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 Latif argued Pakistan should have withdrawn immediately when Bangladesh lost hosting rights, suggesting last week's ICC meeting was the optimal moment.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. 

An IndiGo flight from Kuwait to Delhi was diverted to Ahmedabad on Friday after a bomb threat was reported onboard. The aircraft was carrying 180 passengers. A passenger found a handwritten note claiming a bomb was present. The pilot informed air traffic control and diverted the flight as a precaution. The plane landed safely at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at around 6.40 am. All passengers were evacuated safely. Security teams searched the aircraft. Airport officials said no suspicious object has been found so far. IndiGo said all safety protocols were followed. The airline added that the flight will depart after final clearance. (PC: PTI)

The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission will hold a public hearing in February with a special focus on India. The meeting will review US ties with New Delhi and Beijing and the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. It will look at border tensions, maritime access, and India’s role in the region. The hearing will also study trade, technology, and supply chains, including AI and semiconductors. The move comes as India considers a graded opening of its economy to China. US officials want to strengthen the strategic partnership with India to counter China’s influence. The hearing is set for February 17. (PC: Reuters)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday claimed that Assam’s population pattern changed during 20 years of Congress rule. He said seven districts are now “dominated by 64 lakh infiltrators.” Addressing a rally in Dhemaji, Shah said only the Bharatiya Janata Party can stop infiltration. “If you want to stop infiltrators, vote for the BJP again,” he told the crowd. Shah said the BJP government has removed illegal encroachments from over 1.26 lakh acres of land. He also praised the Mising community for resisting illegal settlement. Assam is set to vote in Assembly elections later this year.

A probe has been ordered into the plane crash that killed Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and four others. The Maharashtra government has asked the Criminal Investigation Department to investigate the crash in Baramati. The aircraft went down while landing. A new CCTV video has surfaced, showing the jet turning sideways before impact. Experts have suggested three possible causes. These include engine failure, an aerodynamic stall, or a sharp turn close to the ground. The Ministry of Civil Aviation said the black box has been recovered. Officials said the final cause will be known only after a full investigation. (PC: Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo/ ANI)