News for '-wednesdays'

Ajit Pawar's mid-air scare tale with Fadnavis resurfaces after death

Ajit Pawar's mid-air scare tale with Fadnavis resurfaces after death

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

A video of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar recounting a tense helicopter ride with Devendra Fadnavis in July 2024 has resurfaced after Pawar's death in a plane crash. Pawar humorously described his fear during the flight due to bad weather, while Fadnavis remained calm.

Sunetra Pawar set to become Maha's first woman deputy CM

Sunetra Pawar set to become Maha's first woman deputy CM

Rediff.com31 Jan 2026

Sunetra Pawar, widow of late Ajit Pawar, is set to be sworn in as Maharashtra's first woman Deputy Chief Minister, replacing her husband in the state cabinet. Her appointment follows a meeting of the NCP legislature wing where she is expected to be named as its leader.

Worker from Bihar, son murdered in Chennai, wife sexually assaulted

Worker from Bihar, son murdered in Chennai, wife sexually assaulted

Rediff.com30 Jan 2026

Three people have been arrested in Chennai in connection with the murder of a migrant worker from Bihar, his wife, and their two-year-old son. The investigation revealed a sexual assault and subsequent killings.

Sunetra Pawar set to take oath as Maharashtra deputy CM today

Sunetra Pawar set to take oath as Maharashtra deputy CM today

Rediff.com31 Jan 2026

The legislature wing of the Nationalist Congress Party in Maharashtra will hold a meeting in Mumbai on January 31, where Deputy Chief Minister late Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra is set to be named as its leader, state minister Chhagan Bhujbal said on Friday.

Ajit Pawar crash: Naidu seeks Maharashtra's help for fast probe

Ajit Pawar crash: Naidu seeks Maharashtra's help for fast probe

Rediff.com29 Jan 2026

Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu has requested the Maharashtra government's cooperation in the investigation into the plane crash that killed Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has initiated a formal investigation.

Cruel irony: Ajit Pawar's final journey in the ambulance he helped procure

Cruel irony: Ajit Pawar's final journey in the ambulance he helped procure

Rediff.com29 Jan 2026

An ambulance driver recounts the tragic irony of driving the ambulance secured by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to carry his body after a fatal plane crash.

'Hardest Job In India After PM's': Tharoor Backs Gambhir

'Hardest Job In India After PM's': Tharoor Backs Gambhir

Rediff.com22 Jan 2026

Gautam Gambhir receives public backing from Shashi Tharoor ahead of the Nagpur T20I against New Zealand.

Indian 'dunki' agent indicted for smuggling 'aliens' from Canada to US

Indian 'dunki' agent indicted for smuggling 'aliens' from Canada to US

Rediff.com30 Jan 2026

According to court documents, Shivam directed smuggling operations from January through June 2025, coordinating the illegal transport of individuals across the US-Canada border into Clinton County, New York.

Rahul, Kanimozhi talks on TN seat-sharing end without deal

Rahul, Kanimozhi talks on TN seat-sharing end without deal

Rediff.com29 Jan 2026

Rahul Gandhi and Kanimozhi met to discuss seat-sharing for the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections, but no agreement was reached. The Congress seeks a larger share of seats, while the DMK is hesitant to concede more than last time.

SKY becomes fourth Indian to play 100 T20Is

SKY becomes fourth Indian to play 100 T20Is

Rediff.com21 Jan 2026

Suryakumar Yadav becomes fourth player to play 100 T20Is for India, achieves feat during 1st T20I against New Zealand

Ajit Pawar identified by wristwatch at Baramati crash site

Ajit Pawar identified by wristwatch at Baramati crash site

Rediff.com29 Jan 2026

Eyewitnesses identified Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar at the site of a plane crash in Pune district by his wristwatch. The crash of the Learjet resulted in multiple fatalities, including the pilot, co-pilot, PSO, and flight attendant. An investigation is underway.

How Abhishek Sharma's wicket was crucial to NZ win

How Abhishek Sharma's wicket was crucial to NZ win

Rediff.com29 Jan 2026

The opener also milked 100 runs for the opening wicket with Devon Conway.

'NCP-SP, Pawar family totally in the dark on Sunetra's cabinet entry'

'NCP-SP, Pawar family totally in the dark on Sunetra's cabinet entry'

Rediff.com31 Jan 2026

Sunetra Pawar, who is not a member of either house of the Maharashtra legislature, will be elected as leader of the legislature wing of the Nationalist Congress Party at a meeting in Mumbai on Saturday, after which she is likely to take oath as deputy CM.

