Early morning headlines from India continued to focus on the US government shutdown and President Trump's upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Domestically, PM Modi paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, and RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat advocated for 'Swadeshi' amidst US tariffs.
Later in the morning, reports highlighted Rahul Gandhi's statements in Colombia criticizing attacks on democracy in India. By the early afternoon, media prominently reported the resumption of direct flights between India and China from late October after a five-year hiatus, aiming to normalize bilateral exchanges. This development was a consistent focus across multiple outlets throughout the afternoon and evening, overshadowing other domestic news, including a tragic accident in Madhya Pradesh.