The 50 episode update: New reality show, The 50 has managed to win over the audiences in its debut week. In this survival-driven format, week one saw multiple players exiting the show, underlining how quickly the game can change inside the Mahal. The Lion has also intrigued the viewers with his presence, and announcing task-based eliminations to massive showdowns. Let’s meet 4 players who faced dramatic exit orders in week one of The 50.
Vanshaj Singh
Vanshaj Singh became the first player to receive an exit order on the very first day of the game. The fellow players voted him out, marking an early departure that signalled how quickly the dynamics inside the Mahal could shift.
Saurabh Ghadge
Saurabh Gadghe faced an exit order after landing in the danger zone during the Lion’s Crazy Games. The task proved to be a turning point, and his position in the danger zone ultimately cost him his place in the game.
Sumaira Shaikh also received an exit order following the same Lion’s Crazy Games. After finding herself in the danger zone, she was unable to secure her safety, leading to her elimination during the first week itself.
Archit Kaushik
In the latest episode, Archit Kaushik was handed an exit order after an incident involving violence against fellow player Maxtern. The Lion, acting as the gamemaster, intervened and issued a direct exit order, reinforcing the show’s strict stance on rule violations and discipline inside the Mahal.
As the competition progresses, players will have to balance strategy, performance, and discipline to survive in a format where one mistake can lead to an immediate exit.
The 50 streaming on JioHotstar at 9:00 PM and airing at 10:30PM on Colors.
New Delhi: The Indian equity markets closed the week higher on Friday, after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) revised its growth projection of the economy upwards for H1 FY27. At the closing bell, Sensex gained 266 points, or 0.32 per cent, to settle at 83,580. Nifty surged 50 points, or 0.20 per cent, to close at 25,693.
The broader markets showed divergence from benchmark indices, as Nifty Midcap 100 index lost 0.02 per cent, while the NSE Smallcap 100 shed 0.27 per cent. Sectoral indices traded mixed, as consumer staples were the top gainers, with Nifty FMCG surging 2.27 per cent and Nifty Consumer Durables rising 0.96 per cent. Private banks and realty surged 0.63 per cent each.
Nifty IT was the top loser, down 1.47 per cent, as Nifty Pharma fell 0.72 per cent. Analysts said Indian equity markets traded with a range-bound bias as investors digested the central bank’s decision to keep interest rates unchanged. The central bank reinforced its preference for stability amid improving global trade visibility following recent US tariff adjustments, they said.
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The markets later drew support from regulatory clarity after the RBI’s indication that banks would be permitted to lend to REITs, enhancing long-term funding visibility for the real estate and credit ecosystem. On the domestic front, support also came from a slight recovery in the Indian rupee, aided by moderated corporate dollar demand, which helped ease near-term currency concerns, they said.
Bank Nifty ended the session with a measured rebound after successfully defending the 59,600–59,650 demand zone, reflecting strong buying interest and short covering at lower levels, market watchers said. “We expect the consolidation to continue with a positive bias as long as the Nifty holds above the 25,400 level,” said Ajit Mishra–SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd.
NEW DELHI: Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi delivered a stunning performance in the U-19 World Cup final on Friday, producing one of the most dominant innings ever seen at this level. Playing against England on the biggest stage, the young Indian opener showed remarkable composure and attacking intent from the very start.
Why this T20 World Cup could well see a 300 plus total | Will India create history?
Sooryavanshi reached his century in just 55 balls, making it the second-fastest hundred in U-19 World Cup history. Only Australia’s Will Malajczuk has scored a quicker ton in the tournament. He brought up his century with a single and then marked the moment with a calm and respectful celebration. After a brief roar, he removed his helmet and gloves, paused for a brief prayer, and applauded the dressing room.Watch:The Indian batter brought up his first fifty in 32 balls and then accelerated even further, scoring his next fifty in only 23 deliveries as England’s bowlers struggled to slow him down.He shared a rapid 142-run partnership with captain Ayush Mhatre, who contributed a steady half-century before getting out. Together, they completely took control of the final and pushed England onto the back foot.Sooryavanshi eventually fell for a breathtaking 175 off 80 balls, an innings filled with 15 fours and 15 sixes. His dismissal finally gave England a moment to regroup, as the scoring rate had made even an extremely high total seem possible.Despite missing out on a double century, the young prodigy walked off to a standing ovation. At the time of reporting, India have crossed 300 runs with over 15 overs left to play.
