NEW DELHI: Sunetra Pawar was sworn in as Maharashtra’s first woman deputy chief minister on Saturday, stepping into public office days after the death of her husband, NCP leader Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash. She now faces the immediate challenge of leading the Nationalist Congress Party amid a period of political and personal upheaval.In her first public remarks after the tragedy, Sunetra Pawar said she was “overwhelmed with emotions” as she assumed responsibility in the state cabinet, adding that she would “carry forward the legacy” of her late husband and “continue to work tirelessly” for Maharashtra.

Clad in a white saree, she took the oath amid chants of “Ajit Dada amar rahein,” in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Who is Sunetra Pawar?

Sunetra Pawar hails from Tera village in Dharashiv district, earlier known as Osmanabad, in the Marathwada region. While she belongs to a political family, with her brother Padamsinh Patil being a senior NCP leader, she was not actively involved in politics for much of her life.Her father, Bajirao Patil, played a role in the Marathwada liberation movement that preceded the merger of the Hyderabad state with the Indian Union. This legacy shaped her early exposure to public life and social issues.A commerce graduate, Sunetra Pawar has interests in painting, music, photography, and agriculture. After her marriage, she took up farming in Katewadi village and became actively involved in agricultural work.She founded the Environmental Forum of India (EFOI), a non-governmental organisation focused on environmental awareness and sustainable living. Under her leadership, EFOI introduced the eco-village model in India, integrating ecological practices into rural development.A committed environmentalist, she has led campaigns on biodiversity conservation, protection of endangered species, water management, and drought mitigation. Her efforts earned her the “Green Warrior Award” in recognition of her contribution to environmental causes.Sunetra Pawar also serves as a trustee of Vidya Pratishthan, an educational institution established by Sharad Pawar. She has also represented India in international forums on sustainability and social innovation as part of a think tank of the World Entrepreneurship Forum based in France.Sunetra Pawar has spearheaded a self-help group initiative across 86 villages in Maharashtra under the Nirmal Gram campaign, transforming Katewadi in Baramati into an eco-village that promotes sanitation, health, community livestock management, and solid waste management.She also serves as chairperson of the Baramati Hi-Tech Textile Park, a multi-modal garment manufacturing facility providing employment to over 15,000 rural women.Sunetra entered electoral politics in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, contesting from Baramati, her family’s stronghold, against her sister-in-law and incumbent NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule.After losing to Sule, she was elected to the Rajya Sabha. Her elder son, Parth Pawar, has stayed away from active politics following an unsuccessful bid in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Maval, while her younger son, Jay, is an entrepreneur.

England all-rounder Sam Curran produced a dramatic turnaround in the opening T20I of the three-match series against Sri Lanka at Pallekele, sealing a memorable hat-trick after enduring a difficult start with the ball. Curran’s heroics in the penultimate over proved decisive in a rain-affected contest, helping England restrict the hosts to a modest 133 in a 17-overs-per-side match.

Sam Curran’s hat-trick leaves Sri Lanka reeling

Curran’s day initially appeared to be slipping away after he was taken apart earlier in the innings, conceding 20 runs in a single over and leaking 35 runs from his first two overs. Sri Lanka’s batters looked in control during the Powerplay, racing to 76 runs in just seven overs and threatening to post a challenging total despite the shortened format.

However, the left-arm all-rounder showcased his composure and skill at the death when it mattered most. Bowling the penultimate over, Curran ripped through Sri Lanka’s lower order with three consecutive wickets, completely swinging the momentum back in England’s favour.

Curran’s hat-trick came in sensational fashion as he dismissed Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana off successive deliveries. The sequence not only wiped out Sri Lanka’s finishing options but also halted any late charge that could have lifted them beyond England’s reach.

With that spell, Curran finished with figures of 3 for 38, an impressive recovery considering how his opening overs had unfolded. The hat-trick made him only the second England bowler to achieve the feat in men’s T20 Internationals.

Here’s the video:

A T20I hat-trick for England is rarer than a sunny day in London, and Sam Curran just found one ☀️🎳

He becomes just the second English bowler to pick a T20I hat-trick 🔥

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[Sam Curran, Wickets, Hat-trick, England, History, Sri Lanka, Fast Bowling] pic.twitter.com/Q88tv6S3AG

— FanCode (@FanCode) January 30, 2026

Curran’s achievement places him alongside Chris Jordan, who previously took a T20I hat-trick for England against the USA during the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Also READ: Not England! Phil Salt names the strongest team in the T20 World Cup 2026

England takes early lead in the three-match series

England’s chase had its share of nervy moments early on. The powerplay proved eventful as both Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell were removed by Eshan Malinga, leaving England briefly unsettled. Matters could have worsened when Phil Salt was handed a major reprieve, with Kamil Mishara spilling a tough chance at deep midwicket off Wanindu Hasaranga’s very first ball.

