From Ikkis to Balan: The Boy, these are the 10 Indian films that truly deserved the loudest applause in the first half of 2026.
One year after the devastating AI 171 plane crash in Ahmedabad, the profound grief and lasting trauma continue to haunt the victims' families and eyewitnesses, many of whom still struggle with a deep-seated fear of flying and the indelible scars of their loss.
Monsoon rains have unleashed widespread destruction across India, claiming seven lives in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka due to landslides and floods, while heavy downpours have disrupted normal life and triggered red alerts in Maharashtra and other regions.
A massive fire at a bed-and-breakfast hotel in Delhi's Malviya Nagar killed 21 people, with residents alleging a delayed response from fire tenders, which the Delhi Fire Service denies. Police personnel were also injured during rescue efforts.
An FIR has been registered following a devastating fire in an Aliganj building in Lucknow that killed 15 people. The complaint alleges severe negligence, including the absence of adequate fire safety measures, emergency exits, and proper ventilation for smoke, in the commercial establishment. Four individuals, including the building owner and operators of businesses within, have been arrested as investigations continue.
Police in Muzaffarnagar have booked over 20 activists, including the youth wing president of Hindu Raksha Dal, for allegedly vandalising a non-vegetarian roadside eatery. The incident involved beating employees, damaging property, and burning a flex board, with threats related to the upcoming Kawad Yatra.
The once promising YRF Spy Universe, which delivered Bollywood's first Rs 500 crore grosser with Pathaan, is now grappling with an uncertain future as recent releases like Alpha and War 2 fail to ignite the box office.
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.
Despite backing from the team management, Washington Sundar's inconsistent usage with both bat and ball has raised questions over his undefined role, with Ravichandran Ashwin urging India to utilise him more clearly as a genuine all-rounder.
A young man in Uttar Pradesh died after allegedly setting himself on fire during a dispute with his brother over a motorcycle. The incident occurred after the elder brother, allegedly intoxicated, insisted on riding the motorcycle against their father's wishes.
A year after the devastating AI-171 Dreamliner crash near Ahmedabad, forensic scientists recount the immense emotional and scientific challenges faced in identifying the 260 victims. The director of Gujarat Directorate of Forensic Sciences, H P Sanghvi, shared the indelible image of a severed hand, symbolising the terror and the team's dedication.
The establishment had permission for only six rooms under the Delhi government's bed-and-breakfast policy but was allegedly operating around 25 rooms, including some in the basement, police sources said.
First responders and eyewitnesses vividly recall the horrific Ahmedabad Air India crash a year later, describing an inferno exceeding 1,000 degrees Celsius that melted boots and aircraft parts, and the heart-wrenching retrieval of a pregnant woman's charred body amidst the chaos.
A court in Mizoram's Aizawl district on Tuesday sentenced two Border Security Force (BSF) jawans to 42 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a woman and attacking her with acid in 2017.
Ahmedabad's Chief Fire Officer, Amit Dongre, reflected on the Air India flight AI-171 crash a year ago, describing the 10-hour rescue operation as the most challenging in his 22-year career, despite the tragic loss of 260 lives.
At least eight people, including three women and two boys, were killed in lightning strikes across six districts of Jharkhand. The victims were engaged in daily activities like farming, grazing, or seeking shelter when the incidents occurred.
Indian-origin British golfer Aaron Rai finished tied 19th at The Memorial Tournament, shooting a two-under 70 in the final round. JT Poston won the tournament in a playoff, while other notable Indian-origin golfers Sahith Theegala and Sudarshan Yellamaraju also participated.
Croatia's Donna Vekic resisted a gutsy fightback by Emma Raducanu in front of a partisan crowd to claim the Queen's Club title with a 6-0, 7-6(6) win in a high-quality final on Sunday.
A man in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, allegedly threw acid on a woman and her family while they were asleep after she refused his marriage proposal, police said.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Ministers and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav visited BJP MLA Anupama Jaiswal in hospital after she sustained burn injuries during a protest. The incident occurred while she was setting fire to an effigy during a demonstration in support of the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam'.
Of course, NOT! Here's why. And here's how you can increase your Rs 1 crore retirement corpus.