Lisa Kudrow has issued a heartfelt appeal to the future owner of Warner Bros. Discovery, urging them to preserve the iconic Burbank studio lot where the sitcom Friends was filmed for a decade.
Friends ran for 10 seasons and its sets became a part of modern pop culture.
In an recent interview, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter, the actor, who essayed the character of Phoebe Buffay on the globally popular sitcom, asked that the historic Warner Bros. lot remain unchanged amid an ongoing ownership battle.
Kudrow said the studio holds significance not just for her personally, but for the wider film and television industry.
“It’s hard for me to tell whether Warner Bros. is just special to me, or if it’s special to the whole city or industry, and I think it is,” she said.
Reflecting on frequent changes in studio ownership, Kudrow added that she hopes the lot will be “preserved as is,” noting that it continues to function perfectly for modern productions.
She made a specific plea to protect “Jack Warner’s roses,” a long-standing feature of the studio grounds, as per The Hollywood Reporter
Warner Bros. has been the filming home of several landmark projects, including Casablanca, Blade Runner’ The Matrix, Inception, and The Goonies. For Kudrow, however, its significance is deeply personal. She worked on the lot for at least 10 years while filming Friends, which ran for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004.
The sitcom, which also starred Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer, was primarily shot on Stage 24. Following the series finale, the stage was officially nicknamed ‘The Friends Stage’ in recognition of the show’s cultural impact.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced a defining innings on the biggest stage of his young career, delivering one of the most commanding knocks in Under-19 World Cup history. In the final of the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup at Harare, the 14-year-old left-hander tore into the England attack with a breathtaking 175 off just 80 balls, seizing control of the contest and placing India firmly in the ascendancy. It was the highest individual score by any Indian batter – across senior men’s, Under-19 men’s, senior women’s and Under-19 women’s cricket – in a limited-overs ICC final.
The innings marked the culmination of a tournament built on consistency rather than spectacle for Sooryavanshi. Scores of 2, 72, 40, 52, 30 and 68 had underlined his reliability at the top of the order, but a truly decisive performance had remained elusive.
India were shaken early by the loss of opener Aaron George in the fourth over, but Vaibhav Sooryavanshi showed no signs of disruption. He settled quickly, allowing the innings to unfold on his terms. Once set, the tempo rose without rashness – crisp drives pierced the infield, pulls were dispatched with authority, and lofted shots cleared the ropes with ease. Each boundary appeared part of a plan rather than a gamble.
He scored his hundred in just 55 balls, ranking among the fastest centuries in Under-19 World Cup history. Instead of easing off, Sooryavanshi pressed harder. The acceleration was ruthless yet controlled, as he needed only 16 more deliveries to surge from 100 to 150. He brought up 151 off 71 balls, with fours and sixes flowing in quick succession—power allied to remarkable clarity and balance as England struggled to stem the momentum.
Fastest hundreds in Youth ODIs
42 balls – Sameer Minhas vs ZIM, 2026
51 balls – Will Malajczuk vs JPN, 2026
52 balls – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vs ENG, 2025
53 balls – Kamran Ghulam vs ENG, 2013
55 balls – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vs ENG, Today
56 balls – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vs UAE, 2025
By the time he was dismissed for a majestic 175, Harare Sports Club had been treated to an exhibition of batting that had long since swung the final India’s way. His innings was laced with 15 fours and 15 sixes – a blend of brute force and balance that left England searching for answers.
Sooryavanshi rewrote the record books in the 2026 Under-19 World Cup final with a breathtaking 175 off just 80 balls against England, the highest individual score in a U-19 World Cup final. His knock eclipsed Unmukt Chand’s composed 111 off 130 balls against Australia in the 2012 final and Brett Williams’ 108 off 134 balls for Australia against Pakistan in the 1998 title clash, underlining the evolving tempo and fearless batting approach of modern youth cricket.
Highest scores in U19 World Cup final
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vs England – 175 in 80 balls in 2026 Unmukt Chand vs Australia – 111 in 130 balls in 2012 Brett Williams vs Pakistan – 108 in 134 balls in 1998
The knock now sits among the top 10 highest individual scores in Youth ODI cricket. Sooryavanshi is only the second Indian to feature on that list, behind Ambati Rayudu, who struck an unbeaten 177 against England in 2002.
