From Ikkis to Balan: The Boy, these are the 10 Indian films that truly deserved the loudest applause in the first half of 2026.
Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut has made explosive claims of a Rs 25 crore deal for dissident MPs who miss out on Union ministerial berths, highlighting growing rifts within Maharashtra's political landscape. Six Sena-UBT MPs are expected to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, with Aaditya Thackeray calling them 'shameless, ungrateful and corrupt'.
BJP leader Priyanka Tibrewal joined a protest in Kolkata against rebel TMC MLA Sandeepan Saha and his father, Swarna Kamal Saha, over allegations of land grabbing and extortion. The protest highlighted public resentment against the duo, who are accused of demanding "cut money." Sandeepan Saha is also part of a TMC rebel faction that has sought recognition as a separate bloc.
Madhya Pradesh minister Kailash Vijayvargiya's comments about administrative officials rushing to show RSS affiliation after the BJP came to power have ignited a political controversy. The Congress party has strongly criticised the remarks, calling them a threat to the neutrality and constitutional dignity of the bureaucracy and demanding a constitutional review.
The best time to buy health insurance is when you don't think you need it.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has clarified the controversy surrounding a NEET-UG re-test candidate being allotted an examination centre in Abu Dhabi, stating the student himself had chosen the venue. Following a request, the NTA re-allotted a centre in Nagpur.
A year after accidentally filming the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad, 18-year-old Aryan Asari, now known as the 'Aeroplane Boy', shares his story of unexpected fame and the lasting fear that prevents him from filming aircraft or flying himself.
The Sports Ministry's Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) has sanctioned Rs 35.46 lakh for overseas training stints for Paralympic medallists Ajeet Singh (javelin) and Pranav Soorma (club throw) to prepare them for the upcoming Asian Para-Games in Japan. Both athletes, part of the TOPS core group, will train in Germany and Czechia respectively, with Pranav also participating in multiple championships.
Crime scene reconstruction suggested Siya and her lover had allegedly planned and rehearsed the murder in advance.
Have a blast with Lenin, one puzzling piece at a time!
June-July 1999 saw some of the most bitterly fought battles in the Kargil War. Colonel Gaurav Chaturvedi looks back on those days -- and the extraordinary saga of the men he fought alongside.
From Peranbu to Bramayugam, Padma Bhushan winner Mammootty's recent filmography is proof that legends can keep reinventing themselves, even post 70.
Here are who's who attending the wedding.
Alpha is a botched up opportunity, rues Sukanya Verma.
A Melbourne-based Indian-origin teacher, Sunil Sharma, who went missing in Amritsar, was allegedly murdered by his brother, Satish Sharma, over a property dispute. Police investigations revealed Satish conspired with property dealers to usurp Sunil's properties, leading to his murder with a baseball bat after being drugged. Sunil's body was then disposed of in a canal, and his family, including his daughter, had appealed for help in finding him. Satish, his wife, and son have been arrested, and a search for the body and other conspirators is ongoing.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes has announced his retirement from international cricket, ending a career defined by match-winning brilliance, iconic Ashes moments, World Cup glory, and a transformative impact on English cricket across all formats.
A man in Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his father-in-law following a domestic dispute in 2016.
A 39-year-old advocate, Priyanka, has been arrested in connection with the murder of her five-year-old daughter in Bengaluru. Her live-in partner, Mohan G, who was arrested earlier, has confessed to killing the child. Police are investigating Priyanka's role and potential motives, including her alleged dissatisfaction with the child's complexion.
A man died and his father was injured when their milk van collided with a truck on the Delhi-Chandigarh national highway in Kurukshetra. The accident occurred when the truck driver braked suddenly, causing the van to crash into its rear.
The Bombay High Court has declined to grant relief to a third-year psychology student debarred for low attendance, despite her suffering from acute depression and a personality disorder. The court stated that while it sympathises with her, it cannot rewrite academic rules or create exemptions, emphasising that legal entitlement must prevail over sympathy.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Vinicius Jr speaks on emotional bond with grandmother, racism and WC journey
A first-year MD student in Bareilly allegedly attempted suicide by jumping from a college building after enduring prolonged ragging and mental harassment from senior students. Police have registered an FIR against four senior doctors and others, including the college administration, following a complaint by the student's father, who claims earlier complaints to authorities were ignored.