Even without the wickets to show for it, Matheesha Pathirana caused plenty of discomfort. Bowling with his trademark slingy action, he hurried batters and kept them guessing, echoing the menace once associated with Lasith Malinga. The rewards, however, didn’t quite arrive.

Stability came through Tom Banton, who was promoted to No. 4 due to Ben Duckett’s injury. Banton injected much-needed momentum with a bright cameo, scoring 29 off just 14 deliveries and shifting the tempo back in England’s favour. From there, Salt took control, anchoring the innings with a calm and confident 46 from 35 balls. He narrowly missed out on what would have been his fifth T20I fifty in just eight innings.

England completed the run-chase in 15 overs with 6 wickets in hand.

Also READ: Australia pacer Pat Cummins ruled out of T20 World Cup 2026; replacement announced

Sunetra Pawar on Saturday replaced her late husband Ajit Pawar and sworn in as the deputy chief minister in Maharashtra cabinet.This comes just days after Ajit Pawar was killed in a plane crash while traveling to Baramati from Mumbai.

Sunetra was elected the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) legislature party leader earlier in the day during a meeting held in the city. The NCP, a key constituent of the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra, submitted a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirming Sunetra Pawar’s election as the party’s legislature leader.Sunetra Pawar will assume all portfolios previously held by her late husband, with the exception of the finance ministry. Indian politics has witnessed several instances where women leaders have stepped in to carry forward their husband’s political legacy, often under difficult circumstances.Rabri Devi, a prominent leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar, became the state’s first female chief minister on July 25, 1997, following the resignation of her husband, Lalu Prasad Yadav, due to his involvement in the fodder scam. She held this position until 2005, also winning the 2000 assembly elections.Sonia Gandhi entered politics in 1997, following her husband and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s 1991 assassination. She became Congress president in 1998, leading the UPA to general election victories in 2004 and 2009.Deepa Dasmunsi of the Congress won the Raiganj Lok Sabha seat in 2009 after her husband, senior leader Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, slipped into a coma in 2008, consolidating and retaining his political base in West Bengal.Ranjana Kul, representing the NCP in Maharashtra, entered the state assembly from Daund in 2004 following the death of her husband Subhashrao Kul, later vacating the seat for her son Rahul.Madhuri Misal, a BJP leader from Pune, won the Parvati assembly constituency in 2009 after the murder of her husband Satish Misal, a corporator, and later went on to become Pune BJP chief.Runu Mete, a Trinamool Congress candidate, contested the Indus assembly seat in West Bengal during the 2021 elections after her husband Gurupada Mete died mid-campaign, drawing strong sympathy support.Sandhya Desai-Kuperkar, of the NCP, briefly held an assembly seat as a proxy candidate following the death of her husband Babasaheb Kuperkar.Rita Verma, Congress leader from Jharkhand and a four-term Dhanbad MP who rose politically following her husband’s setbacks, later becoming a Union minister.

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New details emerge in Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding case as FBI names wife and inner circle tied to drugs killings (Image via Getty)

Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder, stood in a federal courtroom in California on Monday, facing serious charges that shocked the sports world. Wedding, now 44, is accused of running a massive drug network and ordering multiple murders, according to US authorities. Wedding was arrested last week in Mexico City and flown to Southern California, nearly a year after the FBI placed him on its Most Wanted Fugitives list. He pleaded not guilty to two federal indictments during his first court appearance. His lawyer, Anthony Colombo, strongly denied reports that Wedding turned himself in.“He was arrested,” Colombo told reporters. “He did not surrender.”FBI Director Kash Patel described Wedding as a major threat. “He is a modern-day El Chapo,” Patel said Friday. “He is a modern-day Pablo Escobar, and he thought he could evade justice.” Federal prosecutors claim Ryan Wedding led a billion-dollar drug operation uncovered during a joint investigation called Operation Giant Slalom. Law enforcement agencies from North and South America worked together on the case, according to the US Department of Justice.Wedding’s criminal history goes back years. In 2008, he was arrested for trying to buy cocaine from a US federal agent. He was convicted in 2009 and released from prison in 2011. Authorities say his alleged criminal empire grew rapidly after his release. Prosecutors also accuse Wedding of ordering murders to protect his operation. Among the victims were Canadian couple Jagtar Sidhu and Harbhajan Sidhu, who were killed in front of their daughter, Jaspreet Kaur, who suffered life-changing injuries. Authorities still think it was a case of mistaken identity.