Sooryavanshi also left a deep imprint on the speed charts. His 55-ball hundred is the second-fastest in Under-19 World Cup history, behind Will Malajczuk’s 51-ball effort earlier in the competition. Across under-19 ODIs where data is available, he now features repeatedly among the quickest centurions, having also reached the milestone in 52 balls against England in 2025 and 56 balls against the UAE in the same year.
MOST SIXES IN U19 WC HISTORY
15* – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (IND) vs ENG, Harare, 2026
12 – Michael Hill (AUS) vs NAM, Penang, 2008
11 – Craig Simmons (AUS) vs KEN, Dunedin, 2002
The final was also a record-breaking night for six-hitting. Sooryavanshi struck 15 sixes – the most by any batter in a single Under-19 World Cup innings – surpassing Michael Hill’s 12 against Namibia in 2008. In doing so, he also bettered his own Youth ODI record of 14 sixes, set against UAE Under-19s at ICCA Dubai in December.
The Indian Motion Picture Producers` Association (IMPPA) has addressed its concerns to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the recent firing incident outside the residence of filmmaker Rohit Shetty.
The president of the association, Abhay Sinha wrote a letter to the CM, and spoke about the air of panic and anxiety that has shrouded the film fraternity in the light of multiple shooting incidents across the entertainment capital of the country.
Abhay Sinha wrote, “Rohit Shetty has not only made immense contributions to Indian cinema but has also consistently stood by the nation whenever called upon, extending his support to social causes and national initiatives in times of need in the larger interest of society. It is therefore deeply concerning that such an incident should occur at his residence. This alarming incident has understandably caused anxiety and apprehension within our film fraternity and we are concerned that events of this nature may create an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among artists, producers, technicians and the many individuals who dedicate themselves to contributing to the cultural and economic strength of our state”.
“We respectfully request your immediate intervention to ensure a swift, thorough, and transparent investigation into the matter. We also urge that appropriate security measures be reinforced to reassure Shri Rohit Shetty and his family, as well as the entire entertainment fraternity. We are confident that under your leadership, firm steps will be taken to uphold law and order and to prevent any recurrence of such disturbing incidents”, he added.
The firing incident at Rohit Shetty’s Juhu bungalow in Mumbai took place last Sunday. Police investigating the case said they have received intelligence inputs suggesting that several celebrities are hesitant to approach the police. Investigators believe the main objective of the firing was to create fear across the film industry.
A senior police officer said they have received inputs that many people received threatening calls, but no one is coming forward to record statements or lodge complaints. If facts are concealed, it becomes extremely difficult for the police to take suo moto action. In one of Lonkar’s social media posts, warnings have come to light.
However, Rohit Shetty himself has denied receiving any threatening calls. Several police teams have been dispatched to different parts of the country in search of the shooters.
Myanmar’s multi-phase general elections were held between December 2025 and January 2026, the first since the 2021 military coup. While the military-led government framed the elections as a successful return to a multi-party system, the elections were designed to minimize the risks of a nationwide security collapse as much of the region was still reeling from the ongoing civil war and widespread air strikes. Central to this change was the instrumentalization of the 2008 constitution, which guarantees the military 25% of all parliamentary seats and provides a legal basis for “limited democracy” that ensures permanent military surveillance.
Myanmar is holding phased, month-long elections for the first time since the military seized power in a coup in 2021.(AFP)
The overall process of elections has been described by various analysts as a means of maintaining the status quo established by the 2021 coup. This phased approach in a way accepted the reality that the army’s territorial reach was limited and only 21% of the country was under firm control. Phase I (December 28, 2025) covered 102 townships, with priority given to Nay Pyi Taw Capital Region, Yangon and Mandalay. Phase II (January 11, 2026) expanded to 100 townships in 12 states and territories. This phase was marked by significant destruction, with resistance forces launching simultaneous attacks in at least 10 townships. Ultimately, the third phase (January 25, 2026) covered 63 constituencies. The result claimed a 55% turnout, but this was much lower than 2020’s turnout of 70%.