Portugal's World Cup squad will wear commemorative wristbands in tribute to their late former teammate Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash last year. Midfielder Vitinha discussed the team's approach to the upcoming tournament, acknowledging logistical challenges and expressing his personal ambition to win the World Cup.
Akshay Kumar runs away with Welcome To The Jungle, but a few unexpected scene-stealers ensure he isn't having all the fun.
If Elle is to turn into its own franchise, it needs a lot more substance, notes Deepa Gahlot.
A woman in Meerut has accused her former husband of encouraging their eight-year-old son to smoke cigarettes and recording videos of him for social media. She has sought police intervention and custody of the child, citing concerns about his safety, upbringing, and the father's alleged past involvement in a narcotics case. Police are investigating the complaint.
Indian cricketer Rinku Singh's father passed away after battling stage-four cancer. Rinku had briefly returned home from the T20 World Cup to see his father.
'Producers were ready to pay me obscene amounts of money because after Rangeela, they thought if they took A R Rahman and Ahmed Khan, the film would be a hit.' 'There were no imported cars then, no mobile phones or online shopping, no house to run or any big kharcha. I was rocking!'
A history-sheeter, Shyamkumar, has been arrested in Thiruvananthapuram for allegedly assaulting a father and son after they questioned him for blocking a road. The victims sustained injuries, and police have registered an attempt to murder case, with plans to invoke the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) against the accused due to his criminal background.
A man has been arrested in Uttarakhand for allegedly assaulting his eight-month pregnant wife, which resulted in the death of their unborn child. The wife is in critical condition, and police are investigating whether the dispute stemmed from a land deal or an alleged illegal sex determination test.
An 18-year-old Dalit youth, Ketan Lal, was allegedly beaten to death and his friend injured by the family of a minor upper-caste girl in Uttarakhand's Pratapnagar block. The incident occurred after the girl called Ketan to her village, leading to their assault. Police have registered a murder case and invoked the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, detaining one accused.
A riveting mother-son drama with a superb first half, Balan: The Boy loses some of its grip after an ambitious but uneven turn, notes Sreeju Sudhakaran.
Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi, India's first female International Master and Women's Grandmaster, asserts that India is the strongest chess-playing nation globally and will only grow stronger. She highlights Chennai's pivotal role in this revolution, crediting pioneers like Manuel Aaron and Vishwanathan Anand, and expresses confidence in the next generation, including Gukesh and Vaishali. Vijayalakshmi also reflects on her own career, a near-miss men's GM title, and her plans for a comeback after a personal tragedy.
From Ramayana Part 1 and Alpha to King and Toxic, here's why the next six months could be one of Indian cinema's most exciting line-ups in years.
The death toll from the Taratala warehouse collapse in south Kolkata has risen to 15, with two more bodies retrieved and two injured workers succumbing to their injuries. Rescue operations involving multiple agencies, including the Army and Indian Railways, are ongoing to find those still trapped under the debris, facing challenging and unstable conditions.
An 18-year-old Indian teenager, Romanch Mahajan, died in New York's Central Park after a horse-drawn carriage bolted, throwing his mother. He attempted to save her but sustained fatal injuries. The incident has reignited calls to ban horse carriages in the park, with officials and union representatives commenting on driver negligence and a history of similar accidents.
Five members of the Agrawal family, including a chartered accountant, his wife, their two daughters, and his mother, were cremated in Gurugram after perishing in a devastating fire at a Malviya Nagar B&B. The family was in Delhi for the father's medical treatment, and the tragedy also claimed the lives of other relatives, leaving the community in profound grief.
Indian cricketers Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma reveal the personal motivations and legendary advice that helped them perform under pressure during their maiden ODI World Cup title win last year.
Police in Pune have detained the fiancee and a male friend of trekker Ketan Vishal Agarwal, who was initially believed to have died in an accidental fall at Lohagad fort. The case is now being investigated as a murder, with allegations that the two suspects pushed Agarwal into a deep gorge.
What works for Lock Upp Season 2: Sach ya Sazaa is the dramatic energy the contestants bring along. Whether they are successful, desperate or struggling in their respective careers, each one seems willing to bare a part/all of themselves on this platform, informs Divya Nair.
