A civil aviation ministry note has detailed the final radio exchanges before the Learjet 45 carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crashed at Baramati. The aircraft took off from Mumbai at 8:10 am and contacted Baramati at 8:18 am. Baramati is an uncontrolled airfield. The pilots made two landing attempts after reporting the runway was not visible. During the approach, cockpit voice records included the phrase, “Runway not in sight, oh shit,” according to the transcript cited by officials. At 8:43 am, the crew confirmed visual contact and was cleared to land. A minute later, ground staff saw flames near Runway 11. All five people on board died. (PC: X)

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor met party president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi in Parliament on Thursday. The meeting lasted about 90 minutes. Afterward, Tharoor said the discussion was constructive and that all sides were moving together on the same page. The meeting followed reports of strain between Tharoor and the party after his recent remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his absence from some key party meetings. Sources said Tharoor sought the meeting to share his views and concerns. They added the party would try to address these issues ahead of the Kerala assembly election later this year. (PC: NDTV)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said ties with China are in a “good, strong place” after talks with President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Downing Street called the meeting productive and said both sides will keep frank and open dialogue on areas of disagreement. Officials said progress was made on easing whisky tariffs and expanding visa-free travel for UK visitors to China. Xi said China-UK relations have seen twists and turns, but engagement is unavoidable. Starmer received a ceremonial welcome at the Great Hall of the People and met Premier Li Qiang. The leaders are expected to sign agreements, including a border security pact to disrupt small boat engine supplies. (PC: BBC)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned whether India was moving away from the goal of a casteless society while hearing a case on UGC regulations. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the 2012 UGC rules will remain in force until further orders, pausing the new 2026 regulations. The court said reforms must promote equality while protecting those who need support. It warned against segregation in education and said unity must be reflected in institutions. The bench also noted inequalities within reserved groups and raised concerns about separate hostels or practices that could divide students. The matter will be heard again on March 19.

The black box of the chartered aircraft that crashed near Baramati, killing Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has been recovered, the Civil Aviation Ministry said. The Bombardier Learjet 45 went down on Wednesday while trying to land at the Baramati airstrip near Pune. The plane caught fire on impact and was fully gutted. All five people on board were killed. Officials said teams from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and the DGCA reached the site the same day. The black box will help investigators reconstruct the final moments of the flight. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. (PC: X)

Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar was cremated with full state honours in Baramati on Thursday. Thousands of supporters gathered as funeral arrangements began in the morning. Authorities shortened the planned procession due to crowd size and the condition of the body. Pawar’s wife Sunetra and sons Parth and Jay were present, along with uncle Sharad Pawar. Leaders from several parties also attended. Pawar, 66, died on Wednesday when a chartered Learjet 45 crashed near Baramati airport. Four others, including both pilots, were killed. Investigators have recovered the aircraft’s black box. Three days of state mourning have been announced. 

US President Donald Trump warned Iran that time was running out to reach a nuclear deal as US military forces increased in the Gulf. He said a large naval force, led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, was moving toward the region. Iran responded by saying its armed forces were ready to react to any attack. Tehran repeated that its nuclear programme was peaceful and denied seeking nuclear weapons. US officials said the military build-up was meant to deter threats and protect personnel. The warning comes as Washington presses Iran to curb uranium enrichment and missile activity. No formal talks are under way. (PC: BBC)

The Indian rupee slipped to a fresh record low against the US dollar on Tuesday. It fell to 91.9850, moving past its earlier all-time low of 91.9650 seen last week. This is the first time the rupee has come so close to the 92 mark. The currency has now declined about 2% so far this year. Traders said pressure came from a strong dollar and steady foreign fund outflows. Demand for dollars from importers also weighed on the rupee. Market participants are watching global interest rate trends and crude oil prices for further direction in the currency market.

UK health authorities have issued a health warning about the Nipah virus after two cases were confirmed in West Bengal, India, prompting increased airport screening and surveillance across several Asian countries. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says the risk to the UK public remains very low, as no cases have been detected there, but emphasises travellers should be aware. Nipah is a zoonotic virus transmitted from animals like fruit bats to humans, through contaminated food, or via close contact, and has a high fatality rate (40–75 %). Initial symptoms include fever, headache, and respiratory issues, which can worsen to encephalitis or brain inflammation. There is no specific treatment or vaccine currently available, making vigilance essential. 

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sharply criticised the newly signed India-European Union free trade agreement, accusing European leaders of prioritising trade with India over solidarity with Ukraine amid the war against Russia. Bessent argued that by pursuing the trade deal, Europe has shown a “deep contradiction” in its Ukraine policy and, in his view, placed economic interests above geopolitical commitments. He also said some European nations continued buying refined products linked to discounted Russian oil, undermining coordinated Western sanctions. The landmark India-EU pact is expected to significantly boost bilateral trade, but has triggered transatlantic tensions over geopolitical priorities. (PC: NDTV)