Despite claims of inclusivity, the military was forced to cancel voting in 65 townships, about 20% of the country. Additionally, Union Election Commission (UEC) data indicated that 3,995 specific areas, including 3,772 village localities and 223 wards, were completely excluded from the phases due to active fighting. The elections saw the deployment of 50,000 Myanmar Electronic Voting Machines (MEVMs), locally developed units that replaced paper ballots. While the MEVM was claimed to be a modernization effort, internal risks acknowledged in state media included infrastructure demands (constant power) and the machines’ susceptibility to manipulation.
The elections were conducted through a repressive legal framework. The Political Party Registration Law, introduced in January 2023, and the Law on the Protection of Multi-Party Democratic General Elections from Obstruction, Disruption, and Destruction, adopted in July 2025, were comprehensive laws barring 40 political parties from participating in elections, as well as criminalizing and controlling the flow of information. And enforcement of this law was accompanied by complete intolerance for dissent. By the end of voting, more than 229 individuals were formally prosecuted and more than 400 were detained.
The dissolution of the 41 parties cleared the field for the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). Only six parties were eligible to contest elections nationwide, leaving voters with limited options. As a result, the USDP, led by U Khin Yi, claimed a landslide victory, securing 232 out of 263 seats in the Pyithu Hluttaw (lower house) and 109 out of 157 seats in the Amyotha Hluttaw (upper house).
This was also ensured through the introduction of a mixed member proportional (MMP) system for the Amyotha Hluttaw (upper house), which used a combination of first-past-the-post (FPTP) and proportional representation (PR) to favor smaller ethnic military-aligned proxies such as the Mon Unity Party (MUP), the Arakan Front Party (AFP), and the Zomi National Party (ZNP). Was. Other smaller parties, such as the Kayah State People’s Party, Kayin National Democratic Party, Danu Nationalities Democracy Party, Rakhine Nationalities Party and the Naga National Party gained one seat each in the upper house. Therefore, by moving away from the FPTP in the upper house, the Sena ensured that the ethnic vote would be divided among local parties rather than coming together for the national opposition and also project an image of multi-party democracy and inclusivity, even if the USDP retained a decisive majority.
However, despite this managed process, local ethnic voting patterns in some areas challenged the military-staged figures. For example, in Taunggyi, Nan Kyin of the Pa-O National Organization (PNO) defeated Lieutenant-General Aung Aung, a leading figure of the USDP. The Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) gained a number of seats in the lower house in both rounds. The formation of the Spring Revolution Alliance (SRA) signaled a strategic shift towards operational unity just before the elections began. The alliance includes 19 important groups, such as the 96 Soldier PDF, the Magway PDF, and the Bamar People’s Liberation Army (BPLA), which acts as a “mobile bridge” between eastern ethnic allies and the central Bamar heartland. Additionally, resistance remained concentrated in the Bamar-majority “dry zone” (Sagaing and Magway). These groups have refused military control over agricultural centers and disrupted vital north-south supply routes along the Irrawaddy and Chindwin rivers. Also on the western border, the Arakan Army (AA) maintains complete dominance in Rakhine and controls 14 out of 17 townships. Simultaneously, the Chin Brotherhood and the Kalay Revolution Force have secured routes along the Chin-Saing border, maintaining vital supply lines from the Indian border. The Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) control the strategic plateaus, effectively encircling Nay Pyi Taw from the east and disrupting access to the mineral-rich northern areas.
The international community is sharply divided between non-recognition and practical engagement. This realignment reflects changing patterns in a multi-polar world, where interests in stability or resources outweigh democratic norms. To legitimize the results of the elections, the military recruited an elite group of international observers to create a positive narrative that the voting was “orderly,” “free and fair” and independently conducted. These were mainly from countries that have maintained diplomatic relations with the regime, i.e. Russia, China, Belarus and Nicaragua. There was representation from the Indian side. Even though the ASEAN bloc declined to send observers, individual countries such as Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia participated in the process.
It is important to note that China pursues a dual-track diplomacy, providing economic grants under the BRI to the military while maintaining ties with the KIA and the United Wa State Army (UWSA) to protect its rare earth supplies and the Kyaukfu deep sea port. Myanmar is strategically located as the third-largest producer of rare earth minerals, which are mainly found in the conflict-stricken Kachin State. This has increased geopolitical competition and interference from external forces. Russia, since the military takeover in 2021, has emerged as a strategic supplier of jet fuel and weapons and drones to the military. Regionally, ASEAN as a bloc could not bring Myanmar back under its fold and Malaysia and the Philippines flatly refused to recognize the election results, noting the failure of the five-point consensus.