Federal officials say Ryan Wedding did not work alone. Several people linked to him are now under investigation, arrested, or facing extradition. Wedding’s wife, Miryam Andrea Castillo Moreno, has been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department over alleged money laundering. She has not been arrested, and her current location is unknown, according to Treasury and FBI officials. Castillo Moreno is originally from Nuevo Leon, Mexico, based on the Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctions list.His alleged girlfriend, Daniela Alejandra Acuna Macias, has also been sanctioned and banned from entering the United States. The Treasury Department said she received large sums of money from Wedding and helped gather information on his rivals.Authorities say Acuna was introduced to Wedding by Carmen Yelinet Valoyes Florez, a Colombian national accused of running a high-end escort service in Mexico City. Valoyes was arrested in November as part of Operation Giant Slalom, according to federal records.Another key figure is Deepak Balwant Paradkar, a Canadian criminal lawyer accused of advising Wedding to kill an FBI witness. “If you kill this witness, the case would be dismissed,” Paradkar allegedly told Wedding, according to Bill Essayli, first assistant US attorney for the Central District of California. Paradkar denies the claims and is fighting extradition.Andrew Clark, known as “El Dictador,” is also accused of working closely with Wedding. US prosecutors say Clark helped order murders in Canada and lived in Mexico under cartel protection. All accused individuals have not entered final pleas and remain innocent under the law, according to court records and the US Department of Justice.

Siddhesh Lad and Sachin Tendulkar (Agency Photos)

NEW DELHI: Mumbai captain Siddhesh Lad is in great form as he has now scored four first-class centuries in a row. He reached this milestone during the Ranji Trophy match against Delhi. His recent scores read 127, 170, 104, and now 103, and this run has placed him among famous Indian cricket legends.Delhi batted first in the match, and the team scored 221 runs. Opener Sanat Sangwan made a century, and no other batter could build a big score. Only three more Delhi players crossed double digits, and Mumbai pacer Mohit Avasthi took five wickets and controlled the innings.

Mumbai had a shaky start, and the team lost two wickets for 18 runs and then another at 44. Siddhesh Lad walked in at a difficult time, and he joined Musheer Khan at the crease. Both players added 63 runs together, and Musheer reached his fifty and steadied the innings. Lad was leading the side as stand-in captain because Shardul Thakur was unavailable after the mid-season break. Lad then built a strong 136-run partnership with Suved Parkar for the sixth wicket, and he brought up his fourth straight first-class hundred during this stand. Mumbai finished their first innings at 317 runs and the team secured a 96-run lead.Earlier this month, Lad had scored 104 runs against Hyderabad, and Mumbai won that match by nine wickets. Before the break he had scored 127 against Himachal Pradesh and 170 against Puducherry and both matches ended in innings victories for Mumbai. With four consecutive centuries, Lad has joined great Indian names like Vijay Merchant and Sachin Tendulkar. Parthiv Patel holds the Indian record with five centuries in a row in first-class cricket, and the world record stands at six, and it is shared by CB Fry, Don Bradman, and Mike Procter. Lad still has a chance to equal this record if his form continues.

Sonam Wangchuk (File photo)

NEW DELHI: Jailed activist Sonam Wangchuk was taken to AIIMS Jodhpur for a medical examination on Saturday after the Supreme Court sought his medical report by February 2.The 59-year-old former educationist was examined for about 90 minutes before being escorted back to prison. He has reportedly been suffering from stomach-related ailments and had also visited the hospital on Friday for medical tests. Wangchuk has been raising concerns about his deteriorating health in jail for some time. Taking note of his worsening condition, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Jodhpur jail administration to arrange a medical examination by a specialist.The top court is hearing a writ petition filed by his wife, Geetanjali Angmo, challenging his detention under the stringent National Security Act. Wangchuk has been lodged in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur Central Jail since September 27 last year, three days after a protest demanding statehood for his native Ladakh turned violent in Leh, the Union territory’s capital.During Thursday’s hearing, a bench comprising Justices Arvind Kumar and PB Varale instructed jail authorities to ensure that Wangchuk is examined by a specialist doctor—a gastroenterologist—at a government hospital.Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, appearing for the Rajasthan government, informed the bench that jail doctors had examined Wangchuk 21 times over the past four months, with the most recent check-up conducted on January 26.However, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Wangchuk, objected to the submission, stating that his client was suffering from persistent stomach pain, allegedly caused by the quality of water provided in jail.Accepting the argument, the court observed that medical treatment by a specialist must be provided in accordance with the patient’s needs.(With PTI inputs)