The day was dominated by V.D. Satheesan taking oath as Kerala Chief Minister, marking the UDF's return to power after a decade. The swearing-in ceremony, attended by Congress top brass, was covered live by multiple outlets. Editors also highlighted the NEET paper leak, with CBI arresting a chemistry tutor from Latur who allegedly had the leaked paper on his phone. In the afternoon, the U.S. Justice Department dropped all charges against Gautam Adani, a story that gained traction. The Iran-Israel war continued to feature, with Iran announcing a new body to manage the Strait of Hormuz and Pakistan deploying 8,000 troops to Saudi Arabia. PM Modi's Nordic visit yielded a Green Strategic Partnership with Norway and a top honour.