An Indian Navy officer has been arrested in Visakhapatnam for allegedly murdering and dismembering a 31-year-old woman after meeting her on a dating app.
Police in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, have arrested a man after his wife died in a house fire that she allegedly started to frame relatives in a property dispute.
An armed attack in Manipur's Kangpokpi district resulted in the deaths of three people and the burning of seven houses. Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen and the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) have condemned the violence, calling for justice and calm.
Police in Himachal Pradesh are investigating the discovery of a partially burnt body of a woman in a forest near Dhaula Kuan village. The identity of the deceased is currently unknown, and authorities are awaiting forensic and post-mortem reports to determine the cause of death.
Indian selection committee has advised Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill to prioritise red-ball and 50-over cricket until the 2027 ODI World Cup to manage his workload and ensure freshness for major ICC assignments, despite his strong IPL performance.
Four individuals, including a 17-year-old girl, have been apprehended for their alleged involvement in a deadly fire in Govindpuri, Delhi, which killed three family members and injured eight others. The fire was reportedly set deliberately to "teach a lesson" to a resident over an Rs 80,000 monetary dispute, with the intention of burning his scooter, but it tragically spread throughout the building. CCTV footage was crucial in identifying the suspects and confirming the incident as arson.
The building suffered extensive damage in the fire, with debris, shattered glass and burnt materials strewn in the vicinity. A large crowd gathered near the site as authorities cordoned off the spot and diverted traffic to facilitate rescue operations.
Residents of Meghaninagar vividly remember the explosion that shook the neighbourhood on the afternoon of June 12, 2025. An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London had crashed into the hostel blocks of B J Medical College. A massive fire broke out, sending clouds of smoke into the sky.
An 11-year-old boy was allegedly thrown into a burning tandoor (clay oven) for eating rasgullas during a wedding ceremony in Basti district of Uttar Pradesh. The child sustained severe burns and is currently hospitalised.
Three people were killed and seven houses gutted in an armed attack in Loibol Khullen village, Kangpokpi district, Manipur. Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen condemned the "heinous and cowardly" act, vowing to bring perpetrators to justice and enhance security. The Kuki Inpi Manipur also denounced the violence and demanded an investigation.
A Delhi court acquitted four men accused in the 2020 Delhi riots case, citing unreliable police testimonies contradicted by investigation records and other evidence.
Relatives and friends gathered at Max Hospital in Saket, New Delhi, searching for loved ones after a devastating hotel fire in Malviya Nagar killed at least 21 people. Many victims were severely burnt, making identification difficult, while an investigation into the cause of the blaze is ongoing.
At Kolga Aabla, the closest beach to her grandmother's home, at the edge of a birch forest, we immersed her balance ashes. It was a sombre, precious day for both of us. But a day that also brought long-needed closure. My mother's spirit, chained for so many years in a Parkinson's-locked body, was free. But my father came back from the beach a visibly older man.
Delhi Police have arrested the cook of a south Delhi hotel where a fire killed 21 people, alleging his negligence contributed to the blaze. The ongoing investigation is also scrutinising safety violations, unauthorised expansion, and the roles of the owner and an absconding associate in the tragedy.
A devastating fire in Delhi's Hauz Rani area claimed 21 lives, including eight members of the Agrawal family. Relatives recounted the harrowing last moments and raised serious concerns about the lack of fire safety infrastructure at the bed and breakfast where the tragedy occurred, highlighting the profound grief and challenges in identifying victims.
'You think it is written somewhere that she will not? She might escape for two months, perhaps a little longer. But she will go.'
A 34-year-old man in Karnataka has been arrested for allegedly setting his wife on fire after an argument over her wearing a nightdress instead of a sari. The incident occurred in Nandgad village, where the accused, Krishna Patil, reportedly had frequent disputes with his wife, Manjula Patil, over her choice of attire. Manjula sustained severe burn injuries and is receiving treatment.
A court in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, has sentenced a domestic help to life imprisonment for the murder of his employer nearly two years ago. The accused, Wasim, confessed to the crime, citing a financial dispute as the motive.
A woman and her partner have been arrested in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, following the death of her one-and-a-half-year-old child, who allegedly suffered brutal abuse.