Australian Open 2026: Rybakina stuns Swiatek, storms into semis

Australian Open 2026: Rybakina stuns Swiatek, storms into semis

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

Fifth seed Elena Rybakina booked her place in the Australian Open semi-finals on Wednesday with a dominant second set display to hand six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek a 7-5, 6-1 defeat at Melbourne Park.

Bangladesh, Netherlands qualify for Women's T20 World Cup 2026

Bangladesh, Netherlands qualify for Women's T20 World Cup 2026

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

Bangladesh and the Netherlands have booked two of the four available spots at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026.

English Premier League: Chelsea snatch comeback win; Arsenal, Liverpool cruise

English Premier League: Chelsea snatch comeback win; Arsenal, Liverpool cruise

Rediff.com1 Feb 2026

Chelsea battled from two goals down to beat West Ham 3-2 in the Premier League on Saturday with a stoppage-time Enzo Fernandez winner.

Man kills co-worker for tricking him into eating beef

Man kills co-worker for tricking him into eating beef

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

A man was arrested in Varanasi for allegedly killing his co-worker who purportedly fed him beef without his knowledge and then taunted him about it.

Is Serena Williams Planning A Comeback?

Is Serena Williams Planning A Comeback?

Rediff.com29 Jan 2026

Serena Williams fuels comeback speculation with TV interview

Stop beef export and then...: Avimukteshwaranand to UP CM

Stop beef export and then...: Avimukteshwaranand to UP CM

Rediff.com30 Jan 2026

Amid the row, the mela administration issued a notice asking Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati to explain how he was using the title of Shankaracharya of the Jyotish Peeth.

Maharashtra Bids Farewell to Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra Bids Farewell to Ajit Pawar

Rediff.com29 Jan 2026

Thousands of supporters gathered to pay their last respects, chanting slogans in his memory. The large turnout and emotional farewell highlighted Ajit Pawar's strong grassroots connect and his significant influence in Maharashtra politics.

Sunetra Pawar gets 3 ministries, Fadnavis keeps finance

Sunetra Pawar gets 3 ministries, Fadnavis keeps finance

Rediff.com31 Jan 2026

Newly-appointed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar has been allocated the portfolios of State Excise Duty, Sports and Youth Affairs and Minorities Development and Aukaf.

Two Maoists carrying Rs 7 lakh bounty killed in Chhattisgarh encounter

Two Maoists carrying Rs 7 lakh bounty killed in Chhattisgarh encounter

Rediff.com30 Jan 2026

Two Naxalites, carrying a collective reward of Rs 7 lakh, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh. The operation was launched based on inputs about the presence of Maoist cadres in the area.

Ajit Pawar was keen on NCP merger before death, claims close aide

Ajit Pawar was keen on NCP merger before death, claims close aide

Rediff.com30 Jan 2026

A close associate of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar claims that Pawar was actively pursuing a merger of the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions before his death. The associate, Kiran Gujar, stated that Pawar had indicated the merger was imminent just days before a fatal plane crash.

'Ishan Kishan should be India's wicketkeeper in T20 World Cup'

'Ishan Kishan should be India's wicketkeeper in T20 World Cup'

Rediff.com29 Jan 2026

Former wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel urged India to include the in-form Ishan Kishan ahead of Sanju Samson

Santosh Trophy: Holders West Bengal thrash Nagaland

Santosh Trophy: Holders West Bengal thrash Nagaland

Rediff.com21 Jan 2026

Defending champions West Bengal beat Nagaland 4-0 in Santosh Trophy

SC flags uppers castes converting to Buddhism for quota as 'new fraud'

SC flags uppers castes converting to Buddhism for quota as 'new fraud'

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

The Supreme Court has voiced concern over a 'new type of fraud' involving individuals from dominant upper-caste backgrounds in Haryana converting to Buddhism solely to claim minority reservation benefits. The court has sought a report from the chief secretary of Haryana on the issuance of minority certificates.

Apple imports from EU capped, Indian farmers protected under FTA

Apple imports from EU capped, Indian farmers protected under FTA

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

India will lower duty on European apples to 20 per cent under the trade pact, but the imports would be capped at 50,000 tonnes per year and subject to a minimum import price of Rs 80 per kg, thereby fully protecting domestic farmers, an official said on Wednesday.

