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)

The US Justice Department on Friday released a new batch of documents linked to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The files include draft emails attributed to Epstein that make allegations involving Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. The emails claim Gates sought help after sexual encounters and tried to prevent the matter from reaching his then wife, Melinda French Gates. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said over three million pages, along with videos and images, were released after review to protect victims. The documents also revive earlier reports of Epstein pressuring Gates over a charity fund. Gates’ spokesperson denied all allegations, calling them false. Epstein died in jail in 2019. (PC: NDTV)

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said the Mahayuti alliance will support any decision taken by the Nationalist Congress Party on the vacant Deputy Chief Minister post. “We will support whatever decision the NCP takes,” Fadnavis said. His statement comes ahead of Sunetra Pawar’s expected oath-taking as Deputy CM. She is the widow of late Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash. NCP sources said Sunetra Pawar may take oath on Saturday and continue holding key portfolios.

The United States government entered a partial shutdown on Saturday after Congress failed to pass the 2026 budget on time. Talks collapsed after political disagreements stalled negotiations. Lawmakers said the shutdown may not last long, as the House is expected to approve a Senate-backed funding deal next week. Several non-essential government services have stopped for now. President Donald Trump remains in office during the shutdown. Some departments, including agriculture and veterans’ services, will continue working. However, agencies like defence, homeland security and health have begun formal shutdown procedures. (PC: AP)

The United States Department of Justice has begun releasing more than three million pages linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The release follows a law passed by Congress that ordered full disclosure of the files. The documents include emails, photos, and records involving many high-profile figures. Being named does not mean wrongdoing. Former US President Donald Trump is mentioned in earlier files and has denied any misconduct. Survivors of Epstein’s abuse said the release is only the beginning and called for full accountability. More documents are still expected to be made public. (PC: New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services)

A US court has ruled that Luigi Mangione will not face the death penalty if convicted. Judge Margaret Garnett dismissed federal firearms charges that allowed capital punishment. Mangione, 27, is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York in December 2024. He has pleaded not guilty. The judge said the ruling only removes the death penalty option. Mangione still faces stalking charges and state charges, including murder, which could lead to life in prison. Prosecutors have 30 days to challenge the decision. (PC: Reuters)

NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Friday said he was not consulted about Sunetra Pawar taking oath as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister. “I have no information about it. Her party must have decided,” he said. Pawar added that he learnt about it only through newspapers. He also said talks on merging the two NCP factions have been paused after the death of Ajit Pawar. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “We will support whatever decision the NCP takes.” Sunetra Pawar is expected to take oath after a party meeting in Mumbai. (PC: PTI)

Newly released Epstein files mention filmmaker Mira Nair, the mother of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. An email from 2009 shows Nair attended an afterparty for her film Amelia at the home of Ghislaine Maxwell. The email was sent by publicist Peggy Siegal to Jeffrey Epstein. It said guests had a “tepid” response to the film. The party was also attended by Bill Clinton and Jeff Bezos. The United States Department of Justice has released millions of Epstein-related records. (PC: AFP)

Newly released US Justice Department files have triggered fresh claims involving Bill Gates, based on alleged emails written by late financier Jeffrey Epstein. British tabloids reported that Epstein accused Gates of hiding a sexually transmitted disease and seeking antibiotics for his former wife Melinda Gates. The reports say the emails were drafts and remain unverified. Gates strongly denied the allegations, calling them false and absurd. He said the documents only show Epstein’s anger after their ties ended. The United States Department of Justice has begun releasing millions of Epstein-related records. (PC: AP)