until 6pm every day in London and it takes us an hour to commute home, so we’re out of the house 7am until 7pm every day,” says Emma. “By the time we get home, all we want to do is veg out on the sofa. Even cooking dinner is an ordeal. By the time you’ve eaten, the day is gone. That’s definitely made wedding planning a lot harder.”
Monica Geller and Chandler Bing planning their wedding in ‘Friends’ (NBC)
On top of being time poor, we live in an age of option overload, which leaves everyone with choice paralysis. “We’ve really noticed in the wedding industry that decisions are taking longer now,” says Rose. “People are sitting on things, going on TikTok, on Instagram, looking at other options and reviews. Whereas, a decade ago, you’d have gone to a wedding fair, seen a photographer and booked them. That’s not really a thing any more. People don’t have time. Yet, they want to research.”
Emma has fallen victim to this overwhelming decision fatigue. “In hindsight, I wish I’d hired a wedding planner,” she says. “At the time, I was like, ‘that’s £6k that I don’t need to spend’ but now I’ve realised how much a wedding is, that’s just a fraction.” So far, the couple have researched venues in Italy, Spain, Portugal and South Africa. “There’s just unbelievable levels of choice and then wading through to find out how much each of them is is an absolute nightmare,” Emma says.
“No website gives you the price on anything,” she complains of the cloak and dagger approach to cost. “You enquire, get a brochure, wade through it, only to find out the cost of each thing is more than you’ve ever spent on anything. Even a standard videographer is £3.5k – that’s more than any holiday I’ve ever been on. It’s the most demoralising experience ever.”
Lillian, after wedding dress shopping in ‘Bridesmaids’ (Universal)
Licensed relationship coach and therapist Jaime Bronstein has mixed feelings about the length of time it can now take couples to get down the aisle after a proposal. “If you know your ‘why’ for the long engagement and you’re clear on that and keep moving forwards, then it’s all okay,” she says. “But if you’re stuck, with no planning going on, in this kind of limbo, not sure what’s going on, it’s unnecessary elongating… it’s fear.”
Bronstein notes that, although work and family life can be a legitimate reason for some, it’s just an excuse for others. “Be really open with each other,” she says. “It can be like when a guy says he hasn’t texted a girl back because he’s ‘too busy at work’. Work hasn’t changed. The same as with dating or exercise: whenever you say you don’t have time to do something in life, it’s not the real truth. You’ve got to be honest with yourself.”
Actor Margot Robbie wore a one-of-a-kind necklace for a film promotional event that once belonged to Elizabeth Taylor.
Margot Robbie wore a necklace, which is a piece of history dating from the Mughals in India.
Margot Robbie recently enchanted fashion enthusiasts with her scintillating looks during the promotions for her upcoming film Wuthering Heights, hitting theatres on February 13. The actress, known for her breathtaking appearances on the red carpet, recently turned heads with her Schiaparelli couture gown. But what truly stole the spotlight was her pristine necklace that holds a piece of history.
On January 28, Margot Robbie attended the world premiere of Wuthering Heights at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, making some clear noise with her timeless elegance. She embraced the film’s dark, gothic romance aesthetic, wearing a custom Schiaparelli gown. She teamed it with Elizabeth Taylor’s iconic Cartier Taj Mahal diamond necklace, a Brontë bun and delicate glam makeup.
Margot Robbie’s Alluring Look For The Night
The haute couture creation by Daniel Roseberry features a strapless sweetheart neckline, sheer nude base with black Chantilly lace, and gold metal eyelet detailing at the back. It was attached to a dramatic, voluminous ombre skirt which transitions from deep black to a vivid crimson red at the floor.
She teamed her look with a Brontë Bun styled by Bryce Scarlett. It featured her hair pulled into a sleek yet structured updo—a modern take on Victorian styles. It was further complemented by delicate glam makeup, featuring even-toned skin, subtle eyeshadow and a soft flush of pink blush to maintain the romantic mood of her look.
A Look At Margot Robbie’s Taj Mahal Diamond Necklace
For accessories, she wore custom Lorraine Schwartz diamond earrings and a 19th-century ruby-and-diamond ring from Fred Leighton.
The diva topped it with the iconic Cartier Taj Mahal diamond necklace, which holds deep historical significance. The piece is valued at approximately $8 million, which, when converted to Indian currency, stands at Rs 74 crore, according to a report by People.
History Behind The Taj Mahal Necklace
The heart-shaped, table-cut 17th-century Mughal diamond bears a Parsi inscription reading inscribed with “Love is Everlasting”. Besides this, it also bears Nur Jahan’s name, carved into it, as a reminder of her husband, Mughal Emperor Shah Jahangir’s gift to his ladylove. Later, the necklace was passed down to their son, Shah Jahan, who then presented the jewellery to his wife, Mumtaz. Courtesy of its deep association with the Mughals, the necklace was named the Taj Mahal Diamond.
In 1971, French luxury brand Cartier acquired the Taj Mahal Diamond, adorned with red gemstones and table-cut diamonds, mounted in jade and suspended from a traditional Indian silk cord.
Cartier’s renowned in-house designer, Alfred Durante, further crafted a woven gold-and-ruby necklace featuring the Taj Mahal Diamond. In 1972, the label’s president, Michael Thomas, presented the necklace to Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.
