U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said India “comes out on top” in its newly concluded Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union, calling it a strategic win for New Delhi that offers expanded access to the EU market and bolsters long-term economic ties. The deal — described by leaders as the “mother of all deals” after nearly 20 years of talks — will slash tariffs on most goods and create a market of nearly two billion consumers. It also reflects growing trade diversification as U.S. tariff policies under President Trump prompt partners to seek alternative ties. (PC: X)

Details of the last phone call made by flight attendant Pinky Mali have emerged after the plane crash near Baramati that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others. Pinky told her father she was flying with Pawar to Baramati and would speak to him the next day. The call never came. The Learjet 45 aircraft, operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures, crashed while attempting to land near Baramati airport on Wednesday morning. The plane had five people on board, including two pilots and a security officer. It departed Mumbai at 8.10 am and lost radar contact minutes before the crash. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is probing the incident. (PC: NDTV)

Singer Arijit Singh has said he retired from playback singing because he felt creatively bored and wanted to explore other forms of music. In posts shared from his private social media account, Arijit said the decision had been on his mind for a long time. He explained that he often changes song arrangements because he gets bored easily. He added that stepping away would allow new singers to emerge and inspire him. Arijit clarified that he is not quitting music and will continue to create his own work. He also said he plans to return to Indian classical music. His announcement came days after releasing a song for an upcoming film. (PC: X)

The death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash has created uncertainty within the Nationalist Congress Party. Attention has now shifted to his wife, Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha MP. Though she stayed away from frontline politics for years, she entered active politics in 2024 and later joined the Upper House. Sunetra Pawar has strong political and social links in Baramati and Marathwada. She also heads educational, business, and environmental initiatives. Party leaders say sympathy and her family standing may place her at the centre of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction, even as questions remain over future leadership and unity. (PC: India Today)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned a Russian drone strike on a passenger train in the Kharkiv region, calling it “terrorism”. Local officials said at least five people were killed and several others injured. More than 200 passengers were on board when one carriage was hit and two nearby drones exploded. Zelensky said there was no military reason to target civilians. Russia has not commented on the incident. Authorities said the train was travelling from western Ukraine to the Kharkiv region. The attack came amid intensified Russian drone strikes on transport and energy sites. Elsewhere, drone attacks killed civilians in Odesa and near Kyiv, officials said. (PC: BBC)

A Learjet 45 carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crashed near Baramati airport on Wednesday, killing all five on board. The Civil Aviation Ministry said the aircraft was attempting a second landing at the time of the crash. Baramati is an uncontrolled airfield, where pilots manage traffic with limited ground support. The pilot was cleared to land at 8.34 am but did not provide a mandatory readback confirming the clearance. Earlier, the first landing attempt was aborted due to the runway not being visible, prompting a go-around. Flight tracking data showed the aircraft stopped transmitting signals minutes before impact. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is probing the incident. (PC: NDTV)

The fatal plane crash that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has brought renewed attention to charter operator VSR Aviation, which was linked to a similar Learjet incident in 2023. The Learjet 45XR that crashed near Baramati on Wednesday was operated by VSR Ventures, a Delhi-based firm. In September 2023, another VSR-operated Learjet 45XR veered off a runway while landing in Mumbai during heavy rain and broke into two. All passengers survived that incident. Aviation regulators have launched probes into the Baramati crash. Officials are examining operational, weather, and safety records linked to both incidents as part of the ongoing investigation.

CCTV footage from near Baramati airport has captured the final moments of the plane crash that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday. The visuals show the Learjet aircraft descending sharply before hitting the ground nose-first and erupting into flames within seconds. Thick black smoke and fire are seen rising from the crash site soon after impact. Officials said all five people on board died as the aircraft caught fire immediately after the failed landing attempt. Preliminary information suggests the jet was trying to land for the second time. Investigators are examining the footage to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the crash.

Pilot Shambhavi Pathak was among five people killed when a private aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crashed near Baramati on Wednesday. Pathak was serving as first officer on the Learjet 45 operated by VSR Ventures and was flying from Mumbai to Baramati. The aircraft went down minutes before its scheduled landing. Pathak had been associated with VSR Ventures since 2022 and held multiple aviation licences, including a commercial pilot licence from India and New Zealand. She had also worked as a flying instructor. The crash killed all five on board, including Pawar, another pilot, a flight attendant, and a security officer. Investigations are ongoing. (PC: X)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday hinted at possible foul play in the plane crash that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and demanded a Supreme Court-monitored investigation. Speaking to the media, Banerjee said the incident raised serious questions about the safety of political leaders. She said only a probe under the Supreme Court’s supervision would be credible and added that she trusted no other agency. Banerjee said she was shocked by Pawar’s death and called it a major loss. Several opposition leaders also sought a proper and transparent investigation while offering condolences to Pawar’s family. The aircraft crashed near Baramati during a landing attempt. (PC: India Today, X)