Sharing a 1643 long land border and maritime border, India has attempted to balance its Act East policy with border security. India has attempted to balance its strategic interests, border security and infrastructure projects by adopting a two-track policy. This approach includes engaging with ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and opposition groups, particularly the Arakan Army and Chin groups, to secure border stability and counter China’s influence, as well as maintaining state-level engagement with the military and now its elected party USDP to safeguard connectivity projects. Continued engagement is necessary to prevent Myanmar from complete isolation, which would push it further into China’s sphere of influence.
The military’s attempt to win over 80% of the USDP’s seats through the 2025-26 elections and plan a political transition with a predetermined outcome by excluding opposition and manipulating the legal framework has apparently won the show. Even as the country now prepares to call for a new Hluttaw in March 2026, the country remains a theater of “managed chaos.” As elections were announced and held across the country, many areas faced high-intensity warfare. More than 3.3 million people are internally displaced, and 18.6 million are in need of immediate assistance. During the elections themselves, at least 170 civilians were killed in air strikes and approximately 400 arrests were made.
The 2025-2026 elections have achieved strategic integration in the central and urban core but at the cost of permanent fragmentation on the periphery. And while it is now accepted that the troop standoff continues, international and regional players must act as facilitators to ensure that the violence stops, a ceasefire is signed and implemented, and a national dialogue is initiated. The fight led by opposition forces must uphold the norms of federal democracy in Myanmar as well as demand equal representation in the political process.
This article is written by Chhavi Vashishtha, Associate Fellow, Chintan Research Foundation, New Delhi.
Soon after the release and success of her debut film Saiyaara, Ahaan Panday’s gorgeous co-star Aneet Padda was roped in by the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU) for their next. Yes, we are talking about Shakti Shalini from the Stree universe, which will star Aneet in the lead. The film was officially announced in the end-credits of Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna’s Thamma last year. Shakti Shalini is set to go on floors in March this year, ahead of which we have found an interesting update about the casting — Homebound star Vishal Jethwa has reportedly onboarded the horror comedy as Aneet’s onscreen love interest.
Shakti Shalini to star Aneet Padda and Vishal Jethwa
A report shared by India Today reveals that actor Vishal Jethwa, who won hearts alongside Ishaan Khatter and Janhvi Kapoor in Homebound, India’s official entry to the Oscars, has now joined the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe. Vishal will apparently romance Aneet, but his character is touted to ‘go beyond a conventional romantic arc’. The report claims, “His character will play a key emotional and narrative role, acting as both a catalyst and counterpoint to the protagonist’s journey.” Now that is an unexpected turn, which fans are bound to enjoy.
Shakti Shalini will mark Vishal and Aneet’s second film together. Earlier, audiences witnessed their cute chemistry in Salaam Venky (2022). Also starring Kajol, the film follows the story of a boy diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Aneet had a short yet impactful role in the film, directed by Revathi. In a chat with TOI last year, lauding Aneet and remembering their time together on set, Vishal had shared, “On the sets, we had to do a few emotional scenes, and she would cry without glycerin in every shot. Also in the moments where she had to feel, she would really touch those emotions.”
Well, we wish Aneet and Vishal all the best for Shakti Shalini as we eagerly wait for an official announcement from the makers of the MHCU. The film is set to arrive in theatres on December 24, 2026.
The Indian women’s team suffered a narrow 2-3 loss to Thailand in their second Group Y match of the Badminton Asia Team Championship here on Thursday.
However, despite the defeat, India qualified for the quarter-finals, finishing second in Group Y after beating Myanmar 5-0 in their opening game on Wednesday.
Ranked 42, Tanvi began by shocking World No. 16 Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-14, 17-21, 21-18, before the doubles pair of Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly battled past Tidapron Kleebyeesun and Nattamon Laisuan 21-14, 20-22, 21-11.
However, Rakshitha Ramraj, Malvika Bansod and the doubles duo of Tanisha Crasto and Shruti Mishra lost their respective matches.
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-1770373615442_d.png?w=696&resize=696,0&ssl=1 "Rohit Shetty firing case: IMPPA requests CM Fadnavis to intervene")
-1770373615442_d.png "Rohit Shetty firing case: IMPPA requests CM Fadnavis to intervene")
