Morning coverage in India was dominated by the Supreme Court's intervention in the Unnao rape case, as editors prioritized the court's decision to stay the suspension of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar's life sentence. This judicial reversal followed a multi-day build-up of CBI challenges and public outcry, with outlets focusing on the Chief Justice’s remarks regarding potential judicial error and the survivor's emotional reaction. By early afternoon, editorial weight shifted to a sharp diplomatic escalation with Pakistan. The Ministry of External Affairs formally rejected Islamabad’s allegations concerning Indian minorities, citing Pakistan's own domestic record. Simultaneously, the government approved a ₹79,000 crore defense procurement deal, including MQ-9 drones and Pinaka rockets. In the evening, international developments regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict took precedence. Following President Trump’s meeting with President Zelenskyy, Indian editors pivoted to reports of a drone attack on President Putin’s residence. This prompted headlines detailing Trump’s criticism of previous military aid to Ukraine and a potential shift in Moscow's negotiating stance.