Ajit Pawar plane crash: Accidental death report filed

Ajit Pawar plane crash: Accidental death report filed

Rediff.com29 Jan 2026

Police have registered an accidental death report (ADR) in connection with the plane crash that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others in Baramati. The case will be handed over to the Maharashtra CID for investigation following the AAIB's inquiry.

UCL PIX: Newcastle, Juve book knockout place; Barca win

UCL PIX: Newcastle, Juve book knockout place; Barca win

Rediff.com22 Jan 2026

IMAGES from UEFA Champions League matches played on Wednesday

Sensex rises 222 points helped by rally in L&T

Sensex rises 222 points helped by rally in L&T

Rediff.com29 Jan 2026

Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty closed higher on Thursday, helped by a rally in blue-chip Larsen & Toubro and the Economic Survey projecting the GDP growth of 6.8-7.2 per cent for the next fiscal.

Australian Open 2026: Pegula smashes past Anisimova, breaks semi-final jinx

Australian Open 2026: Pegula smashes past Anisimova, breaks semi-final jinx

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

Jessica Pegula moved into the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the first time in her career on Wednesday, with a 6-3, 7-6(1) win over fellow American and fourth seed Amanda Anisimova at Melbourne Park.

4th T20I, Visakhapatnam: Shivam Dube's blazing fifty in vain as New Zealand trounce India

4th T20I, Visakhapatnam: Shivam Dube's blazing fifty in vain as New Zealand trounce India

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

Shivam Dube flickered brightly with a fifty of exceptional quality but it was insufficient to prevent India's 50-run defeat against New Zealand in the fourth T20 International.

Champions League chaos as Real, PSG tumble into playoffs

Champions League chaos as Real, PSG tumble into playoffs

Rediff.com29 Jan 2026

IMAGES from the UEFA Champions League matches played on Wednesday.

Baramati crash revives memories of Ahmedabad AI 171 tragedy

Baramati crash revives memories of Ahmedabad AI 171 tragedy

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

Residents of Ahmedabad recall the Air India crash of June 2025 after news of the Baramati plane crash involving Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. The earlier tragedy, which killed hundreds, remains a painful memory for those who witnessed it and lost loved ones.

Sensex jumps 487 points on optimism over India-EU FTA

Sensex jumps 487 points on optimism over India-EU FTA

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

From the 30-Sensex firms, Bharat Electronics surged nearly 9 per cent post its December quarter earnings. Eternal, Bajaj Finance, Power Grid, Trent, Mahindra & Mahindra and UltraTech Cement were the other major gainers. Maruti, Sun Pharma, Infosys and Bharti Airtel were among the other laggards.

Why Mamata is calling for SC probe into Ajit Pawar's death

Why Mamata is calling for SC probe into Ajit Pawar's death

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

After West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated that the truth would not emerge through existing mechanisms and called for a probe, several opposition leaders including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge backed her demand.

2026 AO: Why Musetti couldn't continue despite dominating Djokovic

2026 AO: Why Musetti couldn't continue despite dominating Djokovic

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

A distraught Lorenzo Musetti was struggling to comprehend how injury robbed him of victory against Novak Djokovic and a place in the Australian Open semi-final on Wednesday.

4th T20I, Visakhapatnam: Surya explains why India played a batter short

4th T20I, Visakhapatnam: Surya explains why India played a batter short

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

India captain Suryakumar Yadav said they played a batter short on purpose to test themselves in the fourth T20 against New Zealand, in Visakhapatnam, on Wednesday.

How Alcaraz weathered Hanfmann barrage to advance in Melbourne

How Alcaraz weathered Hanfmann barrage to advance in Melbourne

Rediff.com21 Jan 2026

Alcaraz proves too strong after early Hanfmann scare in their 2nd round match at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Wednesday.

Economic Survey 2026: Rupee valuation does not accurately reflect India's stellar economic fundamentals

Economic Survey 2026: Rupee valuation does not accurately reflect India's stellar economic fundamentals

Rediff.com29 Jan 2026

The value of the rupee, which has slipped to the 92 per dollar mark, does not accurately reflect India's stellar economic fundamentals, the Economic Survey said on Thursday.