Sunetra Pawar, widow of late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, was sworn in today as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister at a ceremony in Mumbai, becoming the first woman to hold the post. The oath was administered by Governor Acharya Devvrat at Lok Bhavan, in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. Pawar’s elevation follows the tragic death of her husband in a plane crash days earlier. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislature elected her as leader prior to the ceremony amid emotional tributes and chants of “Ajit Dada Amar Rahe.” (PC: The Hindu)

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the death of Confident Group chairman CJ Roy, found with bullet injuries in Bengaluru during ongoing Income Tax Department searches linked to his company. Initial inquiries suggest he died by suicide while questioned by officials. Roy, 57, allegedly shot himself at his office as income-tax raids continued. His brother claims the only issue he faced was related to tax scrutiny and denied any financial stress or threats. The SIT will be supervised by senior Bengaluru police officials to conduct a thorough and meticulous probe into the incident. (PC: HT)

Elena Rybakina claimed the 2026 Australian Open women’s singles title, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a dramatic final at Melbourne Park. Rybakina fought back after losing the second set and trailing 3-0 in the decider, winning five straight games and sealing victory with an ace. The fifth-seeded Kazakh earned her first Australian Open title and second Grand Slam overall, avenging her 2023 final loss to Sabalenka. Sabalenka, seeking a third Melbourne crown, congratulated her opponent after the match. (PC: AP)

Suspected separatist fighters killed at least 10 Pakistani policemen in a series of coordinated attacks across Balochistan, targeting police stations and security posts. Pakistan has been battling a decades-long separatist insurgency in the resource-rich province, where armed groups frequently attack state forces, foreign nationals, and non-local residents. Authorities said the attackers used gunfire and explosives, triggering a large security operation. Transport and internet services were disrupted in several areas as forces searched for the assailants. The violence highlights ongoing security challenges in the volatile region. (PC: AFP)

Sunetra Pawar on Friday took oath as Maharashtra’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister, days after the death of her husband and NCP leader Ajit Pawar in a plane crash. She was unanimously elected leader of the NCP Legislature Party earlier in the day. The proposal was sent to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and cleared by the Governor. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated her after the oath ceremony. Sharad Pawar said he was not aware of the decision in advance and clarified he is not directly involved in reunification talks. Party sources said the move was aimed at projecting Sunetra Pawar as Ajit Pawar’s political successor. (PC: X)

Fresh documents linked to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation include an FBI report citing a “credible” confidential source who claimed US President Donald Trump was “compromised by Israel.” The report also alleged that Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner held outsized influence during Trump’s first term. The source raised concerns about Kushner’s business dealings, including undisclosed foreign links and Russian money flows. The report also referenced past real estate transactions involving Trump and made claims about Epstein’s legal and political networks. The US Justice Department said the material was released after review and reflects claims, not findings. Trump has denied wrongdoing and said he had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. (PC: X)

Jailed activist and scientist Sonam Wangchuk was taken to AIIMS Jodhpur early Saturday after complaining of stomach pain, officials said. Wangchuk, lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail since September 2025, spent about ninety minutes in the gastroenterology department before returning to prison. Hospital sources said he has been facing stomach-related issues and had visited the facility a day earlier for tests. The Supreme Court of India, hearing a petition filed by his wife, has sought his medical report by February 2. The court earlier directed jail authorities to ensure examination by a “specialist doctor” at a government hospital.

New files related to Jeffrey Epstein released by the US Justice Department include photographs that appear to show Prince Andrew kneeling on all fours over an unidentified woman lying on the floor. In some images, he is seen touching her stomach. The woman is fully clothed and her face is blacked out. Officials have not said when or where the photos were taken. The release also includes emails suggesting Jeffrey Epstein invited Andrew to meet a 26-year-old Russian woman in 2010. The documents do not accuse Andrew of a crime. He has denied all wrongdoing linked to Epstein. US authorities earlier said he was “not presently a target” of the investigation. Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial.

Rajya Sabha member Sunetra Pawar was unanimously elected leader of the Nationalist Congress Party legislature wing in Maharashtra on Saturday. The decision came three days after the death of her husband and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash near Baramati. Senior leaders proposed her name at a meeting held at Ajit Pawar’s office in Mumbai. Sunetra Pawar is expected to take oath later in the day as Maharashtra’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister. She entered active politics in 2024, contested the Baramati Lok Sabha seat, and was later elected to the Rajya Sabha. The party said the move aims to ensure continuity during a period of transition. (PC: India Today)

Bangladesh and Pakistan have resumed direct passenger flights after a 14-year gap, signalling warmer ties between the two countries. A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight landed in Karachi on Thursday and was given a water salute. The flights will operate twice a week under a temporary licence until March 30. The move comes as both sides hold high-level talks on defence cooperation, including Pakistan’s offer of JF-17 fighter jets to Bangladesh. The shift follows political change in Dhaka after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024. Officials in Pakistan called the flights the start of a new phase in bilateral relations. (PC: HT)