Sunetra Pawar, wife of late Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, will be sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister Saturday at 5 pm, sources confirm. She accepted the proposal and will hold Excise and Sports portfolios previously managed by her husband. The Finance portfolio temporarily remains with CM Devendra Fadnavis for the March budget session before transferring to NCP. Senior NCP leaders proposed Sunetra's elevation ahead of February 7 Pune Zilla Parishad elections. Family discussions preceded her acceptance. Ajit Pawar, 66, died Wednesday when his chartered aircraft crashed at Baramati airport, killing all five aboard. His last rites occurred Thursday with full state honors, attended by Amit Shah, Sharad Pawar, and other dignitaries. (PC: PTI)

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced the EU-India FTA will be implemented this year, benefiting labor-intensive sectors. In a Hindu interview, Goyal emphasized India only negotiates FTAs with developed economies complementing its growth, contrasting this with the UPA-era RCEP negotiations with ASEAN countries. He ruled out reconsidering RCEP, stating PM Modi's government exclusively pursues agreements with developed nations. While the EU framed the FTA as a political message to the U.S., Goyal clarified India's sole message is its growth story. He credited the deal's swift completion to Modi's "confidence and guidance," highlighting the strategic shift from previous administrations toward partnerships with complementary developed economies rather than emerging market blocs. (PC: X)

Following Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's fatal plane crash Wednesday, momentum builds for merging the two Nationalist Congress Party factions, dubbed his "last wish." Aide Kiran Gujar revealed Ajit told him five days before the crash that merger processes were complete and imminent. Former minister Anil Deshmukh confirmed it was Ajit's "heartfelt wish." NCP leaders Bhujbal, Tatkare, and Munde met CM Fadnavis discussing Ajit's portfolios including Finance and Planning. Saturday's legislative party meeting may elect Ajit's wife Sunetra Pawar as NCP chief and potentially deputy CM. Ajit's faction allies with BJP-Shinde government while uncle Sharad Pawar's faction opposes them. Both recently contested civic polls together, signaling reconciliation momentum.

A 22-year-old Indian national identified only as Shivam has been indicted by a federal grand jury in New York's Northern District for smuggling Indian nationals from Canada into the United States. He faces one conspiracy count and four counts of illegally transporting aliens for financial gain, covering operations from January-June 2025. In January 2025, Border Patrol agents pursued two vehicles near the US-Canada border in Clinton County; one crashed while the other stopped in Mooers, both carrying 12 undocumented individuals. WhatsApp messages between drivers and Shivam's number allegedly coordinated multiple smuggling operations, including proof-of-life photos and safe house directions. Conviction carries 10 years maximum per count, with mandatory five-year minimum. (PC: iStock)

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died Wednesday in a Learjet 45 crash near Baramati, killing all five aboard including pilot Sumit Kapoor and PSO Vidhit Jadhav. The state CID has launched a probe alongside the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. New CCTV footage shows the aircraft's left wing dropping suddenly before a fiery impact. Experts propose three theories: aerodynamic stall, engine failure causing asymmetric thrust, or excessive banking too close to ground. The black box has been recovered for analysis. According to DGCA officials, the crew's last recorded words were "oh s***," with no pre-impact flames observed. The crash triggers political upheaval as NCP searches for Pawar's replacement. 

Pakistan Cricket Board awaits government approval for T20 World Cup 2026 participation following ICC's removal of Bangladesh as host. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss potential boycott options, including skipping the India match. However, former cricketer Rashid Latif criticized Pakistan's delayed response, stating "the time for a strike has passed." Latif argued Pakistan should have withdrawn immediately when Bangladesh lost hosting rights, suggesting last week's ICC meeting was the optimal moment. While acknowledging government authority over the decision, Latif proposed Pakistan could still refuse playing India, even in a potential final. The PCB will announce its final decision this Friday or next Monday. (PC: NDTV)

The Maharashtra Crime Investigation Department (CID) has begun probing the Baramati plane crash that killed Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, after an accidental death case was registered by local police and transferred to CID investigators. The crash of a Learjet 45 occurred near the tabletop Baramati airstrip shortly after Pawar’s flight from Mumbai on January 28, killing him, the pilot, co-pilot, personal security officer and a flight attendant. The CID team will collect evidence and visit the site as part of the inquiry, which aims to rule out sabotage. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) under the Civil Aviation Ministry is also investigating technical causes of the crash. (PC: ANI)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah leveraged the India-EU Free Trade Agreement as a campaign strategy at a Dibrugarh rally ahead of Assam Assembly polls. Shah announced that the FTA, sealed January 27, would eliminate tariffs on Assam tea exports to all 27 EU nations, significantly boosting the state's tea industry. Assam produces 52% of India's tea output, approximately 650 million kilograms projected for 2025. The deal targets Upper Assam's tea-growing communities and the Ahom population, key voting blocs where BJP has gained ground since 2014. The FTA, effective by 2027, removes duties on 99% of Indian exports by value, positioning Assam tea to compete globally against Sri Lankan, Kenyan, and Chinese producers. (PC: India Today)

France is advancing a major digital safety law to ban children under 15 from using social media in an effort to protect youth from online harms such as cyberbullying and mental health issues. Lawmakers in the Assemblée Nationale approved the bill by a strong majority, and it now moves to the Senate before final passage. The proposal would require platforms to implement age-verification rules and could take effect by September 2026, aligning with international trends following Australia’s under-16 ban. The law also proposes extending smartphone restrictions in schools and has sparked debate over enforcement and digital rights. (PC: Getty Images)

After Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s sudden death in a plane crash, political activity has intensified around the future of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Senior NCP leaders met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to stake claim over Pawar’s portfolios and ensure the party retains key ministries in the state government. Close aides say Ajit Pawar had been quietly working on a plan to merge the two rival NCP factions—his and the one led by Sharad Pawar—after upcoming local elections, calling reunion his last wish. This talk of unification has gained momentum following meetings with Pawar’s family and party leaders, even as there’s active push to position his wife, Sunetra Pawar, in leadership roles amid the ongoing transition.