Recalling his chance meeting during their layover at Kennedy Airport’s International Hotel, Thomas revealed that Butron asked him for a few gift ideas for Valentine’s Day and Taylor’s upcoming 40th birthday on February 27. This was when he showed the couple the precious necklace, leaving them in awe of it.
Later, Burton surprised Taylor with his grand surprise on her 40th birthday, 54 years ago.
Margot Robbie also shared how wearing the necklace on the red carpet “felt like it had a lot of romantic history and felt appropriate for tonight.”
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January 31, 2026, 11:24 IST
Newslifestylefashion Margot Robbie Wears Elizabeth Taylor’s Rs 74 Crore Taj Mahal Diamond Necklace
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New Delhi: India’s stock exchanges will hold a regular live trading session on the Union Budget 2026-27 on February 1, despite being a Sunday.
Historically, Budget presentations were done on February 1 while markets have opened for trading even when the date fell on a weekend.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2026‑27 at 11 am in the Lok Sabha on February 1.
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The National Stock Exchange said in a circular that “On account of the presentation of the Union Budget, members are requested to note that Exchange shall be conducting a live trading session on February 1, 2026, as per the standard market timings (9:15 am-3:30 pm).”
As it is a settlement holiday, any shares purchased on January 30 will not be eligible for sale on February 1. Similarly, stocks bought during the Budget Day cannot be offloaded the following day.
Sitharaman is set for her ninth consecutive Budget presentation, one of the longest uninterrupted tenures by a finance minister. This will also be the second full Budget since the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) came to power for a third consecutive term in 2024.
A recent report said that investors are likely to be focused on the debt metrics, deficit outcome and scheduled borrowings for the next year Budget to align with strategic objectives. Analysts expect borrowings to rise modestly by about 3 per cent year‑on‑year, implying a FY27 fiscal deficit of around 4.1–4.2 per cent of GDP, consistent with the ongoing consolidation path.
The Department of Economic Affairs leads the preparation of the Budget documents, which will detail the government’s estimates for expenditures, revenues and new schemes for the coming fiscal year.
The Economic Survey 2025-26 was tabled on January 29, followed by a press briefing from Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran and senior officials.
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Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates winning his semi final match against Italy’s Jannik Sinner during Australian Open at Melbourne Park, Australia on January 31, 2026. — Reuters
MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic turned back the clock to dethrone Jannik Sinner in a five-set classic and set up a final showdown with world number one Carlos Alcaraz after the Spaniard slogged through the longest Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev.
Stopped in the semi-finals of the last four Grand Slams, Djokovic sent the Italian double defending champion packing with a 3-6 6-3 4-6 6-4 6-4 win completed in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Less than four months before his 39th birthday, the 10-time champion eclipsed Ken Rosewall as the oldest man to reach the final in the professional era, while snapping a five-match losing streak to Sinner.
He will bid for a record-extending 11th title at Melbourne Park and the unprecedented 25th major crown that has eluded him against Spaniard Alcaraz, who needed five hours and 27 minutes to fall Zverev 6-4 7-6(5) 6-7(3) 6-7(4) 7-5 earlier at Rod Laver Arena.
“I saw Carlos after the match and he told me ‘I’m sorry to delay the start’ and I told him ‘I’m an old man, I need to go earlier to sleep’,” Djokovic said on court.
“Looking forward to seeing him in a couple of days.”
At a tournament short on thrillers and major upsets, all four semi-finalists played their part to deliver drama in spades.
Djokovic needed to draw on 20 years of Grand Slam experience and his famed mental toughness to hold out Sinner, who was relentless in attacking the Serb’s serve but failed to convert eight break-point chances in the final set.
“I had my chances […] Many break points, couldn’t use them,” said Sinner.
“He came up with some great shots.
“I know he’s won 24 Grand Slams. We know each other very well, how we play.
“I feel like he’s the greatest player for many, many years.”
Alcaraz faces cramp
Alcaraz fought through a leg cramp to deny Zverev and whereas Djokovic can become the oldest winner, the Spaniard will bid to become the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam with his first Melbourne title.
The semi-finals overwhelmed Alcaraz and Djokovic physically, with both vomiting during the matches.
Two sets up, Alcaraz struggled to move at 4-4 in the third set and had a medical timeout (MTO) at the change of ends to have work on his right thigh.
It left Zverev, last year’s runner-up to Sinner, raging at the supervisor, given players are banned from MTOs for cramp.
Alcaraz glugged pickle juice and soldiered on, losing the next two sets but still conjuring enough shot-making brilliance to make Zverev work for them.
The Spaniard’s prospects dimmed when he double-faulted to drop serve in the opening game of the fifth.
But he looked reborn when he chased down a drop-shot and pulled off a winner at full stretch.
Zverev fought grimly to keep Alcaraz at bay, saving a slew of break points as his exhaustion grew.
He served for the match at 5-4, only to see it slip through his fingers as Alcaraz claimed the last three games in a stunning finish.
With victory secured, Alcaraz lay flat on his back on the court in disbelief.
No stranger to marathon battles after his 2025 French Open final win over Sinner, Alcaraz said belief was the key to making it through the longest Australian Open semi-final.
“I always say you have to believe in yourself no matter what,” Alcaraz said.
“I was struggling in the middle of the third set. Physically, it was one of the most demanding matches I’ve played in my short career. But I’ve been in this situation before.
“I had to put my heart into the match. I did it and fought until the last ball […] I’m extremely proud of that and the way I came back in the fifth set.”
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